Thursday, December 6, 2007

Cobbler, Cobbler, Mend My Shoe

So goes the first line of an old Mother Goose rhyme (here's the rest of it). Gus of Hyde Park Shoe Rebuilders, is a genuine cobbler and I met him today at his shop. Here he is amidst his cobbling machinery and stacks of shoes awaiting his attention. Gus is originally from Greece.

18 comments:

  1. Aww... I love this picture! And I love the bric-à-brac of Gus' store. If he was in my neighborhood, I would bring him my shoes, I'd even make a detour.

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  2. Thank you Eliane! Gus' shop has an entire lifetime of work and love crammed onto the walls and shelves...I wanted to take more photos, but he and I were both a little shy...

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  3. What a wonderful photo of this man's life - and his cobbler's shop. Like Eliane, I love all the mementos of his life. There seems a calmness to him.

    I agree with you, b.c. it's sometimes difficult to take a photo, isn't it? People are shy. Just depends. Some love to be photographed and some don't.

    You did so well.

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  4. Great slice of life photo. It is getting harder and harder finding cobblers. I think it is a dying craft. I always bring my shoes and have them re-soled. It is so practical and much cheaper than buying new; and the shoes are already broken in and so comfortable. What's more comfortable than an old shoe?

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  5. I completely agree with you, Clueless, re comfy old shoes...

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  6. Unfortunately here cobblers are quite disappeared. That's a pity and doesn't mean we're more rich but that we are more fool.

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  7. the guy we use is also from that part of the world...he is in Barrington...you got a really great shot of him and his work....I love it!

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  8. wow, now that is something you don't see every day, in this world of 'flavour of the month' fashions and disposable lifestyle. I agree with Fabrizio! It's a shame that skills which were passed from generation to generation are dying out.

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  9. Great shot. I think cobblers are great. I have had a pair of dress shoes resoled a couple of times since I really like them.

    Thanks for visiting my NorthBayPhoto blog.

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  10. Thank you, Fabrizio, Neva, Sam and Northbay--yes, a cobbler is antithetical to the throw-away culture that permeates our modern lives...and it's especially nice when you can find him nearby!

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  11. Superb pic. Everything in the store looks so interesting.

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  12. What is the address of this cobbler?
    I need to find one in Hyde Park!

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  13. hi anonymous, don't know their exact address but it is on 57th street across from ogara and wilson bookstore and caffe florian

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  15. wonderful picture..town's tales..the cobbler..

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  16. hi electricwave, thanks!, i haven't been back but i still pass by his shop...

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