Photo by myself below ground.
On a recent ride home, I spotted a young woman drawing diligently in a sketchbook. From where I sat, it looked to be an array of very detailed serpents.
It was late, much too late to be so focused after a long day of work. I learned that she is a textile designer and uses the ride home to escape the computer screen. 'Drawing by hand, you learn not to be so precious,' she told me, as the train lurched to one side.
She was so kind to pose for a photo. Alas, I regret not asking her name!
Related posts: Portrait of a Barber, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Portrait of a Guy, on Sixth Avenue, and Portrait of a Bike Messenger, in Midtown.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Portrait of an Artist, on the Ride Home
Monday, August 11, 2014
Portrait of a Barber, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Photo by myself around 50th Street and Fifth Avenue, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Mark and I drove through Bay Ridge the other day, and a storefront with distinctive lettering caught my eye. I had to take a photo.
Along a strip of eateries and bodegas stood a barber shop from another era. There were the remnants of a tattered awning, rusted roll down doors and a motley assortment in the window - an overgrown plant, an American flag, a couple model ships.
Inside, I was greeted by Tony, the proprietor. Tony told me that he opened his shop fifty years ago. At first I had trouble understanding him and thought he'd said fifteen. No, fifty of course. And the place has remained unchanged.
Haircuts and a shave are ten bucks apiece. Tony soon had a customer. I took my leave, not wanting to distract him. I left, walking on air.
I was so excited by original furnishings and wooden cash register, that I forgot to get out of the photo. Behind me, Tony takes a phone call.
Tony greets his customer with a little kidding around.
Everything gets serious as the master begins work.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of an Entrepreneur, on the Upper East Side, Portrait of a Bike Messenger, in Midtown, and Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Portrait of a Man and Dog, on Sixth Avenue
Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue in Midtown.
A man named John sat with his dog, Aria, Monday afternoon. A sign in front of him reads 'Everyone needs a little help now and then'.
I'd seen John earlier this year and gave him some money. You often see homeless people on the streets, but only a small percentage have dogs with them.
Monday I stopped to speak with John. Aria, a pit bull mix, was extremely friendly, wiggling about and giving me hearty licks. She has an ID tag because she is a trained therapy dog.
'You've been here a long time,' I said. 'I saw you earlier this year.'
'Not that long', he said. 'About two months' (!).
I have mixed feelings about people on the streets with animals, since the animals are used to induce sympathy. In my case, it worked, though Aria obviously cares for her master.
On more than one occasion, I've seen mothers sitting on the sidewalk with their small children, requesting donations. It is very, very sad.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of a Guy, on Sixth Avenue, Portrait of a Musician, in Midtown, and Portrait of Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Portrait of Two New Yorkers, in Washington Square Park
Photo by myself in Washington Square Park, in the Village.
While sitting in Washington Square Park, Sunday afternoon, I encountered a gentle New Yorker and his Owner.
They live close to the park and were so nice to pose for me.
The four-legged New Yorker sniffed my hand and gave me a lick. Meanwhile, tons of people were milling about and a pianist was playing music outside.
The dear pup gave my camera a sideways look.
Both were patient with me, allowing multiple shots. I could not resist!
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side, Portrait of a Dog Owner, in Tompkins Square Park, and Tough Times on the Sidewalk.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Portrait of a Cab Driver, on Fifth Avenue
Photo by myself, on Fifth Avenue.
A cab driver posed for a portrait after taking me on a trip up Fifth Avenue. You can just see the lush foliage of Central Park, in the background, and a little of my reflection in the rear window, haha.
We had just had a long, animated conversation about lots of things, during our 60+ block trip uptown. We took a shortcut by going north through Central Park, avoiding the stop-and-go of traffic lights.
Right now, you can enter the park at 59th Street and exit at 72nd Street on either the east or west side. The park extends all the way up to 110th Street, but the upper portion of the park is closed to thru-traffic.
I don't often talk with cabbies, but after he honked angrily at another driver hogging up two lanes, we commiserated about bad drivers, Mayor Bloomberg, the upcoming city-wide bike share and how surprisingly few accidents take place.
We were both not enthusiastic about the upcoming bike-share, where scores of bikes can be rented and dropped off at various locations. Just imagining loads of cyclists who might not know what they were doing sounded like potential disaster to us, crotchety New Yorkers.
I asked the cabbie if I could take his photo at the end of my trip, and he told me his name, but....by the time my meeting was over, I completely forgot it. Argh!!! He was such a lovely fellow!!
Related posts: Portrait of a Bike Messenger, in Midtown, Portrait of a Guy on Sixth Avenue, and Portrait of a Dog Owner, in Tompkins Square Park.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Portrait of Two Young Bohemians, in Tompkins Square Park
Photo by myself in Tompkins Square Park, in the East Village.
While at Tompkins Square Park the other week, I noticed a striking couple seated in a quiet corner, on a park bench.
I'm not sure whether Becca and Ludwig were a couple or whether they were just friends. They were nice enough to allow me to take their picture. Ludwig gave me a big smile, but Becca seemed shy and didn't want to look into the camera.
Though they look very 'East Village' (ie; arty, eclectic or un-traditional), neither lives in the neighborhood.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of Style, on the Subway Platform, Portrait of a Dog Owner, in Tompkins Square Park, and Portrait of an Artist, on the Upper East Side.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Portrait of an Entrepreneur, on the Upper East Side
Photo by myself around 84th Street and Fifth Avenue, on the Upper East Side.
A budding entrepreneur named Charlie was staked out on the sidewalk this week, selling lemonade, cold bottled water and candy. You can see the nice limestone buildings typical of the Upper East Side, behind him.
Charlie says he does this for several hours a day in between the end of school and summer camp. He had a customer while I was talking with him and pulled out a big wad of cash. He's been doing well!
I asked about his sign, which showed 'Dum-Dum's for sale (small lollipops). The original price was fifty cents, but was crossed out and relabelled twenty-five cents.
'How come there was a price drop?' I asked.
'Well, the deli down the street sells them for twenty-five cents', Charlie admitted. 'And they have air-conditioning'.
Ah, Charlie has the makings of a real businessman. First rule of business - know your competition!
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of a Young Man, Without a Home, Portrait of a Prince, on Elizabeth Street, and Portrait of a Guy on Sixth Avenue.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Tattooed Man, in Herald Square
Photo by myself in Herald Square, around 34th Street and Sixth Avenue.
A fellow with a lot of tattoos was nice enough to stop and pose for me, the other day.
I was crossing the street in Herald Square, when I noticed a guy with a ton of tattoos walking in front of me. I asked whether I could take his photo, and nicely agreed.
'I have tattoos on 75% of my body', he said, and all of them have personal significance.
I didn't ask about the 25% that wasn't tattooed, haha! He thought I was ridiculous because I wouldn't be able to decide on a tattoo, and so I don't have any.
Related posts: Working Under Bright Lights, at the Wooster Street Social Club, Daredevil Tattoo, on Ludlow Street, and Get Your Tattoos, Downtown.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Portrait of a Chess Tutor, in the Village
Photo by myself at Thompson and West Third Streets, in the Village.
Robert, a chess tutor, teaches the game to youngsters and adults alike at Chess NYC, a store in the Village.
I had a fun, long chat with Robert, Tuesday afternoon. He had just finished up teaching an older gentleman at the store. Open 24-hours a day, the store has a clubhouse vibe, with chess boards and trophies crowding the walls, and many chess boards set up at tables, ready for play.
Robert has been teaching chess for the last 20 years (!) after competing against adults as a youth. He now teaches both youngsters and adults the art of chess.
'The chess pieces come alive to kids', Robert explained, "The pawns can be 'storm troopers'. The rook...a 'wookie'. Part of teaching kids means understanding their language."
Different chess pieces line inhabit the motley storefront.
"The kids develop...'poise'," he told me. With every game, there is a winner and a loser. And chess is one of the only sports where a kid can find him or herself competing against adults.
Starting August 20th, Magnus Carlsen, the Number 1 ranked chess player in the world, will be teaching summer camp at the store (!).
Related posts: Portrait of a Bike Messenger, in Midtown, Portrait of Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side, and Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Portrait of an Artist, in Washington Square Park
Photo by myself, in Washington Square Park.
While walking through Washington Square Park, Sunday, I met a chess player named Dawes. He was sitting with all his chess pieces out near the southeast entrance to the park.
Only Dawes isn't just a chess player. He also salvages pieces of wood from Washington Square Park and carves them into sculptures, giving the wood a new life.
Dawes gave me a history lesson of Washington Square Park, then showed me his work. He scrolled through hundreds of photos, on his phone. Then, after telling me about a book he plans to publish of his carvings, Dawes reached into his bag and generously gave me a carving of my very own. :-)
The artist named Dawes proudly showed me one of his hand-carved sculptures.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of a Guy on Sixth Avenue, Portrait of a Skateboard Artist, on Prince Street, and Portrait of a New Yorker in Fashion.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Portrait of a Bike Messenger, in Midtown
Photo by myself in Midtown.
I met a bike messenger on my way into the office, Wednesday. He sat outside, recording a recent delivery. He wore layers of clothing, including a backpack, hat, long shorts and tall socks.
This soft-spoken fellow has been a messenger for the last 12 years. When I asked to take his photo, he asked what I'd be using it for. I told him what I usually tell people - that I have a blog, and for some reason, people from all over the place are curious about New York and New Yorkers.
He graciously said yes, provided his photo was put 'to good use'. (Of course!)
Lastly, I asked offered to give him the address of this blog, but he professed not to use the internet (!). He was up and gone before I could get his name.
All businesses use bike messengers for same-day delivery within the city. If you have larger, heavier objects that are not bike-friendly, a messenger service will send a van.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side, Portrait of Style, on the Subway Platform, and Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Portrait of a Dog Owner, in Tompkins Square Park
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!
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.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Portrait of an Guy on Sixth Avenue
Photo by myself, at 35th Street and Sixth Avenue.
An older gentleman named John posed for me on the street corner, Tuesday morning.
Next to the subway exit, there was a man leaning against a phone booth. He looked like he'd seen better days. His face was weathered, he was muttering and gazing into space. The fingernails of both hands were very long.
I snuck back to take a candid, but before I could, he spotted me and asked whether I would take his photo. He became very animated and excited, looking around for people to pose with him.
When he saw the photo in the LCD screen, he gave me a large, toothy smile. I wish I'd gotten more out of him like how long he's lived in the city, but he was very difficult to understand.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of an Artist, on the Upper East Side, Portrait of a Young Man, Without a Home, and Portrait of Style, on the Subway Platform.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Portrait of a Prince, on Elizabeth Street
Photo by myself around Prince and Crosby Streets, in Soho.
Artist Brian Ermanski posed with one of his paintings in progress, Sunday afternoon. He goes by the nickname 'The Prince of Elizabeth Street'.
I started talking to Brian after noticing one of his self-promotional images, tacked up on a lamp post. The striking photo was published by New York Magazine a few years ago.
Brian told me that he started his art career after graduating from NYU. His art used to be much 'darker' and was populated with naked women. He confessed to modifying his style toward Pop Art, which was more suitable for peoples' living rooms. Ha.
I enjoyed talking with Brian but I was in a terrible rush to get home. Later, I found his interviews for New York Magazine and The Black Book. Brian was even recently the subject of a short movie called The Prince of Elizabeth Street. Brian used to paint outdoors on Prince and Elizabeth Streets, in SoHo. His public appearances made him into something of a public figure.
The movie 'The Prince of Elizabeth Street' is beautifully shot was presented at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival last year. To watch it online, click here.
The image of Brian in New York Magazine, above. Beyond, Brian works with people looking on.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side, Portrait of a Musician, in Midtown and Portrait of a New Yorker, in Fashion.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Portrait of a New Yorker, in Fashion
Photo by myself on the subway, underground.
A woman was immersed in listening to her music on the subway. She made a striking impression with her clothing and hair.
When I noticed that we got out at the same station, I hailed her down. Saroya turns out to be a very warm and friendly person. She happily posed for more photos on the platform.
Saroya works at the giant Duane Reade store in the Wall Street area. This new store offers everything from sushi to a hair dressing. Saroya works at the salon there and plans to launch her own line of nail polish.
For more about the snazzy Duane Reade store, click here.
Looking chic seems natural to Saroya, the latest New Yorker in our portrait series.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of a Picket Line, in Hell's Kitchen, Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights and Portriat of a Skateboard Artist, on Prince Street.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Portrait of a Musician, in Midtown
Photo by myself on Broadway around 36th Street.
I was drawn to the distinctive mellow sound of a trombone, Tuesday night.
Tim Perryman, above, confessed that the life of a street musician is not an easy one. 'The true street musician', he said, 'plays outside everyday, rain or shine'. Tim plays on the subway platforms only at the height of winter.
A New Yorker since 1995, Tim plays on the street by himself and in a big band. You can see him perform Monday nights at The Moldy Fig, a jazz club on the Lower East Side. The Wade Barnes Big Band plays there from 8 to midnight.
Tim told me he started life as a visual artist, then discovered he had a talent for music. He had only started to play for the night, and already had several contributions. The amount one earns from playing on the street varies, day to day.
Tim was friendly and a joy to speak to. His shirt reads: 'Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life. - Art Blakely.'
For the Moldy Fig website, click here.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights, Portrait of a Young Man, Without a Home and Portrait of FIve New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Portrait of an Artist, in Midtown
Photo by myself in Midtown.
Walking down the street during lunch on Friday, I spotted a truck plastered with fantastic black and white drawings of New York City.
I ran to the office, grabbed my camera and ran back. I met the driver of the truck, who turned out to be the assistant to the artist himself.
Krikko, the artist (above, right), was trained as an architect. His black and white pencil drawings start out as regular drawings which he then redraws at huge sizes. Some of the drawings measure over 20 feet long.
Krikko researches the buildings in his drawings through books and photographs. The aerial view of Manhattan, to the right, took four years to complete.
During our brief chat, Krikko said he is currently working on a huge drawing of the United States. When finished, the original large drawings are exhibited in a museum in New Haven, Connecticut. Krikko designed and financed the museum completely from his drawings and private donations.
Reproductions of Krikko's drawings are on sale in souvenir shops along Fifth Avenue, near the Empire State Building.
For Krikko's website, click here.
For Krikko's Wiki page, click here.
To order prints, call (888) 756-ARTS.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of an Artist, on the Upper East Side, Is it Art? on the Lower East Side and Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Portrait of Style, on the Subway Platform
Photo by myself on the De Kalb subway platform, in Brooklyn.
A group of seriously cool cats graciously allowed me to take their photograph while we waited for the train. Each person displays his own distinct personality.
The fellow on the right is currently living in New York. His friends were visiting from nearby Washington DC and Philadelphia. Together they were so photogenic, they looked like actors on television or a musical group.
Sunday I was in the office to do some extra work. So sad! I was excited to take a nice photo before hopping back on the train.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights, Portrait of an Artist, on the Upper East Side and Portrait of Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Portrait of a Young Man, Without a Home
Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue in Midtown.
I met a young man named Eastwood on Sixth Avenue, Tuesday afternoon.
This fellow has lived in the city for several years. He told me he's from Pennsylvania and has plans to return or go to Scotland, where he has family. He proudly pointed out that his beard is actually a tattoo.
While working as a bike messenger, Eastwood was hit by a cab, severely injuring his left leg and putting him out of work. He is now on the street and turned 32 a couple weeks ago.
Eastwood sometimes sleeps at a hostel that charges 30 dollars a night for a bed. When he can't find the money, he sleeps in a sleeping bag in a parking lot on the Lower East Side.
Last night, it was incredibly cold, and Eastwood slept outside. I was flabbergasted.
Who knows whether Eastwood's story is true? It's hard to say.
I think most New Yorkers are wary of believing every story they hear, since there are so many people about with various motives. However, after our brief chat, I felt this fellow was sincere. I left him with what cash I had, which was about ten dollars.
It felt good to take another photo in the portrait series, where I take photos of random New Yorkers and speak to them. I will be doing more of these (!), showing New Yorkers from all walks of life.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Related posts: Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Prospect Heights, Portrait of Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side and On the Picket Line, in Hell's Kitchen.
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Portrait of a Skateboard Artist, on Prince Street
Photo by myself, on Prince Street and Broadway, in SoHo.
A young artist was selling art in the form of hand-painted skateboards in SoHo, Tuesday afternoon.
Sitting beside his work, the artist told me his story: A few weeks ago he was hit by a car while crossing the street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. His left arm is now in a sling, and he has partial nerve damage along the left side of his body. He counts himself very lucky to be alive.
'It's a great story. All this work was painted with one arm', he said. Good thing he is right-handed.
I asked if he had a website. 'I prefer to meet my customer,' he said. What looks to be stickers are painted by hand. Each skateboard is unique and reasonably priced.
You can find the artist and his work on Prince Street, between Broadway and Mercer. For various reasons, he asked that his name and face not be published. Email me if you would like to contact him directly; I have his email address.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
ps: If you have a spare moment, do stop by at Greenwich Village Daily Photo and leave a note for our good friend Ken Mac.
Ken lost his dear mother recently. He has shared childhood photos of himself and his family, alongside photos of Old New York. Ken is a passionate voice for the city that is disappearing before our eyes.
Related posts: Five New Yorkers, on the Upper East Side, Playing Pianos as Public Art and I *Heart* New York, Downtown.
