Blog
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?
Library Way: Always a Surprise
While taking a break from my research at the Wertheim Study at the New York Public Library on a recent chilly Saturday afternoon, I strolled along Library Way, a public art collection celebrating world literature.
We Need Some Milk
2019 is starting right! We Need Some Milk, a podcast jointly based in Boston and Jersey City and focusing on urban issues and politics, invited me to appear on its first 2019 episode. A real honor.
A Walk in the Woods
This past December, I shared a few days with my family in my hometown in Western New York state. Although city life lured me away nearly two decades ago, I still miss the natural beauty of this particular corner of the Empire State. I suspect that I always will.
Happy New Year!
Wishing a happy New Year to my readers. May 2019 bring you fresh beginnings and welcome surprises. Spend the day with family and friends or simply relishing a quiet afternoon at home.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Wishing a wonderful Christmas and holiday season to all my readers. Treasure this time of year. I’ll be taking a short break from blogging to partake in the festivities. See you in 2019!
Re-Encountering Ebenezer: A Holiday Read
This time of year, I always try to read a work by Charles Dickens. I associate his Victorian novels with chilly days and early nights. Recently, I reread A Christmas Carol, one of the more beloved and adapted pieces of English literature.
Winslow Homer’s Atlantic Home
This past October, my wife and I shared a wonderful vacation in Portland, Maine. Not surprising to anyone acquainted with us, we visited several historic homes. The American artist Winslow Homer lived and worked in Maine for nearly thirty years. His studio was a must-see. Coincidentally, we signed up for the final tour of the…
A Diet of Books & Art
For the next several months, I’ll be spending a large amount of my leisure time at the New York Public Library. Why? I’m diving deep into a topic which I hope to shape into my next book.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wishing my readers a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope that you’ll be sharing a delicious meal with friends and family. On “Black Friday,” forgo the shopping. Continue to partake in the simple joys of hearth and home. Spend a day on the elements of life truly deserving thanks.
A Maine Dispatch
In late October, my wife and I traveled to Portland, Maine for a much anticipated vacation. Colleagues and friends told us great things about the city. Besides, shouldn’t one visit New England in autumn? Portland’s concentration and quality of creative businesses and arts institutions delighted and impressed us. Bookstores, cafes, restaurants, quirky shops, museums–Portland has…
Washington Irving & The Legend of Jersey City
On October 25, 2018, I participated in a Halloween event at the Apple Tree House in Jersey City, New Jersey. The program was entitled “Washington Irving & The Legend of Jersey City.” The Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs and the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy served as hosts, and the New Jersey Council for the…
A Halloween Classic
Every October, I celebrate the Halloween season by reading a collection or two of ghost stories. I fell in love with such tales during my childhood. Recently, I happened upon an excellent documentary on the author H. P. Lovecraft. In this film, John Carpenter, famous for directing Halloween and other genre classics, recollected first encountering…
Autumn Intermission
Due to looming deadlines and two public events scheduled for next week, I’ll be taking a short sabbatical from my blog. I aim to return before October’s end.
Christopher Columbus & Washington Irving
The current historic interpretation and understanding of Christopher Columbus stands as complicated. To put it mildly. Controversy aside, Christopher Columbus figured prominently in the formation of a uniquely American cultural identity. This seems to be forgotten today amid our debates over identity politics and historical grievances. Proof: Washington Irving, the writer with whom I’ve been…
Small Discoveries of Wonder
While sitting outside a tiny coffee shop in the Upper West Side in Manhattan on a recent afternoon, I looked across the street and noticed the architectural details of a seemingly nondescript building (ground floor business with several stories of apartments). The building’s artistic flourishes surprised and delighted me.
Tales of Our Cities: Jersey City’s Book Festival
Every September, the Jersey City Free Public Library organizes an annual book festival in downtown Jersey City. The event showcases local authors and promises something for readers of all ages. This past Sunday marked the 10th Annual Tales of Our Cities. While researching my book, I relied heavily on the treasures in the New Jersey…
The Apple Tree House: Jersey City’s Salon
Last week, I attended an entertaining and fascinating lecture on the Lenape Indians, the indigenous people inhabiting the New York metropolitan region and the entire Garden State prior to European exploration and colonization. Where might you ask? At the Apple Tree House. Right in Jersey City.
The Sad State of Henry Hudson
Deep into several research projects, including one exploring early Jersey City history, I’ve been leafing through books and jotting down notes at the New York Public Library or the Jersey City Free Public Library on many evenings and weekend afternoons.
Washington Irving: An Autumn Rendezvous
During the past several weeks, I have been spending an usual amount of time researching and contemplating the first American writer to stand on the international stage–Washington Irving, who penned such beloved classics as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
When the English Fall: A Few Thoughts
While recently browsing in Little City Books, my favorite bookstore on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, I happened across When the English Fall by David Williams. The book was marked as a 2017 indie favorite. Trusting the curatorial instincts of the staff, I bought the novel. I’m happy that I did.
Art & Imagination: Paintings from the Whitney Museum
During the past several months, I’ve made a concerted effort to take full advantage of the rich, world-class, and often free cultural amenities in the New York metropolitan region. Recently, I continued this resolution by visiting the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Escape the City (from within the City): The Cloisters
For the majority of my adult life, I’ve worked and lived in major East Coast cities. I enjoy city life. Much like many city dwellers, I occasionally find myself overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise and need to touch a quieter life. More so these days.
August Will: A Lost Glimpse of Jersey City
In several recent posts, I’ve respectively mused upon the urban pastoral and Jersey City’s relationship with nature. During the nineteenth century, especially the decades following the American Civil War, Jersey City industrialized, rapidly shedding its village-like character and more bucolic features.
The Jersey City of Yore
During the past several weeks, I’ve been researching the early history of Jersey City. Mainly, this consists of me pouring over books, prints, and ephemera in the research rooms of the New York Public Library and the Jersey City Free Public Library. Mind you: this is not a chore. The hours fly by.