David J. Goodwin
Washington Irving in a Neighborhood Cafe
On May 19, 2019, I presented my talk, “Washington Irving: A Knickerbocker in New Jersey,” on behalf of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy at my favorite neighborhood cafe, Froth on Franklin.
A Late Spring Break
Due to a few upcoming speaking engagements and an ongoing research project, I’ll be taking a short break from the blog. I should return within a week or two. In the meantime, feel free to peruse older posts.
My Spring Bookshelf
Although I’m deep into a research project, I still find myself reading during my leisure time. I just can’t keep away from printed matter. As the weather improves and the days grow longer, I hope to spend many hours with a book in hand. Preferably outside.
Trees Grow in Brooklyn
Last week, I ventured from my cozy nest in Jersey City to Brooklyn, the epicenter of the contemporary creative world in New York. I didn’t seek out live music, funky cafes, eclectic bookshops, or farm-to-table restaurants. I rode the subway to Brooklyn to enjoy nature. Yes, nature.
A Spring Ritual
In recent past posts, I’ve reflected upon nature and the arrival of spring. This season of renewal has captured my private thoughts as well. The physical, imaginative, and spiritual worlds seem refreshed and expectant.
Oases in the City: Looking to One Future
While deep in my research at the New York Public Library on a undisclosed topic, I recently came across the 1923 edition of New York Walk Book, a hiking guide for the metropolitan area. The book provides itineraries, guides, and maps for both urban flaneurs and nature lovers. This wonderful volume inflamed my imagination.
The Passing of Winter
On the first day of spring last week, I stood in my small urban backyard and listened to hidden birds sing. Daffodil shoots peaked from beneath the soil. Yet, the wind still carried a chill touch.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Before you indulge in corned beef, soda bread, and a perfectly poured Guinness, devote a portion of this St. Patrick’s Day to the appreciation and enjoyment of Irish letters. Irish writers have penned some of the best literature in the English-speaking world. Read a poem or begin a novel before heading to your favorite pub.…
A Quiet Moment (in New York?)
After a late winter snowstorm a week or so ago, I walked along Central Park and paused to admire the landscape art of Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. For a moment, the world seemed quiet and calm. I felt a closeness to nature and forgot the everyday thoughts and worries haunting my mind. Those…
Shattering Concrete: Urban Agriculture
Recently, I watched Urban Roots, a documentary on the urban agriculture movement in Detroit, Michigan. The film was released in 2011, just as the Motor City approached the height of its fiscal and governmental crisis. The state of Michigan assumed control of the city in 2012, and the city declared bankruptcy in 2013.