Bill & Editta: New York City

The countdown to my New York trip is on: the whole family is leaving this Saturday for a week-long experience. I'll be a judge at the Society of Illustrators and will be attending the Nearly Impossible conference. It's going to be a whirlwind, but if there's anything that you think is a must-see activity, event or destination, I welcome your suggestions in the comments on via Twitter.

A still from the movie, Bill Cunningham at home on the streets.

To get in the New York state of mind, this weekend I thoroughly enjoyed watching the documentary Bill Cunningham New York . It chronicles the 80-year-old-and-then-some Bill, an intrepid street fashion photographer. It is an amusing and touching portrait of a man who has literally dedicated his life to his creative pursuit.

For most of his career, Bill lived a monk-like existance in an artist studio above Carnegie Hall. Surrounded by filing cabinets and stacks of books and magazines, he slept on a simple cot and didn't have a kitchen. During the filming of the movie (released 2011), Bill and the other residence were faced with finding new accommodations. There is another documentary dedicated to these artists and their stories: Lost Bohemia.

The film also introduced me to classic celebrity photographer Editta Sherman—she just celebrated her 101st birthday. 

Bill photographer Editta in 1976 for a fashion book entitled Facades, a celebration of 200 years of fashion and architecture in NYC.