‘Inside New York’ takes students outside the bubble

In the spring of 1999, the New York Times sat down with Matthew Matlack, CC ’00 and Daniel Greenstein, CC ’00 , who had published a guidebook called “Inside New York.” Matlack and Greenstein were incredibly confident about their product, which examined food, nightlife, and attractions around the city with a trademark “streetwise swagger”—“It’s going to be the best guidebook in the city,” Matlack promised at the end of the article. Their lofty goals for future editions included adding color photography and even translating the guide into Japanese.

Although “Inside New York” is still only available in English ten years later, it’s also more comprehensive and visually appealing than ever before. The guide provides detailed information about city neighborhoods from Washington Heights to Coney Island. There’s even a new section called “Outside New York” that explores nearby destinations like Atlantic City. Oh, and the book’s also got colored text and illustrations on every single page.

But even though “Inside New York” has evolved, one thing has stayed the same: its staffers are as self-assured as ever. “This is the best edition,” says Sam Reisman, a Columbia senior and the guidebook’s publisher. “I say that with absolute confidence.”

“Inside New York,” which began as a pamphlet handed to first years during orientation week, has existed for 30 years as a student enterprise under the aegis of the Center for Career Education. The book is more than just a campus publication—it’s a real, live book, “with a bar code and everything,” says editor-in-chief Nina Pedrad, CC ’11. “INY” is not only distributed to incoming Columbians but is also sold on Amazon.com and in independent bookstores around the city. Being the guide’s publisher, associate publisher, or editor-in-chief is a full-time job that comes with an actual salary.

So why aren’t more students aware of the book?

Pedrad recalls receiving an older edition of “Inside New York” during NSOP and thinking, “Oh, wow. I’m surprised that Columbia shelled out all this money for this nice book.” She didn’t find out until later that it had actually been put together by Columbia students. Similarly, “INY’s” graphic designer Stephen Davan , CC ’12, says that until he applied to work for the guidebook, he “had no idea it was a student-run publication.”

It seems that “INY’s” very professionalism works against it—the guide’s glossy pages and crisp capsule reviews make it seem as if it’s been compiled by veteran writers, photographers, and designers. Despite its pristine look, its commitment to finding restaurants and activities that will be manageable on a student budget indicates “Inside New York’s” true origin. Pedrad cites the guide’s “Under $20” sections—which detail the best way to experience a neighborhood without parting with more than two Hamiltons—as one of “INY’s” best new features.

And then there’s “Inside New York’s” new blog, which launched this year: “The catchphrase that we came up with is that the blog feels like the guidebook lived,” says Reisman. Reisman and Pedrad hope that the blog will promote “INY” across campus and beyond. It should also give “Inside New York” a more consistent staff that can work on the guide year-round.

In the meantime, “INY’s” staffers have something else to look forward to: their launch party this Thursday, Sept. 24, at the downtown bar The Delancey. Reisman purposefully chose a venue that wasn’t right outside Columbia’s front door, since encouraging students to stay in Morningside Heights would go against everything that “Inside New York” stands for. “That’s exactly why our launch party isn’t at 1020. You have to take the subway—you have to take two subways! You have to make a connection, and you will like it.” Matt Matlack and Dan Greenstein would be proud.