Wild City: The History of NYC Oysters

Join author Thomas Hynes for a talk on the oyster's outsized impact in New York City, how the bivalve shaped the city, and how oysters might be the city's best chance at a clean and healthy tomorrow. The oyster plays a starring role in New York City's history, informing not just the city's menus but also its ecology. When Henry Hudson arrived in New York Harbor, there were more than 220,000 acres of oyster beds below the water. The native Lenape people introduced European colonists to oysters as food and the bivalves quickly became a staple of the New York diet. New Yorkers loved oysters so much, their cravings for them nearly wiped them from our waters, but the bivalves may yet have a hand in the city's future as various organizations work to boost their population. After Thomas' presentation, there will be time for a Q&A. This virtual talk is the first in our new Wild City series led by Thomas Hynes, author of Wild City. In each talk, Thomas will introduce you to one of New York City's wonderful animal inhabitants! Wild City is "an illustrated guide to 40 of the most well-known, surprising, notorious, mythical, and sublime non-human citizens of New York City." For more events like this, become an Untapped New York Insider! https://untappedcities.com/become-a-member/