"Al Hirschfeld's deft technical mastery and droll wit have beguiled the American public for nearly eighty years. Famous for his caricatures of stars of stage and screen, Hirschfeld also used his formidable art to capture the scintillating scenes and foremost personalities of the great city where he makes his home. Hot spots from the Savoy to Zabar's, hang-outs for lowlifes and highbrows, and many a local landmark in between - all are caught in the web of his cunning lines.".

"Published to accompany an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, this lively collection of pictures - elucidated by curator Clare Bell and introduced by New York Times columnist Frank Rich - forms a portrait of the city's vanished cultural landscape as irresistible as it is unique."--BOOK JACKET.