Wednesday, March 29, 2017

We are excited to announce that we will be leading upcoming FREE workshops in collaboration with the Neighborhood Preservation Center in the East Village: CAPTURING THE FACES AND VOICES OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE’S DISAPPEARING MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS

CAPTURING THE FACES AND VOICES OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE’S DISAPPEARING MOM-AND-POP STOREFRONTS

Session #1: Monday, April 24 or May 1, 2017
Session #2: Monday, May 22 or Monday, June 5, 2017
6:30 PM

FREE - Registration Required via Eventbrite.com

Capturing the Faces and Voices of the Lower East Side's Disappearing Mom-and-Pop Storefronts is a photography and oral history workshop of the cultural significance of mom-and-pop stores and the impact they have on the pulse, life, and texture of their communities. There will be two free workshops (consisting of two sessions each) held at the Neighborhood Preservation Center in the East Village culminating in an exhibition of each participant’s work at the Theater for the New City Art Gallery from August 14 – September 18, 2017.

The workshops teach how photography and oral history can be tools for public awareness and advocacy. Participants will learn to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts as well as record oral histories with shop owners, which communicate artistically and are insightful and moving. Taught by acclaimed photographers and best-selling authors Karla and James Murray. Space is limited to 35 participants per workshop (70 participants total).

Advance registration is required. REGISTER:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/capturing-faces-voices-of-the-les-mom-and-pop-storefronts-tickets-32605374553  

Workshops will take place at:
Neighborhood Preservation Center 232 East 11th Street New York, NY 10003
6:30- 8:30 PM

Capturing the Faces and Voices of the Lower East Side’s Disappearing Mom-and-Pop Storefronts is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York Legislature and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. LMCC.net Additional support is provided by the Neighborhood Preservation Center and the Theater for the New City.


Tuesday, March 28, 2017

M. Katz & Sons Fine Furniture Essex Street, Lower East Side, NYC

We loved its oversize #signage with a mix of massive chunky serif and #script #lettering! In late 2010 the furniture #storefront was transformed into a pawn shop in the front leading to a restaurant and bar/lounge upstairs. The ghost signage can still be seen on the new facade for Beauty & Essex.


Thursday, March 23, 2017

Our exploration what is left of an abandoned World War II Nazi Labor Camp in Krakow, Poland by via Untapped Cities...

LINK: http://untappedcities.com/2017/03/23/rusted-memories-inside-an-abandoned-world-war-ii-nazi-labor-camp-in-krakow-poland/

"Feeling that this might give us a unique perspective on the atrocities that took place not only in Poland, but across Europe not that long ago, we decided to hike across the Vistula River to get a better look. In an age where tolerance unimaginably seems to be brought into question again, we wanted a quiet and somehow more personal experience than we felt we would get in the tourist-heavy memorial and museum sites nearby."


Tuesday, March 21, 2017

El Nuevo Siglo in Washington Heights, NYC

El Nuevo Siglo in Washington Heights specialized in Buster Brown Shoes 👞 and Pro Keds. When we saw this shoe store with its #vintage #signage it brought us right back to our childhood. #Analog photo from 2004 appears in our book "Store Front:The Disappearing Face of New York". #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork


Monday, March 20, 2017

Los Paisanos Meat Market, Brooklyn, NYC

Los Paisanos Meat Market on Smith Street in Brooklyn is a family-owned #butcher shop that has been in business since the 1960s. One of their specialties is whole pigs 🐷  of all sizes 🐖  as well as premier cuts of beef 🐮 and veal. We always love shopping at a family butcher because they often give you great advice and recipes if you are unsure how to prepare something. Photo from 2009 appears in our book "Store Front II- A History Preserved".


Sunday, March 19, 2017

Hudson. Over at Exit9 Gift Emporium on Ave A, East Village, NYC.

Getting treats from head honcho Charles and checking up on the stock of STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face of New York, earlier...


Jay Dee Bakery in Forest Hills, Queens was open for nearly 60 years before it closed in 2009

We loved its #ArtDeco #storefront which had an amazing reverse channel #neonsign with a unique #font. We also loved the Ravenna green mosaic columns surrounding the windows which had an orange and red vertical swirl pattern. Jay Dee Bakery was known for its kosher cookies including rainbow 🌈 and cherry cookies as well as their classic black and white cookie. Analog photo from 2004 appears in our book "Store Front:The Disappearing Face of New York."


Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Irish Brigade Pub in upper Washington Heights/Inwood

We love their #handpainted #signage with its unique #font and shamrocks ☘️☘️☘️. This #Irish bar opened in 1939 and this #analog photo was taken in 2001.


Friday, March 17, 2017

In honor of St. Patrick's Day ☘️ we are posting the gorgeous #neon harp outside the Dublin House Bar on the Upper West Side

This is a family-owned #Irish #pub which has been in business since 1921. It was founded by John Carway, an #Irish immigrant from Dublin who rented the space during Prohibition. We absolutely love its #vintage #neonsign in the shape of a harp and its letters that say "TAP ROOM" and "BAR" which blink on and off. The bartender, Mr. Daly told us that the reason the neon sign has the words "tap room" is that Dublin House was one of the first bars to offer beer 🍺 on tap. Full interview with Mr. Daly and nighttime photo of entire #storefront with neon #signage appear in our book "New York Nights".


Friday, March 10, 2017

Our visit to McSorley's Old Ale House Pre-St. Patrick's Day for 6sqft...

https://www.6sqft.com/the-urban-lens-inside-mcsorleys-old-ale-house-nycs-oldest-bar/

"We recently paid the Irish tavern a visit to capture its historic details such as the original wooden bar and pot-bellied stove; iconic tchotchkes adorning the walls, which run the gamut from shackles worn by a prisoner of war from the Civil War to a horseshoe that legend says came from one of the horses that pulled Abraham Lincoln’s hearse; and the fun-loving crowd that can be seen there on a typical day. We also chatted with Teresa Maher, the very first woman to work behind the bar in 1994."


Thursday, March 9, 2017

Woman's Style Boutique, Brooklyn, NY

We love the unique #font used on the #signage for this #storefront. "Kobieta I Styl" translates to "woman and style" in Polish.


Tuesday, March 7, 2017

White Horse Tavern has been in business since 1880.

White Horse Tavern is one of the few wood-frame structures still in existence in New York City. The current owner is Eddie Brennan who told us that the main building in which the #tavern is located was constructed in 1817. The interior of the tavern is original including the tin ceiling, all the fixtures and the wooden bar. The overhanging #neonsign went up some time in the 1940s. Eddie told us that he recently had the #signage entirely rebuilt because it was rusty and shaky. It is one of our favorite #vintage neon signs with its cobalt #blue enamel and interesting #font as well as the #neon horse. We love this #storefront so much that we chose it for the back cover image for our book New York Nights. Full page interview with Eddie Brennan also appears in the book.


Monday, March 6, 2017

The Guides Association of New York City has nominated us to receive an award at their third annual ceremony TONIGHT!

The award is given in recognition to honor organizations and individuals that encourage and promote New York City tourism, culture and preservation.

We have been nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in Non-Fiction Book Writing" (published October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016) for our book "Store Front II A History Preserved: The Disappearing Face of New York".


Marie's Beauty Lounge 💇 in the #Bronx.

People often ask us what #storefront that we have photographed is our favorite. It's a very difficult question for us to answer because we have such a personal connection to many of the places especially because we often spend hours with the owners asking them questions about the history of their store. As huge fans of #typography and #lettering one of our favorites definitely is Marie's. We love the #script and the simple black and white #type used in the diamonds. Photo from 2004 appears in our book "Store Front:The Disappearing Face of New York". Please let us know why some of the storefronts we have posted on our feed are your favorites. #disappearingfaceofnewyork


Friday, March 3, 2017

Papaya King's 85th Anniversary

 In honor of Papaya King's 85th Anniversary they are selling their famous #hotdog for just 32 cents as well as their signature tropical 🌴  drinks for 32 cents both today March 3rd and tomorrow March 4th. Papaya King was founded in 1932 by Constantine "Gus" Poulos on the corner of Third Avenue and 86th Street. Poulos had discovered the papaya on a trip to Cuba and decided to dedicate his "tropical" drink stand to it. When he fell in love with a German woman from the neighborhood, she convinced him to add frankfurters, a German staple, to the menu and the marriage of Hot Dogs and Papaya Drinks 🍹 began. The 86th street location has an amazing #vintage #neonsign with a distinct #font which has been replicated in their newer locations in the East Village and Brooklyn and even in Las Vegas. Photo from2010 and full interview with 2nd generation former owner Alexander Poulos appear in our book "Store Front II-A History Preserved". #storefront


Introducing our NYC Signage Collage Limited Edition Prints...

Sizes up to 6 feet in length. Contact us for details: jandk@jamesandkarlamurray.com.