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Photo Archive of Underground Photojournalist Efrain John Gonzalez |
Now, as a fully licensed New York City Tour guide, he is offering truly unique illustrated guided tours in the Meat Packing District and under the High Line, tours that take you back to the good old days of the 80's and 90's, when the district was packed with some of the kinkiest, sleaziest and craziest bars and underground clubs in Manhattan. He invites you to come with him, to walk down those same dark streets and relive a time and culture in this city's past that was forbidden, sleazy, slightly illegal, and loads of fun, a time when movie stars and leather daddies partied the night in Manhattan's most exclusive underground play spaces. Long vanished clubs such as the infamous HELLFIRE CLUB that started it all in a hidden chamber under the cobblestones of Ninth Ave, The VAULT, whose mob history was made famous in the Village Voice expose, The ANVIL, where preformance artist Ruby Rims wowed the crowds with "her" sexy antics on stage, and MOTHER, an ever changing fetish club who's theme of kink and glamour changed every night. He will personally take you up and down the cobblestone streets and under the High Line where these long gone clubs flourished, where cross-dressing hookers owned the streets, gay men had hot sex in the dark of the abandoned piers, and Dominatrixes walked their collared slaves in broad daylight. With his computer tablet, he can show you actual photographs that he took of these places at the height of their fame, and entrance you with stories of what the famous and infamous did in the backrooms, in the play spaces, and on the stage. Length of tour in meatpacking district 90 minites minimum Cost per tour $45 Prefered payment through PayPal. Contact me and I will be your guide to the Meat Packing district's kinky past Private lectures and slide show presentations are available upon request. Submit your inquires for personal audiences, educational lectures, or private groups. Contact me for details, and availability |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Schedule a Private Tour New in Town? Limited on your time? Looking for something wild and perfectly safe. Coming in with the gang and you need to find something fun, interesting and slightly crazy to do before you head back home? Want a taste of old NewYork City's underground night life, and it's wild and crazy creativity and avant guard culture? With my talents, I can create a one-of-a-kind tour just for you, a tour for one person or for your entire group. Contact me and together, we can design a special tour that fits your time and energy. From the Meatpacking District, to other parts of town, like the East Village, Chinatown, and even a few fun places in Brooklyn! |
Contact me if you wish to reserve a space on the tour or to inquire about future dates, or if you wish to arrange for personal tours or large groups. I am willing to be flexible with time and dates for visitors who find themselves in the city on short notice and need to whip up something fast and fun. I no longer have regularly scheduled dates, but instead, tell me your best times and I will try to arrange a tour that is best suits you and your group. My usual tour time is in the evening, but I try to be flexible. I will send you a number you can text me at so you can find us if you get lost in traffic or choose to cancel out |
Tour Cost: $45.00 Please Contact me to reserve your space on the tour. I will contact you pending any change in the weather. (You will be given a cell# to call or text if you wander off and get seperated.) Meeting/Starting point: corner of 14th street Ninth ave, in front of the Apple store. Please call or email for a reserved spot on the tour to get the exact meet spot in the Meat Packing District |
Notes: I welcome you to join me for this Unique photo illustrated tour. Walk with me and get a unique lecture and photo show in and about the old Meat Packing District of New York. I will give you a unique view of the past that is personal, intense, historical, dramatic, passionate and unforgettable. This is a walking tours that take you back to the good old days, illistrated with my personal photos from the 70's to the 90's, when the district was packed with underground clubs, fetish bars, biker bars, tattoo galleries, and play spaces. It's gonna be fun! - My Meatpacking District Tour starts at 14th street and ninth ave. - Easy to reach by subway using the A train and the 2 and 3 line to 14th street, then walk to ninth ave. - Other tours of NYC neighborhoods can be planned. - Cost of tour starts at $45 dollars for 90 minutes. - Call or text for more information - 718 496 6583 - Email at - gonzo@hellfirepress.com |
Next scheduled tour: Cost - $35 August 9 (Wednesday) Gather - 7:00 pm (14th st & Ninth ave) Start Tour - 7:30 pm Cost - $35 Contact me if you wish to reserve a space on the tour or to inquire about future tour dates, or if you wish to arrange for personal tours for yourself or for a large groups. You will be given a cell# to call if your late, if you get lost, or wander off and get seperated. I will contact you pending any change in the weather. Meeting/Starting point: In front of the Historic Sunshine Theater, 143 East Houston Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues, on the south side of the street. I welcome you to join me for this Unique photo illustrated tour. Walk with me and get a unique lecture and photo show in and about the old immigrant and tenement neighborhoods, in one of the most ethnically diverse section of New York. I will give you a unique view of the past that is personal, intense, historical, dramatic, passionate and unforgettable. This is a walking tours that is illustrated with my personal photos from the 70's to the 90's, when the district was packed with underground clubs, fetish bars, art galleries, tattoo galleries, and great ethnic foods from all over the world. It's gonna be fun! | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
- Jeremiah's Vanishing New York "Photographer Efrain John Gonzalez shares more than three decades worth of images, culled from the Hellfire Press archives, which document the once-thriving gay and fetish scenes in the Meatpacking District. " -Time Out New York |
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