Revisiting New Yorkers, then and now: Michael Berman's '99 SNAPSHOTS at the 14th Street Y

East Village resident Kika seen (top) in 1999 and 2019. Photos by Michael Berman 

Back in 1999, photographer Michael Berman wandered the streets of Manhattan with his camera, asking strangers if he could take their photos. 

Many of those he met lived or worked in the East Village. Some were just New Yorkers passing through, caught in a fleeting moment.

Two decades later, Berman has located many of those same people and photographed them again. 

The resulting series, "'99 SNAPSHOTS," is currently on display at the 14th Street Y's Lobby Gallery (344 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue) through Sept. 29. 

The exhibit presents double portraits of 18 people, side by side: their younger selves on the cusp of the millennium and their present-day selves, reflecting the passage of time in a city that never stops moving. 

"Exploring the lives and perspectives of this multifaceted slice of our community conveys a timeless — and timely — message: We can learn from anyone we encounter," Berman said in a news release about the exhibit. "The hope is that this exhibition will inspire you to meet new people, connect with them, and spend some time listening."

The portraits are part of a larger documentary film and photography project that Berman has been working on since 2017, also called "'99 SNAPSHOTS." You can find a sneak preview of the film here. 

At its core, the project explores what it means to live in New York, and how stories of individual lives — when viewed together — can help bridge the divides of a fractured time. 

A reception with Berman is happening tonight (Sept. 4!) at 7. The event is free and open to everyone.

Berman started his career shooting for Brooklyn community newspapers before joining the New York Daily News. Over the years, his work has appeared in magazines, restaurants, shops, schools, nonprofits, and throughout the city. 

With "'99 SNAPSHOTS," Berman revisits the images that launched his career, reconnecting with the people who influenced not just his work — but also the city itself. 

You can follow Berman on Instagram at this link. 

Below, Brian (an EV resident) and Susan — 1999 and 2019...

Jennifer and Bob (aka Bleecker Bob) — 1999 and 2017 ...

2019 CSA shares now available at the 14th Street Y

[Image courtesy of the 14th Street Y]

Via the EVG inbox...

It's that time of year again! Sign up for your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Mountain View Farm supplies farm fresh food to the 14th Street Y CSA.

Shares will be delivered on a bi-weekly basis from early June through the end of October, for a total of 11 distributions. Shares will include seasonally available fruit, such as, strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples!

Farm share members will pick up a pre-boxed share filled with certified organic produce and fruit (organic when available) every other Tuesday in the lobby of the 14th St Y (344 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue) from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Each box will contain 8-12 different items, including vegetables, herbs and fruit. The cost of the share for 2019 is $420.

Sign up online at our website.

Get Wild with Garland Jeffreys at the 14th Street Y on Monday

The great Garland Jeffreys is performing Monday night in a concert to benefit the 14th Street Y, where he and his family are also members.

A few details:

6:30 PM: Meet & Greet with Garland Jeffreys on the Rooftop
8:00 PM: Concert in The Theater
General Admission: $75
Concert Running Time: 60 minutes

Find ticket info at the 14th Street Y site at this link.

Jeffreys, who has a new record out in "14 Steps to Harlem," lives nearby in Stuy Town. (Town & Village spoke with him for this article published last week.)

Meanwhile, speaking of getting Wild...

CSA sign-up time at the 14th Street Y

Via the EVG inbox...

Now's the time to get your 2018 share! Don't wait, sign up now! New for the 2018 season: Shares will now be delivered on a bi-weekly basis from early June through the end of October, for a total of 11 distributions.

Also new for 2018, shares will include seasonally available fruit, such as, strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples! Farm share members will pick up a pre-boxed share filled with certified organic produce and fruit (organic when available) every other Tuesday in the lobby of the 14th St Y from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Each box will contain 8-12 different items, including vegetables, herbs and fruit! The cost of the share for 2018 is $415.

Sign up online at our website. (The website also includes contact information for Ben and Liz at Mountain View Farm and Alice, the distribution coordinator at the 14th Street Y.)

The farm was voted Best Local CSA for 2018 in the Valley Advocate Reader's Poll! This makes 10 years in a row that the farm has been voted Best Local Farm or Best Local CSA!

We look forward to another season with everyone! Thank you for choosing Mountain View Farm and supporting local agriculture...

Sign up time for the 14th Street Y CSA

Via the EVG inbox...

It's time to sign up for your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Mountain View Farm supplies farm fresh food to the 14th Street Y CSA. Sign up now to join — and every week you will pick up a massive box of glorious, fresh vegetables at the 14th Street Y, 344 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The farm has been busy in the greenhouse since mid-March and is currently prepping the fields for planting. They have already seeded onions, beets, fennel, leeks, cabbage, broccoli, kale, lettuce, celery, celeriac, swiss chard and so much more! Everything is looking really good in the greenhouse and the first share will be here before you know it!

Visit their website for more information and follow the link to purchase a share.

And feel free to come meet the farmers at the 14th Street Y — in the lobby — on Tuesday (April 18) from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Come taste some samples of the veggies they will be supplying.

Harvest time at the 14th Street Y

Via the EVG inbox…

Each week, from June to October, locally grown, organic produce will once again be delivered to CSA members at the 14th Street Y.

CSA membership is open to everyone. Full and half shares are still available, sign-ups will close tomorrow. More info and sign-up here.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership where community members purchase shares of the season’s harvest directly from the farmer. Each week, members receive a box of the week’s freshest produce, delivered straight from the farm to their table.

Last years partnership with Mountain View Farm was a great success. A normal week’s share includes about a dozen different types of produce, depending on season, and averages about $27.

Besides delicious, fresh produce, some benefits of CSA membership include:

* Saving money
* More variety
* Fresher, more flavorful food
* Knowing where food comes from
* Reducing our carbon footprint
* Supporting local family farms

A special thanks to the 14th Street Y and Just food for helping to bring farm-fresh produce to our neighborhood.