Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Out and About in the East Village

Starting today, we're introducing a new weekly feature by East Village-based photographer James Maher... it's a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village. And in a rather odd coincidence, our first subject happened to work at Mama's Food Shop, which closed for good this past Sunday.


By James Maher

Name: Mike Stupin
Location: Mama’s Food Shop, 3rd Street between Ave A + B
Time: 6:15 pm on July 25

"I live across the bridge in Bushwick. I’m a big bike rider. I work food delivery. Pretty much all I do right now is read and deliver pizzas and soul food. It’s probably the best job I’ve had in a long time. You get to ride your bike around and they feed you.

I keep having adult jobs and quitting them. I went to school for art curation and I was pretty good at that I think, although it’s hard to say. Since then, I’ve been working in architectural reclaim, but I don’t know man, there’s something about the internship structures that I don’t like.

Delivering to pantsless people is very common. It’s not just guys; it’s everyone, all the time. People of every shape and size answer their door pantsless. Every once in awhile they get embarrassed and apologize and I’m like, ‘don’t worry about it.’ It’s kind of what I do, I put on pants so you don’t have to. Strangers love that joke. I’ve got one customer that I’ve never, ever seen wearing clothes. She’s always in a towel or a bathrobe. It doesn’t matter the time of day.

There are a bunch of characters in the East Village. One of the privileges of this job is that I get to meet them. I do have an order up though so I need to run out of here."

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.
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17 comments:

  1. SpikeAugust 1, 2012 at 9:18 AM

    Me likey new feature.

    ReplyDelete
  2. THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N.August 1, 2012 at 9:58 AM

    I like this new column!

    ReplyDelete
  3. editrrixAugust 1, 2012 at 10:47 AM

    Cool column! I like "meeting" my neighbors. Looking forward to future installments.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Marty WombacherAugust 1, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    This is a great idea! Look forward to meeting more people. I like this guy's attitude about his job, very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey19August 1, 2012 at 2:14 PM

    Great new feature. This is just a nit pick though, this guy lives in Bushwick? At least for the first one, wouldnt you want someone who LIVES in the EV? Like, oh, I dont know, me, for example?

    Someone said something funny recently about waiters wearing bike caps, I cant remember what, but Ill give this guy a pass since he is the delivery guy.

    I always put pants on for delivery, sometimes, only for the 90seconds around the deliver, but I still put pants on for that...

    Adult jobs suck, and internships even more so...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Laura Goggin PhotographyAugust 1, 2012 at 2:20 PM

    I like this feature, too. People are what make up the neighborhood, so I look forward to 'meeting' more.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 1, 2012 at 5:37 PM

    Bushwick is not "across the Bridge". It's like 6-8 frigging stops out on the L.

    ReplyDelete
  8. FipperAugust 1, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    Great feature! Looking forward to meet other people who makes EV... well, EV; like this guy!

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. EV GrieveAugust 1, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    Thanks for the feedback...

    @Hey19

    James submitted two features to start... the other subject lives in the neighborhood... Was odd timing with Mama's closing. So we decided to start with Mike.

    If that makes any sense...

    ReplyDelete
  10. James MaherAugust 2, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    @Hey19 appreciate the thought. We were going to start with a resident and follow with this one but the timing obviously changed things. The focus of this will be on the residents, long time workers, and people who have a history in the EV and their stories.

    I do have to say that I am a put-on-shorts-quickly person before opening the door for a delivery man, but I appreciate to hear that so many of our neighbors just go for it. I may just go for it the next time I order food...

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 2, 2012 at 1:00 AM

    Hey! Wait just a cottin-pikin-minute!!
    This guy has a beard AND he rides a bike.
    Aren't we supposed to hate him??
    I'm so confused...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey19August 2, 2012 at 9:21 AM

    Like I said, a nit pick, and people who work in the EV are also part of the community. I just couldnt help pointing it out, especially when I, personally, am so readily available for interviews. So talk to my agent if you would like to pencil something in.

    @ anon 1am
    right?

    ReplyDelete
  13. randallAugust 2, 2012 at 9:56 AM

    Seriously people!?

    If you order delivery food (or anything I suppose) put some fucking pants on. It's not like you don't know they're coming.

    ReplyDelete
  14. LeesyAugust 3, 2012 at 11:09 PM

    Love this new feature and love that guy. Well written and great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  15. EV GrieveAugust 3, 2012 at 11:35 PM

    Thanks Leesy!

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousAugust 4, 2012 at 6:13 AM

    Mammas closed, yes??Now he needs a new job. Nice guy. Love the idea..characters are the best...stories about the EV..cool.
    Melanie

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousAugust 4, 2012 at 1:52 PM

    To Anonymous regarding the location of Bushwick:

    I'm a former East Villager.

    Been living in Bushwick for the past five years.

    I live FOUR stops over the bridge.
    The J & M are also trains in NYC.
    And they service Bushwick.

    ReplyDelete

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