Joe Chirico's mother, Marietta, opened a dry goods store to supplement the family income during the Great Depression. Today Joe is in his 90s and is still selling socks, underwear and cobbler aprons at the Carroll Gardens storefront.

For Emma and her husband, running the Long Island Restaurant and Bar was a labor of love. The Brooklyn Heights establishment has since changed hands, but it still has Emma’s heart.

Mr. Duckett has been a Crown Heights resident since the 1960’s, but he wasn’t always a barber. Find out what brought him to the profession and how he’s seen the neighborhood change.

Spike and his friends grew up swimming in the East River, dancing at the Pepsi Cola club, and starting trouble on the railroad yard of Long Island City, Queens.

Jeannette was born on Mott Street when the neighborhood was predominately Italian and remembers dancing the tarantella in Columbus Park.

Mike Amadeo has been composing and selling music in New York City since the 1950’s, and his record store, Casa Amadeo, is a Bronx institution.

Gus Vlahavas, his mother Stella and their family restaurant have been a fixture in Prospect Heights since 1936. Tom’s Restaurant makes a great pancake, but it makes an even better neighbor.

Meet Jean Wnuk, a veteran patternmaker who has worked in the garment center for over 60 years.