Diversity Plaza

 The NYC Urban Sketchers visited the area of Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights. I started the day sketching he street by the 74th Street Station of the #7 elevated train. The area is filled with stores, restaurants, and businesses that mostly tend to Indian, Asian, Malaysian, etc groups. It was a colorful and interesting place to sketchl

After a lunch of delicious dumplings from one of the many food trucks in the area, my friend, Susan and I moved over to Diversity Plaza itself. Here tables and booths were set up selling colorful and interesting clothing, fabrics, trinkets, jewelry, and all sorts of items from the different cultures. I sat looking at a table that was piled high with sari-style clothing for women. The table belonged to two women, but it was interesting to note that after they had been selling for quite a while, a man came with his merchandise to sell. Susan was sitting by another merchant and his family and they explained to her that because he was a man she had to move and share part of her space with him, even though she was there first. The vendors and my friend are all in the sketch.

It was really an interesting area to sketch. I think we will be going back to sketch other buildings there inclucing a temple.