You can always tell Fashion Week has arrived in the city. No matter the season, all of a sudden it's like the entire city goes through a glow up as glamazons, influencers and wannabes take to the streets in outfits that they would never normally wear, that span the spectrum from the bizarre to the acutely chic.

And while I'm a perennial “Andy”, to the “Miranda” that is NYC, I simply have to respect the imagination and creativity that is generated in this town year-round so that it can prepare for its biennial debut in and around every February and September for the rest of the world to follow and try to keep up.

This isn't merely just a pile of “stuff”... I know better than that Miranda…

What I love about this photo from photographer Himika Hamada is that it offers an intimate lens into the belly of the beast...the all-important runway show. It's a quiet moment that captures the meticulousness behind the frenzy and the craft behind the hype.

One thing is for sure about Fashion Week, the energy is palpable and it's almost as if the moment you step out of the door wearing something remotely resembling that you give a damn, that soft crescendo of synths, strings and cadenced snaps from a certain Madonna song are all of a sudden within earshot for anyone that dares to stand out unapologetically.

Time to strike a pose…

Artistic Statement

This is a photo that was taken in late January 2024 in the evening at Cipriani 25 during the Andy Yu FW24/Lunar New Year event.

Artistic Statement

Backstage photography will always be one of my favorite things to shoot simply because it showcases art in the purest and most foundational form. Documenting the intense hard work behind the scenes brings creative vision to real life. To me, photography is a powerful art form meant to freeze a single moment to highlight deep emotions, expressions, techniques, and storytelling. I link this philosophy to dance. 

As someone who grew up in a community tied strongly to art in NYC, this foundation built my essential identity to my life. I had the pleasure of photographing ballet performances and dance competitions which is an exciting experience every time to work with inspiring dancers and organizations across the city. New York City constantly seeks to expand its reach, bringing people together, motivating and connecting with people. 

The unique sanctuary of New York City where the relentless artists and designers are elevated into timeless moments. I believe this provides the city’s true magic turning dedication into living art. 

For more incredible photos, please follow Himika Hamada HERE.

If you have any amazing photos you’ve taken or that you’ve come across, that you think are simply incredible representations of community and culture in NYC, please send them my way [email protected] (when sending, please include photo credit as well as the location in NYC where this was taken and when as well as a brief description no more than a paragraph long of what’s happening in the photo and why it inspires you.)

Marshall Chess Club

In the heart of a Greenwich Village brownstone, people have been sitting across chessboards from one another for over a century. Beginners and legends alike have walked these halls regardless of their rating or reason for playing. But they have all gathered here as a community surrounding one of the most timeless games imaginable.

Of course I'm talking about chess and the club I am referring to is, of course, the renowned Marshall Chess Club.

The club is one of the oldest and most storied chess institutions in America. Founded in 1915 by U.S. Chess Champion Frank J. Marshall, the club was established with the central tenet of being a gathering place where people who loved chess could meet, learn, teach, compete, and simply spend time together. Marshall wanted young players to be encouraged and players of every kind to feel comfortable gathering there.

Since 1931, the club has called a remarkable 1832 townhouse in Greenwich Village its home and walking inside means entering a piece of living chess history.

World champions including José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Bobby Fischer, and, much more recently, Magnus Carlsen have played at the club. Generations of notable American players developed there, while photographs and memorabilia throughout the building document more than a century of chess culture.

Far from a museum, chess is still being played there constantly. The club describes itself as the country's most active tournament club, hosting rated competition nearly every day alongside beginner classes, lectures, simultaneous exhibitions, book events, camps, and casual play.

Its programming accommodates all levels and can be anything from visiting grandmasters discussing high-level strategy to adult beginner class and of course an endless schedule of strictly social gaming.

That mixture of generations and abilities is part of what makes chess such an unusually effective community-builder. There is a shared language on the board that defies age or profession.

These days there are so many online options for you to play this time-tested game but it's never quite the same unless it's in person. At Marshall, you can encounter the same players week after week. Someone who beats you might later explain what you missed. A beginner can find themselves a few feet away from a grandmaster. Sure, its competition, but for the sake of community.

So if chess is at all your thing, I urge you to check out Marshall Chess Club. While I can't guarantee a connection, with over 1,500 members and a robust slate of programming…

…probably doesn't hurt to “check”.    

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Thank you for taking the time to read to the end!

I hope you found something inspiring and meaningful in my content and until next time, explore the possibilities of NYC.

-Sugary

🍰🍭🍩🍦🍫🍪🍨🧁

PS. Don’t be shy and hit reply and tell me how you’re doing!