PRETTYCITYNEWYORK: The Coloring Book

CLASSIFICATION: Architectural Study Volume SUBJECT: Manhattan (The Quiet Enclaves) CURATOR: Siobhan Ferguson PAGES: 96 (Illustrated) ROLE: The Armchair Flâneur

The average tourist experiences New York as a sensory assault of neon lights, honking cabs, and Times Square crowds. The Connoisseur knows that the real city exists in the quiet, architectural details of the side streets.

Curated by Siobhan Ferguson, this volume acts as a filter for the noise. It rejects the chaos of Midtown in favor of the hidden gems: the ivy-covered brownstones of Greenwich Village, the cast-iron facades of Tribeca, and the artisanal storefronts that define the city’s true character.

It is a collection of intricately detailed line drawings that invite you to play the role of the architect. You are free to restore the city to its most idyllic state, reimagining the urban landscape without having to share the sidewalk with a single other person.

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THE CURATOR'S NOTES

• The "Anti-Tourist" Manifesto: This book ignores the Empire State Building in favor of the corner florist. It captures the specific, neighborhood-level nuance that makes New York livable rather than just visitable.
• The Pedigree: Ferguson is not a casual observer; she is an authority on the "pretty city" aesthetic. Her eye for symmetry and foliage transforms the gritty urban environment into a series of romantic vignettes.
• Architectural Appreciation: The line work allows you to study the anatomy of the city—the stoops, the cornices, and the window boxes. It is a lesson in urban design disguised as a leisure activity.
• The Neighborhoods: Focuses on the "Blue Chip" districts. You are coloring real estate that costs $3,000 per square foot. It is the most affordable way to own a piece of the West Village.