Book Talk: Great Bars of New York City

EventIn Person

In Partnership with Housing Works

On Wednesday, December 4 from 6-8 PM, join us for another installment of the Municipal Art Society + Housing Works author series. James T. and Karla L. Murray, husband-and-wife architectural and interior photographers and videographers, will discuss their new book, Great Bars of New York City: 30 of Manhattan’s Favorite Storied Drinking Establishments, with Ali Gitlow, Senior Commissioning Editor at Prestel Publishing.

Great Bars of New York City is a rich collection of photographs and stories illustrating 30 diverse, lively, and legendary bars across the five boroughs. On December 4, James and Karla will chat about how the book came to be, plus discuss their career as photographers and videographers documenting New York City businesses and culture.

Light refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase. Doors at 6 PM. Event at 6:15 PM. Email events@mas.org with any questions.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT, BUT WALK-INS ARE WELCOME.

About the Book

Acclaimed photographers James and Karla Murray invite readers inside the doors of thirty legendary watering holes to discover how each has contributed to the social and cultural fabric of New York City.

For nearly three centuries, people have been gathering in New York City taverns, bars, and pubs. Celebrating the historical significance of thirty of those establishments, this book features gorgeous full-color photographs by James and Karla Murray, the award-winning team behind Store Front NYC.

Each drinking den is paired with engaging descriptions that capture the location’s unique identity, penned by journalist Dan Q. Dao. There’s the White Horse Tavern, frequented by writers such as Dylan Thomas and James Baldwin; the Stonewall Inn, renowned for its role in the LGBTQ+ rights movement; the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis Hotel, a sophisticated lounge adorned with a mural by Maxfield Parrish; and quintessential neighborhood dive Rudy’s Bar & Grill, where cheap beer and free hot dogs are served with a side of vintage grittiness.

Filled with legends and stories, it also includes a map. Whether they’re looking to soak up some NYC history or raise a glass to fit their mood, this helpful guide will ensure readers that they’ll find a place to have a good, stiff drink. Read more about the book >

Wednesday, December 4
6:00 PM — 8:00 PM

Housing Works Bookstore
126 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10012

Tickets:
Free!

Attend
  • James T. and Karla L. Murray (left) and Ali Gitlow (right).
    photo 1 of 2
  • Credit: Prestel Publishing.
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Meet the Speakers

James T. and Karla L. Murray, Featured Writers
James T. and Karla L. Murray are husband-and-wife architectural and interior photographers and videographers based in New York City. Since 1997, they have focused their lens on the streetscape through portraits of store fronts and shop owners, seeking to capture the spirit, energy, and cultural diversity of individual neighborhoods through their work.

James and Karla’s critically acclaimed books include Great Bars of New York City: 30 of Manhattan’s Favorite Storied Drinking Establishments, Store Front NYC: Photographs of the City’s Independent Shops, Past and Present, Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York, New York Nights, Store Front II:A History Preserved, and Broken Windows: Graffiti NYC. Their work has been widely exhibited around the world, including in solo exhibitions at the Brooklyn Historical Society, Clic Gallery, and the Storefront Project Gallery in New York City, and Fotogalerie im Blauen Haus in Munich, as well as group shows at the New-York Historical Society and the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, California. Their photographs are included in the permanent collections of major institutions including the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington, DC, the New York Public Library, and NYU Langone Medical Center.

Their photography has appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, the London Telegraph, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, New York magazine, and the New Yorker. James and Karla were awarded the 2015 Regina Kellerman Award by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) in recognition of their significant contribution to the quality of life in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. In 2017–2020, they were awarded Creative Engagement Manhattan Arts Grants by the New York State Council on the Arts and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. They received the prestigious Art in the Parks: UNIQLO Park Expressions Grant in 2018 for their public art installation, Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.

James and Karla live in the East Village of Manhattan with their rescue dog, Hudson. Their work can be viewed at jamesandkarlamurray.com, and on their Instagram and YouTube accounts @jamesandkarla.

Ali Gitlow, Moderator
Ali Gitlow is Senior Commissioning Editor at Prestel Publishing, where she works on books focused on pop culture, art, design, fashion, photography, and more. Her projects have covered topics ranging from nightclub design, nail art, and drag queen-themed cocktails to Japanese kawaii culture, British subcultural style, and cannabis. She’s also the author of Tooth Gem Style. She lives in Brooklyn.