I have observed this vegetable peeler salesman for years at Union Square – he is nearly always surrounded by a crowd (see more photos here). Joe Ades, 72, is a remarkable pitchman; people watch just to see his impassioned sales style, selling his peelers at $5 a clip (which he claims are from Switzerland and unavailable elsewhere – see here). A terrific in-depth article was done by Vanity Fair in the May 2006 issue titled The Gentleman Grafter. You can read the story here.

I learned that Joe, impeccably dressed, dines in fine restaurants with his fourth wife, drinks Veuve Clicquot at Cafe Pierre, and retires to a three bedroom apartment on Park Avenue. However, it was not clear how much of his posh lifestyle is a product of his own accumulated money versus his wife’s. In this photo, you see Joe displaying a 1994 newspaper article and an image from the Vanity Fair cover. Although the magazine exposé uncovers tidbits which I’m sure Joe would rather not make public, he knows what good promoters know – all news is good news. His notoriety will just bring more people to watch the artist at his work…

Note: Joe Ades died on Sunday, February 1, 2009.

For me, this was New York at its best. An organization called the Catholic Evidence Guild had set up in the park with a table, literature, a podium, bibles, and a crucifix to spread the word and convert. However, even though this was the street and one would not expect to be confronted with any real challenge to the seasoned Christian, this is New York, and you had better be prepared for anything – eccentrics, cranks, derelicts, students, academics, etc. And anything they got.

Ira, who it turns out was a Jewish professor, studied at Fordham University, spent several years in Israel, was fluent in Hebrew, and knew the Bible inside out. An Ecuadorian, whom I also spoke with, was also extremely articulate and knowledgeable. And there were others in the mix, all holding their own. All with a rock group performing nearby. As the afternoon wore on, the dialog became very spirited, but the Catholics became less vocal, and I started wondering, who was converting whom? Enjoy the video!