George Sherman Union @ Boston University

Andrew Wang, 11, of Lexington, MA reports an early loss to Women’s International Master Esther Epstein in the preliminary rounds of competition at the BU Chess Club’s annual Open Chess Tournament held in the George Sherman Union at Boston University in Boston, MA on November 11th 2006. Epstein is a BU faculty member, and internationally renowned chess player.

Before playing against #2 ranked Stuart Finney, Andrew Wang takes a moment to review strategies with his father Frank Wang at the BU Open Chess Tournament on November 11th 2006 at Boston University. Andrew is currently ranked as the #1 player for his age group in New England.

Andrew Wang,11, records Stuart Finney’s move in his playbook during a match at the BU Open Chess Tournament on November 11th 2006 at Boston University. According to tournament rules each player is given 60 minutes to beat their opponent, whom oftentimes are adult players with 20+ years of experience.

Frank Wang waits outside of the tournament room at the George Sherman Union at Boston University while his son Andrew Wang competes in his final of 5 games at the BU Chess Club’s annual Open Tournament on November 11th 2006.

Andrew Wang, ranked #1 in New England for 8-13 year olds, hovers above the chessboard waiting for his opponent Stuart Finney, ranked #2, to realize he has lost at the BU Open Tournament held in the George Sherman Union at Boston University in Boston, MA on November 11th 2006.

Following a victory against Stuart Finney, Andrew Wang begs his father Frank for a pizza dinner at the George Sherman Union at Boston University in Boston, MA on November 11th 2006. This win preserves his #1 ranking in the 8-13 age bracket for competitive chess players in New England.

Allston, MA

Julie Starr of Quincy, MA takes a moment before a cosmetic tattoo procedure at Stingray Tattoo in Allston, MA on October 16 2006 that will leave her with permanent eyeliner. This will be her second cosmetic procedure; the first being her permanent eyebrows that she has filled in every several months.

Before starting the procedure tattoo artist Brenda Wynne goes through a questionnaire with Julie Starr at Stingray Tattoo in Allston, MA on October 16th 2006. Wynne performed her first cosmetic tattoo on Starr over a year ago after receiving her certification. Cosmetic tattooing has been used to hide scars, remove birthmarks, and treat the effects of skin diseases like Alopecia.

Brenda Wynne uses a manual device, as opposed to a traditional motor driven instrument, to insert black dye into the outer layer of Julie Starr’s eyelid that will leave her with a permanent outline around her eyes at Stingray Tattoo in Allston, MA on October 16th 2006. Prior to the procedure, the patient must sit with their eyes closed for an hour while numbing agents absorb into the skin.

Julie Starr opens her eyes after for the first time after sitting idle for 30 minutes while the first outline of her eyelid was completed at Stingray Tattoo in Allston, MA on October 16th 2006. Tattoo artist Brenda Wynne must repeat the procedure several times to achieve the level of darkness that Julie Starr wants.

After over an hour of constant irritation, Julie Starr’s concentration is broken during the final outline of her right eyelid at Stingray Tattoo in Allston, MA on October 16th 2006. “You’ve got the wiggles,” joked tattoo artist Brenda Wynne. Julie Starr sat virtually motionless for the entire 2-hour procedure.

Julie Starr inspects the work of tattoo artist Brenda Wynne at Stingray Tattoo in Allston, MA on October 16th 2006 after completing the application of permanent eyeliner. “Its about the collection,” said Starr, “and the feeling of being covered by that collection is why I do it.” In addition to tattoo’s covering most of her upper body, Starr is currently in the process of completing two tattoos that cover her entire right and left hips and has no intention of stopping there.

Roslindale, MA

Linda Burnett, a volunteer for Healthy Roslindale, stands in Roslindale Square on September 16th 2006 directing participants of the candle light vigil to Roslindale Congregational Church in Roslindale, MA. The vigil, which was planned for Roslindale Square, was moved to the Roslindale Congregational Church because of rain.

Jewel Simmons, 16, looks up at t-shirts designed by the members of the Violence Task Force, a subdivision of Healthy Roslindale, at Roslindale Congregational Church in Roslindale, MA on September 16th 2006. The shirts are part of a new program headed by Lisa Modecker, a Violence Task Force volunteer, who works with victims of domestic abuse and their children.

Idalia Carrasco and her 2 yr old daughter Olivia read the name off the name of a victim of domestic abuse, followed by how they were murdered before lighting a candle at Roslindale Congregational Church in Roslindale, MA on September 16th 2006. In the past year there have been 21 fatal domestic abuse cases reported in Roslindale, MA.

Over 40 people at Roslindale Congregational Church in Roslindale, MA join Rev. Karen Peters (center) of Bethany First United Methodist Church on September 16th for a candlelight vigil in memory of the victims of fatal domestic abuse cases. Healthy Roslindale, the group that sponsors the Violence Task Force, has been working in Roslindale, MA to stop domestic abuse since 1992.

Bradley Simon, 8, joins his grandmother Colleen of Hyde Park, MA for a candlelight vigil for victims of fatal domestic abuse at Roslindale Congregational Church in Roslindale, MA on September 16th 2006. This is the fourth year a candlelight vigil has been held for the growing numbers of fatal domestic abuse victims in Roslindale, MA.

TD Banknorth Center - Boston, MA

Best friends Anna Call, 19, and Jackie Marks, 18, take position in the front row before The Red Hot Chili Peppers come on for a show at The Fleet Center in Boston, MA on October 1st, 2006. The girls were selected at random to come down to the front row, which made Jackie Marks 18th birthday present from her mother even better.

Flea, lead bassist for The Red Hot Chili Peppers, stands above the set list for their show at The Fleet Center in Boston, MA on October 1st, 2006. The band opened with an explosive performance of their hit record, “Californication” from 2001’s Californication.

Karin Alpeatro, left, is joined by her mother, Farouz, holding sign, for The Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Fleet center in Boston, MA on October 1st, 2006. This is the fourth Red Hot Chili Peppers show they have seen together.

Anthony Kiedis, lead singer for The Red Hot Chili Peppers, sings “Californication” from their 2001 album Californication. The Mars Volta joined the band for their show at The Fleet Center in Boston, MA on October 1st, 2006.

Anna Call and Jackie Marks sing along with The Red Hot Chili Peppers during their sold-out concert at The Fleet Center in Boston, Ma on October 1st, 2006. The pair drove from Nashua, NH wearing matching RHCP T-Shirts for Marks’ 18th birthday.

nyc - garment district

Stacked boxes of garments and shoe-wear made in China are wheeled down 29th St. and Broadway in New York City. Known as a hub for counterfeit designer goods, the streets of the Garment District are lined with aggressive vendors illegally selling knock-off clothing and shoes.

An El Salvadorian immigrant and makes his living by selling counterfeit versions of popular Nike shoes such as Air Jordans and Dunks on the streets of the Garment District. Competition is fierce on the streets, as many young immigrants have found selling knock-off gear an easy way to make money.

Rasheed Jamel, 26, of Queens is responsible for directing the flood of sidewalk traffic on 28th st. and Broadway upstairs to a hidden showroom of Nike, Addidas, and Timerland shoes. While short in stature, Rasheed projects his voice to the crowd, often bringing in enough customers to pack the narrow stairway in and out of the building.

At the top of five flights of stairs, showroom walls are lined with many varieties of shoes and knockoff designer clothing. The current surge in popularity of limited edition versions of Nike Dunk and Air Jordans have created a large market for counterfeit replicas.

Two men make their way out of the Garment District toting the signature plastic blue bags filled with shoes and garments purchased from street vendors in the neighborhood.