Digital Ink'd

  Three years have passed since this street alley, then a vibrant canvas of explosive colors, first dazzled our social media feeds in 2021. At that time, its striking transformation evolved into a visual symphony that captures the essence of urban artistry. As I finally share my photographs and reflections on this phenomenon, it's evident that New York City should embrace more of these expressive and entertaining artistic endeavors. Such projects not only captivate but also inspire countless individuals to witness their splendor firsthand. Art holds an indispensable role in society, particularly in times that call for deeper introspection, love, community, and openness. Amid the backdrop of global upheavals—chaotic uprisings, protests, political coups, inflation, joblessness, xenophobia, mass migration, and endless wars—the need for art becomes even more pronounced. In these turbulent times, we all need a moment to pause, breathe, and internalize the transformative power of art, of...

A desolate sand swept Fallout Santa Monica Pier. Discover the captivating locales of Amazon Prime’s Fallout TV series as Lucy, Maximus, Moldaver, and the dreaded Ghoul vie for the Vault-Tec cold fusion relic. Filmed across various iconic spots in New York and New Jersey, the series brings the post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, California wasteland to life. Here’s a closer look at the real-life locations featured in the show. Let me know in the comments below how much you loved the show. Were you surprised by the New York-centric locations? Episode 1 (“The End”) In a gripping and unforgettable episode, we witness Lucy emerging from the subterranean depths of Vault 33 centuries ahead of schedule, driven by an urgent quest to rescue her father, Hank, the Overseer of Vault 33. This dramatic turn of events follows the brutal infiltration of Vault 32 by Moldaver’s raiders, who cunningly disguised themselves as the already deceased rioting inhabitants of the vault. The story's turmoil begins ...

In the realm of industrial history along the Passaic River in Northern New Jersey lies a captivating tale of an oil company's struggle for survival against the evolving landscape of progress. Amidst the modernization of Route 21 in the 1950s, the Riverbank Petroleum Company later renamed to Northern New Jersey Oil Company stood as a fierce opponent to the development. Their existence pivoted on the river's access, a lifeline for their business. Relinquishing it meant demise, so they fiercely contested the eminent domain battles. Ultimately, a compromise was reached: a tunnel beneath McCarter Highway, enabling oil transportation without disrupting the flow of the newly expanded route. Riverbank Petroleum Company Wharf had its last recorded shipment of under 2,000 tons of fuel oils in 1997. Time has seen the oil company fade into history, leaving behind an abandoned, flooded tunnel. However, a peculiar sight remains – a doorway, a relic from the past, etched onto the side of Rou...

What had remained from the continuing demolition with the BQE highway in the background.   Consisting of a two-block complex this four-story 200 by 80-foot brick building featured end-gabled structures with a central transverse firewall and eight round-arched window bay openings. This storehouse was accompanied by a feed mill removed in 1904-1915 and a feed storage building also on the lot. A warehouse that once fueled New York City's four-legged transports throughout the area. The warehouse was established in 1886 as a storehouse for grain, feed, and hay processing which also included a feed mill. The large property owner and independent operator Samuel Winter Bowne became noted on the New York Produce Exchange as having the commercial capacity to store 600,000 bushels onsite.  Eventually, the storehouse complex no longer became a major economic engine for the City once in the 1930s the city moved away from horses to cars and trucks as canal grain traffic started to dry up ...

It was only four months ago I went to see the Pop Smoke mural in his hometown Canarsie Brooklyn neighborhood. Opinions on social media and the Internet were not favorable to that mural that went up in February. There were supposed to be three murals around the Flatlands area (80th Street and Flatlands, Rockaway Parkway, and Conklin Avenue, and 82nd Street, and Flatlands Avenue) but only one was ever completed. Four months later with a posthumous debut album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon , a botched album cover art, new singles, a future deluxe album, and his alleged murderers arrested and charged, Pop Smoke's stardom and fan love have only been getting bigger. The new vibrant mural was undertaken by Hattas Public Murals .  Woo! Update : You can see Pop Smoke Mural No. II here , Pop Smoke X Mural III , Sources : 1. Mahadevan, Tara, "Pop Smoke Tribute Mural Appears in His Brooklyn Neighborhood of Canarsie", July 9, 2020, Complex 2. Sacher, Andrew, "Pop Smoke ho...

Historical Star Pin Company was first located in the Far Mill River in the Wells Hollow area of Huntington before moving to Canal Street in 1875 due to booming business and the Ousatonic dam upstream that provided crucial industrial energy. It had also used power generated by the Fulling Mill Brook before moving to Canal. The company that manufactured hairpins, pins, and eyes for clothing was founded on September 25, 1866, with a starting capital of $40,000. A hefty sum of capital for that period. In addition, it was the only factory in Shelton that was made of brick. In the early 1950s, the company even produced the packaging and boxes that held the pins. The company closed its doors for good in December 1977 after 107 years. To see more pictures of its early days, check out the fantastic book, Naugatuck Valley Textile Industry . James C. Hubbard, one of the founders and early officers of the company invented one of the first automated hairpin-making machines in the United States. In ...