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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Portrait of a Dog Owner, in Tompkins Square Park

Helen, NYC
Photo by myself, in Tompkins Square Park.

Helen, above, has been a New York resident since the late 70's. I met her on a recent cold weekend in Tompkins Square Park. She was wearing white feathers, ear muffs, sunglasses and pink cowboy boots (!). Her dog Bartholomew** is a Boston Terrier, as is our dog, Rupert.

I spoke with Helen briefly about her time in New York. She's lived in the same apartment in Alphabet City for the last 20-some years. Helen is originally from LA. She said that on her first trip to New York, she was overwhelmed by the energy of the city (in a good way).

Helen and I commiserated about how common it is for New Yorkers to move into an apartment and stay, because it's too much trouble to move again. In my case, it was tromping up and down three flights of rickety stairs in the middle of an August heat wave, while the moving truck was creating a traffic jam.

Helen and Bartholomew seemed to know everyone in the dog park and they visit there two or three times a day. Helen was super cool to talk to. We hope to see them next time we swing by the park!

Helen and Bartholomew, NYC

The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.

**ps: I might have gotten Bartholomew's name wrong! Please let me know if that's the case!

Related posts: Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights, Portrait of a Young Man Without a Home, and Portrait of a Musician, in Midtown.

6 comments:

liisamarja said...

i think i eyed those pink boots in a shop on west 8th...love them!

Olivier said...

superbe look et un copain a Rupert

Seitenstraße said...

so funky!!!

biebkriebels said...

She looks very special, I like those outstanding persons.

Nori Katayama said...

She looks very funky, I know. But it fits herself and looks natural...though I don't know why.

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

There was actually an article in the Times this spring about New Yorkers not moving, called "The Joys of Staying Put".

I'm often struck by things I read in my various New York sources about people renting the same place for 20 or 30 years. And actually, I find it kind of cozy and charming.