About tour guide Norman OderWhy hire Norman Oder as a tour guide? Tour guide Norman Oder
No other tour guide covers as many Brooklyn neighborhoods as I do. Few specialize in Brooklyn. So you're getting 26+ years of experience as a guide, and 36+ years of my residence in Brooklyn/NYC. Plus my professional experience as a journalist focusing--at least in the last 20+ years--on Brooklyn. How did I get to be a tour guide?I like exploring cities, and I trying to understand what we see, and how things have changed. And I like to walk--and talk! In the 1990s, I began leading family/friends on informal tours of Brooklyn. My goal: to lead the type of energetic, interesting tours I like, including urban history, architecture, and urban planning, plus general curiosity about current events, attractions, and controversies. How did my tour expertise grow?After founding New York Like a Native in 2000 with one tour, I've added numerous neighborhoods, following visitor requests and my curiosity. I've expanded to neighborhoods in Queens (thanks to my long-term "bi-borough relationship") and Manhattan. I now know much more about urban development, urban planning, and real-estate, thanks in part to my other career as a journalist. See reviews of my tours on TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Google. What differentiates me?Again, I specialize in Brooklyn (and have specific experience behind my tours beyond Brooklyn). I book nearly all tours directly with clients, via email (and sometimes phone), not via a third-party company or app. OK, that's not instant, or seamless, but you're dealing with a person, not a machine! If you book with me, I'm your guide, not a surprise sub-contractor. (If I'm busy, I might suggest someone, but you'd book separately.) Who have I worked with?I've led tours for:
My clients include:
I'm a licensed NYC tour guide (with an exemplary score on the exam, though it's not too applicable). I'm a longtime member of the Guides Association of NYC. What's my relevant history?Born in Brooklyn and educated at public schools on Long Island, I studied political science at Yale. An architecture class taught by the legendary Vincent Scully--plus a recognition of New Haven's complex (and troubled) history--catalyzed my interest in urbanism. I returned to Brooklyn in 1991 after some detours: journalism in West Virginia, a fellowship for journalists at Yale Law, a stint in South Africa. Over the decades, I've lived in four Brooklyn neighborhoods and sought apartments in many more. I have explored Brooklyn and beyond, especially western Queens and the Lower East Side/East Village in Manhattan. What's my other professional experience?I've been a journalist for 40+ years; I now write about urban issues for local (including Brooklyn) and national publications. Since 2005, I've written an influential watchdog blog, Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report (now on Substack), about the controversial real estate development that includes the Barclays Center. I'm working on a book about the project, and I offer tours/lectures about it. |
Norman Oder leads a tour in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Photo: Paulina Jędrzejewska
What are some reviews from visitors?“Norman gave us an intimate and informed private tour of Brooklyn—neighborhoods, architecture, history, food, and more—and did it in a way and time that worked best for our schedule.”— Dan Volkmer, Portland, OR “Thanks so much for the excellent walking tour. The whole gang was impressed and had a great time. We’ll spread the word to others coming to the city in the future.”— Jim Fritzler, Hastings College, NE “I greatly appreciated the time and effort you took. Obviously, your kindness and passion for what you do shows in the quality of the tour. When I come back to New York, I will book your services again.”— Reid Acree, Salisbury, NC “We benefited and learned a lot from your depth of knowledge about the area. Apart from the fabulous brownstone buildings, my next favourite part was your flexibility that allowed us to ‘pop in’ to the Brooklyn Museum and see The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago.”— Annette Conroy, Canberra, Australia “Williamsburg is such a diverse neighborhood, and it even becomes more so with Norman. You could wander through the streets without noticing the hidden treasures that Norman points out. It’s a great workout, too.”— Phil Encz, New York We all had a great time and everyone is singing your praises as a tour guide.”— Joan Hume, Westport Public Library, CT 
What are some reviews from the press?“The New York Like a Native tour guide talks and walks fast, and expects you to hurry up and do the same. Not always easy, but you cover a lot of ground....”— New York Daily News, 6/22/03 "Mr. Oder has an encyclopedic knowledge of the borough..." --Wall Street Journal, 11/17/07 "As the family was led by Brooklyn know-it-all Norman Oder..."--New York Daily News, 7/11/13 
Just two of my many Brooklyn/NYC-related bookshelves.
What have I written about Brooklyn?I interviewed author Suleiman Osman to explore How Brownstone Brooklyn Emerged. I dissected the myth that "one in seven Americans" can trace their roots to Brooklyn. I interviewed author Thomas Campanella about his book Brooklyn: the Once and Future City. Also, of course, see my tour guide blog. |