I want to thank everyone for all of the fantastic feedback and reviews regarding "Gangsters, Murderers and Weirdos" -- but I would like to address the one main thing that people have found negative about the book: the fact that there is no index.

For this I apologize and I understand your frustration. However like all first-time authors, I had no control over most aspects of this publication. (The index, cover design, back-cover summary, packaging, layout -- all out of my hands. On top of that, over 40,000 words had to be cut from the book to fit publication specs.)

That said, I think The History Press did a really wonderful job packaging and promoting this. It was intended as a fun block-by-block guide, not an academic reference book -- and I don't think anyone anticipated the attention or success we have achieved. I will do my best to incorporate your feedback (read: an index) into future publications!

Thank you :)

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Ghost Hunters International crew about the history of a local Irish pub.

The episode will premier on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2010 at 9:00pm. Check back for more information as the air date approaches.

The juxtaposition of old and new New York is perhaps no more visible than on the Lower East Side. Aged tenements sit next to luxury glass towers and edgy clubs, and upscale bistros have replaced bargain stores and bodegas. “Things are changing on a scale not seen since Robert Moses,” said Eric Ferrara, founding executive director of the Lower East Side History Project, in “The Lower East Side Remembered and Revisited,” a panel discussion sponsored by the Gotham Center for New York City History at the Graduate Center.

Listen to Podcast

A few images from Eric Ferrara's speech at CUNY-Graduate Center on Wednesday, December 2, 2009. Eric was part of a panel which included authors Joyce Mendelsohn and Clayton Patterson, and the Tenement Museum's Annie Polland.

See images here

(Sorry, this is a month old, but I just got around to posting.) A big thank you to Sam Roberts and the NY Times for a wonderful plug in last month's weekend edition (Oct 9-11, 2009). "Gangsters, Murderers and Weirdos" was suggested along with some other great titles, like: Governors Island: The Jewel of New York Harbor by Ann L. Buttenwieser and New York’s Unique and Unexpected Places by Judith and Alexandra Stonehill.

Read Article: here

Once again, I have to thank The Villager for featuring Gangsters, Murderers and Weirdos; This time the book received a mention on the front cover and a full page spread inside (page 17).

As I have mentioned before on this blog, The Villager is arguably the most authentic news sources in New York City. As other papers in this city continue the prevailing trend of catering to the pop-culture-crowd, The Villager has remained a consistent voice for engaged and invested New Yorkers for over 70-years. (We will forgive the recent third-term support of Bloomberg)  ;)

Read full article: http://www.thevillager.com/villager_343/sensationalfacts.html

A couple of nights ago (Monday, Nov 2), I had a great time giving a presentation at Bluestockings Radical Bookstore at 172 Allen Street. In an age of high-end boutiques and retail behemoths, Bluestockings is a wonderful independent co-operative, which has doubled as an important center of activism on the Lower East Side for well over a decade. Besides offering a diverse selection of book/magazine titles and subjects, the cafe is fair-trade and they hold events almost every night of the week. The staff was fantastic and made us feel at home; and the guests were bright and engaged. It was a great experience -- I recommend you check them out.

Visit Bluestockings: Bluestockings Radical Books

Screen shot from Amazon (11/04/09):

Eric Ferrara gave an in-depth presentation about the history of vice and crime in New York City at the prestigious New-York Historical Society on Sunday, October 18, 2009. Here are a few images from the event: http://picasaweb.google.com/eastvillagehistoryproject/LectureAtNewYorkHistoricalSociety#

Here are a few images from a recent book signing at the Tenement Museum on Monday, September 29, 2009. I was honored to present a lecture on the history of the Sicilian Mafia to a standing-room only crowd at the museum's Tenement Talk series. Thanks to Erica Hawkins for the pictures.

Below is a snapshot from Amazon.com, September 30, 2009:

A big thanks for a big nod from The Villager (and writer Scott Stiffler), arguably (and IMO) the best local paper in NY. GMW was featured in an article about locally-themed books, which included some other great titles like Automats, Taxi Dancers and Vaudeville and Remembering the Lower East Side. Read full article here. See newspaper scan.

Below is a snapshot from 8/30/09:

Thanks to the Tenement Museum for their support. The museum bookstore was nice enough to give us some shelf space and according to an insider, GMW "flew of the shelves." This is one of my favorite local instututions (and one of NYC's most important, IMO.) Check out the Tenement Museum at 91 Orchard Street.

Last Friday evening, I took a peek inside Barnes & Noble Union Square and to my surprise/delight, the book had sold out. A B&N associate told me it was displayed in both the NY History section on the second floor and on a "Odd & Curious" table on the first floor. Good news, and thanks to B&N for their support.

The famed Strands Book Store, home of "18 miles of books," has ordered a flattering number of A Guide to Gangsters, Murderers and Weirdos of New York City's Lower East Side. It is an honor to be supported by such a reputable local institution. Be sure to visit them at 828 Broadway (at E.12th Street.)

Another sighting from Alan. This one from Shakespeare & Company at 716 Broadway. Placed between The Bronx is Burning and The Big Oyster -- not sure if that is a sign.