The open-air “tchotchke emporiums” of New York City’s Chinatown have always been a great source of amusement in my life, though the only thing i’ve ever bought in Chinatown is food, fireworks and mixtapes.  I have always been a fan of their wares, and sensory-overload style  presentation.  Before the sun goes down, the streets become vacant, shady and smell like day old fish and week-old garbage – it’s a  free market mania and bargain-basement bonanza that make  Canal street into pedestrian-level eye candy at the very least.

Off-the-truck bargains; Recessionary Tactics…

Words and photos by Jamie Newman