Joseph Alexiou's forthcoming book, Gowanus: Brooklyn's Curious Canal, narrates more than three hundred years in the history of our borough's most compelling former industrial waterway. From idyllic oyster beds to dumping grounds for toxic waste, Gowanus is intrinsically linked to Brooklyn's industrial and agricultural past. In celebration of his book’s release, Alexiou will discuss the parallels in today's Gowanus real estate rush with that of the 1860s, which coincided with Brooklyn's rapid industrial transformation.