David J. Goodwin
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.
Talking with a Legend
Last week, I had the honor of discussing Left Bank of the Hudson with New York City radio legend and brilliant conversationalist Leonard Lopate on his new program, Leonard Lopate at Large, on WBAI (99.5 FM). A dream come true! Thank you, Mr. Lopate. You can hear the interview here.
Happy Presidents’ Day
If you’re fortunate enough to enjoy the day off from school or work, take a moment to honor and learn about your favorite president. Read a book or watch a documentary about him (and some day her). Who knows? Our past might rescue us from the present.
This Main Street is Alive
Recently, the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania invited Perfume Professor to give an afternoon lecture on Edward Steichen’s recently restored and showcased murals, “In Exaltation of Flowers.” (Her talk was well attended and received.) The Perfume Professor graciously asked me to accompany her on this brief adventure. I’m glad that I tagged along.
Yes, People Live in Lofts
When discussing my book, Left Bank of the Hudson: Jersey City and the Artists of 111 1st Street, at a public event or even among a handful of people, a fundamental question invariably arises: what might be done to retain–or better yet, draw–artists to a city undergoing development and gentrification?