December 5, 2008
Call for New York City Mini-Neighborhood Guides
Yesterday I was in funky only-in-New York-type of shop in Dumbo and the owner mentioned his sales have tanked so badly in the past two months that he suspects he may close and go web-only soon.
I suspect you too have a number of favorite shops, restaurants and bars that have just closed or you fear they’re about to.
So it seems high time to finally Call for Neighborhood Guides. No more of this business about hoarding the best stuff in your neighborhood for fear the crowds will ruin it. You’re gonna kick yourself if they go out of business instead.
The concept is easy — just write about the very best stuff in your neighborhood. Think of it as a note you’d leave for a friend house sitting for you. Where do you get breakfast and what do you order; what’s the over-hyped place to avoid except if you go before 8 when Vinnie’s working; where’s the best free wi-fi; look for the old faded ad sign that just showed up before a condo rises. Add pictures, link to the business if they’ve got URLs and feel free to throw in video or maps as well.
The idea is to highlight the good stuff and create a series of micro guides for people who already know New York, but just not your nabe as well as you do.
Think small and just write what you know. You can do a specific street, or a couple-block area. If you have your own blog, post it there and NewYorkology will link to it (sending the traffic your way.) If you don’t have a place to post it, e-mail me in advance (Amy at newyorkology) and we’ll work out how to get it posted here.
So that there’s one standard element in all these guide, please make a Best Five list of some kind. As an example, have a look at Paul Frankenstein’s Ansonia neighborhood guide he wrote to kick off the series back in March 2006. (Unfortunately it tuned into a false start that time.) And please PR people, don’t ruin it for everyone by turning this into a shill contest. I need you to be honest, and in the text be sure to disclose any conflict of interests you may have with the places you mention. Thanks,
— Amy Langfield, editor of NewYorkology
December 5, 2008 2:24 PM in About
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