Christopher St. & 7th Ave [SW Corner] (1970 & 2012)

"Then-n-Now!"

The Village Smoke Shop on Sheridan Square in Greenwich Village is one of the most photographed and drawn buildings in all of Manhattan. It's been in the same location since the early twentieth century. This before-and-after is exciting... Look at the cobblestone street, the people, the clothes, the cars, the "Interborough Downtown" Subway, the Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home ad, and so much more. Yet so much has remained the same, including the trash in the gutter. And, if you look closely, you can see One World Trade Center ("Freedom Tower") being erected in the background. So much to see. Look and enjoy. Thanks to Richard Friedman's blog for this incredible 1970 photo.                      CLICK TO ENLARGE (IT'S MUCH BETTER)

And in an amazing twist, check out this drawing-based Then-n-Now from the itty bitty city blog. We look forward to further collaboration with itty bitty city.

Houston & Ave B [NW Corner] (May 25, 20012)

"In Memory of Mom."  A mural by Antonio Garcia (Chico), honoring the beloved owner of this un-named  East Village liquor store. The owner, who locals called "mom," passed away in 2009. The store’s Houston St. wall has been Chico’s longtime canvas for his memorial murals, honoring everyone from Selena and Celia Cruz to Pope John Paul and more.    CLICK TO ENLARGE

Polk & Sacramento [NE Corner] (April 28, 2012)

"Weekend Wildcard:  San Fran Edition" 

I like this windows-heavy building in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood. And Sushi Rock #1? This Yelp review says it all: "I LOVE miso soup and to get it for free is f**king rad."  CLICK TO ENLARGE

30th & Broadway [SW Corner] (May 6, 2012)

Corbatas!  According to LoopNet, 1227 Broadway is an "irregularly shaped triangle blockfront lot with 68.17' of frontage along Sixth Avenue, 15.17' of frontage along Broadway, and 289.83' of frontage along West 30th Street." The lot, which Massey Knakal Realty put on the market for $42.75 million in 2011, also includes a one-story store building with roof top parking on Sixth Avenue (not shown). When they knock this building down, hopefully they preserve the New York Yankees ad featuring Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada.                CLICK TO ENLARGE

37th & Madison [SE Corner] (May 27, 2012)

This building is part of The Morgan Library & Museum near Murray Hill. The museum was founded in 1906 to house the private library of J. P. Morgan, which includes an impressive collection of manuscripts, drawings, and books, many of them in rare bindings. Fans of museum say things like: "I want to build a nest in the middle of the library and never leave," "comparable to a mini Sistine chapel," "a book-lover's paradise," and "three Gutenberg bibles--enough said!" Free admission on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m.                         CLICK TO ENLARGE

51st & 2nd Ave [NE Corner] (1979 & 2012)

"Then-n-Now!"

[Group Effort:  Thanks Diane for the exclusive 1979 photo. Thanks Emily for the informative blurb]

In 2008, this Midtown East corner was the scene of a deadly crane collapse. Seven people were killed (including the crane operator) and 24 others were injured. A townhouse was crushed, cars were flattened, buildings were evacuated, and chaos ensued. The cause of the collapse was attributed to "a $50 piece of nylon that broke." But things are looking up. The flattened townhouse has since been renovated and recently listed for $4.25 million. And, four years and several lawsuits later, Crave Ceviche Bar reopened last week as Crave Fish Bar. (The Smith replaced Rite-Aid, which replaced the A&P supermarket.)                   CLICK TO ENLARGE

Delancey & Orchard [NE Corner] (July 22, 2012)

Sol Moscot originated as a pushcart on Orchard Street in 1915. Four generations of Moscots have presided over the store and today they have three locations carrying over 1,000 frames and lenses. The Moscots have embraced their humble beginnings on the Lower East Side as a way of distinguishing their products worldwide. Notable Moscot devotees have included Allen Ginsburg, and, more recently, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, and Johnny Depp.           CLICK TO ENLARGE

28th & Park Ave [SE Corner] (July 14, 2012)

McDonald's on 28th and Park Avenue South.                     CLICK TO ENLARGE

76th & 2nd Ave [SE Corner] (July 14, 2012)

The Stumble Inn, at 1454 2nd Ave., was opened in May 2008, by the owners of Down the Hatch, Jake's Dilemma, The Gin Mill, and Off the Wagon. NY Mag touts this Upper East Side sports bar as having "the most generous six-day-a-week happy hour on the island: The whole bar is half price until seven." But the real star here is the stuffed cheeseburger. Just look at that photo below, taken by The Wandering Eater! This corner was formerly home to Mo's Caribbean.        CLICK TO ENLARGE

26th & 2nd Ave [SW Corner] (July 6, 2012)

Mexico Lindo in KipsBay (KipsMurCy). We remember our dad taking us here when we were mere lads. (NYC Corners' parents lived in nearby Stuyvesant Town.) Leonor and Antonio Bonilla have been serving Mexican comfort food to New Yorkers since 1972. 40 years! Their daughter Claudia currently runs the business. Their Website plays some good Mariachi music.     CLICK TO ENLARGE

38th & 2nd Ave [SE Corner] (June 30, 2012)

New Awning Alert! 
NY Mag:  "Bravest on 38th opened on Saint Patrick's Day in 1978 by a local fireman. This Murray Hill bar has always been a corner clubhouse for city fireman, with proud paraphernalia over the walls and ceiling." There's a glass-encased corner dedicated to those lost in the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack. And legend has it that rock star and one-time NYPD Eddie Money once drank the night away here in the 1980s.                                   CLICK TO ENLARGE

36th & 7th Ave [SE Corner] (April 24, 2012)

The faded ad reads "disc-o-mat, home of cheap records, 474 7th Ave." Disc-o-mat was a music store back in the 1970s. There is little to no further information on this elusive relic. Meanwhile, Yelp reviews for Cafe del Sol run the gamut -- from "I have (scandalous) dreams about the brown rice pilaf," to "they don't wash their vegetables." You be the judge.                    CLICK TO ENLARGE

Close-up from Fading Ad.

103rd & 3rd Ave [NW Corner] (July 14, 2012)

The mural on the side of this Spanish Harlem building was created in 2001 by legendary muralist Chico, on behalf of Advocates for Animals, a global animal protection charity. The festive mural features features cats, dogs (a stoic pitbull, a peppy Chihuahua), and people. Interestingly, rapper Big Pun and "The Greatest of All Time" Muhammad Ali each make an appearance. Looks like it's due for a touch-up.                                      CLICK TO ENLARGE

This bottom photo was taken in 2008 by jag9889.

14th & Ave A (January 20, 2012)

"Weekend Wildcard:  Wintry Smokestack Edition" 
Taken from the middle of the street, at 14th and Avenue A... Stuyvesant Town to the left... The remnants of Stuyvesant Grocery & Deli (destroyed by fire, May 2010) to the right... The ominous smokestacks from the Con Edison plant in the distance (15th Street & FDR), the smoke blowing South.   CLICK TO ENLARGE

14th & 4th Ave [SW Corner] (May 26, 2012)

"The Metronome" art installation at Union Square, designed in 1999 by Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel, consists of two sections: 1) a round circular void from which puffs of white steam are released throughout the day, and 2) a clock made of large orange LED digits. (How to read the clock.) The artists: "It's an investigation into the nature of time." And I just bought a new camera at the 24-hour Best Buy.                                     CLICK TO ENLARGE

10th & Ave C [SE Corner] (April 18, 2012)

East Village Tavern. Here's a different view, over at @EVGrieve.             CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Mural by the legendary "Chico."  [Google Images]

50th & 3rd Ave [NE Corner] (2004 & 2012)

La Maganette, closed in July of 2005 after 30 years of service, was half classy Italian restaurant and half raging dance club. Downstairs, the restaurant's dedicated certain nights to mambo, meringue, salsa, reggae, hip-hop, and everything in between. [This Epinion review explains it.] "After 30 years it got old and went downhill," says one CitySearcher. Dos Caminos on 3rd ave. (the third in a popular chain of upscale Mexican restaurants) opened here in 2006.                  CLICK TO ENLARGE

La Maganette pic courtesy of B&B Alumni.

36th & 9th Ave [NE Corner] (June 24, 2012)

The single-story 450 Ninth Ave, which houses Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, is 1,800 square feet (including basement). And it looks ripe for re-development. I wouldn't be surprised if this little building was replaced with something more valuable/taller/modern. I love all the water tanks. CLICK TO ENLARGE

Milton St & Franklin St [NW Corner] (June 3, 2012)

NYC Bodega
American Deli Market in Greenpoint, Brooklyn has held on to its old-school bodega signage. To paraphrase bodega lover Josh Goldstein:  [For over 30 years, the bright, corrugated metal awnings and flashing bulbs have beckoned with promises of ice cold beer and sodas, hot coffee and sandwiches, and fresh meat... But soon, the classic metal bodega sign may be nothing more than a Goya-tinged memory.]  Well said!                               CLICK TO ENLARGE

This closeup was taken on May 4, 2011 by andymagic.

Guiseppe Logan [Tompkins Square Park] (July 7, 2012)

"Weekend Wildcard:  Tompkins Square Park Edition" 

A few years ago, I met influential jazz musician Guiseppe Logan, blowing his saxophone in the park, in the dead of winter. He was famous in the 1960s avant garde jazz scene in NYC before disappearing for 30 years. His peers and fans wondered if he was homeless, locked up, or dead. The details are still murky, but it seems that he spent most of those lost decades institutionalized, due to drug abuse and other demons. A few years ago, out of the blue, he resurfaced in and around the park, blowing his horn, some days better than others. Check out this amazing New York Times article. Anyway, I ran into him recently. After chatting a bit, I took this photo of the 76-year-old jazz mystery man. Google him to hear his music.                              CLICK TO ENLARGE

29th & 3rd Ave [SE Corner] (April 19, 2012)

Tonic East in Murray Hill / Kips Bay... Night and Day.  Some people love it; some don't. Penn State alums and fans gather here regularly. It has two stories of internal bar space and a semi-enclosed rooftop space with views of the Empire State Building. A friend of mine said, "That reminds me of every bar in Chicago."               CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

25th & 3rd Ave [SW Corner] (April 29, 2012)

This building has been a hotel for over 100 years. Ye Old Carlton Arms Hotel. During Prohibition, the lobby served as a speakeasy. Later, the hotel was a hangout for "madmen, junkies, ex-cons, pushers and hookers, transvestites, drunks, women who beat you in exchange for your pay, a new generation of hippies, and life's lost and lonely." Today, it's a much nicer place, "where the walls explode with color and art."                       CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

10th & Stuyvesant Street [NW Corner] (2010 & 2012)

Renwick Triangle. These Anglo-Italianate row houses are attributed to James Renwick Jr. (who designed this NYC Corners classic, among many other famous buildings). The single-family dwellings have been among the most sought after properties in the East Village, since they were built in 1861. They're on the market for between $3 million and $13 Million. Photographed during the the Christmas Blizzard of 2010, and in less-snowy times.    CLICK TO ENLARGE

22nd & 2nd Ave (SW Corner) [June 30, 2012]

Church of the Epiphany in Gramercy Park. This Roman Catholic church was designed by Belfatto & Pavarini and built in 1967, replacing a church of the same name built a hundred years earlier (1870), which burnt down in 1963.^[3] The AIA Guide to New York City called the church: "The most positive modernist religious statement on Manhattan Island to date." And Yelper "Ro N." says, "Yay...finally found a clean church to go to! It's not dirty and not filled with sketchy people like the church on 14th Street!" Apparently people review churches on Yelp.            CLICK TO ENLARGE

117th & Manhattan Ave [NE Corner] (May 21, 2012)

I love those sidewalk ice boxes! West Side Grocery in Harlem. Noche Latina calls it, "the kind of place where you can scoop up a six-pack on the way to a house party." Open 24 hours? CLICK TO ENLARGE