Monday, September 30, 2019

Orwashers on East 78th Street is highlighted in our latest YouTube video, Food Tour: Upper East Side.

Full video: https://youtu.be/mEAo899JsYY

@orwashers was founded in 1916 by Hungarian immigrant Abraham Orwasher using his family recipes for baking high quality rye, black and grain breads. We go inside this historic artisanal bread 🥖 bakery and see the many breads 🍞 they bake using the same #vintage recipes including rye, challah and sourdough bread .

• To see the interior of this shop with its original tiled floor and to hear more about its interesting history and see their vintage bread slicer in action, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Sunday, September 29, 2019

Papaya King is featured in our latest YouTube Food Tour: Upper East Side, NYC episode.

Full video: https://youtu.be/mEAo899JsYY 

This historic hot dog 🌭 and papaya drink 🍹 shop, located on the corner of Third Avenue at 86th Street, was founded in 1932. In our video, we not only go inside this original @papayaking location and get an insider's view of their famous hot dogs on the grill, but also taste one of their special combos, a hot dog topped with chili, cheese and curly fries. We also have their famous and absolutely delicious papaya drink.

• To see the interior of this shop and to hear more about its interesting history and their vintage #neon sign, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Saturday, September 28, 2019

Lexington Candy Shop is featured in our latest YouTube video Food Tour: Upper East, NYC.

Full video: https://youtu.be/mEAo899JsYY

Lexington Candy Shop at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 83rd Street was founded in 1925 and is now being run by the 3rd-gen owner John Philis. This is the oldest continuously operating #luncheonette in Manhattan.

We go inside and see its beautiful #vintage interior and watch as our order of a classic chocolate milk shake, eggs 🍳 over easy with crinkle fries 🍟 and BLT 🥓sandwich, and egg cream are being prepared.

To see the interior of @lexingtoncandyshop and their 1940s mint green Hamilton Beach mixer at work as they prepare our chocolate #milkshake please watch and subscribe to our channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla



Friday, September 27, 2019

Our latest YouTube video: Food Tour: Upper East Side, NYC is now live on our JamesandKarla channel!



In this Upper East Side food tour, we visit many old-school independently-owned food businesses and try some of the specialties they are known for, as well as visit a dollhouse and miniatures shop.  

We start the day with a visit to Lexington Candy Shop at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 83rd Street, which was founded in 1925. We go inside and see the vintage interior and watch as our order of a classic chocolate milk shake, eggs over easy and crinkle fries and a BLT sandwich, and egg cream are being prepared.

After having some lunch, we walk to East 78th Street where we visit Orwashers , one of the oldest artisanal bread bakeries in New York City which was founded in 1916. We go inside and watch as they slice a loaf of Community Rye Bread for us and prepare a made to order hand-filled jelly donut.

We then go next door and visit Tiny Doll House, New York City's only dedicated dollhouse and miniatures shop. We look at all of their custom dollhouses as well as their manufactured and handmade artisan miniatures, some of which cost thousands of dollars.

We end the day with a visit to Papaya King, located on the corner of Third Avenue at 86th Street, which was founded in 1932. We not only go inside and get an insider's view of their famous hot dogs on the grill, but also taste one of their special combos, a hot dog topped with  chili, cheese and curly fries. We also have their famous papaya drink. 

We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please share if you enjoy the video.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla
 

We visit Florence Prime Meat Market on Jones Street in Greenwich Village in our latest YouTube video: Italian Food Tour & Vinyl Records.

Full video: https://youtu.be/d1FUj8T-6Bc

This historic #butcher shop was founded by Jack Ubaldi in 1936 and everything they sell is hand-cut to order. Famous patrons include Jackie Kennedy, who always ordered their Newport Steak (a cut invented by Mr. Ubaldi).

• To see the interior of this beautiful #storefront and watch the shop's butchers cut 🔪and trim various types of meat 🐂🐖including their popular rib eye and porterhouse steaks 🥩 of beef and strips of bacon 🥓, please watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

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Thursday, September 26, 2019

Faicco's Italian Specialties on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village is featured in our latest YouTube video: Italian Food Tour & Vinyl Records

Faicco's Italian Specialties on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village is featured in our latest YouTube video: Italian Food Tour & Vinyl Records where we not only go inside @faiccosnyc and see their amazing selection of house-made fresh and dry aged #porksausage 🐷, fresh mozzarella, Italian cheeses 🧀 and other cuts of meat but also watch as their fresh pork 🐖sausages are being prepared and slices of cheese are being cut to order.

Full video: https://youtu.be/d1FUj8T-6Bc

We also order one of their delicious Italian heroes, the Caprese, which is one of the #vegetarian options made with their fresh homemade mozzarella, tomatoes 🍅 and fresh basil 🌿 on semolina bread 🥖.

• We enjoy our delicious sandwich from Faicco's on the steps of Bob Dylan's @bobdylan apartment in New York City, located just down the street on West 4th Street

• To see the interior of this lovely #momandpopstorefronts and to see the amazing sandwich we had, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Photography from our visit to Mercado Little Spain​ for 6sqft​...

Full article: https://www.6sqft.com/the-making-of-hudson-yards-spanish-market-meet-the-team-behind-mercado-little-spain/

"When New York Times food critic Pete Wells visited José Andrés’ Mercado Little Spain, he declared that it had “more great food and drinks per square foot than anywhere else in New York.” From Ibérico hams and Peking duck to the seemingly simple yet ever-pleasing pan con tomate, the food at Hudson Yards’ Spanish market has certainly made its mark on the gastronomy scene. But what sets Andrés apart from other chefs and restauranteurs is his entire vision. Mercado Little Spain is designed as a series of “streets,” with the various kiosks leading guests on a curated experience. Most of the design elements and materials were sourced from Spain, and the artists commissioned represent different regions of the country."



Music Inn on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village is one of the unique places we visit in our latest YouTube video: Italian Food Tour & Vinyl Records.

Full video: https://youtu.be/d1FUj8T-6Bc

This wonderful shop which was founded in 1958 is packed from floor to ceiling with all types of exotic percussion 🥁and rare world 🌎 and folk instruments 🎻🎺 including the didgeridoo, zither and sitar. It also has an extensive selection of used #vinylrecords. The long-time owner, Jeff Slatnick, even designs, builds and sells his own original instruments including a fretless guitar.

• To see the packed interior and its vast #recordcollection and even our dog @hudsonpittienyc shopping for instruments, please watch our video and subscribe to our YouTube channel JamesandKarla.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 
SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Tuesday, September 24, 2019

We visit John’s of Bleecker Street in our latest YouTube video: Italian Food Tour & Vinyl Records.

Full video: https://youtu.be/d1FUj8T-6Bc

We start our day with a visit to this iconic pizzeria @johnsofbleeckerstreet which was founded in 1929 by John Sasso. We go inside and see the historic interior with all of the benches, booths and tables carved with the signatures of customers and watch as their famous brick coal-fired🔥 oven pizzas 🍕 are being prepared. • To see the interior of John’s and its #vintage brick coal-fired oven and the delicious pizza 🍕we had please subscribe to our channel (direct link in bio).

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Hudson. Over at Veniero's 125th Anniversary Party with Frankie Zerilli, 5th generation Veniero family member, yesterday.


Monday, September 23, 2019

Our latest YouTube video: Italian Food Tour & Vinyl Records: Greenwich Village, NYC is now live on our JamesandKarla channel!

In this Greenwich Village Italian food tour, we visit many old-school independently-owned food businesses on Bleecker Street and take a walk down neighboring Jones and West 4th Streets where we also visit a world music and a vinyl record shop.

We start the day with a visit to John's of Bleecker Street, the iconic pizzeria founded in 1929. We go inside and see the historic interior and watch as their famous brick coal-fired oven pizzas are being prepared.

After having some pizza, we walk to nearby West 4th Street, where we visit Music Inn. Music Inn stocks all types of exotic instruments from around the world including an extensive selection of percussion and rare folk instruments and also has a large selection of vinyl records. We go inside and look around the packed store and also see the owner, Jeff Slatnick who designs, builds and sells many of his own original instruments.

We then visit Florence Prime Meat Market on Jones Street, a historic butcher shop where everything is hand-cut to order. We watch as the shop's butchers cut and trim various types of meat including their popular rib eye and porterhouse steaks of beef and strips of bacon.

We then go right next door to Record Runner, which is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. We go inside this vinyl record store and go crate digging through its extensive record collection. We even have a chance to speak with the owner John Pita who talks about the resurgence of vinyl.

We end the day with a visit to Faicco's Italian Specialties on Bleecker Street where we not only go inside and see their amazing selection of house-made fresh and dry aged pork sausages, fresh mozzarella, Italian cheeses and other cuts of meat but also watch as their fresh pork sausages are being prepared and slices of cheese are being cut to order. We also order one of the Italian heroes, the Caprese, which is one of the vegetarian options made with their fresh homemade mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil on semolina bread.

We enjoy our delicious sandwich from Faicco's on the steps of Bob Dylan's first apartment in New York City, located just down the street on West 4ht Street

We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please share if you enjoy the video. We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Veniero’s Pasticceria is celebrating its 125th anniversary TONIGHT

Veniero’s Pasticceria is celebrating its 125th anniversary TONIGHT 9/23 and they will be giving away free mini-cannolis from 4-9pm while supplies last. 

@venierospastry is also offering an 18.94% discount off all pastry orders, honoring the year they were founded by Antonio Veniero in 1894.

We not only have documented this historic shop in our book “New York Nights” showing its amazing #vintage #neonsign glowing (1st photo is cropped from our book) but we also visited the Pasticceria in our East Village Food Tour: Taste of Italy 🇮🇹 YouTube video on our JamesandKarla channel.

Full video: https://youtu.be/EEye-5ZhekI

Please watch and subscribe to our channel (direct link in bio) to see the interior of this East Village institution and many of its delicious homemade pastries including their famous #cheesecake.


SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Saturday, September 21, 2019

Italian Sausage booths do a brisk business during the annual #FeastofSanGennaro

Full video: https://youtu.be/fsn9seQPnEc

In our latest YouTube video: Feast Of San Gennaro Food Tour, we take a walk with our rescue dog @hudsonpittienyc through the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy of Manhattan, which runs for 11 days along Mulberry Street Between Canal and Houston Streets (it ends this Sunday, September 22nd).

• To see all of the #ItalianFood 🇮🇹 vendors from fried #zeppole , sausage and peppers 🌶 to cannolis and #torrone, as well as the games and rides that we stopped at during @sangennaronyc please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Friday, September 20, 2019

Black Gold Records in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn is featured in our YouTube video, Brooklyn Food Tour, Vintage & Vinyl Records.

We go inside this record store which was founded in 2010 and go #cratedigging through stacks of #vinyl and look at the oddities lining the walls.

Full video: https://youtu.be/6Oay7gNcoW0 

To see the interior of this #recordstore and their top quality used #vinylrecord selection and to see the “Dig We Must” t-shirt we purchased, please subscribe to our YouTube channel JamesandKarla (direct link in bio).

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Thursday, September 19, 2019

Our latest YouTube video: Feast of San Gennaro Food Tour: Little Italy, NYC is now live on our JamesandKarla channel!



Full video: https://youtu.be/fsn9seQPnEc

We take a food tour through the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy of Manhattan, the annual event which runs for 11 days along Mulberry Street Between Canal and Houston Streets. The Feast of San Gennaro is the longest and most popular street fair in New York City anticipated to bring in one million tourists and New Yorkers this year.  The Feast dates back to 1926 when Neapolitan immigrants wanted to continue the September 19th Feast observed back home in Italy. Zeppoles are one of the most popular Italian street desserts served at the Feast.

We visit many Zeppole or Italian doughnut holes stands, including Danny on the Corner zeppole stand on Mulberry at Grand Street.  We see the owner, Danny Fratta who has deep family roots in the Feast spanning back four generations, preparing and frying vats of fresh zepploes. Danny on the Corner is the sponsor of the First Annual Zeppole Eating Competition at the Feast.

We also visit torrone, Italian nougat candy stands including Vinny's Nut House Stand, where we watch the torrone being chopped using a hammer and knife. Torrone is a non-perishable Italian nougat candy made using large amounts of whole almonds and filberts.

We also visit many Italian sausage booths which do a brisk business during the Feast including Gigi's Grilled Italian Specialty Stand, NYC Famous Italian Sausages Stand and Lucy's Sausage Stand and watch as both sweet and hot varieties of Italian sausage are grilled and prepared with peppers and onions. The same owner who operates Gigi's Grilled Italian Specialty Stand also sells fried calzones, zeppoles and other fried treats directly across the street at Sophia's. Sophia's is the originator of the Fried Rainbow Cookie, a popular Feast item which when broken open reveals its colorful rainbow interior. We also watch as fried Oreos, another street fair favorite are being prepared. We even try this "Candy of the Feast" from Sophia's.

We stop by Ferrara's Original Cafe where live music and dancing was happening and the food stands run by Ferrara's along the Feast route, where we try their world famous cannolis. Ferrara’s is a sponsor of the annual Cannoli-eating Contest, which was held on Friday, September 13, 2019. This year’s winner, Wayne, downed 38 Ferrara cannolis in six minutes.Ferrara Bakery & Cafe was established in 1892 by Italian immigrants, Antonio Ferrara and Enrico Scoppa. Ferrara’s is considered America’s first espresso bar. The café later added Italian specialties including cannoli, sfogliatella and gelati to its menu.

We also visit Umberto's Clam House on Mulberry Street, which has been in business since 1972 and became famous for its celebrity clients and its signature clam dish with its hot red clam sauce.  Although this is an annual celebration of faith, the Feast of San Gennaro is known for its festive atmosphere, featuring Italian cuisine, carnival food favorites, religious processions, colorful parades, free live music and entertainment, rides for kids and adults, games and vendors.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Photography and food tour video (at the bottom of the article) from our visit to the Feast of San Gennaro Food Tour for 6sqft...

Full article with video: https://www.6sqft.com/take-a-food-tour-of-little-italys-feast-of-san-gennaro/

"Food, faith, family, and more food. The Feast of San Gennaro is in full swing, bringing the best of Italian cuisine and culture to a few blocks of Little Italy for 11 straight days. In its 93rd year, the Feast has evolved from its early 20th-century roots, as has the former immigrant enclave. Despite these changes, the Feast of San Gennaro remains one of the largest and most popular street fairs in New York City, as well as a way to preserve Italian American culture. Ahead, photographers and New Yorkers James and Karla Murray take us on a whirlwind food tour of the Feast of San Gennaro, from powdered sugar zeppoles and fried Oreos to Italian sausage and calzones."


Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Our latest YouTube video: Feast of San Gennaro Food Tour: Little Italy, NYC is now live on our JamesandKarla channel!


We take a food tour through the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy of Manhattan, the annual event which runs for 11 days along Mulberry Street Between Canal and Houston Streets. The Feast of San Gennaro is the longest and most popular street fair in New York City anticipated to bring in one million tourists and New Yorkers this year.

The Feast dates back to 1926 when Neapolitan immigrants wanted to continue the September 19th Feast observed back home in Italy.  Zeppoles are one of the most popular Italian street desserts served at the Feast. We visit many Zeppole or Italian doughnut holes stands, including Danny on the Corner zeppole stand on Mulberry at Grand Street.

We see the owner, Danny Fratta who has deep family roots in the Feast spanning back four generations, preparing and frying vats of fresh zepploes. Danny on the Corner is the sponsor of the First Annual Zeppole Eating Competition at the Feast, which will be held on Wednesday, September 18th 2019 at 1pm at the the Main Stage at Grand and Mott Streets. To sign up call 212-764-6330.

We also visit torrone, Italian nougat candy stands including Vinny's Nut House Stand, where we watch the torrone being chopped using a hammer and knife. Torrone is a non-perishable Italian nougat candy made using large amounts of whole almonds and filberts.

We also visit many Italian sausage booths which do a brisk business during the Feast including Gigi's Grilled Italian Specialty Stand, NYC Famous Italian Sausages Stand and Lucy's Sausage Stand and watch as both sweet and hot varieties of Italian sausage are grilled and prepared with peppers and onions.  The same owner who operates Gigi's Grilled Italian Specialty Stand also sells fried calzones, zeppoles and other fried treats directly across the street at Sophia's. Sophia's is the originator of the Fried Rainbow Cookie, a popular Feast item which when broken open reveals its colorful rainbow interior.  We also watch as fried Oreos, another street fair favorite are being prepared. We even try this "Candy of the Feast" from Sophia's.

We stop by Ferrara's Original Cafe where live music and dancing was happening and the food stands run by Ferrara's along the Feast route, where we try their world famous cannolis.  Ferrara’s is a sponsor of the annual Cannoli-eating Contest, which was held on Friday, September 13, 2019. This year’s winner, Wayne, downed 38 Ferrara cannolis in six minutes.Ferrara Bakery & Cafe was established in 1892 by Italian immigrants, Antonio Ferrara and Enrico Scoppa. Ferrara’s is considered America’s first espresso bar. The café later added Italian specialties including cannoli, sfogliatella and gelati to its menu.

We also visit Umberto's Clam House on Mulberry Street, which has been in business since 1972 and became famous for its celebrity clients and its signature clam dish with its hot red clam sauce.

Although this is an annual celebration of faith, the Feast of San Gennaro is known for its festive atmosphere, featuring Italian cuisine, carnival food favorites, religious processions, colorful parades, free live music and entertainment, rides for kids and adults, games and vendors.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla

Monday, September 16, 2019

G. Esposito & Sons Pork Store is one of the fantastic small independently-owned businesses in Carroll Gardens we visited in our latest YouTube episode: Brooklyn Food Tour, Vintage & Vinyl Records .

Full video: https://youtu.be/6Oay7gNcoW0 

This Italian Pork Store 🐷was founded in 1922 and is now run by 3rd-generation co-owners, brothers George and John Esposito. • To see the interior of this Pork Store 🐖butcher shop and see some of the Italian 🇮🇹specialties they serve and to see what delicious items we tried please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel (direct link in bio). We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Opening TONIGHT! Our new exhibition "CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is the front page news in today's AmNY newspaper.

Our photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater for the New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street opens today with a FREE OPENING RECEPTION FROM 5-8:30 PM.

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.

At the OPENING RECEPTION FREE BEER from Singha, FREE COLD BREW from Joe Coffee CompanyCompany and FREE PASTRIES & COOKIES from Veniero's Pasticceria will be provided!

Experience activism and community through the lens of photographers, as they display their work from two free 2019 workshops with acclaimed photographers and award-winning authors Karla and James Murray. In two sessions at the East Village Community Coalition, James & Karla taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy. Participants learned to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and to connect with the proprietors through personal interviews. 

Thank you so much amNewYork reporter Lisa L. Colangelo for the wonderful article!


Sunday, September 15, 2019

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain is one of the fantastic small independently-owned businesses in Carroll Gardens we visited in our latest YouTube episode: Brooklyn Food Tour, Vintage & Vinyl Records

Full video: https://youtu.be/6Oay7gNcoW0 

•This lovingly restored 1920s apothecary shop was turned into a modern day soda fountain shop @brooklynfarmacy by co-owners, brother and sister team Peter Freeman and Gia Giasullo. We look around its gorgeous interior filled with antique pharmacy cabinets filled with medicine bottles, a 20-foot marble soda fountain counter with red swirling stools, penny-tiled floors, and watch egg creams, ice cream sundaes and milkshakes being made by "soda jerks". We also purchase a vanilla egg cream (definitely one of the best we have ever had!) which we take outside to enjoy with our dog @Hudsonpittienyc on one of their pink benches.

• To see the beautiful interior of this shop and some of the ice cream sundae specialties they serve, please subscribe to our channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Saturday, September 14, 2019

We visit Court Pastry Shop in our latest YouTube video: Brooklyn Food Tour, Vintage & Vinyl Records

We visit Court Pastry Shop in our latest YouTube video: Brooklyn Food Tour, Vintage & Vinyl Records, where we take a walking tour around Carroll Gardens and visit many old-school Italian independently-owned food businesses along Court Street and also visit vintage shops and a vinyl record store. 

Full video: https://youtu.be/6Oay7gNcoW0


• We go inside this beloved Italian bakery and see all of the homemade pastries, cookies and cakes they make fresh daily. We purchase a vanilla cannoli and lobster tail pastry and also get one of their delicious homemade Italian ices to enjoy on nearby on the steps of one of the Italianate brownstones this neighborhood is known for.

• • To see the interior of this #italianpastry shop and see what we purchased, please subscribe to our channel. We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Friday, September 13, 2019

Our latest YouTube video: Brooklyn Food Tour, Vintage & Vinyl Records is now live on our JamesandKarla channel!


In this Brooklyn food tour, we take a walking tour around Carroll Gardens and visit many old-school Italian independently-owned food businesses along Court Street and also visit vintage shops and a vinyl record store on Court Street. We then walk to nearby Henry Street, where we visit a vintage apothecary turned modern day soda fountain.

We start the day with a visit to Court Pastry Shop, where we go inside this beloved Italian bakery and see all of the homemade pastries, cookies and cakes they make fresh daily. We purchase a vanilla cannoli and lobster tail pastry and also get one of their delicious homemade Italian ices to enjoy on nearby on the steps of one of the Italianate brownstones this neighborhood is known for.

We then visit Caputo's Bake Shop, where we go inside and see their vast selection of homemade Italian breads, rolls, biscuits and cakes and cookies. We purchase a loaf of semolina golden raisin with fennel and a pretzel roll and twist and our dog Hudson enjoys some of their biscotti.

We also visit G. Esposito & Sons Jersey Pork Store, where we see the owner George Esposiito and look at all of their freshly made pork sausage, vast meat selection and homemade Italian specialty items. We buy some of their mozzarella, ricotta and prosciutto balls, which we enjoy outside the shop.

We then walk further down Court Street and stop to look at some vintage items outside of Yesterday's News Antiques & Collectibles and visit 2 Silhouettes on The Shade, where we not only browse through their vast selection of vintage sporting equipment, housewares, clothing and knick-knacks but also go inside this packed from floor to ceiling shop.

We also visit Blue Gold Records, an eclectic vinyl record shop carrying a wide selection of quality used vinyl, where you can also enjoy freshly-roasted Brooklyn coffee. We help support this independently-owned record shop by purchasing one of their t-shirts.

We end the day with a visit to Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain on Henry Street where we go inside this lovingly restored 1920s apothecary shop which has been turned into a modern day soda fountain. We look around its gorgeous interior filled with antique pharmacy cabinets filled with medicine bottles, a 20-foot marble soda fountain counter with red swirling stools, penny-tiled floors, and watch egg creams , ice cream sundaes and milkshakes being made by "soda jerks". We purchase a vanilla egg cream which we take outside to enjoy with Hudson on one of their pink benches.  We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please share if you enjoy the video.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla

16x20 inch signed print

This 16x20 inch signed print featuring twenty of our photos of iconic Lower East Side and Lower Manhattan storefronts was created by us to help raise money (on sale for $35) for the free public workshops and resultant exhibition “Capturing the Faces & Voices of Mom-and-Pop Storefronts” which officially opens at the Theater For The New City Gallery @theater_for_the_new_city at 155 First Ave near 10th Street this Monday, September 16th from 5-8:30 pm

• It is FREE to attend our opening and there will be FREE BEER provided by @singhabeer_us and FREE COLD BREW ☕️from @joecoffeecompany and FREE PASTRIES from @Veniero’s

• • If you are interested in helping support our free public workshops and exhibition @momandpopstorefronts with a donation of $35 please Venmo Karla-Murray $35 by tomorrow 9/13 and you can pick up your signed Kodak Professional Endura Luster print at the opening celebration 🎉 or you can pay cash 💰 during the opening and pick up will be available in the East Village.


Thursday, September 12, 2019

Last night at CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" with PIX 11's Greg Mocker

Full video, interview and slideshow: https://pix11.com/2019/09/11/photographers-document-mom-and-pop-storefronts-in-nyc-for-gallery-show/

FREE! OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30!

CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street.  The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.

At the OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30 FREE BEER from Singha, FREE COLD BREW from Joe Coffee Company and FREE PASTRIES & COOKIES from Veniero's Pasticceria will be provided!

Experience activism and community through the lens of photographers, as they display their work from two free 2019 workshops with acclaimed photographers and award-winning authors Karla and James Murray. In two sessions at the East Village Community Coalition, James & Karla taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy. Participants learned to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and to connect with the proprietors through personal interviews.

"CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street.

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.


Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Hudson. With Karla and PIX 11's Greg Mocker filming at our "CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" Exhibition for broadcast tonight at around 10:20PM!

This photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019. 

FREE! OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30PM
FREE BEER from Singha, FREE COLD BREW from Joe Coffee Company and FREE PASTRIES & COOKIES from Veniero's Pasticceria will be provided!


14th Street, just now... Moment of Silence for the collapse of the North Tower.

18 Years... Remembering those lives lost or destroyed that awful day. 

Remembering Manny DelValle Jr. from Engine 5  On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 Manny had just finished an overnight at Engine 5 in the East Village when the call came in around 8:47 am that a plane had hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Engine Company 5 was assigned to team up with another company to walk up 80 floors and stretch the hose line. Manny Delvalle Jr. was carrying the rollup lines of hose and an oxygen tank.

The last time Manny was seen, he had stopped on the 10th floor to give a woman oxygen. His unit had made it to the 15th floor when they were called back when the building began to rumble. They looked for Manny but could not find him and after the North Tower fell at 10:28 am, he was reported missing.

Manny was 32 years old and had joined the #FDNY in 1994.

We remember Manny, who often stood outside the firehouse when the doors were open. The firemen always gave biscuits to our pit rescues Tabasco and Java.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy.


18 Years... Remembering those lives lost or destroyed that awful day...

When we took this photo over 20 years ago we had no idea... We got married 09.11.94 at city hall 25 years ago today.



Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Workshop participant @BiancaBob with her photography and interview text over at The TNC Gallery with Karla & Hudson.

FREE! OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30!

CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street.

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.

At the OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30 FREE BEER from Singha, FREE COLD BREW from Joe Coffee Company and FREE PASTRIES & COOKIES from Veniero's Pasticceria will be provided!

 Experience activism and community through the lens of photographers, as they display their work from two free 2019 workshops with acclaimed photographers and award-winning authors Karla and James Murray.  In two sessions at the East Village Community Coalition, James & Karla taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy. Participants learned to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and to connect with the proprietors through personal interviews.

"CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street.

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.



The Paris Café which has been operating as a bar since 1873 is one of the many unique places we visit in our latest YouTube video: South Street Seaport: Tourists in our Own City.

Full video: https://youtu.be/kZHJEix4_Ew

Many people regard the Seaport as a tourist-only destination but we loved walking its cobblestone streets lined with 18th and 19th-century old buildings and found many unique independently-owned shops, cafes and restaurants including @pariscafenyc which are definitely a must visit for everyone!

To see the interior of this historic bar/restaurant and its ornate Victorian wooden bar, which once served longshoreman, sea captains and mobsters who ran the docks along the East River of Manhattan, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Monday, September 9, 2019

FREE! OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30!

CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street.

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019. 

At the OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30 FREE BEER from Singha, FREE COLD BREW from Joe Coffee Company and FREE PASTRIES & COOKIES from Veniero's Pasticceria will be provided! 

Experience activism and community through the lens of photographers, as they display their work from two free 2019 workshops with acclaimed photographers and award-winning authors Karla and James Murray.

In two sessions at the East Village Community Coalition, James & Karla taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy. Participants learned to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and to connect with the proprietors through personal interviews. 

"CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street. 

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.


Our latest YouTube video: South Street Seaport: Tourists In Our Own City highlights Bowne & Co. Stationers

Our latest YouTube video: South Street Seaport: Tourists In Our Own City highlights Bowne & Co. Stationers at 211 Water Street, a historic stationery shop showcasing old-fashioned 19th century #antique letterpresses. Bowne & Co. 

Full video: https://youtu.be/kZHJEix4_Ew 

Bowne and Co. was founded in 1775 and is the oldest shop in the United States operating with the same name.

To see the interior of this historic shop @bowneprinters and some of its #vintage letterpresses and metal #type work benches as well as some of the custom #stationery and posters created using their 19th century #letterpress at @seaportmuseum please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel channel.

We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Sunday, September 8, 2019

Our latest YouTube video: South Street Seaport: Tourists In Our Own City is now live on our JamesandKarla channel!




In this episode we are tourists in our own city, visiting the South Street Seaport of Manhattan. Many people regard the Seaport as a tourist-only destination but we loved walking its cobblestone streets lined with 18th and 19th-century old buildings and found many unique independently-owned shops, cafes and restaurants, which are definitely a must visit for everyone!

We start the tour with a visit to Bowne & Co. Stationers at 211 Water Street, a historic stationery shop showcasing old-fashioned letterpresses. Bowne and Co. was founded in 1775 and is the oldest shop in the United States operating with the same name. We also visit the South Street Seaport Museum located at 209 Water Street (right next door to Bowne & Co.) and view some of their permanent exhibits about the Seaport's history and the Bowne & Co. antique 19th-century printing office and gallery, complete with ornate letterpresses and metal type workbenches. The $20 admission to the Museum also includes access to the decks and interiors of the tall-masted ships the "Ambrose" and the iron-hulled "Wavertree" docked at Pier 16.

We then walk to Mc Nally Jackson, an independently-owned bookstore located on 4 Fulton Street, which has a beautiful brick and timber-ceiling two-story interior overlooking the East River and the cobblestone streets of the Seaport. It is a perfect spot to sit down with a book in its plentiful seating areas full of leather chairs and enjoy a cup of espresso in its cafe.

Our rescue dog, Hudson led us into Seaport Paw at 38 Peck Slip, a pet supply store where we picked up some treats.

We also visit the historic Paris Cafe at 119 South Street, which is one of New York City's oldest pubs as it was founded in 1873. The gorgeous interior features an ornate Victorian wooden bar.

We then walk to Luchadores at 87 South Street, a counter-serve Mexican restaurant offering freshly made tacos, burritos and quesadillas that you can eat on picnic tables in the outdoor courtyard.

We end the day with a visit to the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream shop at 224 Front Street, known for its homemade ice cream, made from scratch including many vegan flavors. We go inside this pastel-colored shop and purchase one of their special monthly flavors, a delicious blueberry pie ice cream cone, which we enjoy riverside overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge.

We also highlight the amazing views the Seaport offers of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge as well as local architecture including Cannon Walk, as the South Street Seaport has the highest concentration of early 19th century commercial buildings since it was declared a historic district in 1977.

We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please share if you enjoy the video. We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Stage Restaurant in the East Village was named because it was located right next door to the Orpheum Theater on Second Avenue.

Sadly this iconic #luncheonette, which was in business for 35 years was forced to close in 2016 after a dispute with the landlord regarding gas being shut off to the building.

Our #film photo from 2004 appears in our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” but can now be seen at almost life-size at The Theater For The New City Gallery as part of the exhibition we are curating, which officially opens in one more week on 9/16! "CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the @theater_for_the_new_city located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street.

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.

At the OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30 FREE BEER from Singha @singhabeer_us FREE COLD BREW from Joe Coffee Company @joe coffee company and FREE PASTRIES & COOKIES from Veniero's Pasticceria @venierospastry try will be provided!


Friday, September 6, 2019

FREE! OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30!

CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street. The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.

At the OPENING RECEPTION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th from 5-8:30 FREE BEER from Singha, FREE COLD BREW from Joe Coffee Company and FREE PASTRIES & COOKIES from Veniero's Pasticceria will be provided!

Experience activism and community through the lens of photographers, as they display their work from two free 2019 workshops with acclaimed photographers and award-winning authors Karla and James Murray. In two sessions at the East Village Community Coalition, James & Karla taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy. Participants learned to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and to connect with the proprietors through personal interviews.

"CAPTURING THE FACES & VOICES OF MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS" is a photography and oral history exhibition at the Theater For The New City Gallery located at 155 First Avenue near 10th Street.

The exhibition is free to see (open every day from 10 am to 10pm) and is on display until October 27, 2019.







Thursday, September 5, 2019

Our photo of classic Brooklyn's Richards Barber Shop on the left from our book "STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face of New York" vs Steven Spielberg's version in his upcoming remake of "West Side Story"

Thank you Rolando Pujol​ for the photo taken in Paterson, NJ!


Our latest YouTube video highlights Westsider Books in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Full video: https://youtu.be/J6uRl_IkaR8

@westsider_books was founded in 1984 by Dorian Thornley and is packed from floor to ceiling with fiction and literature, art, illustrated, architecture and design books. 

To see the interior of this amazing #bookstore and the rolling wooden ladders, please watch our Upper West Side: Hot Dogs, Vinyl Records & Gourmet Food episode on our YouTube channel JamesandKarla and please subscribe as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla



Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Ceiling and roof-topping, NYC, just now...



Our latest YouTube video highlights Gray's Papaya​ on the corner of West 72nd St. and Broadway in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

@grayspapayanyc was founded in 1973 by Nicholas Gray, a former partner of the iconic Papaya King. 

Full video: https://youtu.be/J6uRl_IkaR8 

To see the interior of this #hotdog 🌭and papaya drink shop and the amusing #signs they have plastered throughout the shop and to see what we and @hudsonpittienyc had to eat, please watch our Upper West Side: Hot Dogs, Vinyl Records & Gourmet Food episode on our YouTube channel JamesandKarla and please subscribe as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Our latest YouTube video highlights Westsider Records on West 72nd St. in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Full video: https://youtu.be/J6uRl_IkaR8 

This vinyl record shop is the annex of @westsider_books on Broadway, which was founded in 1984 by Dorian Thornley. Westsider Records is packed from floor to ceiling with #vinyl in all genres including classical, jazz, rock and popular music 🎶.

• To see the interior of this #vinylrecord shop and some of their vast collection including their $1 bins in the front of the shop, please watch our Upper West Side: Hot Dogs, Vinyl Records & Gourmet Food episode on our YouTube channel JamesandKarla and please subscribe as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla



Monday, September 2, 2019

Our latest YouTube video highlights Zabar’s on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Full video: https://youtu.be/J6uRl_IkaR8 

@zabarsisny was founded in 1934 by Louis and Lillian Zabar as a small shop selling smoked fish 🐟 and freshly roasted coffee ☕️. It has expanded over the years to take up almost an entire block along Broadway at West 80th St.

• To see the interior of this iconic institution and all of their specialty counters including the bakery, artisanal cheese 🧀, deli, appetizing and prepared foods counters, please watch our Upper West Side: Hot Dogs, Vinyl Records & Gourmet Food episode on our YouTube channel JamesandKarla and please subscribe as will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC. 

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla


Sunday, September 1, 2019

Our latest YouTube video: Upper West Side: Hot Dogs, Vinyl Records & Gourmet Food is now live on our JamesandKarla channel!

Full video: https://youtu.be/J6uRl_IkaR8

In this episode we travel around the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan, starting the day with a visit to Gray's Papaya at the corner of West 72nd St & Broadway, where we get one of their iconic hot dogs and papaya drinks.

We then walk down Broadway to Westsider Books Rare and Used, where we go inside this lovely bi-level shop and browse through their wide selection of books. We help support this independently-owned bookstore by purchasing one of their branded t-shirts.

We then walk to Westsider Records on West 72nd Street, which specializes in all genres of vinyl records. We go crate digging inside this vinyl record shop, which acts as an annex store to Westsider Books. Be sure to check out the $1 bins at the front of the shop for some bargain vinyl.

We end the day with a visit to Zabar's, the gourmet food emporium on Broadway which was founded in 1934 as a small family-owned shop specializing in smoked fish and freshly roasted coffee, but has expanded over the years to take up almost an entire city block. We visit all of the specialty counters inside Zabar's including their bakery, specialty cheese, appetizing, prepared foods, and freshly roasted coffee counters, purchase some items and bring them to snack on inside nearby Central Park.

We also highlight local architecture along the way, including many beautiful historic brownstones and buildings including the iconic Italian Renaissance Revival building, the Apthorp designed for William Waldorf Astor in the early 1900s.

We would love for you to subscribe to our channel and hit the thumbs up and notification bell and please share if you enjoy the video. We will be posting new videos weekly, highlighting small unique businesses in NYC.

SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesandKarla