Name your favorite NYC guide books...
 

I pretty much have a good idea of everywhere I want to see....but of course, I would love to know more!

Aside from Fodors, what other guidebooks about NYC really capture the feel of the city?

Time Out
Lonely Planet
Gerry Franks

And a couple other smaller books that I've bought in the museum shop at LGA.

I like the Pop up maps and there is a guide book which combines this with a tiny snapshot of city highlights.

Can't remember what they're called but the maps are excellent and they're so small you can carry them everywhere.

The WPA Guide to New York City, which was reissued a few years ago, is surprisingly good at capturing the feel of NYC, even though it's wildly out of date. But much of the architecture is still around.

Not a guide book per se, but the Zagat restaurant guide is almost a necessity in NYC. The reviews are usually right on target.

I'm told the Not for Tourists guide is great.
http://notfortourists.com/newyork.aspx

I prefer the restaurant reviews in Frommer to those in Zagat because the Frommer reviews give me a much better idea of what kind of an experience I'm going to have in a particular restaurant.

Any way, much of the fun of eating in NYC is popping into places that catch one's fancy.

Access.

NFT (Not For Tourists) guides are great! They really are more for the repeat/occasional traveler than for tourists, though, as the primary benefit is that they map services and other amenities in each neighborhood.

For example, as a native of suburban Boston who has never lived in the city as an adult, the NFT I just took to Boston was priceless for figuring out driving directions, ATM locations, etc. during my weekend stay. It also listed all the shops in the Pru mall adjacent to my hotel - but doesn't give reviews on anything it covers. Good to keep in mind for *when* you return to NYC, iltt! :)

I have found Top 10 NY to be helpfull and pocketsized with pretty good maps of everything. In the future, as a repeat visitor, I think the forementioned not for tourists was a guide I thought I should buy for future, getting lost in manhattan trips as sometimes walking out of subways has a way of getting you completely turned around.

If you like history, the Big Onion Guide to New York City is delightful. Also, Michelin has just published a Green Guide to NYC that is very thoughtful.

Big Onion does great walking tours, too!

sistalou, that is what I found so helpful in Boston! I know just enough to get myself totally turned around. The NFT saved the day! :)