Saturday, Feb 8, 2010, 1-3pm.  Leidy’s Shore Inn, 748 Richmond Terrace, SINY 10301

Leidy’s Shore Inn (est’d 1905) is the oldest bar on Staten Island, and one of the oldest in New York City.
Today, Larry Leidy, great-grandson of the original owner, presides over this picturesque harborside establishment where tugboat captains and their crew still quaff a pint, along with neighborhood regulars.
Larry will share his great-grandfather’s stories of the retired sailors who lived in the neighborhood in the 19th century, plus some colorful local history of 20th century harbor life. Join us for a convivial afternoon as we discuss Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea and hear Larry’s stories of the mariners who lived, worked & drank beer on Staten Island’s shores.
Adults only, please.

This program is free, but please patronize Leidy’s by ordering a beer or two. Book giveaway, too.  This event is part of Staten Island OutLOUD’s series for the National Endowment for the Arts/The Big Read on historian Nathaniel Philbrick’s fascinating book, In the Heart of the Sea. It’s the story of the whaleship Essex, rammed and sunk by a whale in 1820.  This tragedy inspired young Herman Melville as he began writing Moby Dick.