When A Photographers Place on Mercer Street in Soho closed a few years back (to be replaced by a fancy lingerie store), there went New York's only photo book store.  It was one of those closings that seemed unbelievable and unfair.  There was nothing else like this wonderful, quirky store full of the latest books as well as a fine selection of vintage books and rarities, old photo magazines, antique cameras, and paraphernalia.  And the New York photographic community was lost.  Where were the fashion photographers and stylists going to get their ideas?

Well, years later the problem has been solved by Dashwood Books at 33 Bond Street, a small but brilliantly stocked shop a few steps down from street level, which sells the latest books, including hard-to-find items from Japan and limited editions, as well as fine vintage items.  Its owner is David Strettell, a splendid British chap who formerly worked as Cultural Director of the eminent photo agency Magnum and who knows his books.  It's a treasure and now the fashion community is happy.  I live down the block, so I now see stylists like Karl Templer and photographers like Wayne Maser leaving the place with bags full of ideas.  As with many treasures, you have to look carefully to find it, because right now it's behind a huge dumpster, across the street from Ian Schrager's new development at 40 Bond.

David is a new dad.  He's married to the lovely Ann Christiansen, the women's fashion director of the New York Times magazine.