There are several ways to obtain my book, Images of America: Rockaway Beach.
My best advice is to attend a book signing event in the community, where I will be selling and signing books on the spot. At some of these events, there will also be a slide show and book talk. See Notable Local Events tab of this website for dates, times and locations.
Second best option for those who can’t make a book signing is to order directly from this website by clicking the “buy now” button on the upper right side of the home page, below the header photo. I will sign and mail the copy to you. You should receive it within a week. Shipping is about an extra $3.
Third option is to visit a local store that sells my book. As of today, the list includes:
Len, proprietor of Belle Harbor Cards & More!
Beach 129 Street (commercial block): Belle Harbor Cards and More! Thanks, Len!
Beach 116 Street: The Blue Bungalow (beach block), and The Gift is Love x5 (between Newport and RBB). These stores are operated by some of our most dynamic female entrepreneurs on the Peninsula– Denise Diehm of Gift is Love, and Jeanne Jamin and Liz Breslin-Smith of Blue Bungalow.
The Gift is Love x5 has always carried Arcadia Books. The elegant proprietor, Denise Diehm, peeks out of the door of her store, holding a copy of my book!
Other locations in Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island: You can buy my book at the Barnes & Noble at Roosevelt Field Mall, or check out one of the five Barnes and Noble bookstores left in Brooklyn and Queens (take a wild guess which neighborhoods still have such bookstores; the answers are below). One is on Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows, near the St. John’s University campus. They have a whole selection of Arcadia books in stock, including mine. The other places you can find a real B&N nearby are: Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Forest Hills and Bayside. Call first before you trek there, to be sure that mine is in stock.
Fourth option is to order online from arcadiapublishing.com, which is a good idea if you are a history buff and plan to order another of their fine publications about other local towns and villages, or the history of sports, railroads, and universities. From a book on the history of basketball at the University of Pittsburgh, to the lost train lines of Queens County, Arcadia Publishing’s catalog is long and deep. It’s a veritable trove of great gifts for both men and women. Happy browsing!
Yes, Hello… I just ordered your book Images of America: Rockaway Beach. Could I possibly have it signed by you: To Joseph, Have fun reminiscing or something like that also it is to be a Fathers Day gift, please rush it if neccesary I will pay the extra postage. Thank you so much. Iknow my husband will enjoy this. He is always telling me about his Grandparents living only a block away from the beach in the Rockaways. Best Regards, Robin LaBella 281-744-7250 RLab134794@aol.com
Robin,
I am pleased that your book arrived on June 14, in time for Father’s Day. Hope you and Joseph enjoy the stories and photos of Old Rockaway Beach!
Vivian Carter
I just received the Images of America Rockaway Beach edition. I read and viewed the book in one sitting. It brings back tremendous reminisces and nostalgia . The summers in the fifties and sixties spent at the Ocean from Roches beachclub to Beach 116th street and Rockaway’s Playland Amusement Park were the greatest years of a young man’s life. My relatives lived on Beach 88th Street and it was always a joy to visit. I lived for a time with my family in the eighties on Beach 119th St and I was able to recreate my youth with my daughters. This was before the closing of the amusement park. My family grew up in Far Rockaway and Rockaway Beach from the eighteen hundreds through to this day and there are tremendous memories that came back to life with this issue. Hopefully, there will be a Rockaway Beach 2 and 3 volumn. Thanks for the great memories. Regards, Bob Sharrott
Robert,
Thanks for the kind remarks…I wrote the book so the world will know how great Rockaway Beach was, and can be again! I’m looking forward to some great upcoming media coverage in the newspapers serving other parts of Queens. You can probably check that out online, in the Queens Times-Ledger.
Vivian Carter
Viv: Am so happpy your book is doing well. I enjoyed my time with you going over old pictures and especially the one with the kids, which didn’t make the book, but gave me a laugh when I found myself among the 10 year old ragamuffins on Beach 90th Street. I had no recollection of the picture but it was fun to reminisce. Rockaway was a great place to grow up. Everyone knew everyone else and you couldn’t get into trouble because the information would be back to your parents before you got home. Sleigh riding, rollerskating in the street, baseball on Holland Avenue with bases painted on the street by one of the neighbors. Ah yes, I remember it well. Sharon Gabriel
Thanks for sending in a comment to my blog about Images of America: Rockaway Beach. Glad you are enjoying the memories brought back by the photos. Be sure to look closely at page 94. Arcadia’s format didn’t provide enough space for the full panorama of the original photo, but I cropped it carefully, and you are there on the left corner!
I spent my birthday driving around Rockaway seeking out a copy of your book the first week it was published. That was before you listed these locations. I finally found it on Beach 129th Street and it was certainly worth the drive around town! Bought a bagel and thumbed through each page.
I have just about everything ever printed about Rockaway’s past, but have never seen dozens of the wonderful photos you found. Your book is a fabulous look a a place we see every day, but my has it changed!
Anyone who lives here should certainly have a copy!
Ed,
You are so kind! I am glad that everyone is enjoying my book. Maybe you would like to join us for the Seaside Library Rockaway history book group, which should be held on 6 Mondays in October and November, from 6:30 pm to 7:45 p.m. I’ll forward the schedule once it’s set.
Vivian
Can i please reserve my free copy. I will stop by the Blue Bugalow on Saturday.
What time will you be there?
I have been in Rockaway for 39 years. My wife was born and raised on Beach 126th street. Her Family name is Cashen. We now live in the towers on Beach 105st, and lost 2 cards to Sandy.
Our hearts go out to our Rockaway neighbors.
Hi, Andye & Kathy,
I will reserve a copy of the book for you. Sorry for your losses from Superstorm Sandy. Look forward to meeting you at The Blue Bungalow. Thanks,
Rock Viv