Down the Rabbit Hole: paws22 on Flickr
23/05/2011 § 2 Comments
Just found a wonderful cache of old photographs on Flickr that I wanted to share with you. Specializing in images of children, moustachioed gentlemen, pipe smokers, dandies, soldiers and cowboys, paws22 has created a remarkable collection of images that had me wandering around for hours. Head over to his photostream for an abundance of vintage inspiration. I’ve included a few favorites below.
Fotos: Brooklyn Flea
11/04/2011 § 7 Comments
**Updated**
A lot of people have shown interest in the details on the Brooklyn Flea, so I’ve got a quick update for inquiring minds. The Flea is on Saturdays in Fort Greene and Sundays in Williamsburg, 10am to 5pm, rain or shine.
Fort Greene
176 Lafayette Ave. (btw. Clermont + Vanderbilt Ave.)
Williamsburg
27 North 6th St. (btw. Kent Ave. + East River)
Brooklyn Flea’s website, Twitter and Facebook.
Enjoy!
Vintage Dilemma: Schoolboy Tie
04/04/2011 § 4 Comments
You may recall my success at the Ralph Lauren Home Sale last month, but aside from the amazing phonograph I picked up, I also happened to find a precious tie that I just had to have. Of shorter length, it was immediately obvious that this was a young boy’s tie. From the frayed and somewhat uneven edges, and lack of any manufacturer’s label, it became apparent that I was looking at something handmade.
Even though it was a little worse for wear, I decided that I wanted to take it home. I had a picture in my mind of a mother working diligently over her son’s tie, choosing the silk and painstakingly folding and stitching it into shape. I like the colors and I usually wear my ties tucked in, anyway, so I figured that it wouldn’t matter that the ends were a bit tattered. It was when I turned the tie over that I fell in love with it.
Written on the underside of the tie is the name of its former owner — James Bennett. Having a name to add to the fantasy completely sealed the deal, and I happily carried my little tie home. However, I now am faced with a dilemma. I am torn between wanting to wear the tie and framing it. I think it could be quite handsome under glass with a dark wooden and gold frame, no? How silly James Bennett would think that was!
LIFE Archives: Hells Angels, 1965
29/09/2010 § Leave a comment
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club dates back to California, 1948. Considered a crime syndicate by law enforcement, the Hells Angels have always had a distinct look and way of doing things. LIFE has just posted some amazing never before-seen shots of the Mother Chapter San Bernandino “Berdoo” Hells Angels, taken in 1965 by LIFE photographer Bill Ray. View the entire gallery here.
Among some of the more noteworthy shots are of the women that ran with the Hells Angels – the Angels’ “old ladies.” In the shot below the women are waiting while the men hold a meeting in another room. Check out the one on the right – yeah, the one with the broken nose…
Bunker Hill: Yesterday and Today
03/08/2010 § Leave a comment
For many people, Bunker Hill is just the section of Downtown Los Angeles where all of the tall buildings are concentrated.
Bunker Hill today
In fact, Bunker Hill began as a residential subdivision in 1867. It was an affluent neighborhood full of expensive homes, and remained that way until after World War II. As the wealthy departed the Downtown area for the Westside or Pasadena, single family dwellings were divided and rented out. Thus, Bunker Hill became home to lower income renters and pensioners.
Bunker Hill, 1900
By the mid-fifties, LA city planners decided to completely clear out Bunker Hill to make way for a massive redevelopment. The homes and shops were razed to make way for a new, modern urban center. The residents, many of them older, were to be displaced in the name of progress. USC student Kent MacKenzie shot a student film capturing this transition from the point of view of the disenfranchised pensioners. This amazing film offers a rare glimpse into the everyday life of this Los Angeles community in 1956.
Via: LAO
Update 8/3: Unfortunately, the video was taken down this afternoon and my expert sleuthing of the interwebs has not turned it up — really unfortunate. In the meantime, a few more pictures of what Downtown looked like before all of the high rises.
Photos via: Life/SkyscraperCity/Imageshack
Quite Continental 