I loved this so much!! This is the neighborhood I grew up in & was so excited to see it in your newsletter (I'm a big fan). My favorite piece of info is that it's where the black and white cookie was invented :) Specifically, people believe, at Glaser's bakery (which is now sadly closed, but had a 116 year run!). Thank you for this from Yorkville!
There is a neighborhood called Yorkville in the Canadian city of Toronto (previously named York) as well. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was a well-known live music hub that played a role in launching the careers of Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young, among others.
I would love to know how and why "Tick Tock" and "Blue Jaw" got their sobriquets....
I'm accused of having that look sometimes....not what I was expecting, I thought it was because of something more esoteric, like being to hold his breath for a long time...
The other Yorkville kept coming up in my searches. If Joni, Neil and Gordon all came out of there it must be a cool place! I know Tick Tock got his name because of a nervous tic. I'll have to look up Blue Jaw.
Definitely a Café Anne feel to you trying to get some writing done in a local coffee shop; the coffee shop turning into a comedy club; laughter echoing off the concrete walls leading to the basement; a second trip--also during a volleyball clinic--only to be deterred by heavy rain
on another night, not a Tuesday, none of which deterred you...
This was so interesting. I had never heard of that astoundingly tragic shipping disaster before. What an awful accident, made all the worse by terrible cost-cutting. What sort of monster puts lead inside a lifejacket?
I should also add, I've never set foot in NYC in my life, but your posts are so rich with the history and evolution of its neighbourhoods. Fabulous stuff!!
So glad you liked it Helen, thank you! And agreed about the lead. You think they could at least have found something a little more buoyant if they were too cheap for cork.
WOW! I LOVE THE MENTION OF YOUR AMAZING DAUGHTER and her awesome volleyball skills a little tip don’t go to bagel places in Yorkville they are very dirty and bad but your cool daughter isn’t 😁😎😎😎
Found you thanks to your Reddit post! I’m a relatively new Yorkville resident and have been surprised at how quickly I fell for this neighborhood. Thanks for helping me learn more about it! Love the photos too.
Hi Leah, glad you found me! It's a great neighborhood with such an interesting history. If you are ever looking for a Tuesday night open mic comedy show, I'll give you the deets.
My neighborhood! Next time a volleyball clinic brings you here, sneak a visit to quirky cul de sac Henderson Place, and then take a look at the City and Suburban Homes, early model tenement housing, complete with air shafts designed to discourage tuberculosis. At the school nearby on York Avenue, you can still see the old name of Avenue A carved on the building's wall.
I grew up in 75 East End Avrnue in the 70s. Knew that building behind us quite well. Used to play handball against that wall across from the entrance. Never knew Robert Moses lived there. Paul Anka was the most famous resident of our building. Sorta remember that Madame Chiang's posse lived in the building, maybe that was apocryphal. And maybe a founder of Univision?
I loved this so much!! This is the neighborhood I grew up in & was so excited to see it in your newsletter (I'm a big fan). My favorite piece of info is that it's where the black and white cookie was invented :) Specifically, people believe, at Glaser's bakery (which is now sadly closed, but had a 116 year run!). Thank you for this from Yorkville!
Oh man, that is a good fact! RIP Glasers. Thanks Gina!
There is a neighborhood called Yorkville in the Canadian city of Toronto (previously named York) as well. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was a well-known live music hub that played a role in launching the careers of Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young, among others.
I would love to know how and why "Tick Tock" and "Blue Jaw" got their sobriquets....
Apparently, Magoon got the nickname Blue Jaw because he was always in need of a shave.
I'm accused of having that look sometimes....not what I was expecting, I thought it was because of something more esoteric, like being to hold his breath for a long time...
Definitely an anticlimactic origin story.
The other Yorkville kept coming up in my searches. If Joni, Neil and Gordon all came out of there it must be a cool place! I know Tick Tock got his name because of a nervous tic. I'll have to look up Blue Jaw.
Referring to 86th Street as “Sauerkraut Boulevard” from now on!
The kind of name you can smell!
Definitely a Café Anne feel to you trying to get some writing done in a local coffee shop; the coffee shop turning into a comedy club; laughter echoing off the concrete walls leading to the basement; a second trip--also during a volleyball clinic--only to be deterred by heavy rain
on another night, not a Tuesday, none of which deterred you...
Except Anne would probably talk her way onto the stage and perform an improv comedy bit.
Lead-loaded life vests! Haha!
More like death vests?
Appreciate the total lack of comment or explanation on “This Pee Wee.” It speaks for itself.
Q: How many photos do you typically shoot for each post and how many do you typically publish?
Too many. I probably publish around 10% ?
This was so interesting. I had never heard of that astoundingly tragic shipping disaster before. What an awful accident, made all the worse by terrible cost-cutting. What sort of monster puts lead inside a lifejacket?
I should also add, I've never set foot in NYC in my life, but your posts are so rich with the history and evolution of its neighbourhoods. Fabulous stuff!!
So glad you liked it Helen, thank you! And agreed about the lead. You think they could at least have found something a little more buoyant if they were too cheap for cork.
WOW! I LOVE THE MENTION OF YOUR AMAZING DAUGHTER and her awesome volleyball skills a little tip don’t go to bagel places in Yorkville they are very dirty and bad but your cool daughter isn’t 😁😎😎😎
Fake news. My daughter is actually amazing, but there are plenty of good bagel places in the neighborhood.
Excellent work !!! I really enjoyed reading this and admiring the photos. Thank you !
Have a good day.
You too, thanks Louis!
I used to eat a lot at Papaya King when I was a student at Dalton.
Does anyone remember the Ideal Restaurant on 86st. ?
Your photo of the flowers in the brick wall is incredible and I love it!
Thank you!
Great piece! Don't forget Ottomanelli Brothers! At one point I think they expanded to a few locations but still remain at 82nd and York, since 1900.
Found you thanks to your Reddit post! I’m a relatively new Yorkville resident and have been surprised at how quickly I fell for this neighborhood. Thanks for helping me learn more about it! Love the photos too.
Hi Leah, glad you found me! It's a great neighborhood with such an interesting history. If you are ever looking for a Tuesday night open mic comedy show, I'll give you the deets.
My neighborhood! Next time a volleyball clinic brings you here, sneak a visit to quirky cul de sac Henderson Place, and then take a look at the City and Suburban Homes, early model tenement housing, complete with air shafts designed to discourage tuberculosis. At the school nearby on York Avenue, you can still see the old name of Avenue A carved on the building's wall.
I grew up in 75 East End Avrnue in the 70s. Knew that building behind us quite well. Used to play handball against that wall across from the entrance. Never knew Robert Moses lived there. Paul Anka was the most famous resident of our building. Sorta remember that Madame Chiang's posse lived in the building, maybe that was apocryphal. And maybe a founder of Univision?