Milon on First Avenue near East 6th Street appears to be permanently closed.

Milon on First Avenue near East 6th Street, which served amazing but inexpensive Bangladeshi food sadly closed its doors in mid-March 2020 when NYC banned indoor dining and sadly, the restaurant appears to be permanently closed. 

We have personally been customers of Milon since 1988 (it opened in 1982) and the family who owned the restaurant was so wonderful and not only allowed us to photograph the interior with its cacophony of lights and decorations but also sang happy birthday to us on many occasions when we celebrated at the restaurant over our usual chicken tikka masala and aloo paratha! 

We will miss this restaurant beyond measure! The exterior photo and an interview with manager Moha appears in our book “New York Nights”. 

Watch our video visit: https://youtu.be/AjsYc6eOn-4

O. Ottomanelli & Sons Prime Meat Market 🥩🍖 is a family-owned butcher shop which was founded in 1935.

Full video: https://youtu.be/-8hrFAEa2Xw 

In our latest YouTube video we visit many small Greenwich Village mom-and-pop businesses which are struggling to survive during the Coronavirus pandemic including O. Ottomanelli & Sons which is now run by Onofrio’s sons. 

• Watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel!

In our latest YouTube video we visit many small mom-and-pop businesses which are struggling to survive during the Coronavirus pandemic including @greenwichlocksmiths

Full video: https://youtu.be/-8hrFAEa2Xw

Greenwich Locksmiths on 7th Avenue South near Commerce Street was founded in 1968 by Philip Mortillaro. This shop is one of the most unique in NYC because at only 125 square feet in size, it is the smallest free-standing building in NYC and it also has a gorgeous facade covered with over 10,000 keys. 

The gorgeous key-covered facade was designed and created by Philip and attached in panels to the building. 

We featured this #storefront in our “Store Front II” book... (photo of Philip holding our book) and also included an interview where he describes how he designed the facade. 

Watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel!

John’s of Bleecker Street

John’s of Bleecker Street has been in business since 1929 and specializes in coal-fired oven pizza 🍕 which they only sell by the pie not by the slice. 

Full video: https://youtu.be/-8hrFAEa2Xw 

In our latest YouTube video, we walk with our dog Hudson around Greenwich Village to visit many small mom-and-pop businesses which are struggling to survive during the Coronavirus pandemic including @johnsofbleeckerstreet This iconic pizzeria has an outdoor dining area where you can eat at now but we in particular loved to dine at one of the original wood booths inside which hundreds of customers have carved their names into over the years. 

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LIVE MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT: PART 2 ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, DINING & SHOPPING

In our , we continue our walk with our dog Hudson around the Miami Design District near downtown Miami which is known for its sleek modern architecture, fashion boutiques, art galleries, interior design stores and restaurants. 

Part 2: https://youtu.be/aIANK30UbCU 

Note this is Part 2 of our walk around Miami's Design District. 

Here is the link to watch Part 1: https://youtu.be/6jIKOPz1P2o

There are 36 candy-colored Lifeguard Towers dotting the coastline of Miami Beach from the tip of South Beach all the way up to 87th Street.

Full video: https://youtu.be/uWRCKGxKw4g 

These unique Art Deco towers started popping up after Hurricane Andrew hit Miami Beach in the early 1990s. The first towers were designed and built by Architect William Lane and many more were built as a result of design competitions. In our latest livestream YouTube video, we walk with our dog Hudson along the Beach Walk in Miami Beach and make frequent stops to walk on the sand and see the iconic Lifeguard Towers and the sunbathers. 

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The Rail Line Diner on W. 23rd St in Chelsea has sadly permanently closed.

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

This spot on the corner of 9th Avenue has been a diner for over 20 years but it just could not weather the pandemic. Most diners have huge menus and need lots of staff so overhead costs are high making it difficult to operate without indoor dining. Thankfully there is a diner directly across the street from where this one was located, which is still in business so our hopes are high that at least one diner can remain near the iconic Chelsea Hotel. 

• We walk and see this closed diner in our Chelsea YouTube video on our way to get photographic supplies at B&H Photo & Video. 

Watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel!

Azucar Ice Cream Company on Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) in the heart of the Little Havana

Azucar Ice Cream Company on Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) in the heart of the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami specializes in homemade Cuban 🇨🇺 ice cream 🍨 including many tropical flavors.  

Full video: https://youtu.be/liK5sMZ9whY 

We not only love their delicious ice cream but also their creative signage with the multi-scoop ice cream 🍦cone! In our latest livestream YouTube video, we visit @azucaricecream and try all their top 3 flavors including “Abuela Maria” which is a Cuban vanilla ice cream laced with ripe guava, chunks of cream cheese and crushed Maria cookies.

Old Homestead Steakhouse on Ninth Avenue near West 14th Street is one of longest continuously operating restaurants in the United States as it was founded in 1868.

It has been run by the same family (the Sherry family) for three generations. This photo from 2010 appears in our book “New York Nights”. 

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

In our latest YouTube video, we walk along 9th Ave with our dog Hudson to check out the dedicated outdoor dining area @oldhomestead_steakhouse has and speak about its beautiful neon sign and mascot!

Stella’s Pizza on Ninth Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan has been in business since the 1960s.

We love this old-school pizzerias neon signage and stainless steel facade and their spinach white pizza! 

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

• You can see Stella’s Pizza and their beautiful exterior and in our latest YouTube video, where we walk along Ninth Avenue to visit @bhphoto which is NYC’s largest camera supply store. 

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The Boulevard Hotel on Ocean Drive in South Beach, Miami was built in 1950 in the Miami Modern style.

We love the grooved northern part of the facade with its red neon-lined “ziggurat parapet roof line”. 

Full video: https://youtu.be/6IVOW1L2b5o 

•In our latest livestream YouTube video, we walk with our dog Hudson to see all the Art Deco hotels, buildings and outdoor dining options along the Ocean Drive pedestrian-only thoroughfare. We stop at many places of interest including the Versace Mansion, the Clevelander Hotel, the Caryle (where the Birdcage was filmed) and the Art Deco building near the Colony Hotel where the movie Scarface was filmed. 

• Watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Classic Coffee Shop on Hester Street, one of the last remaining luncheonettes serving egg creams, has permanently closed after being in business since 1976.

The second generation owner, Carmine Morales shared that the pandemic negatively affected his business but that it was also “just time to go.” Classic Coffee Shop did not have a grill, but instead served simple sandwiches and classic egg creams. 

We and our dog @hudsonpittienyc will miss Carmine and his classic shop!

Golden Rabbit on Hudson Street in the West Village sadly has permanently closed its doors.

We always loved this colorful little shop which not only functioned as a mailbox store where one could rent a private mailbox address but also as a place to buy stationery, party supplies and fresh flowers. We did not get confirmation from the owner, but it appears to have closed in part due to the Coronavirus pandemic as many people moved out of the neighborhood and there is far less street foot traffic. It breaks our heart to see so many small businesses in NYC closing and we hope that by sharing our photos of unique shops, restaurants, cafes and bars that people remember to shop local and shop small!

Papaya King, Upper East Side, NYC

Papaya King, the historic hot dog 🌭 and papaya drink shop founded in 1932 on the corner of Third Avenue at 86th Street lost its lease in April 2020 for failure to pay $122,00 in rent after it closed in mid-March due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.  

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

There is some controversy surrounding whether Papaya King will reopen as a former management company broke into the store and continued to operate the hot dog store as Papaya King without permission. We hope the REAL Papaya King (not the imposter) can eventually return but have not been able to visit the Upper East Side location since 2019 when we got their famous hot dog topped with chili, cheese and curly fries and a papaya drink. 

• To see the interior of this shop and to hear more about its interesting history and their vintage #neon sign, please watch our YouTube video from our 2019!

ABSTRK. From yesterday's LIVESTREAM MIAMI: WALKING WYNWOOD ART DISTRICT STREET ART & GRAFFITI ART TOUR.

Full video: https://youtu.be/sMp0ORcERJM 

We walk with our dog Hudson to visit the vibrant neighborhood of #Wynwood in Miami, Florida which has more graffiti and street art than anywhere else in the United States.

In our latest YouTube video, we visit one of the northernmost neighborhoods of Manhattan which was portrayed in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "In The Heights" with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Despite recent gentrification, it retains its large Latino flavor. 

Full video: https://youtu.be/2Uoeq45mzUI 

Munchies on St Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights. As lovers of unique #signage we were immediately drawn to the Pac-Man on this creative sign ready to gobble up the Mofonguitos, Cachapa & other Latin food, Munchies specializes in. 

• Watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel!

El Panadero Bakery in the Washington Heights neighborhood is known for its freshly baked Dominican baked goods.

• Full video: https://youtu.be/2Uoeq45mzUI 

In our latest YouTube video, we visit one of the northernmost neighborhoods of Manhattan which was portrayed in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "In The Heights" with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Despite recent gentrification, it retains its large Latino flavor. 

• Watch and subscribe to our JamesandKarla YouTube channel!

Colony Hotel on Ocean Drive in South Beach Miami, Florida.

The Colony Hotel was built in 1935 and is a stunning example of Art Deco architecture designed by Henry Hohauser. 

Full video: https://youtu.be/sgpJ4WFj6sk 

In our latest livestream YouTube video, we visit the Colony Hotel and check out its gorgeous historic exterior with its simple and symmetrical geometric elements including the inverted “T” which bears the hotel’s name in glowing blue neon during our Art Deco Historic District walking tour. 

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Hudson. Fun. South Beach, Miami.

In our new LIVESTREAM MIAMI BEACH: ART DECO WALKING TOUR we walk with our dog Hudson along  the Art Deco Historic District in #Miami to check out some of the 800 #ArtDeco buildings this neighborhood is known for. 

Watch Hudson's full tour: https://youtu.be/x7pCdn0mK4w

El Pirata Cigars on Lincoln Road was established in 1960 and specialized in selling Cuban and other imported cigars.

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

In our latest LIVESTREAM YouTube video, we walk with our dog Hudson along Lincoln Road, the famous pedestrian-only mall in Miami Beach, Florida from its most western end near the Intracoastal Waterway all the way to the Atlantic Ocean to see the gorgeous Miami Beach. 

We see many Art Deco buildings including the historic Colony Theatre and sadly discover that El Pirata has permanently closed.

Hudson. Kitsch-life, South of The Border, South Carolina.

Watch our live stream of our wild stormy night at this famous 70 year old road side attraction where we spent Saturday night! Full video: https://youtu.be/tO-Okinzktc