About East River Trading

A blog dedicated to highlighting New York's City and it's surrounding environment's rich local resources in the way of crafts, food, history, tours and places.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Mapping New York's shoreline 1609-2009

There are two lions who greet visitors to the NY Public Library. In the 1930's Mayor Fiorello La Guardia gave them nicknames. Meet 'Fortitude' the lion of the north. On the south side resides 'Patience'. You will see them on Fifth ave near 42nd street. The New York Public Library( the main branch) is now called the Steven A. Schwarzman building. Can you imagine having this legendary building named after yourself? It's a great source for maps and reference materials. (like my map above). Not to mention, there's a magnificient reading room. Now on view until June 2010 there is a show called 'Mapping New York's Shoreline 1609-209'. From the NYPL website: "Inspired by The New York Public Library's collection of Dutch, English, and early American mapping of the Atlantic Coastal regions, this exhibition exemplifies the best early and growing knowledge of the unknown shores along our neighboring rivers, bays, sounds, and harbors". If you want to see old New York and it's waterways up close, then you will love this show.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Winter Market

What do cranberries, hand made chocolate, curried green tomato pickles, pork pate, Hudson Valley seeds, organic lavender and locally produced kambucha have in common? They can all be found for a fair price at the New Amsterdam Market, which operates where the old Fulton Street Fish Market used to reside in the South Street Seaport. Shopping at The New Amsterdam Market is like taking a trip back in time to when New Yorkers ate regionally. Operating on a limited schedule, usually around the holidays. the New Amsterdam Market is a great shopping resource. See www.newamsterdammarket.org for upcoming schedule.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

My Home Long Ago

This is a photo from Eric Sanderson's awesome on-line project and book 'Mannahatta'(www.themannahattaproject.org). It demonstrates what the NW block of Ave C and 9th Street (La Plaza Cultural Community Garden) used to look like way back in 1609. This particular area in NYC's East Village used to be a spartina salt marsh filled with salt water tolerant cord grasses interspersed with brackish creeks. These marshes were filled with rich, organic matter. Fiddler Crabs, snails or mussels anyone? Meet Dr. Sanderson and have him sign his book on Thurday, Feb. 4th 7pm at Design Within Reach. RSVP . See website for details.