Tag Archives: East Village
East Village on Kodak Portra 160 NC Film and Nikon FM2n Camera
Still getting acquainted with the Nikon FM2n camera and what better way to break it in than a stroll down Second Avenue in one of my favorite neighborhoods, the East Village.
Second Avenue Stop on Houston Street
Probably my favorite hand painted sign (there are many) in the city
Cross and water tower, Second Avenue
Fall tree looking down side street
The Mars Bar with spiffy new (or newish) paint
Birds in flight on 7th Street
Number Nine on Second Avenue
Okay, I cheated. I did wander off of Second Avenue towards the Bowery – McSorley’s Old Ale House, established in 1854.
HOWL! Festival Art from Tompkins Square Park
Saturday afternoon, after watching Nadal sweep three easy sets in Madison Square Park, we walked down and over to the East Village. Luckily, a friend reminded us that the HOWL! Festival was taking place and that artists were midway through covering the walls around the park.
I have no idea.
Color Film Developed at Duane Reade
Just happened to be at my local (like across the street, in there every single day for the last year and a half) Duane Reade this week and noticed the photo developing guy (which has really become the “we’ll make digital prints from your digital camera card” guy at most drugstores) carrying a strip of negatives. When I walked over and asked him if he developed film, he proudly said that his was one of only four Duane Reade stores in Manhattan that still did). Film geek that I am, I just happened to have a roll of Kodak Portra in my bag that I had been meaning to develop. I handed it over and he told me to come back the next day anytime.
I paid $6.50 for development and a CD of 2.5MB scans. Jeff the photo guy is my new hero.
I’m happy with these scans and haven’t had to adjust anything or rescan the film. All shots are with Leica M6 and Leica Summicron 50mm f2 lens on Kodak Portra 400 film.
Charleston Chews at Economy Candy, LES, NYC
Alley on Crosby Street, NYC
Levis Billboard that looked good against the blue sky in Soho, NYC
Blue Door, Soho, NYC
Pipe and Youth, Soho just north of Canal, NYC
I think I’ll cry when this wall gets pasted over on the corner of Wooster and Grand, such beautiful chaos…
Mailboxes, Soho, NYC
Boy with Flower on Crosby Street, NYC
Starting to see these cats in a lot of places. I like them.
LES and East Village Night Shots on Kodak Tri X 400 Film
I normally don’t use film at night, but recent successes with pushing Tri X 400 to ISO 1250 convinced me that it would be the perfect film pushed to 1600 in low light. I hopped off the bus in the Lower East Side Sunday night and walked around until I ended up in the East Village.
Cakeshop in Lower East Side, NYC, shot with Leica M6
Thought this pole with manga images was kind of cool. Still in Lower East Side, shot with Leica M6
Creepy face inside ATM on the sidewalk, Lower East Side, NYC, shot with Leica M6
Mattress on Delancey, Lower East Side, NYC, shot with Leica M6
This is my favorite image from the roll. The second guy looks almost like a ghost… I think this was along Allen Street, shot with Leica M6
No. 107, East Village, NYC, shot with Leica M6
Looking at menus, lit by lanterns on St. Marks Avenue in East Village, NYC, Shot with Leica M6
Couple Peering, Second Avenue, East Village, NYC, Shot with Leica M6
Things that Caught My Eye, Sunday Edition
Had some time to kill before meeting Kate to watch Spain win the World Cup (Vamos Espana!!), so I wandered around the East Village and over into Noho.
This was in the East Village, on 12th Street, I think…
You go, Noah!
I wonder how much longer this independent auto repair shop will last on the corner of Bowery and Jones?
Flowers on the corner of Second Avenue in the East Village.
Hmm, somewhere over in Noho. I don’t recall where.
Birds on doors, Bond Street in Noho
Army of One in Noho
And I would be remiss if I didn’t post this pic from right before the match.
Random Shots from Second Kodachrome Roll
Happier with this second roll of Kodachrome. I shot it at 64 ISO, though most of these shots are in harsh, noonish light from the weekend before last. More shots to come in a few days.
La Esquina, Nolita
Pell Street in Chinatown is one of my favorite streets in NYC. It’s rare to see it this quiet.
Man Sleeping
Deli on corner of 2nd Avenue in the East Village
Door by Haculla, Nolita
This totally cracked me up, especially after seeing “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Mister Brainwash on L’Asso’s wall dissed.
And last but not least, I caught this homemade Germany World Cup shirt at the Puma World Cup City in Southstreet Seaport. Go Germany!
I would have missed this ship…
Kate and I came *this close* to moving to the East Village when our lease was up this month. It’s the place we usually gravitate to for drinks, dessert, or meals most nights. And our neighborhood, The Financial District, is pretty lame. But our building is quiet. Our neighbors are quiet. And we like our apartment overlooking the East River. I would have missed the view. But most of all, I would have missed this gorgeous sailboat that glides by on the hour.
Color Film Shots from Leica M6
Well, I traded in the Nikon F2 and the two lenses to get something I wanted originally – a used Leica M6. Also snagged a 50mm f2 Leica lens with it, and was thrilled to learn later that the lens was manufactured 50 years ago, early in 1960.
To get accustomed to the Leica’s rangefinder viewfinder and different way of focusing (you manually adjust the lens until the two identical, overlapping images become one image), I popped a roll of expired Kodak Ultramax 400 that I picked up for a buck at Gristedes a few weeks back into the M6 body. I had read a lot about how hard it was to load a Leica, but just like everything else on this camera, loading was silky smooth. You basically take the bottom plate off, along with the back, and suggest that the film jump in and it does so.
I really liked the Nikon F2, but this M6 is probably one of the most perfect mechanical things I’ve ever held in my hands. The metering system is a little odd, as is the roomy viewfinder, but the buttery mechanics of this camera almost startle you. Clicking the ultra quiet shutter and advancing the film is such a joy that I caught myself smiling and shaking my head a couple of times. No lie.
I took about an hour to snap off 38 exposures (from a 36 exposure roll) walking around first in the East Village and then in the Financial District. Again, expired crappy grocery store film, scanned at 72dpi. I actually really like the grain of this film.
Air Conditioner and Pasta Sauces, East Village
Busy Bee Bike Shop, East Village
Flags, East Village
Banh Mi Cart, Hanover Square, Financial District
Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Hanover Square, Financial District
Stone Street before Lunch Rush, Financial District
Indian Lights on 1st Avenue
If you’ve ever walked down 1st Avenue just below 6th Street in the East Village, then you know the lights of Milon and Panna II. I can’t walk by without slowing down like a kid staring at his first Christmas tree. And if you slow down, the carnival barker/maitre’d men out front cajole and beg you to pick their fine establishment over his equally garish neighbor. The one time Kate and I ate at Panna II (or was it Milon, I can’t remember or tell them apart in the chaos of light and begging), the food was passable Indian. Very weakly spiced and palatable for the masses, but nothing to write home about it.
On Saturday night I had a few minutes to kill before getting my hair cut, so I stopped and snapped some photos. I tried to capture the lights, but it’s pretty difficult with the lively atmosphere on the sidewalk. 
I walked across the street and dialed down the shutter speed, just to see what it would look like with the streaming lights of cars in front of both restaurants. I didn’t dare go below 6 seconds on the shutter speed, because I don’t use a tripod or anything like that. But, it looks kind of neat for hand held. 
NYC Restaurants and Bars at Night
New York is most beautiful at night. You can have your Central Park, midtown, and the usual tourist stops during the day, but I love the way our downtown restaurants and bars glow in the darkness. Some of my favorite moments here are nights when Kate and I are just randomly walking and stumble upon some place we *have* to visit. Often it’s just a leisurely drink and appetizer or dessert, then back we spill into the street. This happens a lot. And, as the temperature creeps lower, the signs seem to be even more captivating and enticing.
Schiller’s Liquor Bar in the Lower East Side 
La Esquina in Nolita 
Alias Restaurant in the Lower East Side 
Paladar in the Lower East Side 
Delicatessen in Soho 
Katz’s Deli on Houston between LES and East Village 
Here’s a rare, for me, daytime shot that I couldn’t resist. The Mars Bar in the East Village 