Fun Post-Greenpoint Fire Bedtime Reading: Burn Baby Burn

Burn Baby Burn: A Brief History of Fire in New York City is the title of an article in the new issue of L Magazine that follows up on the Greenpoint conflagration with a nicely researched discussion of--what else?--fire (of both accidental and deliberate causes) in NYC. An excerpt:

The Greenpoint Terminal Market fire is but the latest in a long line of enormous fires that have changed the face of New York City over the last three centuries. From the burning of the South Bronx in the 1970s to the citywide conflagrations of the Draft Riots, Gothamites have always had a peculiar predilection for setting things alight—more often than not, just to see them burn.

GL had almost forgotten that New York in the late 70s was the arson capital of the universe, which is why we always appreciate the historical perspective. Kudos to justiNYC for blogging it and linking to it. (The amazing photo above comes from L, via the FDNY.)

Oh, and while we're on the subject of L, check out this wonderful appreciation of Frank O.'s Miss Brooklyn, "Bridezilla Hits Brooklyn--Frank Gehry to City: 'Drop Dead.'" GL never tires of Fill-in-the-Blank to City: Drop Dead headlines or, lately, of love notes to our favorite starchitect.