"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice
Category: New York City Pictures

New York Minute

Bleecker Bob’s is gone but Rock and Soul is still around. I stopped by on Saturday afternoon to visit my friend Mike who works there. He wasn’t around but I went to the back and looked through records anyway.

A middle-aged woman stood above the record player and played a 45 of  “Top Billin'” for a boy who couldn’t have been older than 8 or 9. When it was over, she flipped the record over and played the instrumental. I told the kid that the record is a classic and he said he liked it a lot. He was dancing in place.

New York Minute

 

So very cool.

New York Minute

Still building…

[Photograph Via: Eye Heart New York]

So Fresh and So Clean

It was warm again yesterday but by the time I got off the subway in the Bronx in the evening it was cool. Felt like spring “for reals,” as the kids say.

Something was stirring in the air and just before I arrived home the sky was dark and the wind kicked-up and it was exciting–a spring storm.

This morning gives sun but the ground is still wet, especially the dirt where the flowers are starting to bloom.

Sweet.

New York Minute

Nothing better than magic hour in the city, especially when it’s warm out. I was reminded of how much I enjoy those precious moments when I saw this picture by our man Bags.

 

New York Minute

I saw a pregnant woman on the subway this morning. I was standing and tried to make eye-contact with her. If she looked at me I’d ask if she wanted to sit and then I’d see if someone would give up their seat for her.  There was something girlish about her though her hair was completely gray, cut right around her shoulders and she dressed like a woman not a girl. In one hand she held a cup of coffee, in the other, she gripped a bagel with jelly. I wondered if she’d be embarrassed if I asked someone to get up for her.

She ate the bagel like she was mad at it. But she didn’t look annoyed just ravenous. It was amusing, even arousing, and I imagined making a video of her. It would be a family joke for years to come.

But I didn’t know her so I just admired her eating the fuck out of that bagel.

[Photo Credit: jkingsz]

New York Minute

I was in a cab last week. The driver was from Afghanistan and we got to talking. He told me about the political history of his country since the early part of the 20th century. Sometimes it was hard to hear him so I leaned forward in my seat. After awhile, I asked how long he’s been here and he said twelve years. Then I asked him what he likes most about America.

“Freedom of speech,” he said. “Where I am from you look but you cannot see,” he covered his eye with his left hand. Then he put his hand over his ear, “You listen but you cannot hear.” He touched his forehead. “You think but you cannot speak.” He looked at me in the rear view mirror.

“I am a passionate man. Here, I can speak my mind and not be afraid of going to prison.”

I felt aware of how I take the freedom of speech for granted. But in that moment, I appreciated it like never before.

New York Minute

New York architecture by Hiroshi Sugimoto.

New York Minute

Man, just a perfect day for stickball, huh?

Photograph by Bruce Davidson, 1959.

New York Minute

Coming Soon…

I have almost no interest in it. Maybe it’ll be good, who knows?

[Photo Via: It’s a Long Season]

New York Minute

The freaks come out at night.

[Picture by Ed Vebell via This Isn’t Happiness]

New York Minute

Queens get the money…

Picture via Ryan Panos.

New York Minute

Got off the train on 231 and Broadway one night last week and saw a guy selling books on the street. The man was barely holding it together and he didn’t look to have much of anything but then I saw this: Heinz!

Torn cover, sure, but a first edition. I gave him a couple of bucks for it. He was grateful and so was I.

New York Minute

Ann Street Studio gets us ready for spring with these lovely shots of the Ansonia Hotel.

s

New York Minute

Matthew Gallaway greets the spring hullo.

New York Minute

I want to be a part of it.

New York Minute

Here’s Charles Ebbets at work. The picture he took in 1932 is famous:

I get dizzy just looking at it.

New York Minute

Saveur goes behind the scenes at the Doughnut Plant.

[Photo Credit: Yelp]

New York Minute

Room with a View.  Shhh.

Picture from Blue Pueblo via the consistently vibrant site, This Isn’t Happiness.

feed Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email
"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver