On One Roll of Film in New York City Summer of 1980

On a Roll

Buddies in the East Village

Green Grocer East Village

Chinatown Early Evening

Old School Chinatown

Eli Buk of Eponymous Rare Antiques Shop Spring Street SoHo.

Elli Buk pictured in 1980 holding forth at his eponymous antique shop at 151 Spring Street in Soho. Just east of West Broadway and a neighbor to the once fabulous Spring Street Natural Restaurant.

Mr. Buk’s was a unique collection of turn of the century and earlier mechanical and scientific instruments, photographica, electrical medical healing devices, a so much more; a surprising assortment of strange and fascinating rarities from a time which was way past and unfamiliar to most.

If you hadn’t visited the second floor loft space shop, you may remember the small shop window on the street with ever changing still life displays of totally unrelated things which [to me] elicited stories and psychic prodding.

Here is a link to a catalog of Elli Buk’s wondrous collection.

Little Friend

Riding in Style in the Village.

Cooper Union Flea Market.

Angie. Trash and Vaudeville. St. Marks Place.

Pan Myron Surmach.

Surma Ukranian Specialty Imports.

7th Street East Village.

Mr. Myron Surmach in command at the eponymous touchstone Surma "The Ukrainian Shop" at 11 East 7th Street. Since 1918; closed in 2016.

The store was three doors down from McSorley's. And, right next to Babara Shaum and her famous Leathercraft store. Think "sandals for East Village hippies".

Photo circa 1980. I visited often. Most excellent honeys. Back office room walls and ceiling decorated just like the interior of a wooden Ukrainian village cottage.

Mr. Surmach used that photo on the cover of his memoir. Old timer that he was, he balked at me charging him the $15 I spent processing the print. He was, however, current enough to have me sign a legal waiver against any claims I might have for the image in the book.

He was most kind to me. Took me a few times on Sunday mornings to the spot a few doors over where the Ukrainian Church goers gathered for a lunch of most delicious homemade dishes. Visited him at his home/farm in Saddle River, NJ where he gardened and kept his bees. He lived to nearly 99 years. Very strong and healthy man; ate simple foods, sprouted his own grains and seeds.

Played the Bandura, a multi-string guitar like traditional Ukrainian musical instrument. [There's one on the upper left in the photo.]