Category: Chinatown

Car Free Mott Street

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2017/05/21

Enjoying a rare car-free Mott Street.

(Chinatown, Manhattan)

Chinatown Eating Instagram

Belated Chinese New Year

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2015/03/07

Belated Chinese New Year dinner with friends from my earliest days at Transit. Sarah’s poor family had to endure us talking shop through ten courses.

(Delight 28 Resturant, Chinatown)

Asian Americana Chinatown Instagram

MJ Back in the Day

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2015/02/14

(Wing Luke Museum, Seattle, WA)

Chinatown Urban Planning

Kenmare Street DMZ

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2013/05/13

If there’s one place that always makes me a little worried about the future of Chinatown, it’s Kenmare Street between Mott and Elizabeth.

Here at the very northern edge of what you’d consider Chinatown, you can see the neighborhood’s past — and its potential future. On a low-key street mostly known for traffic coming from the Williamsburg Bridge, new luxury apartments bump-up against working-class walk-ups.

What’s next? I don’t know if anyone really knows. Gentrification may be an unstoppable force, but that doesn’t mean its impacts on neighborhoods are identical. I’m watching eagerly to see how Chinatown handles it.

Chinatown Eating

Mister Hotpot

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2013/05/07

Because I have a thing for spicy hotpot, restaurants with big lighted signs, and Sunset Park Chinatown, Mister Hotpot on Eighth Avenue shot to the top of my list when searching for Chinese food on Sunday night.

It was well worth the trip. The food was very tasty, service was good, and they were open late.

I wanted to compliment Hotpot Xiānshēng personally, but I think he’d already left for the day.

Chinatown City Life Transit Urban Planning

This Station Needs a Hachikō

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2013/03/09

Flushing’s LIRR Main Street station is very lightly used compared with its nearby subway station, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve some sprucing up.

My recommendation, in all seriousness, is to put a dog on it. Just like how putting a bird on something can make it art in Portland, putting a Hachikō at a transit entrance can elevate an otherwise utilitarian space into something much more inviting. Maybe even inspirational.

A cat would be okay, too.

Chinatown City Life Urban Planning

A New Chinatown Uptown?

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2013/02/25

From “Chinese Moving to East Harlem in a Quiet Shift From Downtown” in today’s New York Times:

It also thrust into violent relief an otherwise hidden demographic change in East Harlem: The population of Asian residents, mostly Chinese, has quietly ballooned in the last decade, doubling in the southern part of the neighborhood and tripling in the north, according to census figures.

I moved to Central Harlem from Brooklyn four-and-a-half years ago. I love my current digs, but I missed the convenient access to Chinatown that I had when living on the Q train, which passed through the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown.

I used to eat and shop in Chinatown at least once a week; now it’s more like once a month. I miss the cheap and tasty restaurants, the cheap and fresh groceries, the easy availability of the “ying yang” tea/coffee drink I’m addicted to.

Given how Chinatowns have sprouted up around NYC, I’ve been hoping that new one would grow in Harlem or the South Bronx. If this article is accurate, it looks like it might finally be happening.

Chinatown City Life

10/10

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2012/10/10

I found myself surrounded by shouting Taiwanese from New Jersey and was instantly transported back to my childhood.

(Mulberry St & Mott St, Manhattan)

Chinatown City Life

Magic Hour

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2011/07/17

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/5945397038/

The sun was setting spectacularly over Manhattan in the distance. But it couldn’t compete with the dancers in Sunset Park last night.

(Sunset Park, Brooklyn)

Chinatown City Life

The Competition

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2011/01/30

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/5402269768/

I’m not sure exactly what these kids were competing in, but they were intensely focused at it.

(Flushing Mall, Queens)

Ailurophilia Chinatown City Life Monday is Cat Week

Monday is Cat Week: Cold But Cool

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2010/02/01

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/4321550132/
It was 25F outside, but that didn’t stop this cat from having a grand old time on the hood of this parked car. He would lick the hood, then tumble around.I don’t know what he was tasting, but it must have been delicious. I’m just glad his tounge didn’t stick to the metal.

(Bayard St, Manhattan)

Chinatown City Life

Closing Time is Cleaning Time

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2010/01/17

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/4282088567/

(Lai Heng Jewelry, Doyers St & Bowery, Manhattan)

Chinatown Eating

Mysterious CCC

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/12/28

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/4221297672/

The first rule of Chinatown Cake Club is you do not talk about Chinatown Cake Club.

I forget exactly what the other rules are, but fortunately there’s none about photography.

(CCC, Manhattan)

Chinatown Eating

Xmas in Ctown

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/12/25

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/4213691905/

(Deluxe Food Market, 122 Elizabeth St, Manhattan)

Chinatown Eating

Dim Sumptuous

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/12/17

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/4192106976/

(East Manor, Kissena Blvd, Flushing)

Chinatown

This Ain’t Whole Foods, People

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/09/14

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/3917706357/

I love grocery shopping in Flushing, but you gotta be ready for some things you just won’t find at Fairway, both good and bad.

(Gold City Supermarket, Kissena Blvd, Flushing)

Chinatown Eating

Sad Fish

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/08/17

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/3827841119/

(Hong Kong Supermarket, 157 Hester St, Manhattan)

Ailurophilia Chinatown City Life Monday is Cat Week

Monday Is Cat Week: On Grand

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/07/28

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/3764104378/

I love dogs too, but they will just never be as cool as cats.

(Grand St, Manhattan)

Chinatown Eating

Pork Front Feet

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/01/31

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/3239889674/

My only question: do the front feet taste differently from the rear ones?

(Gold City Supermarket, Flushing, NY)

Chinatown Eating

The Angry Lady Is Back!

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2009/01/29

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/3234642959/

Apparently, my favorite Chinese hot sauce was banned from US shelves for several months because the jar cap didn’t meet our strict standards for, uh, jar caps. But now, spicy food lovers can rejoice in the news that the heat is back.

(Gold City Supermarket, Flushing)

Chinatown City Life

One Fifty Box

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2008/05/04

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/2465193546/

(Mulberry St & Canal St, Manhattan)

Chinatown Eating

Uh Oh!

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2008/04/19

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/2423747879/

The most cinematic interior in Chinatown is apparently under Health Department lockdown. Will they re-open like my once beloved Fay-Da?

Honestly, the grime here was part of the charm.

(Mei Lai Wah, Manhattan)

Chinatown Eating

Beloved Deluxe

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2008/03/07

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/2341397489/

I just can’t get enough of Deluxe. I shop here firstly for the food, but a close secondly for the atmosphere. Visiting NYC? Come to Deluxe and get all your hot pot ingredients in one place.

(Deluxe Food Market, 79 Elizabeth St, Manhattan)

Chinatown

Foolish At The Dynasty

Post author By jpchan
Post date 2008/03/05

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpchan/2311140489/

Just because repeatedly throttling your shopping cart down the narrow aisles of a Chinatown supermarket for the sake of a blog photo is clearly unsafe and stupid…doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it anyway.

(Dynasty Supermarket, 68 Elizabeth St, Manhattan)

Chinatown