Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Life

New York Works

Audio portraits of a vanishing city.

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Pasquale Spensieri, Grinder

Pasquale Spensieri spends his days driving around Brooklyn looking for dull blades.

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Cali Rivera, Cowbell Maker

Forty-five years ago, Cali Rivera started out with a dream to make the perfect cowbell.

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Charlie Zimmerman, Watertower Builder

Charlie works for Rosenwach Tanks, building wooden water tanks.

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Frank Sabatino, Fisherman

Frank Sabatino is one of the last fishermen left in Brooklyn.

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Frank Schubert, Lighthouse Keeper

Frank Schubert is the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the United States.

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Selma Koch, Bra Saleswoman

94-year old Selma Koch runs the Town Shop, one of New York’s last old-style bra fitting shops.

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Walter Backerman, Seltzer Man

Once there were thousands of seltzer men in New York City. Today, Walter Backerman is one of the last.

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