Willem Verbeeck’s Perfect New York Day

The critic Susan Sontag once wrote that photography makes the world feel closer than it is. This rings especially true in the work of Willem Verbeeck, whose photos manage to capture and distill the magic of his travels near and far. But it’s not just the world that feels more accessible as a result — it’s also photography itself, thanks to his behind-the-scenes YouTube content.

The Los Angeles-based photographer balances assignments for the likes of Rolling Stone and the New Yorker with personal projects driven by long walks through otherworldly landscapes. Raised in the New York tri-state area, he spent a weekend with us during a recent trip back east, doing what he loves: strolling through Manhattan accompanied by his camera. Below are a few of the stops Willem made along the way.

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Dashwood Books | 33 Bond St

Dashwood Books will surprise you. You walk into an unsuspecting basement and find the most tastefully curated selection of photography books in the country. There is something for everyone here. Since this was my first visit back in years, I’ve been rethinking about photographing NYC, so I picked up a book from the artist Evelyn Hofer.

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The High Line | Multiple entrances on 10th Ave

The High Line is an old stretch of railroad track that fell out of use shortly after it was built through the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. I fell in love with the space through Joel Sternfelds “Walking the Highline” project. He documented the train tracks before they were transformed into the pedestrian walkways and urban space that it is today. His project is so beautiful — it preserved the moment in time when the High Line was out of use, but left untouched. I recommend watching this video about the project, captured when the rail was completely overgrown by nature and reclaimed by wildlife.

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Dave’s New York | 581 6th Ave

Dave’s New York is a clothing store focusing primarily on affordable but durable workwear. For years, I shopped exclusively at Dave’s for clothing while I went to school a few blocks away. Their merch has since become somewhat of a staple for everyone from skaters to photographers, especially because it’s affordable, but won’t fall apart within a week.

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Picture House | 437 W 16th St 3rd Floor

The critic Susan Sontag once wrote that photography makes the world feel closer than it is. This rings especially true in the work of Willem Verbeeck, whose photos manage to capture and distill the magic of his travels near and far. But it’s not just the world that feels more accessible as a result — it’s also photography itself, thanks to his behind-the-scenes YouTube content.

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Tompkins Square Bagels | 165 Avenue A

Best bagels in the city. Plain bagel, egg and cheese. Simple, but perfect.

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Punjabi Deli | 114 East 1st St

Punjabi Deli is a staple of Houston Street (even though it’s technically 1st Street) and kept me fed through college. They serve very authentic vegetarian Indian dishes. People from all walks of life come to Punjabi Deli for affordable and healthy curries and stews. There’s usually a lineup of taxis outside, taking a break for lunch or dinner.

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Lupe’s East LA Kitchen | 110 6th Ave

I always recommend stopping here. It’s a fantastic East Los Angeles-style Mexican restaurant and also where I shot my first-ever photography commission in college.

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Whitney Museum | 99 Gansevoort St

There are so many great museums in NYC, but the Whitney is always one of the first that I visit. It sits right above the entrance to the High Line and is surrounded by water to the west and a ton of cool galleries and restaurants in every other direction. The Biennial is a show that I never miss. I remember discovering some of my favorite photographers to date through the show, as well as all other art media.

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OnlyNY | 176 Stanton St

I used to live just a block from this store! On this trip, I picked up an MTA bus hat and their famous pen holder, modeled after an NYC trash can. Their photography and campaigns have always been fantastic and inspired my early photo work.

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West Side Highway Bike Path

The bike path along the West Side Highway is a real gem. If you ride north to south, you’ll have a constant view of the skyline downtown that gets bigger the further you go. There are great stops for photos all along the route, but my favorite was always watching the sunset over the Hudson River. You can also stop for a round of Topgolf or follow the path in the city and hit many of the stops on this list!

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Square Diner | 33 Leonard St

After a long walk in the city, I always try to end my day at a diner. There’s something very calming and familiar about them. Maybe it’s the menu with seemingly unlimited varieties of food or the coffee that never seems to run out. They’re endlessly beautiful to me, especially if you find an old train car diner like Square Diner. The lack of space gives the inside of the restaurant a real community feel. You’ll find yourself talking to strangers more than any other type of restaurant.

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