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Monday, March 1, 2010

On British Bands and Mafia Dons, Downtown

Album Cover, East Village
Photo by myself in the East Village, around Second Avenue and Fifth Street.

These blokes look like a British rock band, don't they? I'm not sure where they're from, but for some reason I don't think they're New Yorkers.

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Sunday, I walked around the East Village. Mark and Rupert were having some play time in Tompkins Square Park. It was a drippy and slushy. You could virtually hear the snow melting.

Out of nowhere, Mark texted me:'Tony Soprano is at the dog run.' Mark meant the actor James Gandolfini, best known for playing a mobster on the HBO series The Sopranos.

So like any crazed fan, I walked very quickly to the park. Lo and behold, there he was, James Gandolfini looking very much like himself. I saw him talking to a few people, then playing with his big black and white dog.

I know what you're thinking: after that intro, where the heck are photos of James Gandolfini, lady?!?!

A New Yorker at heart, I just could not bear to take his photograph. You see, when New Yorkers see celebrities, we tend to leave them alone. (Plus, who would want to mess with an ex-mafia boss?)

So that's what happened. I capped the lens and walked away.

(My photos of Tim Gunn last summer are a different story. He was being interviewed on camera and many people were snapping photos).

Faces in Fashion, in Bryant Park, Decisions, Decisions and Lost in the Crowd.

11 comments:

lewi14@gmail.com said...

Another very good NY portrait, Kitty. Congratulation to that impressive photo.

Olivier said...

j'adore cette photo, elle est superbe, elle pourrait etre sorti du film "Reservoir Dogs"

Pat said...

Cool shot! Were these guys all together? They do look like they go together!

My son lent me the entire Sopranos series, which I am ashamed to say I have not even viewed one episode of yet. I am sure I will get hooked, and there goes blogging, ha, ha.

Fred said...

I love this shot, very movie like...
At first I thought "where are the photos..." but I finally appreciate the fact that you did not take them, that's very respectful.

Katrina said...

I just remember the time when Tony, I mean James, tried to kick some kid's ass for video-taping him. That was the first thing I thought of when you mentioned his name and therefore I was not surprised when there were no pictures. But kudos to seeing him!

Washington said...

Hi Kitty. Wonderful picture! It could be a Tarantino's take!

Birdman said...

Love these images. Really love to look at street candids.

dianasfaria.com said...

that is so true,I passed 3 celebrities within half an hour of each other while walking through the Village last Spring. I had my camera with me & I did not take one photo of the celebs - meanwhile I am snapping away at everyone else!
I did direct my husband to take a photo of Jane Fonda when I saw 33 Variations but she was exiting her stage door & fully expecting it.

elsie said...

so funny when I think about it I would probably not take a picture of a celebrity I saw here in LA - I wonder if my primitive tourist brain would take over and just go take the picutre if I was in your neck of the woods?? Mmmmmmmmmmm, probably NOT!!! I can't think of anything more embarrassing than being "made" as a tourist in NYC!!

Teri Tynes said...

Hi, Kitty! These guys do look like members of a British band.
In light of your James Gandolfini story, I'll tell my most embarrassing NY photo moment.One sunny day in summer, I was hanging out on the Hudson River pier near Christopher Street and taking pictures of my dog. It was very crowded that day, and as I turned around to take a pic of the crowd, I noticed a woman sitting about four feet away and looking straight into my camera while I focused. Looking through the camera, I realized it was Annie Leibovitz. I thought I was going to die.

Kitty said...

Thanks Lewi!

Hi Olivier
I love that movie, though it can be hard to watch. There's a great vibe to it. Thanks for the comparison. :-)

Hi Bibi
I think the guys behind the front guy were together?

Oh, you will like the Sopranos series. It can be intense, though, and I had trouble watching it too late at night. It would make me jumpy, lol. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks F!
I agree, there is a movie quality to these fellows. I like how happy some of them look.

Hi Katrina
Ha, well good thing I didn't even try to take his pic. I would have been no match against such a burly guy.

Thanks Washington!

Ha, Lily
I would've loved to see Jane Fonda. What a treat!

Hi Elsiee
I'm sure I look like a tourist many times, lol. You must see celebs often there in LA!

Teri, I enjoyed your story about Annie Leibovitz. What a hoot? I would have fallen over. Amazing.