NoLita Pizza on Kenmare Street between Mott & Mulberry Street in Manhattan was founded a few years ago by pizzaiolo Tony Salihaj, who learned expert pizza-making skills while working for many years at Bleecker Street Pizza. 

We first tried his signature #pizza, Regina Napoletana last week but went back yesterday to also try their classic cheese slice and both were extra extra good! The Regina Napoletana features homemade Marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh basil 🌿 and imported cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. Not only did we rate this #nycpizza shop as one of the best in NYC, our dog Hudson, who is also a pizza 🍕 connoisseur gave both slices all 4 paws 🐾 up approval!  

• To watch our livestream video where we visit @nolitapizzanyc 🍕 & to watch Hudson give his paws 🐾 up approval, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.  

• Full livestream video:  https://youtu.be/oDyxpkYIyF4

Peter’s Grocery Store on Madison Street in the Lower East Side was founded in 1947.

When we interviewed the 2nd-generation owner, Peter Migliorini in 2008 for our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” he told us that his father opened the shop “when the neighborhood was mostly Irish with some Italians and Polish immigrants and was largely residential. But over the years, many apartment buildings have been demolished and or converted into office towers.”

Sadly the lack of customers was one of the reasons Peter closed his grocery store just a year later in 2009. There has been a few different businesses occupying the #storefront in the past decade but none to us, have the charm of Peter’s with its gorgeous #handpainted signage and the 7Up insignias flanking each side.

 #disappearingfaceofnewyork #jamesandkarla #momandpopshop #lowereastsidenyc #signpainting #signage #grocerystore

Susie’s Pies in the Bronx

Susie’s Pies in the Bronx is a perfect example of the quintessential classic New York pizzeria #storefront with its walk-up window to order & grab a slice from the counter and its beautiful #handpainted signage complete with phone number showing no area code as this #pizzeria was founded in the 1970s, when the Bronx  was still part of the 212 area code. 

In fact, for the first 37 years after the establishment of the North American Numbering Plan in 1947, all of New York City was a single numbering plan with area code 212. But in 1984, New York Telephone asked the New York Public Service Commission to split part of New York City into a new area code to "prevent an impending exhaustion of telephone numbers." 

On February 1, 1984, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island were split into a new area code, with Manhattan and the Bronx retaining 212. The announcement of the impending split triggered protests and threats of legal action from local officials and lawmakers representing the outer boroughs. 

Despite this, New York Telephone implemented the new 718 area code on September 1, 1984 and on July 1, 1992, the Bronx and the neighborhood of Marble Hill, Manhattan were also split from numbering plan area 212, and were added to 718. 

#disappearingfaceofnewyork #pizza #nycpizza #italianfood #pizzapie #pizzalover #pizzalovers #pizzalove #pizzaislife #calzones #thebronx #jamesandkarla #pizza🍕

NoLita Pizza on Kenmare Street between Mott & Mulberry was founded by pizzaiolo Tony Salihaj, who learned expert pizza-making skills while working for many years at Bleecker Street Pizza. 

Yesterday, while we walked the length of the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy 🇮🇹, we took a short detour and visited @nolitapizzanyc to try their signature #pizza, Regina Napolitana (slice seen in 1st photo) which features homemade Marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh basil 🌿 and imported cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. Not only did we rate this pizza as one of the best Margherita pizzas we have had in NYC, our dog Hudson, who is also a pizza 🍕 connoisseur gave the slice all 4 paws 🐾 up approval! We loved this pizza so much that we returned after finishing exploring the Feast, and purchased a whole pie (swipe left for 2nd photo). 

• To watch our livestream video where we visit the Feast & NoLita Pizza 🍕 & to watch Hudson have his share of pizza, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story.  

• Full livestream video: https://youtu.be/_8BgDBkeKhw

Casa Latina, East Harlem, NYC

Casa Latina on 116th Street in East Harlem aka El Barrio was founded in 1948 by Puerto Rican musician Bartolo Alvarez. It is the longest running Latin 🎶 Music store in the area and the nation’s first Spanish language music store. 

We visited Casa Latina to say hi to owner, Vicente Barreiro (2nd photo) as walked around East Harlem to help support the many small businesses in this lively neighborhood, many of which are family owned and operated.  

• To watch our East Harlem livestream and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

• Full livestream video: https://youtu.be/u5KVUlgcP2s

Capri Bakery on 116th Street in East Harlem

Capri Bakery on 116th Street in East Harlem was founded in 1984 and specializes in elaborately decorated cakes 🍰 for every occasion but also serves Cuban breads and sandwiches, pastelitos de guava (guava pastry) and a large variety of cookies. 

Yesterday, we visited Capri Bakery and walked around East Harlem to help support the many small businesses in this lively neighborhood, many of which are family owned and operated. 

• To watch our East Harlem livestream and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

•Full livestream video:  https://youtu.be/u5KVUlgcP2s

Yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Asian holiday also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, which celebrates the brightest and fullest moon 🌝 of the year as well as the Fall harvest.

In China, the holiday is celebrated similar to Thanksgiving with families gathering for a meal accompanied by lantern lighting. To celebrate the annual #mooncakefestival yesterdayday, we visited the family-owned Golden Fung Wong Bakery on Mott Street in Chinatown to purchase #mooncakes 🥮 which are round pastries traditionally filled with red bean or lotus seed paste wrapped around a salted egg yolk that symbolizes the moon and gives them a sweet and savory flavor. The #mooncake is then pressed into molds to emboss the top with elaborate designs. Fung Wong is one of the few bakeries in New York City which sells mooncakes year-round as well as other #Chinese pastries and cookies.  

• To watch our livestream visit to Chinatown and see our “Mooncake Battle” where we try mooncakes from three different bakeries, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

• Full video livestream: https://youtu.be/gnphZmA7Yjo

With the official end to the summer season approaching on September 22nd, we are highlighting today a #vintage “Tillie” amusement park “fun face” #neonsign.

Tillie is the nickname of George C. Tilyou, the owner of Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, which featured the “Steeplechase Face” a grinning face signage.  

• We were lucky enough to visit in our NYC Neon & Vintage Filled Apartment Tour, the neon and vintage collectible-filled 1,300 square foot loft apartment on the Bowery in New York City of our channel supporter Chris G. and highlight many of the amazing items he and his partner Gerry have on display. (Swipe left for 2nd photo of the Tillie sign on display inside his loft). 

• To watch our NYC Apartment Tour to see the Tillis’s sign glowing brightly, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. • 

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

View of the 95th Annual Feast of San Gennaro in the Little Italy 🇮🇹 of Manhattan from the Ferris Wheel 🎡 Ride on Grand Street near Mulberry.

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. It was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, so it was wonderful to see it back again! Last evening, we not only walked the length of the @sangennaronyc  Feast but took a fun ride on the #ferriswheel with our Service Dog 🐕‍🦺 Hudson who absolutely loved the views! 

• To watch us ride the Ferris Wheel at the #sangennaro Feast during our livestream tour and see all the #Italianfood , rides and games at the Feast this year, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

• Full video livestream: https://youtu.be/YFHSzYvCwOo

Rocky’s Italian Restaurant on Spring Street at the corner of Mulberry in Little Italy 🇮🇹 of Manhattan, was in business for over 30 years before closing in 2011.

We were fortunate enough to not only photograph the restaurant in 2009 for our book “New York Nights” but to also interview the owner, Emma Caserta who told us that she was forced to close her family’s restaurant after the “lease was not renewed” & she sadly could not continue to serve their “homestyle Italian dishes after being born and raised on Mulberry Street.” 

We do have some good news to share in that we recently discovered where the amazing #neonsign for Rocky’s ended up. It was saved by the chef, Chris G. who worked right next door to the restaurant and is proudly displayed inside his loft apartments the Bowery.  

• In our NYC Neon & Vintage Filled Apartment Tour, we visit the neon and vintage collectible-filled 1,300 square foot loft apartment on the Bowery in New York City of our channel supporter Chris G. and highlight many of the amazing items he and his partner Gerry have on display. 

• To watch our NYC Apartment Tour to see the Rocky’s sign glowing brightly, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. • https://youtu.be/zvfxhXUBGQA

Did you know that New York City was literally built from Oyster 🦪 Shells?

When Henry Hudson arrived in what is now New York City in 1609, there were approximately 350 square miles of oyster reefs in the harbor and its surrounding waters, which contained nearly half of the world’s oyster population. As the city expanded, many of the buildings including Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center depended on the burning of oyster shells for lime. 

While thinking about the importance of oysters to NYC, we are highlighting “The Famous Oyster Bar” on 7th Avenue at West 54th Street which was founded in 1959 and continued to be operated by the same family until it closed in 2014. It’s bright red #neonsignage was saved and now hangs at the Grey Lady restaurant and oyster bar restaurant on Delancey Street in the Lower East Side.

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

 

Sunshine Florist on First Avenue at 52nd Street has been in business since 1958.

This lovely family-owned #florist like many florists across the country and elsewhere, struggled to survive during the pandemic as it was forced to close since it was not an essential business, wedding and other large parties to which they provide flowers for were cancelled and many people who live in the Sutton Place neighborhood that this #floralshop serves also moved out of the neighborhood.  

• Yesterday we visited Sunshine Florist to check in on it and are happy to report that they are still going strong! To watch our livestream video where we visit Sunshine Florist as well as another independently-owned small business in the neighborhood. 

To watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

•Full video: https://youtu.be/hu5BUH100h8

Happy Rosh Hashanah to all who celebrate!

In honor of the Jewish New Year celebration which began at sundown last night, we are highlighting Ditmas Kosher Meats & Poultry, as beef brisket is one of the dishes traditionally served on this holiday. 

When we photographed Ditmas Meats & Poultry in 2004 for our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”, we also spoke with the owner of this Borough Park, Brooklyn #storefront who told us that the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were one of the busiest times of year for his business! 

• • • • • #disappearingfaceofnewyork #kosher #jamesandkarla #meatmarket #butcher #kosherfood #jewishfood #boroughpark #butchershop #butchersofinstagram #butchers #poultryofinstagram

To continue our barbecue-filled celebration for the Labor` Day weekend, we are highlighting William’s BAR-B-Q on Broadway in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

This barbecue spot, was founded in 1952 by Harry Williams and became well known for its barbecue chicken 🍗 served hot off the spit. 

Many famous customers frequented the small take away joint, including Liza Minnelli, Harry Belafonte, Wade Boggs, Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman before it closed in 2005. 

Our 35 mm film photo taken in 2004 is an outside from our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”. 

• #jamesandkarla #barbecue #storefront #barbecuetime #bbqchicken #disappearingfaceofnewyork #bbqlife #bbqchicken #bbqporn #beefbrisket #barbecuesauce #bbqchicken #coleslaw #upperwestsidenyc

With the holiday weekend starting, attending a barbecue is on our mind and got us thinking about Sherman’s Bar BQ in Harlem.

This barbecue 🍖 spot, which was founded in 1948, was a neighborhood favorite for its outstanding pork 🐷barbecue ribs and even served the Beatles in 1964 when Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes took them to Sherman’s Bar BQ. Sadly this iconic restaurant closed in 2011. 

Our 35 mm film photo taken in 2004 appears in our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”.  

• • • • • • #jamesandkarla #barbecue #bbqribs #disappearingfaceofnewyork #bbqlife #bbqchicken #bbqporn #harlem #storefront #harlemnyc #barbecuetime

Zelig Blumenthal on Essex Street near Hester Street was one of the many Judaica stores in the Lower East Side selling Jewish religious articles.

When we took this 35mm film photo in 2004 for our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” we had no idea in that just a few short years that it would close and be replaced by a coffee shop as the neighborhood became more and more gentrified. The other religious stores in the neighborhood also closed and to our knowledge there are none left. Yesterday, we visited this part of the Lower East Side, which once had a large Jewish population and stopped in some other Jewish-owned shops to help support them. 

To watch our livestream visit to the area, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

• Full video: https://youtu.be/elAyYQCVkTs

Kossar’s Bagels 🥯 & Bialys has been in business since 1936.

This storefront photo taken in 2005 appears in our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” along with an interview with the former owner, Deborah Engelmyer who purchased the #bialy business from the Kossar family and explained the difference between a bialy and a #bagel to us. 

•We revisited this iconic Jewish bakery today ( it was completely renovated in 2016 after the latest owners took over the #storefront in 2013) to have a bialy and peak into the baking area. To watch our livestream visit to Kossar’s today, please subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel, see direct link below & in bio and IG story. 

• Full video: https://youtu.be/elAyYQCVkTs