Hudson. Rainy day fun over at Ted's Fine Clothing, Lower East Side, NYC, earlier...

Ted's was a stop on our photo shoot with Deb Martin of Downtown Magazine NYC. We were featured in their 10th Anniversary Fall 2018 issue on a journey down Orchard Street as we explore the many independently-owned stores with Editor in Chief Deb Martin. Stops included Jimmy Webb's rock and roll boutique I Need More, Ted's Formal Wear, Regina's Grocery, and Cafe Katja.

Pick up a copy and see the 3 page wide gatefold!

Pastosa Ravioli in the Grasmere neighborhood of Staten Island, NY

Pastosa Ravioli in the Grasmere neighborhood of Staten Island was founded by Anthony Ajello over 25 years ago. The main store and manufacturing location in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn has been in business since 1962. When we interviewed Anthony for our “Store Front” book, he told us “I came up with the name Pastosa for the store because in Italian “pastosa” means honesty and integrity. So to me “Pastosa” also equals tasty because my business takes pride in their honesty and integrity and that makes for tasty products.

Full panoramic photo (this one is cropped) from 2005 and interview from Anthony Ajello, the founder appears in our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”.

Cafe De La Esquina on Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn was housed in a 1952 stainless steel Mountain View Diner car.

Before becoming the Brooklyn outpost of La Esquina it was the location of the Wythe Diner from 1968-1988, and Relish from 1997-2010. We loved its original stainless steel #vintage decor including backsplash and counter swivel stool seating (swipe left for interior photo).

Sadly Cafe De La Esquina has recently closed to make way for a new 6-story building with 10 apartments and retail space on the ground floor. We are not sure if the #diner will be demolished or if someone is interested in moving the structure to a different location (as what occurred when the stainless steel Cheyenne Diner in Manhattan closed a number of years ago). If anyone has any info on what is to become of the actual diner please let us know.

Hudson. Having fun posing just like the fox, over at Canstruction New York, Brookfield Place New York, just now...

Fall foliage at our "Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S" art installation inside Seward Park, Lower East Side, NYC, just now..

Fall foliage at our "Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S" art installation inside Seward Park, Lower East Side, NYC, just now...

Bowery Electric, the concert venue and night club, is located on the Bowery right near where the iconic CBGB once stood.

Bowery Electric, which has two levels with a downstairs live room and a green room, was founded in 2008 by Mike Stuto, Jesse Malin and Johnny T (who also own Niagara on Avenue A). We love its #neon signage and vibe.