Grand St Between Elizabeth St and Chrystie St

    

Though it could be argued that this part of Grand Street is still technically in Little Italy, it's far more dominated by Chinese wholesalers than anything else. The different smells and sights you encounter while perusing the different shops are fascinating to say the least. Decades of immigrant families have given this part of town a distinct identity. In a way I envy those who call this part of town home…I sincerely hope this culture doesn't get uprooted by developers anytime soon.

Whenever I'm in a neighborhood dominated by any single ethnicity, it always feels like I'm treated a bit friendlier than when I'm in other parts of town. Maybe it's because I dress like a tourist when I shoot my photos and they think I'm some sort of rube who'll buy anything. But I like to at least pretend it's thanks to a sense of cultural outreach on everyone's part.