March 29th 2025 | DAF

Little Italy, Gumball Machines | Charles Bell, 1981

I’m sure the 80s had their own lot of issues, but there is something so simple about this photo that feels ideal. It takes me back to the excitement I had as a kid when my mom would give me a quarter to get a gumball or a handful of the hard fruit candy at the dry cleaners. I’m sure a gumball is no more than a nickel at a machine in this scene. It was the simple joys of childhood, but also the simple joys of any local corner store that you could also count on to have something for everyone.

Little Italy and Gumball Machines might be two of my favorite things. I mean that in more of vibe way, but to take it literally wouldn’t necessarily be wrong.