Mengyao Chen
Please try to pronounce menn-yau, I’m researching New York’s Chinatown!
In New York City’s Mahattan Chinatown, there is a vital but unofficial commercial street where many street vendors set up their stalls every day. I’ve seen vendors selling books, jade, plant seeds, seafood, and even witnessed disputes escalating into physical altercations. Yet, this bustling commercial street is completely obscured on Google Maps by the Manhattan Bridge passing overhead. Over the past six months, I’ve been walking around such places, mapping, and observing.
The appearance of street vendors is always quite random. In Chinese conception, we might refer to it as “缘分“（ A term that roughly translates to “fate”, but it is not a precise translation）. Thus, I’ve been keeping track of the street vendors that appear on this particular street. Sometimes I do it alone, and other times I go with my friends to document together.
In the following content, you will see these records.
February 3rd
A sunny afternoon. Besides the usual fruit and vegetable stalls on the street, there was a rare appearance of a vendor selling plates. It felt almost like a game, encountering a plate vendor here is quite uncommon. I spent a dollar to buy a fairly good-quality large plate. I often use this plate for eating noodles.
February 10th
February 10th, Lunar New Year. There were lion dance performances on the street, and there were fewer vendors than usual. Perhaps because it’s Chinese New Year, a day when few residents of Chinatown consider taking a break. There was a dispute between two vendors selling vegetables, which escalated into physical conflict.
February 24th
February 24th, today there were vendors selling fish and crabs on the street. Unlike those in supermarkets, these fish and crabs were alive and even moving. This is quite common in China, where freshness is highly valued in food, preferably still alive until just before serving. However, Americans don’t prefer this; they find the process of slaughtering them themselves too cumbersome and cruel.
March 10th
March 10th, it rained lightly all day today. Weather often affects business in Chinatown. The best time for vendors is around 10 a.m. on a good morning. Knowing there wouldn’t be many customers today, none of the vendors set up their stalls. I bought a cup of milk tea nearby and went home.