Mystery Umbrellas in Washington Heights

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

[Image via The Gay Recluse]

Strange doings are transpiring on the stretch of Broadway between 160th and 161st Streets in Washington Heights. Blogger the Gay Recluse discovered that one storefront now "kinda looks like a tawdry set for a Victorian brothel," complete with sickly-green umbrellas dangling capiz shells over an odd little table set for two. In another, "you can look at—but apparently not buy—a straw elephant and a treasure trove of antique bottles and costume jewelry." What's this all about? Harlem blog Uptown Flavor thinks it's the West Harlem Art Fund's annual public art festival, but we're kind of pulling for a brand new Victorian Brothel District. (ViBro?)
· Public Art Takes Center Stage in West Harlem and The Heights [Uptown Flavor]
· On the Washington Heights Report: Revolutionary New Retail Operation Sells Only Questions [The Gay Recluse]