“The true New Yorker is not someone who was born in New York, but someone who couldn’t live anywhere else.”
By, Devyn Novikoff
Photo Essay: February 12, 2025
New York City never sleeps and neither does Ray’s Pizza and Bagel Cafe. Ray’s, a 24-hour pizza and bagel shop in the East Village, embodies the New York City spirit: the 24/7 hustle, diverse community, and great food. At Ray’s the Spanish manager will take your order, French high school students stands behind you at the register, a Russian family eats next you, and an Australian exchange student talks to his family on the phone. Ray’s is more than a pizza store, but represents New York’s commitment immigration and diversity. Without the city’s immigrant-population, not only would places like Ray’s not function, but the very essence of New York’s identity, from its bagels to its pizza, would not exist at all.
Ray’s Pizza and Bagel Cafe on a sunny afternoon in the East Village, February 10, 2025. Credit: Devyn NovikoffTwo workers taking an afternoon lunch break at Ray’s, February 10, 2025. Credit: Devyn NovikoffA Ray’s employee finishes up a phone delivery order while dealing with the lunch-hour rush, February 10, 2025. Credit: Devyn NovikoffChris, an international student, enjoys his dinner after making a call to his family in Australia at 6:30 p.m. February 11, 2025. Credit: Devyn NovikoffZoe, whose father immigrated to America from Russia, hears the family behind her speaking Russian and tries to eavesdrop while they eat their dinner at 2:00 am, February 12, 2025. Credit: Devyn NovikoffZoe eats her pizza in the middle of heavy snowfall after a night of studying at midnight, February 12, 2025. Credit: Devyn NovikoffThe pastries are restocked for the morning crowd at 6 a.m. February 12, 2025. Credit: Devyn NovikoffRay’s Pizza and Bagel Cafe on a snowy night in the East Village at 1 a.m. February 12, 2025. Credit: Devyn Novikoff
Devyn Novikoff 