New York breeds mourners. If you grow up anywhere in the city, there is a good chance your childhood memories will be bundled with tangible goods and sold to the highest bidder before you reach adulthood. You won't be invited to the memorial service—New York runs a red light past sentiment. The city grows on the frictional power of millions chasing The Now. Money is New York's longest-running Now, and it probably just ate your favorite sandwich shop, the apartment you first rented or your go-to record store…Ada Calhoun's St. Marks Is Dead marks these deaths without becoming an obituary or a good-old-days lament…Calhoun, who grew up on St. Mark's Place, is careful not to romanticize any one era of the East Village (which serves as a suitable proxy for much of New York City during the past century). St. Marks Is Dead is an ecstatic roll call…of those who set up shop in a part of town that has never felt entirely settled, no matter whose side you're on.

"Highbrow / Brilliant."— New York

"Fascinating…through exhaustive research and vivid storytelling, Calhoun recounts the happenings and personalities that dotted both the literal and metaphorical landscape of the iconic East Village Street."— Jay Ruttenberg Village Voice

"[E]ssential cultural history…St. Marks is always in its death throes, but Calhoun captures it as an important site of cultural production and transformation."— Adrienne Westenfeld Esquire

"A timely, provocative, and stylishly written book."— John McMillian The Atlantic

"What an entertaining and exhilarating read. Deeply researched and thought-provoking, this book is a joyride through the history of New York."— Jami Attenberg, author of I Came All This Way to Meet You

"A rich, gorgeously woven tapestry of capitalism, anarchy, riots, organized crime, literary feuds, con artists, hippies, hipsters, beatniks, deadbeats, punks, revolutionaries, drag queens, chaos, and thrilling, only-in-New York adventure. With a reporter’s eye for detail and a poet’s flair for language, Ada Calhoun has crafted a lush love letter to America’s most fascinating street."— Karen Abbott, author of Sin in the Second City

"The New York Dolls, the Ramones, the Velvet Underground, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, and a million other bands (including mine) spent time on St. Marks Place. Ada Calhoun’s wonderful book tells punk’s story in a totally new and exciting way. Plus, it has more sex-per-page than any cultural history I’ve ever read."— Kathleen Hanna

"As a teenager I skateboarded, wrote music, and drank malt liquor on St. Marks Place. After the early ’80s, I thought the street was dead. But in this terrific book Ada Calhoun proves that every generation had its moment."— Adam Horovitz

"I love this funny, sad, amazing book. St. Marks Place is the most interesting street in the world, because it doesn’t try to be; it’s abnormal and impossible and ugly and sexy and annoying and inspiring. And the story was written by a St. Marks child, which is probably the only way it could’ve been told."— Colin Quinn

"Ada Calhoun’s spellbinding book contains so much riveting history that was heretofore unknown to me, and her portrayal of the characters brings the history alive as vividly as an epic TV drama. For me, St. Marks Place Is Dead rivals Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City."— Tim Gunn

"Roll up. Roll up for the St. Marks Place tour! Ada Calhoun will take you on a hilarious and poignant ride through the history of one of the world’s most storied streets. At once an archaeologist, detective, and charismatic tour guide, Ada unearths the hidden historical gems that give the street its richness and depth."— Lili Taylor