New York's Diamond District - 47th Street (part 2)

More pictures taken on West 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

New York's Diamond District - 47th Street (part 1)

The one block stretch of 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues houses a dazzling array of storefronts with precious gems on display. But what is seen from the street is a minuscule part of what transpires on the block. There are a number of buildings that are diamond and jewelry exchanges, filled with small one and two room offices of jeweler representatives from all over the world. At all hours of the business day the street is filled with Hasidic and other religious Jews who scurry between buildings and offices. It's a scenic block with all sorts of street hustlers vying for business to buy and sell all kinds of questionable goods. A wonderful block for street photography.

I may have posted some of these images previously on the blog, but the next few posts will be a comprehensive collection from the past two years.

Two More From Williamsburg

I goofed in my last post. the last photo wasn't from Williamsburg, but from a group of photos I've been preparing for another series about the predominance of Jews in the New York diamond district on 47th street. More on that later this week.

But for now, here's two more photos from Williamsburg that I intended to include in the most recent blog entry. Enjoy.

Trip to Williamsburg (Brooklyn)

Revisiting my catalog entry for a foray I took last year into the hasidic section of Williamsburg I found some images that i hadn't yet processed. The hasidim living there are mostly of the Satmar sect, which also populates Kyrias Joel in upstate New York. But their allegiances are to different competing chief rabbis who happen to be brothers.

Jewish Food Fair (part 2)

More pics from the street fair of this past Sunday.

Getting ready to judge the egg cream contest:

Frank London, klezmer trumpeter:

Dancin' to the beat:

Wishing she could still dance:

Jewish Food Fair

This Sunday Sixth Avenue was a huge street fair. Generally I find them quite boring because they're mostly block after block of repetitive food stalls and cheap jewelry and t-shirt vendors. But there was one block on Sixth Avenue, between 46th and 47th street that was dedicated to Jewish food - old style and new age. I arrived there with a full stomach, but after listening to Frank London's Klezmer Brass All Stars and singer Eleanor Reissa, after watching people from the crowd dancing, and after smelling all that food I had to have a pastrami sandwich and some rugalach. Once my stomach was sated I got down to business.

Eleanor Reissa singing yiddish song favorites:

People enjoying the music:

Discussing the finer points of making a pastrami sandwich:

Throwback Shots

Going back through my catalog I found a few shots to play with on a rainy Saturday. No theme here, just some shots I like.

You lookin' at me?

Steak? You want steak?

Doin' lunch on Madison Ave. 

I love cigars. Well, used to love them. Haven't tasted one for quite a while.