Profile: Sweety at Rivington Tattoo

Credit: Mary Toto

When first meeting Sweety, you may say to yourself, a tattooer with a name like that? Indeed, good readers, indeed. Sweety’s career began at East Side Ink and after several years there, moved to the recently-opened Rivington Tattoo at 175 Rivington in September of 2011.

Mary getting ink; Credit: Mary Toto

With over six years of experience under his belt, the majority of which in the Lower East Side, the skin artist is a pro not only at tattooing but at getting around. In terms of neighborhood clientele, Sweety explains, “It is a pretty broad spectrum, people who grew up in this neighborhood, people who are transplants from all over the world. Famous people here and there come through.” Including “Uncle Jessie,” or should we say John Stamos, who expressed interest in wanting to get a tattoo. Sweety has also tattooed Willy from XX and Mary Louise Parker.

Credit: Mary Toto

“I love this neighborhood. Even before I started working here, I lived over here for a little while. When I was in college and after college, this was always where we came to hang out — it’s always had that kind of vibe going on.”

We touched base with Sweety to get him to spill some of his neighborhood favorites.

Favorite Bars:

Whiskey Ward, Lucy’s, Manitoba’s, Horseshoe Bar, Mama’s. And he added he’s happy at  “Just about anywhere that serves whiskey and beer.”

Favorite thing to tattoo:

Bold lines, simple bold colors, fancy script, Japanese stuff.  He says, “I just want to tattoo basically but given the choice those would be what I’d be drawn to more than anything else”

After seeing his ink on many friends we decided to take the plunge ourselves and go for it. Thanks Sweety for the great ink — we’ll be back!