Fulton Fish Market circa 1936, courtesy of NYPL

Now on display at the Fulton Market Building, where local fishermen once stacked and iced their daily catch, are several new works by local artists. Although it has been reinvented since its original opening nearly two centuries ago, the bustling indoor market is still packed with farmed goods and gourmet food stands each Sunday. But the stalls themselves have gotten a makeover this summer.

Drawing inspiration from early paintings of the South Street Seaport, six up-and-coming artists have been commissioned to create artwork that will inhabit the stalls. Each piece speaks to the history of the Seaport’s market, while also examining the evolving landscape of local markets in nabes across New York City.

Outside the Fulton Stall Market at the Seaport

Head to the Seaport‘s Fulton Stall Market at South Street between Fulton and Beekman Streets next Sunday. Load up on the season’s bounty at the same time as you enjoy creative reflections on the future of food shopping. Is the nationwide resurgence of local markets sustainable? Are we on our way to a local market majority, or do we still have far to go?

“New Lenses” is on view every Sunday 11-6pm, through September the end of September.

Next to Flushing, Corona is one of the most ethnically diverse nabes in Queens. Folks from practically every region of the world have settled here since the original Dutch colonization in the 17th century, thus creating an environment rich with cultural centers and features.

Among its historical souvenirs, Corona is lucky enough to have claim to the home of Louis Armstrong, not only one of the most celebrated musicians in American history, but also an important leader in the civil rights movement. With such fame and success, “Satchmo” had his pick of glamorous places to settle down, but chose a modest urban residence instead. Other big jazz names like Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horn also called Corona home during their lifetimes.

After he passed, Louie’s house became a National Historic Landmark and was eventually given to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Over the years the unassuming address has been transformed into the foremost public exhibition of his and his wife Lucille’s vast personal recording collection, scrapbooks, letters, hundreds of home-recorded tapes, thousands of photographs, band memorabilia and much more. The museum also presents public concerts and lectures aiming to preserve and promote the legacy of Armstrong in the community.

Take the 7 train to 103rd St-Corona PLaza and go back in time on a guided house tour set to audio clips of Louis’s homemade recordings; hear him practicing his trumpet, enjoying a meal, or having lively conversations with friends.

image courtesy of Carl MiKoy

The Lower East Side of New York is one of the oldest and most historically rich neighborhoods in New York. Hardworking immigrant families from all over Europe made their homes here more than a century ago. And while it is now a predominantly Latino community, with gentrification paving the way for a new, young crowd, the remnants of Jewish and German cultures are still prominent, as well.

Back in the day, Hester Street, at Essex Street near Seward Park, was home to the largest pushcart market in the city, a hub for peddlers of all kinds. Nowadays the food offerings are still local, but lobster rolls, damn good barbecue, and gourmet pretzels and cupcakes have replaced the fish and bread of old. Each weekend more than 60 vendors (many vary from week to week) sell vintage clothing, crafts and jewelry, fresh farm produce and the most delicious street fair food imaginable. “We knew that if we had great food, the rest would fall into place,”  fair cofounder SuChin Pak told Time Out New York.

image courtesy of Misterteacher

There is something for everyone here, and that’s exactly the point: a reflection of this dynamic neighborhood in all it’s diverse, evolving glory. Not only does the fair bring LESers together, but it also attracts folks from other nabes who wouldn’t normally venture that far south.

Visit every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, through December.

Once known as “Little Bohemia,” the West Village maintains its century-old reputation, attracting creative types to the leafy, twisting residential streets. The High Line Park now connects this nabe to the galleries and boutiques of Chelsea and Meat Packing, making it even more desirable as an arts hub. Of course rent isn’t cheap here, but hopefuls who are still true to la boheme can add their name to the wait-list for life at “West Beth,” the world’s largest affordable artistic community. Today 300 artists, dancers, actors, designers, writers and their families call it both home and studio. The community room at West Beth can be booked for rehearsals, non-profit organization meetings and numerous other neighborhood oriented needs, even for those who don’t reside there. Beginning August 14th West Beth, on Bethune St, will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a group exhibition in the West Beth Gallery. Visit Thursday-Sunday, 1-6pm, for a chance to experience a retrospective of one of the West Village’s most artistically influential addresses.

To visit, get off at Court Square and walk to Jackson Ave & Davis St (23 St.), across from MOMA’s PS-1 museum. Check out this interview about 5 Pointz with curator, Mendes One:

Winter Hill (East Somerville) By Gig Harmon

Zoe Brookes, a 23-year-old  graphic designer, left Providence after college for a bigger city with a strong artistic pulse. She and her artist boyfriend, Chad, loved Cambridge, but couldn’t afford the lifestyle they longed for–a quiet space to work and relax without the noise and clutter of roommates. They found their happy medium in East Somerville, a small nabe skirting Cambridge. “We were  informed by family friends that the Red Line (Cambridge, Somerville, Medford) was becoming more artsy,” said Brookes. “It was actually easy to live outside of Boston and commute via the buses and MBTA subway.”

Tell us a little bit about Somerville and why you moved here?

Somerville is an artsy area that houses a lot of Tufts University students and is rapidly becoming the new “South Boston.” Still rough around the edges, we live at the bottom of a beautiful street with a small shopping plaza and Red Line station (includes a hardware store, a grocery store, a CVS, coffee shops, a book store, children toy stores, etc.), a pet supply store, several gas stations, a car wash and a florist. Our area of Somerville is immediately bordered by Cambridge, which has a lot of greenery and is very popular for young families to have their first home.

Chad and I moved from Providence after we graduated because we needed the financial and job security that comes with a larger city. Providence is suffering from major unemployment, and most of the local art businesses are flooded with cheaper student work, so it seemed like a logical move. Providence is awesome, if you are a student, but after graduating, to keep the job momentum up, we moved.

How much rent do you pay? Does it include utilities and other fees?

$1300/month, which includes all utilities except for electricity. We pay for our own cable and internet and have a coin operated laundry system in the basement.

Did you use a broker/agent?

We used Craigslist, but we also spoke with about five different agents from the area and, in the end, we got our place from an agent who actually shares an office with the building we moved into. They did not charge a fee because they wanted us to sign immediately.

How long did you plan or research before the move?

We knew we were going to move because we got REALLY tired of sharing space and time with roommates, but we loved the Cambridge area so we had our eyes open for available places for about 6 months leading up to the move.

What was the first step you took in searching? Where did you go from there?

We kept an eye on the listed prices for several months to figure out what type of apartment went for what price in the areas that we wanted to live in. Because of that, we learned what our maximum price could be, if it was reasonable, and what sorts of sacrifices we might have to make for our ideal apartment.

What other tools or resources did you use? Where they helpful?

We also checked out the personal sites of several agencies, as well as the Globe’s website and the Herald’s website. We also asked family friends for recommendations.

What were your criteria at the outset of the move?

Lots of light, cats allowed, 1-1.5 bedroom, GOOD kitchen with updated appliances, hardwood floors, laundry on site, large living room and/or office space, nearby the local commuter rail for job commuting, nearby to a grocery store, lawn or deck.

What sold you on this apartment?

The kitchen is beautiful, the apartment has a TON of light, and we have a shared roof deck with an amazing view of Boston.

Did you have to make any compromises? Why?

The place is a little small and the neighborhood is between a really nice place and a more grungy place. We decided that seeing as we don’t usually hang around immediately outside of our homes, it was a worthy sacrifice. As for the space, we’re still trying to work that one out.

How did you achieve the physical move?

For both places Chad borrowed his family’s truck and/or Honda and we started moving out in stages to the new place, storing furniture in the house itself (we signed an early lease on our current place) or into his family’s barn. On the final moving day from Providence, we used a U-Haul from the barn (1 hour away in central Mass.) with help from his family.

What was most frustrating/helpful aspect overall?

The agents were pushy. Our parents were helpful.

How do the nabe and the apartment meet your expectations? Anything surprising?

For the most part, it’s great and we are 85% satisfied. We did not realize that the gas station next door was also a repair shop and a towing drop off zone, so it can get a little loud, but not at night, luckily. As of now, that’s it.

First thing you bought when you moved in?

Chad is an Ikea nut, so we picked up a wall-mounted magazine rack for the bathroom and legs for all of our bookcases, so that we can now use them as benches too. We also got new bedding and a general new color scheme for the bathroom and bedroom so that we could feel like we were starting fresh.

If you could do anything different/advice for new movers?

Don’t let agents boss you around! Just keep an eye on the average prices for the area that you like and note what they come with (utilities, laundry, pets allowed, etc.). The biggest pet peeve of mine was when an agent told me that I had to sacrifice laundry, light, and most my of utilities for a “prime place” that was already too far away from my commuting area and in a sketchy neighborhood. Also, if in doubt, try to deal with a landlord directly and get as much in writing as possible.

“The viewer in some sense becomes the viewed,” Gormley told the New York Times when his exhibit opened. “Like a statue, they become static sculptures themselves looking up.” Passersby can continue to be caught off guard until August 15th.

photo courtesy of jerseygal2009

Harvard Square by Images by Arden

10:20 am It’s a windy, bright Thursday morning when my friend drops me off near Harvard Square on her way to work. Before I explore the center of the oldest college town in America, I walk east along the paved path that hugs the Charles River, where bikers and joggers are enjoying the first warm days of the year.

Oonas by KRob2005

11:05 am It’s the last week of the semester and the only people walking the twisting cobble streets seem to be students weighed down with books. On Massachusetts Ave a purple vintage coat on a rack outside of Oona’s catches my eye. I step inside the thrift store to look through the vintage jewelry.

Harvard Yard by First Daffodils

11:40 am The expansive Harvard campus is the star of this nabe, so I make sure to walk through Harvard Yard and the adjacent Cambridge Common to tour some of the towering memorials and old buildings. Structures survive from almost every period since the early 18th century. Even the original street layout from 1631 is still in use today.

Old Burying Ground by Images by Arden

1:00 pm Thoroughly lost among the maze of academic buildings, I ask a hotel concierge for directions to the Harvard Coop (pronounce it “coop” or face humiliation), the famous bookstore in the center of the business district. Turns out I’m just a few blocks away, and once I pass the Old Burying Ground with its worn gravestones and lush, low trees, I hit the busy intersection of Peabody and Brattle Streets.

Harvard Coop by jean_qli

Brand name stores, little boutiques and funky looking bars line the wide streets. Earlier this morning I spoke with Leslie Morgan-Dwinell of ApartmentHub.com who told me that housing prices have gone up about 25% in the last three years, thanks to gentrification. Harvard Square used to have more artists and musicians, but it has taken a corporate turn and now attracts more of a corporate type crowd. “If people are looking for a more neighborhood vibe, then they will want to live in nearby Davis Square, as opposed to the eight minute radius of Harvard Square,”Leslie told me. Still, she adds, the young professional couples who are relocating here from Boston tend to have certain philosophical, creative and intellectual expectations.

Dado Tea by leapingazelle

2:05 pm I am finishing a yummy gingery tofu salad and a jasmine iced tea at Dado Tea, a small café nestled among other trendy restaurants on Church Street. After resting my feet I’ll head back to the far side of campus and visit the Sackler Museum. The Fogg Art Museum is under construction, so the Sackler has become the temporary home of several modern and classical art exhibits.

Sackler Museum by burt_frogblast

3:50 pm I leave the museum and easily find a bus to take me back to my friend’s apartment in Allston. The bus driver is shockingly friendly; he even gives me a student ticket even though I don’t have my ID. The signs are all easy to understand. To me, Harvard Square is the perfect combination of green tranquility and bustling mini-city, although Leslie is certainly right about the gentrification. In the springtime this collegiate hub is idyllic, but with wind like this I can’t imagine living here in the winter!

W

Why did you initially choose this nabe and what has kept you here?

We moved to Brookline the summer after my son’s 8th grade year.  Oliver wanted to shift gears from a private to a public school and he had his sights set on Brookline High School.   Our daughter Roxanne was entering 3rd grade at the time of our move and we welcomed the idea that both of our children could walk to school–a first for us–and would have friends nearby.  Brookline has an extensive and beautiful park system and there is a priority placed on trees, gardens and green in both public and private spaces.  We chose the Washington Square neighborhood because it’s close to Coolidge Corner, Washington Square and Brookline Village as well as the schools.  It feels more urban than some other parts of Brookline.

Has the nabe evolved or changed in the six years that you’ve lived here?

We’ve watched Coolidge Corner change both in positive and negative ways.  The revered independent Coolidge Corner Theater has been renovated, and the Brookline Booksmith continues to operate, but more chain restaurants and banks have moved into the area as well.  The restaurant scene in Brookline is quite varied, ranging from wonderful small ethnic restaurants to fun pub spots.  We love going to the neighborhood restaurants, ethnic shops, Clear Flour Bakery, Wulf’s Seafood and the weekly farmer’s market.

Is there anything you wish were different about the nabe?

What Brookline is missing is outdoor seating and a great specialty food store.

What are some of your haunts or places you go to be inspired?

I love the Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner, an ideosyncratic Brookline Village shop called Pod that sells specialty interior accessories and Winestone in Chestnut Hill, where we get a lot of our wine.  I also use the main branch of the Brookline Public Library quite often.

As a chef I’m sure you must have scoped out the best restaurants and bars in the area.

Pomodoro, in Brookline Village, is the best for great Italian food and a feeling that you have been welcomed into Shiobban and her staff’s home; Lineage, for great seafood; Shiki in Coolidge Corner for innovative and delicious Japanese food; American Craft for a great beer selection and food to match; Café Fixe for the best coffee; Upper Crust for pizza.

Describe a perfect day in Brookline.

Up early on a spring day. A bike ride around Jamaica Pond and the Arboretum. Coffee from Café Fixe with pastries or bread from Clear Flour on the porch. A walk into Coolidge Corner to the Brookline Booksmith for an hour or so of book browsing.  Lunch at Shiki. A walk home, stopping at the nail place in our neighborhood. A grilled dinner with friends, made from items from the Brookline farmers market and some good wine.

Can you compare your nabe to other places you’ve lived?

In many ways Brookline feels like a European town with an international community.  People from all over the world live here. For the most part the town is pedestrian friendly, with accessible public transportation, and many people walk everywhere. Politically, the Brookline demographic is quite liberal, a plus in my book. There’s a great sense of community, a commitment to education and a sense of community parenting.

What high school superlative winner would be at home here?

Most creative compassionate world leader.