An old-school flea marketeer, her tables are laden with items ranging from the sublime (a white, bejeweled prom gown; vintage framed photos of breeders with their champion dogs; a giant mid-century Santa) to the merely utilitarian (a few coffee mugs, a phone handset without a cradle, a tennis racket). In the bustle of midday, people stop and browse. A girl buys a sweater off the rack and, hearing Karen's price, says, "That is totally fair."
"I keep my prices low," Karen told me, "because a lot of people around here are kids, and they don't have much money. And people donate stuff to me. So I recycle it back through the neighborhood."
One donation she received came from a woman pushing a walker. The woman stopped and, without a word, handed a plastic bag to Karen. Inside was a homemade sandwich and a can of Coke.
"Where else are you gonna find people like this? People who bring you sandwiches," Karen said. She loves being on this corner and does not want to leave the East Village, where she was brought by Leslie Herson, the former owner of Love Saves the Day who passed away this summer.
"Leslie was one of the last of the original flower children," Karen told me. She met Leslie through the flea market circles in New Jersey. "She invited me to come to New York. New York! That was always my dream. So I followed her here and I've been here since. Leslie was good to me."
I asked Karen what she thought about the loss of Love Saves the Day.
"This is one of the last places that has the old flair of the East Village that's gone. It's not like it was in the 50s and 60s, that old bohemian and hippie life. It's missed. And I'm one of the last ones out here, selling on the sidewalks, which used to be full of people selling stuff. So I guess I'll be missed, too."
Karen will be missed. But she's looking for a new place to set up. If you have a storefront, or know of one, that can accommodate Karen, she asks that you get in touch. You can leave your information here in the comments section or send it to me by email and I will pass it on. You can also find Karen at the corner of 7th and 2nd every Friday - Sunday. At least for the next few weeks, until Love is gone.
See all my photos of Karen's "shop" and LSD
another one bites the dust, and bites the dust, and bites the dust
ReplyDeletejeremiah i would like to thank both you and susananh troy for the interviews to help me find a space in the east village karen
ReplyDeletethanks karen. i am glad to help spread the word. hopefully, someone will offer a good space to keep you in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI wrote an post about the Love Saves the Day in New Hope. It's such a fun place. I'm really sad to see them leaving the East Village.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say so, JackS, but I'm thrilled LSD is keeping true to its demeanor and not just rolling over and playing dead!
ReplyDeleteBack in '83 when my 14 year old bridge and tunnel ass was finally allowed to come into the city there were a handful of legendary shops and hang outs we had to have our pilgrimages to. Zoot and Antique Boutique on Broadway, Postermat, Pat Fields and Reminiscence (on and off 8th street), Trash & Vaudeville and Video Pop Pizza on St. Mark's and, of course, Love Saves the Day.
Baby loves a costume, so LSD was always a true fave of mine, but it was always a tough joint to shop at. I was always a little intimidated by the staff and always thought (and 25 years later still think) - that despite how insanely cool I really am - that at any moment I'd be branded a poseur and tossed ingloriously on the street.
LSD should be RAISING their prices right now and people should be clamoring to buy relics from among the last of the real old skool rock n roll hipster drags.
The East Village is Dead!
Long Live the East Village!