NY's Misunderstood Financial District

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The View from the Outside (Staten Island ferry)

I'm currently reading a book called Liar's Poker, from Michael Lewis, in which the author describes, from an insider view, the disastrous fall of Salomon Brothers. However, the most interesting of this book is Michael's misadventures in the firm's training program for traders. 

"The trading floor is a jungle", says one of the program's mentors. And there's no place better to represent a jungle of hungry men (and, oh well, a couple of reckless women) than the streets of New York's financial district. One skyscraper higher than the next one, banning sunlight from shining on the dark asphalt. When standing on Wall Street, freezing and overwhelmed with the buildings, it's easy to lose one's way. Streets are no longer named by cardinals and numbers, but are rather called Beaver, Stone or Wall Street. These streets are twisted and less structured, similar to the streets of London. Not surprising, given that this area was the first one in the city being settled by europeans, back in the XVII century. 

We kept on walking through the cold dark streets and bumped into the heart of the district - a couple of old european houses. Nobody tells you that there are still some buildings left from the settlers. The contrast is just simply dramatic. Tall stone and glass buildings surround some little charming taverns and pubs, with some of them dating back to the XIX century! A must see tavern is the Fraunces Tavern, one of the oldest standing buildings in the city with plenty of history. 

But from all, my favorite corner has been Stone Street. This street was New Amsterdam's first paved street. After loosing part of its old buildings to make way to modern offices, the remaining buildings have now been occupied by bars and restaurants, filling NY's jungle with a warm vintage vibe. 

Stone Street in Winter

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