Clayton’s Corner: Summer Light on the Lower East Side [PHOTOS]

In the empty lot on Ludlow Street, on the west side just south of Stanton, hangs a wall-sized photo of Richie Chang. The photo was taken by Adrian Wilson, an interior photographer who previously ran the Inutlious Retailer on the block. Richie and his brother David, since birth, and for a few decades, lived in the tenement building, which forms the north wall of the empty lot.  David and Richie, now in their 60s, have lived on Ludlow their whole life on Ludlow.  Both share the title of Mayor of Ludlow.  This is the lot where Taylor Mead used to feed the Ludlow street cats.  When Banksy held his Better Out Than in month-long residence several years ago.

…On the sidewalk, in front of the lot, is where Vicki Rovere. The garbage picker, creates her (mostly free) street store.  Here she is holding court. Richie used to sit with her…

…Senator Schumer on 7th Street between Avenue A and First Street going into a restaurant (Pylos)…

…Front Door – Tito Razo and girlfriend.  Tito is a legendary skater and was a well-known and beloved bartender at the original Max Fish…

…August 5 – 6: The Shadow underground newspaper organizes the 29th Reunion of Police Riot weekend in TSP Punk Concert…

…Scott Sturgeon heading the band Leftover Crack…

…Zoe Hansen with Chris Flash of The Shadow. Zoe is a known writer, designer, and Lower East Side underground historian. She’s married to Rich Manitoba, current leader of the band Manitoba, and formerly known as Handsome Dick Manitoba from the Dictators. The couple owns Manitoba’s bar in Alphabet City. The Shadow, after the Police riot, was born in 1989, out of the need for an Anarchist newspaper…

…Food Not Bombs handing out food in Tompkins Square Park…

…A few punks enjoying the punk concert…

…Front Door, redux – Stick, Elsa Rensaa, Anthony Hayden Guest, Keith Patchel, Jason, and myself. For Clayton patterson on 8 Ball radio show…

…Michael Anthony Alago and Spike Polite – Michael is the subject of Drew Stone’s freshly released documentary Who The F**K Is That Guy.  In the ’80s underground music scene Michael was one of the dominant figures in signing Rock’n’Roll to major record labels. He signed bands like Metallica, White Zombie, and singers like Cindy Lauper, Spike, and one of the original members of the punk band Sewage.  In front of 161 Essex Front Door…