PHOTOGRAPHER JANET DELANY UNEARTHS LONG-LOST 80s NYC

West coast photographer Janet Delaney made a half a dozen trips to New York City between 1984 and 1987 and after decades in storage, she’s dusted off these forgotten pics of a time gone by. She told Gothamist;

“In the 1980s I made 11 x 14 prints in my color darkroom and showed them to a few people, but I was busy photographing in San Francisco and Nicaragua at the time so I did not do anything with them. 

At that time San Francisco just did not have the critical mass of people that make the streets come alive. My other projects were very focused, political in nature and technically complicated. Photographing on the streets in New York was pure pleasure. I embraced the hunt, the unexpected encounter with strangers, the challenge to describe people in the context of a particular place. This all kept me very engaged.”

Delaney has shown these photos at various galleries, but has no current plans for a NYC show, but she says she would

“welcome the opportunity to show the whole series in New York, they look great printed up big!”

They do! Have a look.

(via Gothamist)

LOST NYC: 14 NEW YORK LANDMARKS THAT VANISHED (OR RELOCATED) IN 2014

Yes, people are forever complaining about disappearing businesses and institutions in New York City and for the most part, I think it’s just the way New York has always worked. But when you look at these places listed here, combined, it’s a drag, no question. There are lots of forces at play that made these joints close up or move, but sentiment is not one of them. Bottom line, NYC is about money and business –it’s not a museum to the past or your fixed idea of what New York is. Plus, a lot more besides these 14 have shuttered. Next up in 2015? – more closings no doubt, to make way for new, but not necessarily better.

Shakesspeare & Co. – This book store served NYU for 30 years. now only the UES location remains

Gray’s Papaya – this location closed after a rent hike. One Gray’s Papaya left on Bway & 72nd

The Subway Inn – opened 1937, it has relocated to 2nd Ave (taking the sign too, I hope)

Bowlmor Lanes – this location closed after 76 years but the chain thrives across the country

Domino Sugar Factory – demolished to make way for mixed used towers 

Pearl Paint – the chain is closing and this location may turn into, what else? – luxury condos

Café Edison – this Times Sq institution failed to have their lease renewed by The Edison Hotel

5 Pointz – demolished to make way for two new apartment towers

Yaffa Café – open for 32 years before being closed because of complaints from neighbors about the noisy backyard

Famous Oyster Bar – midtown fixture for 55 years until they were priced out of the space

Kim’s Video & Music – rent raised by landlord, but video stores are virtually obsolete anywhere

Barnes & Noble – There’s a huge B&N just around the corner on Union Square. This location opened in 1932

Rizzoli – demolished to make room for a 7-star hotel, it moved to the St. James Building on 26th St.

(via BuzzFeed and Vanishing New York)