Comments on: Oyster city http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373 The daily organ of the Northeast Corridor Social Club Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:32:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bryan Waterman http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-567 Bryan Waterman Tue, 02 May 2006 02:01:11 +0000 http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-567 mitchell calls him "Hugh G. Flood," which I take to be "huge flood." He's antediluvian, in a sense -- he predates the wave of mid-century construction that was just beginning to threaten the old downtown neighborhoods (though it wouldn't climax until the late 60s). But there's some irony to the character as well: he is a retired "house-wrecking contractor." In one great scene he threatens to steal some old iron working in order to preserve it. Mitchell was one of the founders of the South Street Seaport Museum, which is responsible for the preservation of most of what I think of as our "neighborhood" -- the largest low-rise warehouse district left in Manhattan. It's only now being fully developed into high-end rental stuff -- some of it a little on the tacky side. Robinson's poem was published in 1920. Maybe Mitchell was recalling it (one of his stories is even called "Mr. Flood's Party," which was published in 1945). I'm not sure, but Mr. Flood does decide to throw his own party for his friends (his 95th) because his daughter in the suburbs won't let him drink whiskey, and he's obliged to be at her house on his actual birthday. Thanks for nice words re: fluffy oysters. -- bw mitchell calls him “Hugh G. Flood,” which I take to be “huge flood.” He’s antediluvian, in a sense — he predates the wave of mid-century construction that was just beginning to threaten the old downtown neighborhoods (though it wouldn’t climax until the late 60s). But there’s some irony to the character as well: he is a retired “house-wrecking contractor.” In one great scene he threatens to steal some old iron working in order to preserve it.

Mitchell was one of the founders of the South Street Seaport Museum, which is responsible for the preservation of most of what I think of as our “neighborhood” — the largest low-rise warehouse district left in Manhattan. It’s only now being fully developed into high-end rental stuff — some of it a little on the tacky side.

Robinson’s poem was published in 1920. Maybe Mitchell was recalling it (one of his stories is even called “Mr. Flood’s Party,” which was published in 1945). I’m not sure, but Mr. Flood does decide to throw his own party for his friends (his 95th) because his daughter in the suburbs won’t let him drink whiskey, and he’s obliged to be at her house on his actual birthday.

Thanks for nice words re: fluffy oysters. — bw

]]> By: PB http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-566 PB Tue, 02 May 2006 01:37:30 +0000 http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-566 OK Bryan, totally random thought for a 19th cent lit guy that is not about oysters at all (although I love love love them). My Dad used to read me this poem as a kid called "Mr. Flood's Party" by Robinson (I think). Coincidence? Based on a real seafood guy? The town drunk in the poem is a bit of a poet as well. PS--no wonder oysters get the reputation they do--your "fluffy, like little air pockets" line is damn sexy. OK Bryan, totally random thought for a 19th cent lit guy that is not about oysters at all (although I love love love them). My Dad used to read me this poem as a kid called “Mr. Flood’s Party” by Robinson (I think). Coincidence? Based on a real seafood guy? The town drunk in the poem is a bit of a poet as well.
PS–no wonder oysters get the reputation they do–your “fluffy, like little air pockets” line is damn sexy.

]]> By: Bryan Waterman http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-563 Bryan Waterman Tue, 02 May 2006 01:14:37 +0000 http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-563 as i gather, the "r" month rule is a holdover from pre-global refrigerated shipping times -- a good rule to follow for a lot of local oyster regions. the place we ate at flies oysters in from the pacific 5 days a week. it's true, though, that more places yield in fall and winter, or fall to late spring. the oyster fest in our neighborhood (which ulysses is wrapped up in, so i give them that) happens in october. the cortez island oysters we ate were the biggest oysters i'd ever had. i told the server that and he said, "come back in a couple weeks." the martha's vineyards we had are harvested from mid-april to the end of the year. here's a great site for determining what's good when, separating out <a href="http://www.americanmussel.com/oystersa.htm" rel="nofollow">atlantic</a> from <a href="http://www.americanmussel.com/oystersp.htm" rel="nofollow">pacific</a>. as i gather, the “r” month rule is a holdover from pre-global refrigerated shipping times — a good rule to follow for a lot of local oyster regions. the place we ate at flies oysters in from the pacific 5 days a week. it’s true, though, that more places yield in fall and winter, or fall to late spring. the oyster fest in our neighborhood (which ulysses is wrapped up in, so i give them that) happens in october. the cortez island oysters we ate were the biggest oysters i’d ever had. i told the server that and he said, “come back in a couple weeks.” the martha’s vineyards we had are harvested from mid-april to the end of the year. here’s a great site for determining what’s good when, separating out atlantic from pacific.

]]> By: Tim Wager http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-560 Tim Wager Mon, 01 May 2006 22:48:26 +0000 http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/373#comment-560 When *is* oyster season, exactly? I think there are some months in which it's a bit dicey to eat them, yes? There's some sort of folkloric saying like, "Don't eat oysters when there's no 'r' in the month." That would rule out May to August, I guess, but I'm not really sure if I got it right. Anyone? When *is* oyster season, exactly? I think there are some months in which it’s a bit dicey to eat them, yes? There’s some sort of folkloric saying like, “Don’t eat oysters when there’s no ‘r’ in the month.” That would rule out May to August, I guess, but I’m not really sure if I got it right. Anyone?

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