[audio:100906.mp3]
They say Milan, Italy is the fashion center of the world. I don’t agree.

I’m here in Manhattan and thousands of people come on vacation to come to Manhattan. I think they bring their best outfits here because they’re on vacation, they want to look cool. So, I think they’re bringing fashion from all parts of the world right here to the city.

I noticed that a bunch of times but yesterday I spent a lot of time on 34th and 6th Avenue. I took a lot of tourists’ outfits and of course tourists and I spoke to a lot of them. I told them I was from Portraits of New York and how we want to see fashion from the other world is and they let me take their picture.

I also gave out a lot of cards. I figure giving out cards that people from Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Africa – wherever they’re from, they’re gonna go on the site and tell their friends about it and the word will get out. I think the site has such incredible fashion on it from all over the world. Maybe that’s another way to be giving it out or getting it out.

Anyway, I want to talk about 8th Avenue between 29th and 32nd – a lot of sleazy bars, a lot of women of the night, a lot of drug dealers. It’s the dark side of Manhattan. It’s been that way for a long time.

I like to position myself by this double X novelty store – you know, sex toys. People think I’m taking pictures in the window.

Anyway, people are looking in the window and I get the chance to photograph the people – not the people looking in the window, just maybe the guys selling drugs or the prostitutes or the sleazy people trying to meet those people. Anyway, it’s a really good mix. It’s very dangerous there but I like it.

About a couple of weeks ago when I was photographing there, there’s two black guys – that doesn’t mean that they’re criminals. It could’ve been anyone but they’re just black. And they asked me why am I taking pictures and that’s wrong that I’m taking pictures.

So, I said, “It’s an art project.” He goes, “If you took my pictures, it’d be a problem.” I said, “Well, I have lots of problems.” He goes, “What are you trying to tell me? You’re a fighter?” I said, “I guess.” Of course, I was drinking that night heavily and sometimes I get a little spunky, a little …
[audio:100906-1.mp3]
Continuation from the last message, September 6th.

8th Avenue between 29th and 32nd is a wild, wild area. The people there – they’ve been there for years. I see them on and off.

Whenever I stand there with this big yellow press-pass… they think… A lot of people think I’m a cop. I guess because I’m 55 years old and I got that cop look and people get nervous. It’s funny when I cross the street sometimes with this big yellow press pass, the cars stop like I’m a cop or something.

Anyway, today’s the 6th. I’m going to be all over the city, be reporting in tomorrow.