West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
    • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
    • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG
No Result
View All Result

Favorite WSR Stories

  • An UWS Middle School is Pushing Back Against Possible Relocation: ‘This School is Our Home’
  • After Years Out of Sight in an UWS Apartment, a Collection of Hidden Holocaust Art is in the International Spotlight
  • ‘We All Work as a Team’: A Glimpse Inside the Largest Nurses Strike in NYC History
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

THROWBACK THURSDAY: BUNNIES, TATS AND BREAK-DANCING

March 23, 2017 | 9:58 AM
in HISTORY
15

Thankfully for all of us, Stephen Harmon carried his camera around the neighborhood in the 1980’s and captured the lively fashion and personalities.

Doesn’t that top dude look kind of like Jimmy Fallon?

desktop916

desktop911

Handstand

Tatoo arm

desktop874

desktop913

desktop912

desktop914

desktop917

desktop045

See more of Steve’s shots here, here and here.

Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
Leave a comment

Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration. Comments that take cheap shots, escalate conflict, or veer into ideological warfare detract from the constructive spirit we aim to cultivate. A detailed statement on comments and WSR policy can be read here.

guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

15 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
wombatnyc
wombatnyc
8 years ago

Wish I had a crystal ball – I would have bought property all over the UWS and just waited 30 years – Ka Ching$

0
Reply
Judith Davidsen
Judith Davidsen
8 years ago

Was that Noam Chomsky crossing 72 St?

0
Reply
Smart Aleck
Smart Aleck
8 years ago
Reply to  Judith Davidsen

No. It was William F. Buckley.

0
Reply
Kev
Kev
8 years ago

It does look like Chomsky!
It doesn’t look like Fallon.

0
Reply
Sally F
Sally F
8 years ago

Fun to remember those yellow street signs!

0
Reply
tim
tim
8 years ago

Love this feature, the pics are fascinating time capsules, some reminiscent of eggleston – a nice middle-of-the-day diversion. Thanks WR!

0
Reply
UWS_lifer
UWS_lifer
8 years ago

These pictures are great! The ’80s were a magical time around here.

Remember Korean delis and the Bodegas all over the place?? What happened to all those?
As if I didn’t know the answer unfortunately.

On a day to day basis I don’t think about it that much, but when I see pictures from this era it reminds me just how much the neighborhood really has changed.

We should at least try to get those yellow St. signs back with that cool NY font. I didn’t realize until right now how much I don’t like the new green ones. Oh well.

0
Reply
AndrewE
AndrewE
8 years ago

The UWS was great in the 80s! All that crime and grime. But hey no banks or starbucks

0
Reply
Rebecca Elise
Rebecca Elise
8 years ago

Hello. The photo with the sign that says “72nd Street”, and the blurry “free delivery” sign in the background, does anyone know what street corner this is?
Thanks so much.

0
Reply
Arlene
Arlene
8 years ago
Reply to  Rebecca Elise

That’s the NW corner of Bdway & 72nd. On the SW corner across the street (where Duane Reade is now) was a fruit store/salad bar and next door to that was a terrific magazine store. The building looked like an old castle and I’ve never understood why it wasn’t landmarked.

0
Reply
wcsnyc
wcsnyc
8 years ago
Reply to  Rebecca Elise

It’s 72nd and B’way looking south. The brick Sherman Square apartment building cab ne seen in the distance. This is the block that was razed to make room for Duane Reade and Trader Joe’s.

0
Reply
YoungSally
YoungSally
8 years ago

Jimmy Fallon couldn’t grow those brows and beard if he tried. That guy looks like he probably started shaving at 11.

0
Reply
Wendy
Wendy
8 years ago

Was the person, without an Umbrella, who sat on the Bench : homeless ? S’posedly, for every Senior Citizen out & about; there’re are 10 homebound. Whose children were those, who were around the old Lady ? Aagh, snow/ice on Sidewalk. I don’t like much of break dancing. There weren’t Cellphones ? So far, I’ve had a worse day than those photos depict. Shaloha.

0
Reply
meta robertson
meta robertson
8 years ago

Steve, you are the best!Mimi R

0
Reply
Anne Bard
Anne Bard
8 years ago

Steve Harmon’s portraits of people in New York are outstanding. Thank you. Please keep them coming!

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

Federal Agents on Upper West Side Streets: The Slacker Raids of 1918
HISTORY

Federal Agents on Upper West Side Streets: The Slacker Raids of 1918

January 14, 2026 | 3:56 PM - Updated on January 15, 2026 | 2:12 PM
A Wine Shop Thrives for Decades in its Upper West Side Terroir
HISTORY

A Wine Shop Thrives for Decades in its Upper West Side Terroir

January 13, 2026 | 4:03 PM - Updated on January 20, 2026 | 2:37 PM
Previous Post

WHAT YOU GET AT THIS $100,000-A-MONTH UPPER WEST SIDE RENTAL

Next Post

GRACIOUS HOME REOPENS ON EAST SIDE AND ONLINE WITH FAMILIAR FACES AND PRODUCTS

this week's events image
Next Post
GRACIOUS HOME REOPENS ON EAST SIDE AND ONLINE WITH FAMILIAR FACES AND PRODUCTS

GRACIOUS HOME REOPENS ON EAST SIDE AND ONLINE WITH FAMILIAR FACES AND PRODUCTS

RIVERSIDE PARK PILATES, YOGA START THIS WEEK

CITY RELEASES 'SUMMER ON THE HUDSON' EVENTS STARTING IN MAY

‘TRUMP UNITY BRIDGE’ COMES TO THE UPPER WEST SIDE

'TRUMP UNITY BRIDGE' COMES TO THE UPPER WEST SIDE

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2026 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
    • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
    • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
  • WSR SHOP

© 2026 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.