Join me as I paddle along a new area of the Hutchinson River that I've never been to before. I started this journey in Mount Vernon, NY, but made my way south into the Bronx and was surrounded by industry and pollution. I knew this river was toxic, but I was surprised to see just how bad it was and to see what appeared to be some active polluting while I was on the water. Despite the river's poor condition, I saw signs of wildlife everywhere and was still able to see the beauty of nature among the urban landscape.

The Fire Watchtower within Marcus Garvey Park was constructed circa 1857, when cast iron towers gave firefighters a spot to look out for fires and ring bells to alert local fire companies. After pull boxes rendered the watchtowers obsolete, most were torn down, but in the 1870s neighbors successfully rallied to protect the tower.

Harlem residents worked again to prevent the watchtower’s demolition as part of a Robert Moses-era plan that flattened the tower’s hilltop location into a paved plaza. By the 1990's the structure was near collapse and sustained community activism inspired the City to fund a major restoration. All elements were carefully labeled and crated away. Some historic components were repaired while others were replicated in cast iron. It was finally restored and returned to the park in 2019.

Rescued and celebrated, the tower is a rare example of early American cast iron frame construction, an early example of preservation advocacy, and a prized Harlem landmark.

“Brigaid is a company that hires professional chefs to work in school kitchens. We get to work with real ingredients and limit the amount of processed food that kids get on a daily basis.” Today, Bon Appétit spends a day on the line with Chef Persefoni Vordokas, a Brigaid program chef at Dream Charter School.

00:00 Intro
01:03 Prepare for Breakfast Service
02:50 Breakfast Service
05:02 Chicken Prep
07:04 R&D Carrot Slaw
09:59 Finish Lunch Prep
12:34 Pre-Shift Meeting
13:12 Line Set Up
14:32 R&D Meatballs