[Commandant’s House in snow in 1914] One of the great things about doing tours around the city is the unexpected treasures that you come upon. One of these lies at the edge of Vinegar Hill and end of Evans Street. Traveling the streets of Vinegar Hill is a joy in itself, the cobblestones and old […]

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Here’s one of our weekly features from the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE). This week’s interview is with Tom Fox, President of New York Water Taxi. CUE: Where are you from originally? Fox: Flatbush, Brooklyn. I lived there until about two years ago—except for a few years in both Vietnam and Washington DC. CUE: […]

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Most of us know of the Grand Prospect Hall through the ubiquitous television commercials starring its current owners, Michael and Alice Halkias (“The Grand Prospect Hall – we make your dreams come true!”). Prospect Hall, as it was known until its newest incarnation, has a very special place in the history of Brooklyn and in […]

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The Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) found Rolling Press owner Eugene Lee through the Sustainable Business Network NYC (SBNYC), a network of NYC business owners dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse and responsible local living economy in New York City. For more information on SBNYC check out www.sbnyc.org. Q: Where are you from originally? […]

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The Wallabout Market, once the second largest market in the world. Those encountering Rapeleye Street on the Cobble Hill/Red Hook border may not wonder much about it except to ponder how it’s pronounced. The Rapalje (original spelling) family history goes back to the very origins of New York City when it was called Nieuw Netherlands […]

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The Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) had an opportunity to speak with Jasper Goldman, Senior Policy Analyst at the Municipal Art Society of New York, about the film City of Water and the future of our waterfront. To learn more about the subject, come and see the compelling new documentary by the Municipal Art […]

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Observing a recent and fascinating blog debate (originated on Brooklynian.com) about the oldest business in Park Slope (it is most probably Neergaard’s)—set my mind reeling with another business, a most unusual structure with green domes on the corner of 25th Street and Fifth Avenue across from Green-Wood Cemetery. The Weir Greenhouse (now McGovern-Weir, pictured here) […]

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The Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) found Vox Pop owner and CEO Sander Hicks through the Sustainable Business Network NYC, a network of businesses dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse and responsible local living economy in New York City. For more information on SBNYC click here. CUE: Where are you from originally? Hicks: I […]

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(Thanksgiving in 1911) From at least the early part of the twentieth century until about the early 1960’s, Brooklyn children celebrated a curious custom on Thanksgiving morning. While Mom was cooking the turkey, kids would put on old, over-size, ragged clothes—usually belonging to one of their parents— and go door to door with small hands […]

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Standing at 43rd Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, you can look at any of three corners and see great architecture alongside a microcosm of the neighborhood’s history. On the southwest corner of Fourth stands one of the most distinctive and saddest structures in Sunset Park. Originally the 18th Precinct Station House and Stable, […]

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The Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) found Gnarly Vines owner Brian Robinson through the Sustainable Business Network NYC (SBNYC), a network of NYC business owners dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse and responsible local living economy in New York City. For more information on SBNYC check out www.sbnyc.org. Gnarly Vines is located at 350 […]

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[Photo courtesy of Brooklynian.com] Approaching the corner of Bedford Avenue and Dean Street in Crown Heights, one would have a hard time conjuring up the magnificent structure that once graced the corner in the bare bones of what stands there now. At the turn of the century, Grant Square in Crown Heights was one of […]

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Aunt Suzie owner Irene LoRe is a neighbor of the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) and the Executive Director of the newly formed 5th Avenue BID (Business Improvement District). She took time out of her busy schedule to talk to CUE about the Avenue’s past— and future. CUE: Where are you from originally? LoRe […]

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With the baseball postseason in full swing, we wanted to reveal a little local lore. At the beginning of this year, it was announced that moves were underway to change the name of J. J. Byrne Park to Washington Park—actually back to Washington Park. The interesting thing is that, over the years, there have been […]

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Michael Hurwitz is the Director of Greenmarket, a Program of the Council on the Environment of NYC (CENYC). Hurwitz will be speaking on the subject of “Food Miles: An Inside Look at Food from Farm (or Factory) to Table” at Green Brooklyn.. Green City on September 18th. For more information on this full day event, […]

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Located next to the decidedly utilitarian Van Brunt Station of the Post Office on Ninth Street, a beautiful blue jewel of a building – certainly not its original color – was designed as a residence for one William B. Cronyn in 1855 and remodeled in 1895. The Blue Jewel of Ninth Street is a remarkable […]

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On Saturday, August 16th, a “Maryland 400” remembrance ceremony was held at the Michael A. Rawley American Legion Post, located between 8th and 9th Streets and Third & Fourth Avenues. A faded New York State historic blue and yellow sign has been hanging in front of the Post on 9th Street commemorating the “Maryland Heroes” […]

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Here’s one of our weekly features from the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE). This week’s interview is with Green Spa NY Blog and The Spa co-owner Maria Ingardia. CUE found her through the Sustainable Business Network NYC, a network of businesses dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse and responsible local living economy in New […]

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Few people know about Brother Islands because they are so difficult to reach. But they have a long and fascinating story that is deeply entwined with the history of New York. Situated in the East River slightly north of Riker’s Island, North and South Brother Islands were claimed in 1614 by Captain Adriaen Block for […]

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Passengers on the L train speeding through Williamsburg and Bushwick seldom stop to think about one of the most unique and little known cemeteries in New York as they pass by. But if you look out the window at Wilson Avenue before reaching Broadway Junction, there it is. Close to the train tracks, with the […]

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Back in 1968, James Hurley and pilot Joseph Haynes set out to research an old neighborhood, Weeksville, for a Pratt Neighborhood College Workshop. After consulting old maps, they decided to search for signs of the old neighborhood from the air. Flying overhead, they noticed an oddly situated lane with four run-down wooden houses set back […]

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Few of us realize why the first Thursday in June –“Brooklyn-Queens Day”– is a holiday for the public school children of New York City. It was not always the case. Between 1959 and 2006, for instance, only children from Brooklyn and Queens enjoyed the day off. And prior to 1959, the holiday was celebrated exclusively […]

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Here’s one of our weekly features from the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE). This week’s interiew is with Drosera owner Marielle Anzelone. CUE was introduced to her through the Sustainable Business Network NYC, which is a network of businesses dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse and responsible local living economy in New York City. […]

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Here’s one of our weekly features from the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE). This week’s interview is with Get Fresh owner Caroll Lee. Get Fresh, which is located at 370 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, is part of the local living economy stressing organic, local foods. Q: How did Get Fresh Get Started? A: […]

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When the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) began our Gowanus Cruises in 1997, we were initially surprised to learn that we were following in a long tradition of pleasure cruising on the Gowanus Canal! Indeed, during the 19th century, the Gowanus Bay was an extremely popular site for sailing and enjoyment well before it […]

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