Washington Heights and Rego Park Gallery

Organizations like this Caribbean Immigration Services building reflect an economy and New York City culture centered around transnationalism.

There were many posters in this vein advertising for local concerts, parties and events. This poster is an advertisement for a reggaeton show. Reggaeton seems to be the most popular form of music in Washington Heights.

All of the signs in this clothing store were published in Spanish. Furthermore, we noticed that all of the clothing being displayed in the store was created by an unknown brand name.

Here is another example of an underground Washington Heights fashion store, not affiliated with any major brands, but offering affordable clothing with Spanish signs.

There were a number of restaurants in the area like these two serving Spanish food. Both restaurants served chicken and flavored rice dishes as well as wrapped spicy flavored Spanish sandwiches and burritos.

In both Washington Heights and Rego Park we noticed bakeries catering to incoming immigrant ethnicities. This bakery obviously caters to the Hispanic population.

There were a number of travel companies like this exemplifying the need for businesses helping immigrants to maintain contact with their country of origin through cards, letters, packages, and cellular phone services.

Here is yet another example of a small, immigrant run, business outside of the mainstream, corporate economy, which helps Washington Heights residents to repair old shoes.

This photo is pretty self-explanatory; it is a sign in Spanish for a local pharmacy.

Here are two more examples of local Spanish-operated clothing stores selling urban style clothing with un-known brand names.

This jewelry store was also a small Spanish owned and operated local business. As was the case with the clothing stores, they offered beautiful jewelry that wasn’t affiliated with any specific corporate brand.

Finally, Washington Heights was over-flowing with small, Spanish grocery marts like this one. These stores offered an array of fruits and vegetables, many of which could be used in traditional Spanish cooking like fresh squash and avocado.

Rego Park: Though an ethnic enclave for Bukharian Jews, this neighborhood also retains shopping malls like this one, representative of the larger “American” culture. Photo by KF

Rego Park: This travel agency offers its services in a variety of languages to attract business from different cultural sectors of the neighborhood. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: Beauty salons in the community offer a transnational mix of beauty procedures to female clients who may feel more comfortable with techniques from the mother country, but who have also adapted to the aesthetic standards of American society. Photo by IM.

Rego Park: “Saint Petersburg”—a popular store in Russian-speaking neighborhoods such as this one—allows Russian speakers to stay loyal to their culture through Russian books, videos, music, and even children’s toys. Photo by IM.

Rego Park: This housing corporation helps countless immigrants and young families find affordable and suitable housing. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: This advertisement for a concert featuring a famous Russian musician is just one example of how the Russian community in this neighborhood stays closely tied to the popular culture back in the home country. Photo by IM.

Rego Park: Elderly residents of the neighborhood, some of whom are Russian-speaking, enjoy a leisurely walk on a weekend afternoon. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: Karate programs offering training in forms of martial arts, allow an infusion of culture that is different from the prevailing ethnicity (Bukharian Jewish) of the neighborhood. Photo by IM.

Rego Park: Though Rego Park has many ethnic restaurants, grocery stores, and snack shops, “American” products, like the snack foods transported by the pictured truck, also contribute to the economy of the neighborhood. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: The prevalence of Russian speakers requires that many businesses, such as this restaurant, post up signs in both English and Russian. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: To immigrants of many cultures, money wiring services, like those of Western Union, are very important because they allow immigrants to send money back to their families and friends in their home countries. This gives the immigrants a sense of pride because they can help those back home. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: Due to the Central Asian descent of Bukharian Jews, many enjoy decorating their homes with elaborate carpets and rugs, which contributed to the prosperity of several carpeting stores in the area. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: “Sunflower,” a neighborhood grocery store offering gourmet goods, sells Turkish, Greek, Israeli, and Russian products. Photos by KF.

Rego Park: The Jewish center of the neighborhood offers a variety of ethnic entertainment and social services, including ethnic plays, singles’ dances, tutoring for children, and women’s groups. Photos by KF.

Rego Park: There is an abundance of ethnically “Soviet” businesses throughout this neighborhood, but there is a considerable Asian influence as well, evident through a large Asian video section in a local video store. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: The predominance of the Jewish faith in the community is illustrated by some of the creations of a local bakery, such as the “Torah” cake. Photos by IM.

Rego Park: Malika’s Dancing School is popular among Bukharian Jewish immigrants who want to remain closely tied to their culture through dance. Photos by KF.

Rego Park: Many restaurants of the neighborhood, including Emerald Restaurant, have menus both in English and Russian in order to attract as many customers as possible. Photos by KF.

Rego Park: Rego Pita, a local Kosher restaurant, proudly displays its affiliation with the Jewish religion through the poster of a prominent Rabbi fixed to a refrigerator containing Israeli soft drinks. Photo by KF.

Rego Park: The Rego Park synagogue is beautifully decorated on the inside with colorful mosaics and meaningful symbols. Photos by KF.