History of New York City (1784–1854) as the financial and mercantile capital of the western hemisphere. The Great New York City Fire of 1845 destroyed 345 wooden buildings in the Financial District. The Hudson River Railroad (which grew into the New York Central) opened October 3, 1851; it extended the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, the first railroad built in the state, south to New York City. The city and its nearby suburbs grew rapidly for several reasons. The natural harbor at the base of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the New Jersey ports at Newark and Elizabeth provided almost unlimited capacity for trading ships and protection from storms.
River Café (New York City) River Café (New York City) The River Café is a restaurant located in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, in New York City. The building was founded in 1977 by Michael O’Keefe, who also owns The Water Club in Manhattan. Past chefs include David Burke, Larry Forgione, and Charlie Palmer. The restaurant has been reviewed twice by the "New York Times" and received two stars both times. The restaurant is located on an underwater pier in the East River and was damaged by flooding during Hurricane Sandy. The damage included corroded wire, lost food and wine, and the destruction of antiques