THING 1: The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
I was going to write this Five Things Right Now around five pieces I would’ve taken home from the Antiquarian Book Fair—if money didn’t matter: the Joseph Cornell archive with a Marilyn Monroe biography cut to pieces and worked over in his hand; a copy of Revenge of the Lawn with an alternate photo of cover girl Elizabeth Vetter laid in, along with a letter from Richard Brautigan to her; a late 19th-century flyer from a Worcester shop—The Massachusetts Spy—bragging their jobbers could turn out 1,000 impressions an hour; and Hunter S. Thompson’s library card, expiring in 1962. But that version started to feel a little too much like a wish list. So I scrapped it and went with something better—the five things I actually got to experience on my trip to New York City. I come every year for the Book Fair. But not just the Book Fair. I come because it’s New York. The best city in the world. At least when the sun’s out.
THING 2: Face Value: Celebrity Press Photography (through June 21, 2026 at MOMA.).
Of course Duchamp’s retrospective at Museum of Modern Art is worth your time. It opens with what he called his “swimming lessons”—early paintings that look a lot like what everyone else was doing at the turn of the century. Nothing wrong with that. Some are actually pretty good. But if he hadn’t pushed past that—into things no one else was doing—you don’t get a 2026 Duchamp retrospective. From there it’s everything: Nude Descending a Staircase, the urinal, the shovel, the hat rack, all the zines before anyone called them zines, the altered and conceptual work, and the Rotoreliefs—Esquivons les ecchymoses des esquimaux aux mots exquis. It even spills outward—Warhol’s Screen Test of Duchamp, and all the reproductions. Which raises a great question: what’s “real” here, anyway? But writing about Duchamp feels a little too obvious. I usually try to avoid the obvious—even when it might suit me best. So I’ll leave it at this: go to the first floor, then take the escalator down. Face Value: Celebrity Press Photography features rows of old Hollywood faces, most of them forgotten. This is the thing that stuck with me most.
THING 3: Dashwood Books.
Dashwood Books is a tiny shop right on the edge of NoHo and basically brushing up against the East Village. They specialize in new, used, and rare photobooks. It’s run by A Beautiful Soul named Miwa, who really knows everything there is to know about photobooks. And photozines. Probably photographers and photos, too. “Hey Miwa—what do I need to see today?” No hesitation. She pulls three or four books and lays them on out in front of me on the counter. Might be a new one. Might be a zine. Might be collectible. But always essential.
THING 4: The Auction Previews.
Here’s the thing about going to Sotheby’s or Christie’s to see what they’re offering in their upcoming auctions: it’s free. And you get to see art you’re probably never going to see again, unless it’s in a catalogue raisonné. An amazing painting moving from one rich collector to another. Because the last people placing bids on these works are usually the institutions. So this trip I found myself standing right in front of Brown and Blacks in Reds by Mark Rothko. Or a bright green Brigitte Bardot portrait by Andy Warhol. La Chaise Lorraine by Henri Matisse. Basquiat’s Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown) and Le Compotier by René Magritte. You get the idea.
THING 5: Trojan Ska Box Set (Volume 1).
The best way to navigate the New York public transport system is to wear shades and make absolutely sure your earbuds are securely fastened in place. This way you’ll probably be left undisturbed. Then, to manage potential anxiety (especially while traveling alone), just stream any one of the Trojan Records box sets. This time it’s Volume 1 for me: “I’m in the Mood for Ska” by Lord Tanamo; “Get Up Edina” by Desmond Dekker; and Stranger Cole with Patsy Todd doing “When I Call Your Name.” Seriously, it’s the only way to travel. Just remember not to smile at anyone.
