old crazy man of union square

Gremetti says:

Very nice.
Ciao.
.|
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

JAMESTRESS says:

cool portrait...trade him a print for a slicer!
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

killthebird    says:

by the way, while everyone else was snapping The Gates, this is what i did today. i drank and snapped pix in union square. yaaaay.
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

shi11    says:

awesome, i love photos of old men. screw retirement, work keeps a man healthy.
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

JAMESTRESS says:

as good as it gets says donny
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

ANNA:poet    says:

i love this guy - see him all the time!
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

niznoz    says:

Certainly a dapper dude.

Is the vegetable julliennere what is commonly known as a "potato peeler"? Cause thats what it looks like. I wonder what he charges for these kitchen miracles.
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

killthebird    says:

i'll add a pic of what his tool did to the carrots. it didn't so much as peel them but julienne them. perhaps it can be used as a peeler too.

he was selling them for $5 a pop. it turns out alot of people have seen this guy all over NYC. from union square to outside penn station. this guy has quite the cult following.
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

sersen    says:

looks like the geekinger of the future!
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

shi11    says:

sersen that's so true! look at the
resemblence
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

niznoz    says:

I'm going to keep my eye out for him.
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

shi11    says:

this is really random but: has anyone ever seen the old man who fishes jewelry out of the street vents here in nyc?
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

Emporer Rhubarb [deleted] says:

He just ran past me!
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

Peter Bowers    says:

great...did you try to make it B&W ?
Posted 59 months ago. ( permalink )

i8z says:

Great shot. I would like to see it in black and white.
Posted 57 months ago. ( permalink )

killthebird    says:

voila!

here it is in black and white.

Posted 57 months ago. ( permalink )

FeldBum says:

I love this guy. I go to the park just to listen to him. He also sells the match figures...
Posted 57 months ago. ( permalink )

Martin83 [deleted] says:

Nice shot
Posted 56 months ago. ( permalink )

CharlieBrown8989    says:

candid...
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

Escape Vehicle    says:

Lovely shot.
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

Frank Lynch    says:

I think you should add the tag "peeler man" and then we need to get Joe Holmes to put his two up with the same tag. (I am restraining myslef from telling you how appeal-oops almost did it...)
Posted 53 months ago. ( permalink )

deVos    says:

Excellent capture. And I love the words "Street Action" in the paper to accompany this marvelous portrait.
Posted 53 months ago. ( permalink )

btezra [deleted] says:

~fantastic environmental portrait~
Posted 52 months ago. ( permalink )

moufle    says:

excellent! he's got such a face. I shot him too but with much inferior results
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

The Divine Miss M.    says:

i hope one day to find out that this man is my grandfather.
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

lomokev    says:

one day i want to be a crazy old man shouting at passers by, what a fun way to spend you retirement
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

SerialCoder    says:

This image has been added to the Flickr Museum for making explore's top 25. Kudos!You can check it out here...
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

MARC IS MY HERO!    says:

just so you know.... that old dude is anything but crazy. he is an amazing business man. Vanity Fair ran an article on him last year. those little peelers (which i use and are amazing!) have made him a very rich man.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

streetsideguitarman says:

ha! what a loony old fellow... wish i could hear him talk though
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Alice Dee says:

Don't you think "crazy" is a bit much? As in, insulting?
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

La Mariposa    says:

Sgoralnick just posted a picture of this guy and one of the commenters linked to the VF story, which I had never seen before!

www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2006/05/g rafter200605...
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

shanestroud    says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The Gentleman Peeler, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

killthebird    says:

RIP Joe Ades
gothamist.com/2009/02/03/union_square_peeler_ peddler_joe_...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

puffy green    says:

how sad. I loved to stand and watch him give his speal.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

PrincessPeach    says:

What a great picture. He looks straight out of Willy Wonka's factory. I could just see someone photoshopping a candybar in his hand.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

CiaoChessa    says:

I LOVE this guy. I saw him everywhere from Union Square to Central Park and even sitting right in front of Bloomingdale's. so sad. he is a true New Yorker legend. sigh.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

charlie_thecat [deleted] says:

agreed. i bought 2 peelers from him and i will be missing him each time i use the peeler...Cheers Joe!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Luis Filipe / Miracles are for free! ;-)    says:

Wonderful portrait!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

gCarraig (craig lammes)    says:

great pic.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

max tuta noronha    says:

yep,
I heard about this guy.
great shot...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

"f/stop Fitzgerald"    says:

Love this image. Great portrait.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

grekei    says:

I remember passing him on our visit to nyc...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Wonderlane    says:

crazy like a fox
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Candice Swarts    says:

What a character, lovely portrait...
RIP
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

unmirasol    says:

I love the light through his hair, and the map of life on his face. Excellently captured
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

kalana says:

we will miss him
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Volga Yıldız    says:

so funny: ) cause i shot that man too: )
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Volga Yıldız    says:

oooo i got it now: ((( i didnt know that he passed a way
he had a lovely energy...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dan.horsey    says:

I saw a segment on him on "Sunday Morning" a few months ago. There is a little less class in this world today.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Frank Lynch    says:

This is a great shot. I think you could change the title of the photo, though.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

sionnac    says:

Great portrait, sad to hear he's passed away.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

BillnDollarBaby    says:

Beautiful portrait. Kudos.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Rob M. Errera says:

What a brilliant portrait. The color is perfect. He'll be missed.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

schönwandt    says:

he is cute though!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

victoria.anne    says:

:(
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Manzari    says:

Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dallasjlogan    says:

Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Electrahound    says:

OMG I watched a segment about him on 60 Minutes (I think) a few years ago...it's terrible when a little spot of colour like this in the city disappears.
Bon Voyage.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Mari Minasyan    says:

this is awesome!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

woodendesigner    says:

I have lived in Brooklyn for many many years now but still go into that greenmarket because it is so great. I remember seeing Joe there many times and he seemed like such a character.

This is such a great photo and I think it really shows the kind of man he was and brings back a lot of memories of visiting the market with different people over the years. Well done.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Frank Lynch    says:

ktb, I'm curious about your stats - - a few thousand views on this in the last 24-36 hrs? I think I did some by linking it @ samueljohnson.com/blog but not THAT many
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Lorcan Otway    says:

He was a great performer... I will miss him. I photographed a lot of those on the margins of the Village, and meant to photograph him one of these days... show you, never put anything off, but I am glad you did such a good job of capturing him. THanks.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

voitaco says:

great !
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Frank Lynch    says:

I don't know what it was before this week, but as of now it's #9 for explore on the date submitted.

I hope you bought some!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

MIke Connor of Brooklyn, NY    says:

And not a bad peeler.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

smiljana    says:

so sorry I missed buying peeler -- now I'll never have a peeler from Joe-- always thought next time I'll get one.....so sad he passed away--
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

the half-blood prince    says:

i'm gonna miss his voice...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

sonykus    says:

Excellent capture! :)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Soothsayerman    says:

You do realize of course that you cut off the top of the incredible vegetable slicer in your photo? The very item that this man has spent the last 15 years of his life selling?

Travesty!!

You really should change the title of the photo too out of some respect.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Al aryani says:

صوره جميله
nice pic
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Tom Jolly says:

A great photo of a great NYC character. If you haven't read the VF article linked above, it's definitely worth it. This guy was no street bum. He was an entrepreneur at the street level.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

CMTexas    says:

I had the pleasure of meeting this fine gentleman while purchasing one of his vegetable peelers. He was a NYC character with a great sale pitch, wit and personality. A rare gem! May he rest in peace.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

intransit    says:

nasunto    says:

Love it!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

FemkeJen says:

wat a awesome photo!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

ptcanon    says:

He must be doing just fine selling those slicers...he dresses nicely. Great shot. Very nice presentation!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Frank Lynch    says:

made in Switzerland, not made in China!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dedbeats    says:

Wow he passed? Shame, RIP
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

brian.adams84 says:

Adios Joe - media star international. Now, your with your friends.
So sorry - R.I.P.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

lclek    says:

may you RIP, dear Joe.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

twowaymonologue    says:

oh joe! rip! you will be missed
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Harris Graber    says:

This is a terrific photo of Joe. It's my favorite.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

furiobradyal    says:

I met him 2 years ago while I was on Vacation and he immediately struck me as an eccentric and possibly Irish lovely character,
may you be In Heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you are dead,
may the road rise with you on your journey,
and may the people within your house never fall out Joe,
rest in peace MoCuishla
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Verne B    says:

Rip! This man made my day everytime i passed union sq, wish i took more time to listen to his pitch
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

sean.demura says:

rip whoever the hell you are!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Verne B    says:

Funny how he is actually a millionaire with a posh upper east side apartment! You never know, really!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

THROUGH_HAWAIIAN_EYES    says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The Light Painters Society - Your Photo says who you are!!! , and we'd love to have this added to the group!

A tribute has been left for Mr. Joe Ades
following the link below his photo. Comment #51.
May you rest in peace Mr. Joe Ades, you are a beautiful soul.

What A Wonderful World
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

amjone    says:

I don't know about the peeler, but his pitch was well worth the time and at least the $5. Rest in Peace Mr. Ades.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Verne B    says:

if anyone knows of his funeral please let me know at luviebelle@yahoo.com
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

canined.com dog pictures    says:

every hustle has an end
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

efbegeez    says:

It looks like he touched many. Would have been a great pleasure to meet him myself. May he rest in peace.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

k_paulinka    says:

R.I.P Mr. Ades - you will forever remain the the collective memory of all New Yorkers who had a pleasure to listen to your pitches!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

andy.martin30 says:

I will miss him...Union Square won't be the same without him...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Viv | Seattle Bon Vivant    says:

not "crazy" at all and young at heart. he will be missed.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

(monica)    says:

Great picture
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Cougar-Studio    says:

my god....so sad....



Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

naz's stuff    says:

Fantastic!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

AussieOutback    says:

Priceless portrait pic.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

sharonNYC    says:

I'm so sorry to see that he died. He used to work Midtown now and then as well.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Markus_76    says:

Great photojournalistic shot! Very inspiring and a great tribute to Mr. Ades, who I used to pass often but never bought a peeler from. Union Square has grown a little more stale with his passing.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )