The first Brooklyn SeltzerFest celebrated the cultural and historical significance of seltzer in New York City, garnering over 600 attendees. Barry Joseph, director of the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, emphasized that seltzer is engrained in the city’s identity yet often overlooked. The festival recognized individuals like Walter Backerman, a third-generation seltzer maker, for their contribution to the community through seltzer delivery, which connects them intimately with people’s lives. The event aimed to shine a light on the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, which opened in 2023 and has garnered significant interest since its inception.
"Seltzer's impact on New York City is more than just industrial, it's more than just cultural: it has been worked into the life blood of who we are as a city - but its impact and history is often underappreciated," Barry Joseph, director of the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, told The Post.
"What makes it special is you're not just delivering a product, you're sharing [in] people's lives. You enter people's homes, and you become part of their lives," said Walter Backerman, third-generation seltzer maker.
"As soon as we opened the doors, we couldn't close them," recalled Alex Gomberg, co-curator of the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, noting the overwhelming response since the museum opened.
"What we're trying to do is remind us of who we are, where we came from and to appreciate the people who are helping to carry it forward," said Barry Joseph, explaining the festival's purpose.
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