I've never been to New York, yet I visit every week - and this week's visit is made visceral by the sights (Rob's images), the sounds (Rob's sound is back on track :-) ) , and by the stories - enhanced this week by Joel Meyerowitz's personal recollections. What. A. Treat.
Rob, thank you so much for these - as always the sheer breadth is breathtaking - from light hearted whimsy to police brutality, serial killings and wildlife sightings.
Pro skateboarder Tyshawn Jones also grew up in Soundview, south of the Bruckner. He's one of the only skaters to win Thrasher's Skater of the Year twice and currently has two pro shoes with Adidas.
I just watched some videos, wow! My best trick was the Marty McFly stomp and catch, so needless to say I was pretty impressed. Also loved seeing all the random NYC locations where he skates. thanks for sharing!
Absolutely superb post. Loved having the audio playing while I read it too.
I was a little surprised there wasn’t more discussion of the new ferry route! Soundview has been on my list of places to visit solely because it’s a ferry terminus. Now I know what to expect when I finally get there!
I was going to ask about "asses up", but you explained it well. I very much doubt it would be tolerated today if knowledge of its existence was circulated.
Another awesome post! Loved listening to the soundtrack and the photos and of course the history! Taking the whole audio clip, listening to it, extracting the moments out of it and then putting it all together, it’s a task!
Thanks Michael! Sometimes I think I should put the audio at the top of the newsletter so people can be aurally challenged while reading. Maybe I'll test that out next time.
Joel's recollection of the neighborhood immediately made me think of Hey Arnold. Even though I've since learned the show canonically takes place in Washington state (absolute bullshit IMO), I always imagined Arnold and his friends living somewhere in The Bronx or on the northern tip of Manhattan. In one episode, Arnold and the kids build a baseball field out of a vacant lot. Arnold's "New York" seems very similar to Joel's!
When I read this, I assumed Hey Arnold was some Different Strokes spinoff I had missed. That, as you know, is not the case. But it is a Pee Wee's Playhouse spinoff, which makes it even cooler. The short Arnold Escapes From Church claymation I just watched (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAFg3kGT5js) was exactly how I needed to start my day, so thank you! Also, it looks like at least part of Arnold's world in the animated series was inspired by Brooklyn landscapes (according to Wikipedia, at least), so you're not far off!
Thank you! I wish I could capture all these places in different seasons and light, but only so many days remain! Everything and everywhere looks and feels so different depending on the time of year, time of day, weather, what side of the street you are walking on, what side of the street you are looking at, what you had for breakfast, etc. The good news is, you can never get bored!
The Bronx is the only NYC borough I haven't lived in, hence I'm not as familiar with it as the other four. Love these online tours, particularly since I decamped to SoCal some years ago. Sometimes I miss that gritty old city!
A tie between Manhattan and Staten Island. Manhattan because of the amazing energy and having everything at close range. Staten Island for the people, Italian restaurants, parks, and close access to history (Richmondtown in particular).
Every time you feature an area I have a need to go there. I want to see in person the bridge and its reflection, those large apartment buildings, the tiny authentic pizza place and the camouflage house. Thank you for bringing each small area of this big city to life.
That Joni Mitchell video gave me new life today. Thank you for sharing. Once again, this publication brings light into my life.
As I've probably said, I live about an hour west of Chicago, and we have a lot of brilliant parks around here, but the best experience I ever had was at the end of last fall, my husband and I went for a walk at dusk in a never-farmed marshland that has the state's highest protection order, Wilkinson-Renwick Marsh. It's just one short trail, and we often go there to find wild catnip for our cat, who will kill for it. Anyway, we got to the end of the trail, and my husband asked if I wanted to continue past where the official trail ends, and just as he asks, a chorus of what sounded like 50 coyotes all started howling and baying and making the spookiest cacophony I've ever heard. That was all the answer we needed to get the hell out of there.
I don't think we were in any danger, but I like to respect their space just in case. It was probably fewer than a dozen, and we didn't see a single one, but it sounded like a huge pack with darkness settling around us.
Yes! Finally my old neighborhood is included! Spent a good chunk of my adult life there. Have you done Unionport yet? The Soundview neighborhood’s gem is its park. The juxtaposition of wild oasis and scrap metal yards across the river is what makes the Bronx a special place. A range of nostalgia came rushing back. Thank you!
"Almost didn't see this one" made me snort out loud.
Maybe I need glasses?
I've never been to New York, yet I visit every week - and this week's visit is made visceral by the sights (Rob's images), the sounds (Rob's sound is back on track :-) ) , and by the stories - enhanced this week by Joel Meyerowitz's personal recollections. What. A. Treat.
Rob, thank you so much for these - as always the sheer breadth is breathtaking - from light hearted whimsy to police brutality, serial killings and wildlife sightings.
Pro skateboarder Tyshawn Jones also grew up in Soundview, south of the Bruckner. He's one of the only skaters to win Thrasher's Skater of the Year twice and currently has two pro shoes with Adidas.
Love the wheelbarrow shot!
I just watched some videos, wow! My best trick was the Marty McFly stomp and catch, so needless to say I was pretty impressed. Also loved seeing all the random NYC locations where he skates. thanks for sharing!
Absolutely superb post. Loved having the audio playing while I read it too.
I was a little surprised there wasn’t more discussion of the new ferry route! Soundview has been on my list of places to visit solely because it’s a ferry terminus. Now I know what to expect when I finally get there!
Thanks Tom! Technically, the ferry lands in Clason Point, which I wrote about last year, though I may have neglected to mention it there as well...
Eaten by Bronx coyote would be an excellent way to die.
There has only been one reported fatal coyote attack in the US so I guess it would be unique, but excellent?
I Googled and yes the South of France resto is still open. Serving Puerto Rican fare, of course.
Well, Puerto Rico is definitely South of France.
I was going to ask about "asses up", but you explained it well. I very much doubt it would be tolerated today if knowledge of its existence was circulated.
(RIP Jules Feiffer).
I think it's poised to make a comeback. Masochism is very 2025
I still go to Yankee Pizza after moving out of Soundview several years ago. There's very few pizza places in my new neighborhood.
Another awesome post! Loved listening to the soundtrack and the photos and of course the history! Taking the whole audio clip, listening to it, extracting the moments out of it and then putting it all together, it’s a task!
Thanks Michael! Sometimes I think I should put the audio at the top of the newsletter so people can be aurally challenged while reading. Maybe I'll test that out next time.
Joel's recollection of the neighborhood immediately made me think of Hey Arnold. Even though I've since learned the show canonically takes place in Washington state (absolute bullshit IMO), I always imagined Arnold and his friends living somewhere in The Bronx or on the northern tip of Manhattan. In one episode, Arnold and the kids build a baseball field out of a vacant lot. Arnold's "New York" seems very similar to Joel's!
When I read this, I assumed Hey Arnold was some Different Strokes spinoff I had missed. That, as you know, is not the case. But it is a Pee Wee's Playhouse spinoff, which makes it even cooler. The short Arnold Escapes From Church claymation I just watched (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAFg3kGT5js) was exactly how I needed to start my day, so thank you! Also, it looks like at least part of Arnold's world in the animated series was inspired by Brooklyn landscapes (according to Wikipedia, at least), so you're not far off!
“Seasonal differences play a big role in shaping our perception of a neighborhood”
This is so true. Thanks for another wonderful neighborhood overview
Thank you! I wish I could capture all these places in different seasons and light, but only so many days remain! Everything and everywhere looks and feels so different depending on the time of year, time of day, weather, what side of the street you are walking on, what side of the street you are looking at, what you had for breakfast, etc. The good news is, you can never get bored!
The Bronx is the only NYC borough I haven't lived in, hence I'm not as familiar with it as the other four. Love these online tours, particularly since I decamped to SoCal some years ago. Sometimes I miss that gritty old city!
That’s impressive you’ve done 4 out of 5! What was your favorite (of the 4) to live in?
A tie between Manhattan and Staten Island. Manhattan because of the amazing energy and having everything at close range. Staten Island for the people, Italian restaurants, parks, and close access to history (Richmondtown in particular).
I've been a big fan of Joel's work years and I knew you had a connection, but to get some of his prose this week was a treat.
Yeah, he has a way with words!
This is so good. The photos, combined with the old anecdotes, just feel like New York.
Appreciate it Lorenzo! Sometimes it feels like 10 years ago is old New York
Every time you feature an area I have a need to go there. I want to see in person the bridge and its reflection, those large apartment buildings, the tiny authentic pizza place and the camouflage house. Thank you for bringing each small area of this big city to life.
Thanks Charlotte! If you do make it up there, Soundview Park is definitely worth a visit. The pizza place, I can’t vouch for…
That Joni Mitchell video gave me new life today. Thank you for sharing. Once again, this publication brings light into my life.
As I've probably said, I live about an hour west of Chicago, and we have a lot of brilliant parks around here, but the best experience I ever had was at the end of last fall, my husband and I went for a walk at dusk in a never-farmed marshland that has the state's highest protection order, Wilkinson-Renwick Marsh. It's just one short trail, and we often go there to find wild catnip for our cat, who will kill for it. Anyway, we got to the end of the trail, and my husband asked if I wanted to continue past where the official trail ends, and just as he asks, a chorus of what sounded like 50 coyotes all started howling and baying and making the spookiest cacophony I've ever heard. That was all the answer we needed to get the hell out of there.
I don't think we were in any danger, but I like to respect their space just in case. It was probably fewer than a dozen, and we didn't see a single one, but it sounded like a huge pack with darkness settling around us.
Thanks Justin! That Joni clip is such a great moment. I hoped it might be a nice palate cleanser after all the Phil Spector/Son of Sam talk…
The sound of a howling pack of coyotes is so eerie, beautiful but not something you necessarily want to walk towards. Where do you guys live?
Yes! Finally my old neighborhood is included! Spent a good chunk of my adult life there. Have you done Unionport yet? The Soundview neighborhood’s gem is its park. The juxtaposition of wild oasis and scrap metal yards across the river is what makes the Bronx a special place. A range of nostalgia came rushing back. Thank you!
I love that juxtaposition between nature and industry, too! Those are the kinds of places that make the city special. It's a great park.
I have photographed a little in Unionport but no write up yet. Thanks Roberto!