Rob Stephenson
@theneighborhoods.nyc
Photographer currently working on a project visiting and photographing every neighborhood in NYC. https://theneighborhoods.substack.com
“Cities were built to measure time, to remove time from nature. There’s an endless counting down.” Don DeLillo
December 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
“Cities were built to measure time, to remove time from nature. There’s an endless counting down.” Don DeLillo
Last week, I put together an interactive sonic map of New York City neighborhoods using my field recordings. It’s still a work in progress, but if you’re curious what the city sounds like, give it a listen here: cityofsound.nyc
City of Sound: NYC Neighborhoods Map
An interactive sound map documenting every neighborhood in New York City through photography and field recordings.
cityofsound.nyc
December 2, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Last week, I put together an interactive sonic map of New York City neighborhoods using my field recordings. It’s still a work in progress, but if you’re curious what the city sounds like, give it a listen here: cityofsound.nyc
I spent way too much time trying to make an interactive map of some of the Civic Center's more architecturally significant sites and landmarks and ended with something that looks like a Ken Burn Safdie Brothers collaboration. More on Civic Center here: theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/civic-cent...
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I spent way too much time trying to make an interactive map of some of the Civic Center's more architecturally significant sites and landmarks and ended with something that looks like a Ken Burn Safdie Brothers collaboration. More on Civic Center here: theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/civic-cent...
The southernmost bridge in New York City is the Outerbridge Crossing, a cantilever span connecting Staten Island to New Jersey. Despite what it suggests, the name isn’t a geographical description but an homage to Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge, the first chairman of the Port Authority of New York.
November 4, 2025 at 10:21 PM
The southernmost bridge in New York City is the Outerbridge Crossing, a cantilever span connecting Staten Island to New Jersey. Despite what it suggests, the name isn’t a geographical description but an homage to Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge, the first chairman of the Port Authority of New York.
Reposted by Rob Stephenson
Chimps consume alcohol equivalent of nearly 2 drinks a day. It's the latest evidence in support of Robert Dudley's controversial "drunk monkey" hypothesis. arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Chimps consume alcohol equivalent of nearly 2 drinks a day
It’s the latest evidence in support of Robert Dudley’s controversial “drunk monkey” hypothesis.
arstechnica.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Chimps consume alcohol equivalent of nearly 2 drinks a day. It's the latest evidence in support of Robert Dudley's controversial "drunk monkey" hypothesis. arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Coney Island Cyclone, 2017
July 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Coney Island Cyclone, 2017
Before obesity became a health crisis, it was a badge of honor. In early 20th century New York, Fat Men’s Clubs turned girth into a form of social capital. This is one of the stranger corners of city history. 1/
July 11, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Before obesity became a health crisis, it was a badge of honor. In early 20th century New York, Fat Men’s Clubs turned girth into a form of social capital. This is one of the stranger corners of city history. 1/
Reposted by Rob Stephenson
Music rec of the moment: the new album by Aaron Fisher and Rob Stephenson, “Actual Place.” Instrumental, vibey, warm. I used to work with Rob 20+ yrs ago. He’s also an incredible photographer.
Skunk's Misery, by Aaron Fisher and Rob Stephenson
from the album Actual Place
aaronfisherandrobstephenson.bandcamp.com
June 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Music rec of the moment: the new album by Aaron Fisher and Rob Stephenson, “Actual Place.” Instrumental, vibey, warm. I used to work with Rob 20+ yrs ago. He’s also an incredible photographer.
Earlier this week, I spent a morning wandering through All Faiths cemetery.
“Young man, as you perambulate down the pathway of life toward an unavoidable bald head bordered with gray hairs, it would be well to bear in mind that the cemeteries are full of men this world could not get along without.”
“Young man, as you perambulate down the pathway of life toward an unavoidable bald head bordered with gray hairs, it would be well to bear in mind that the cemeteries are full of men this world could not get along without.”
May 31, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Earlier this week, I spent a morning wandering through All Faiths cemetery.
“Young man, as you perambulate down the pathway of life toward an unavoidable bald head bordered with gray hairs, it would be well to bear in mind that the cemeteries are full of men this world could not get along without.”
“Young man, as you perambulate down the pathway of life toward an unavoidable bald head bordered with gray hairs, it would be well to bear in mind that the cemeteries are full of men this world could not get along without.”
From the infamous 1626 Dutch purchase of Manhattan from the Lenape for $24 worth of beads and wampum to last year’s $135 million penthouse sale on the aptly named Billionaires’ Row, New York City’s history has been inscribed in the ledgers of its real estate deals. 1/ ⬇️
May 30, 2025 at 1:58 PM
From the infamous 1626 Dutch purchase of Manhattan from the Lenape for $24 worth of beads and wampum to last year’s $135 million penthouse sale on the aptly named Billionaires’ Row, New York City’s history has been inscribed in the ledgers of its real estate deals. 1/ ⬇️
This week, as part of my Every Neighborhood in New York project, I explored Morris Heights in the Bronx, home to the borough’s tallest buildings, Roberto Clemente State Park, and the birthplace of hip hop.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
May 17, 2025 at 3:33 AM
This week, as part of my Every Neighborhood in New York project, I explored Morris Heights in the Bronx, home to the borough’s tallest buildings, Roberto Clemente State Park, and the birthplace of hip hop.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
Marble Hill is the only Manhattan neighborhood that’s physically part of the Bronx. The Harlem canal was built in 1895 cutting the tip of Manhattan off from the rest of the borough. In 1914, infill from the Grand Central excavation fused Marble Hill to the Bronx.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
April 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Marble Hill is the only Manhattan neighborhood that’s physically part of the Bronx. The Harlem canal was built in 1895 cutting the tip of Manhattan off from the rest of the borough. In 1914, infill from the Grand Central excavation fused Marble Hill to the Bronx.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
Bulls Headin Staten Island was named after the Bulls head Tavern, a famous Tory watering hole. It’s also the final resting place of the real life Ichabod Crane and the preferred burial spot for the victims of Bonanno hitman, Tommy Karate.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
April 13, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Bulls Headin Staten Island was named after the Bulls head Tavern, a famous Tory watering hole. It’s also the final resting place of the real life Ichabod Crane and the preferred burial spot for the victims of Bonanno hitman, Tommy Karate.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
This week I wrote about Crown Heights, Brooklyn looking at Weeksville (one of America's earliest free Black communities), the Kings County Penitentiary, the 1991 riots and the building at 770 Eastern Parkway, headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
March 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This week I wrote about Crown Heights, Brooklyn looking at Weeksville (one of America's earliest free Black communities), the Kings County Penitentiary, the 1991 riots and the building at 770 Eastern Parkway, headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
During its heyday, Ramblersville was known as the Venice of New York. The tiny, frequently floooded patch of land on the edge of Jamaica Bay is the smallest neighborhood in the city.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
March 20, 2025 at 11:28 PM
During its heyday, Ramblersville was known as the Venice of New York. The tiny, frequently floooded patch of land on the edge of Jamaica Bay is the smallest neighborhood in the city.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
This week, for my Neighborhoods project, I visited Manhattan's Lincoln Square. It is home to the former Trump City, Tower of Gozer and Lincoln Center, which replaced San Juan Hill, once NYC's largest Black community, which was razed in the 1950s.
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/lincoln-sq...
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/lincoln-sq...
March 15, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This week, for my Neighborhoods project, I visited Manhattan's Lincoln Square. It is home to the former Trump City, Tower of Gozer and Lincoln Center, which replaced San Juan Hill, once NYC's largest Black community, which was razed in the 1950s.
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/lincoln-sq...
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/lincoln-sq...
Reposted by Rob Stephenson
Another fascinating neighborhood tour from @theneighborhoods.nyc this week. Includes the very timely description of Trump as "the most successful failer of all time"
March 14, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Another fascinating neighborhood tour from @theneighborhoods.nyc this week. Includes the very timely description of Trump as "the most successful failer of all time"
Holy Land 2011, 2013, 2019, 2025
February 16, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Holy Land 2011, 2013, 2019, 2025
Tribeca, the tony neighborhood that The New York Times once described as a “dirty, degraded little rat-hole,” is Manhattan's most expensive zip code. Tribeca is also home to an $8 million stainless steel bean and a brutalist NSA listening facility.
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/tribeca-ma...
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/tribeca-ma...
February 9, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Tribeca, the tony neighborhood that The New York Times once described as a “dirty, degraded little rat-hole,” is Manhattan's most expensive zip code. Tribeca is also home to an $8 million stainless steel bean and a brutalist NSA listening facility.
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/tribeca-ma...
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/tribeca-ma...
Last week I visited Charleston on south shore of Staten Island the neighborhood once known for its clay beds and brick factory.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
February 4, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Last week I visited Charleston on south shore of Staten Island the neighborhood once known for its clay beds and brick factory.
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
open.substack.com/pub/theneigh...
Love this from Joel Sternfeld re: his legendary picture Exhausted Renegade Elephant
“Working 8x10 at the rate of two negatives a day is a dance—but it does force you to establish a fairly precise hierarchy of your interests. And if it doesn’t make you crazy, it can make a photographer of you.”
“Working 8x10 at the rate of two negatives a day is a dance—but it does force you to establish a fairly precise hierarchy of your interests. And if it doesn’t make you crazy, it can make a photographer of you.”
January 28, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Love this from Joel Sternfeld re: his legendary picture Exhausted Renegade Elephant
“Working 8x10 at the rate of two negatives a day is a dance—but it does force you to establish a fairly precise hierarchy of your interests. And if it doesn’t make you crazy, it can make a photographer of you.”
“Working 8x10 at the rate of two negatives a day is a dance—but it does force you to establish a fairly precise hierarchy of your interests. And if it doesn’t make you crazy, it can make a photographer of you.”
January 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This week's newsletter covers Soundview in The Bronx with a special contribution from former neighborhood resident Joel Meyerowitz. I also talk about Phil Spector's wigs, my encounter with a coyote, and the classic childhood game - Butts Up.
More here: theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/soundview-...
More here: theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/soundview-...
January 23, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This week's newsletter covers Soundview in The Bronx with a special contribution from former neighborhood resident Joel Meyerowitz. I also talk about Phil Spector's wigs, my encounter with a coyote, and the classic childhood game - Butts Up.
More here: theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/soundview-...
More here: theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/soundview-...
Last week, I visited Vinegar Hill. Today, the neighborhood, once known as Irishtown at the epicenter of the bootleg moonshine industry, is a quiet corner of Brooklyn with Belgian block-lined streets in the shadow of a defunct power plant.
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/vinegar-hi...
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/vinegar-hi...
January 21, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Last week, I visited Vinegar Hill. Today, the neighborhood, once known as Irishtown at the epicenter of the bootleg moonshine industry, is a quiet corner of Brooklyn with Belgian block-lined streets in the shadow of a defunct power plant.
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/vinegar-hi...
theneighborhoods.substack.com/p/vinegar-hi...
Jen Southam’s the Red River was recently reprinted.
January 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Jen Southam’s the Red River was recently reprinted.