Not many mayors in NYC. I don't mean elected politicians, but residents who spent so much time on their block that their names became synonymous with the neighborhood. Ricky Powell wasn't just a street photography legend, he was the mayor of Greenwich Village. He was the only person whose face was as recognizable as the Jefferson Market clock and the Big Yard at P.S. 41. Ricky's face was a Greenwich Village landmark.
I first met Ricky in '98 when he snapped a 'flickeroni' of my brothers Max and Sam for one of his books. Turned out, according to both Ricky and Max, they knew each other back in P.S. 41. Which is impossible, since they're more than ten years apart in age. But native New Yorkers will bullshit you about anything if it adds to their lore, and for Ricky, it was that Max was a talking head on ESPN. For Max, it’s that it was the legendary Ricky Powell. Hilarious how they stuck to such an easily debunkable story. Also kind of touching.
I lived with my folks in Greenwich Village after college, deep into my 20's in the same apt they raised me in. I grew up on 11th Street, Ricky was on 10th, both just above the park. And even though he'd long moved out of his mom's place and further west, he'd occasionally stop by our spot with a signed copy of a new book, or just to say hi. One time when he buzzed up, I hid in my room just to be an antisocial prick. I feel great about that now.
Anyway, we became friends over the years, and I was lucky enough to guilt him into letting me snap a few shots of him as we walked around the vill and talked business (about this site actually). Nothing ever came of it, but I just stumbled on the pix, and in light of the 1 year anniversary of his death, I thought it would be fitting to post them. Enjoy.
Always with his hand radio
Young Ricky
With Ali
Old habits die hard
Human landmark
RIP Ricky Powell
Articles You May Like
-
Manhattan Keeps on Bakin' It: New York Pizza 101
Pizza is my heart. My dad used to make them at an old school brick oven spot called Zino's in Cincinnati. The smell of that crust was intoxicating. He would bring a pie home from there or a another spot name La Rosa's with a sweet tomato sauce that was like, ambrosia almost every night. I can see... -
Vegan Fridays Debut in NYC Schools
By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta New York City mayor Eric Adams eats mostly vegan meals. He recently stated to the press, "The more plant-based meals you eat, the healthier you will be." Inspired by his own success of eating better, he began a new policy, Vegan Fridays, which introduced vegan m... -
MTA Needs to Cough Up the Cash for Subway Safety
By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta New York City is hyped as having “the best” public transportation system in the United States, mainly for its subways which run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Over 4.5 million passengers commute on the subway. But are we really “the best”? How can anyone say “...
Comments