Tour “The Insalubrious Valley” with NCA Historian Mitch Waxman – AUG 5

Newtown Creek Alliance historian Mitch Waxman will be leading a walk through the industrial heartlands of New York City, exploring the “insalubrious valley” of the Newtown Creek.

Insalubrious Valley Tour
August 5, 2012
11am – 1pm
See meet up details below
Tickets are 20$ (includes the walk with Mitch as well as a meal at Clinton Diner, where additional speakers will join us for a cold beverage)

About this tour:
The currently undefended border of Brooklyn and Queens, and the place where the industrial revolution actually happened, provides a dramatic and picturesque setting for this exploration. We’ll visiting two movable bridges, the still standing remains of an early 19th century highway, and a forgotten tributary of the larger waterway. As we walk along the Newtown Creek and explore the “wrong side of the tracks” – you’ll hear tales of the early chemical industry, “Dead Animal and Night Soil Wharfs”, colonial era heretics and witches and the coming of the railroad. The tour concludes at the famed Clinton Diner in Maspeth- where scenes from the Martin Scorcese movie “Goodfellas” were shot. Lunch at Clinton Diner is included with the ticket.

Meetup info:
We will meet at the corner of Grand street and Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn at 11 a.m. on August 5th, 2012. The L train serves a station at Bushwick Avenue and Grand Street, and the Q54 and Q59 bus lines stop nearby as well. Check MTA.info as ongoing weekend construction often causes delays and interruptions. Drivers, it would be wise to leave your vehicle in the vicinity of the Clinton Diner in Maspeth, Queens or near the start of the walk at Grand St. and Morgan Avenue (you can pick up the bus to Brooklyn nearby the Clinton Diner).

Be prepared:
We’ll be encountering broken pavement, sometimes heavy truck traffic as we move through a virtual urban desert. Dress and pack appropriately for hiking, closed-toe shoes are highly recommended.

Choose your meal:
We will collect your meal selection by email after you have secured a ticket. The Clinton Diner can do…

1. Cheese burger deluxe
2. Grilled chicken over garden salad
3. Turkey B L T triple decker sandwich with fries
4. Spaghetti with tomato sauce or butter (veggie option)
5. Greek salad medium (veggie option)
6. Greek Salad wrap with French fries (veggie option)

…plus one can of soda or 16oz bottle poland spring. Think it over and look out for an email from us!