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Emma Orlow

@emorlow

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gap-toothed writer @caper.media

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I wrote the text for @jamesandkarla’s new book: “Counter Culture.” It features the stories and photographs of 30 Manhattan diners and luncheonettes they selected. Having grown up here it was a personal project… from EJ’s Luncheonette (which I went to with high school friends but it took me until this book to try the crunchy French toast fingers) to B&H Dairy (my every-week constant in college—alone, with friends, and crushes). Many turkey clubs, tuna melts, pierogies, and egg creams were consumed along the way. Lots of squeaky swivel stools and sticky vinyl booths.

Though we’re in a wave of owners resurrecting and reimagining them, you can’t write about the cultural significance of New York diners without talking about their decline— a familiar story of rising rents, shifting palettes, and inflation. Since submitting this last summer, several spots in the book have sadly closed, so this now also functions as a nostalgic archive.

The hardcover 224-page photography book will be out September 15, 2026, by Prestel, part of Penguin. You can pre-order it now through James and Karla or via Amazon (you know which is preferred). Thank you to our editor @gitlowww and the rest of the team. by @emorlow

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3 months ago

A few weeks ago I flew to Chicago for a @nytstyle story about @tombishop_chicago, what’s considered to be the world’s premiere dollhouse miniatures event, with vendors from around the globe. Despite what the name might suggest, there aren’t many dollhouses at a dollhouse miniature convention. Attendees instead sift through thousands of tiny objects that fill these tiny homes: miniature sponges, chocolate fondue fountains, rocking chairs, barbecue sets, Tupperware containers or fly swatters. While it can be hard to stand out, everyone described the world of miniature selling and buying as quite collaborative and joyful, and there are many reasons people have become obsessive collectors and makers. I will never forget the scene of when the show opened to the public at 10 a.m. and people rushed in like it was a Black Friday sale. To be around that much passion around collecting and creativity in the makers was truly so inspiring. Couldn’t have done it without @evanpjenkins who took the most magical photos for it!!! Link in bio if you want to read it, should be in print tomorrow 🎟️🛍️🏩 and tysm to @gregmattress and @moira_quinn for assisting 💚 by @emorlow

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3 years ago

Swamp monster for hire 🧟‍♂️🦠 by @emorlow

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2 months ago

seafood, seabirds, and sweat in various parts of Croatia by @emorlow

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3 months ago

party bus by @emorlow

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5 months ago

🐟🍧🥧 by @emorlow

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5 months ago

What @emorlow is into…

comment a “⭐️” and we’ll send you the full post.

intro + graphics by @vivihayes
edit @tubbytyinthetub taken in New York, New York by @emorlow

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7 months ago

Emma Orlow, Founding Journalist, Caper. Subscribe at caper.media. by @emorlow

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8 months ago

One good boat photo to sail off into the night with 🚢 (alternatively known as wanted to post it months ago but then forgot and last day of year seems as good as any) Thank you ms. Paparazzi @phoeberjones by @emorlow

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9 months ago

Forgive me, about to go wholesome mode: In 2023, I wrote a story on the world’s largest dollhouse miniatures convention. A reader, Melany Kahn, had reached out a couple of months ago to let me know it had inspired her to launch the Brattleboro Festival of Miniatures in Vermont. Here, it wasn’t about selling miniatures; it was about activating the @downtownbrattleboro windows with a dose of optimism: miniatures just became the vehicle. Melany — a co-owner of the Porch, a delicious cafe in town, a second-generation mushroom forager, a hobbyist miniaturist — is such a generous connector, and through her determination, she got almost 90 storefronts to participate. In a true exercise of community building, everyone lent their skills to craft mini ceramic pots, rugs, stained glass atriums, working chandeliers, and paintings — even the local firemen got involved. It’s up until Dec 31 if you find yourself in Vermont :)

Some tender moments:

- First couple photos of Melany’s personal dollhouses, including a mini house hosting a garage sale, a general store, light up aquarium, chandelier with beaded grapes, dinner scene with lobster

- A rotating Painted Lady Victorian dollhouse Melany spearheaded with custom works by more than 100 artists including miniature dentures and a puppet show on display at @mitchellgiddings gallery

- A mini recreation of @wonderlandyarns shop, including mice in the basement with their rubber gloves with color baths for dying the yarn

- Mini garage

- Hand-knit rabbits watching Law & Order SVU over popcorn @theshoetreeVT

- My absolute favorite, the subway station with working escalators, screens with train time, and a cheese vending machine. No surprise this was awarded a ribbon by the judges.

- The Museum of Things Tiny and Found’s shelves and spooky murder scene dollhouse (bonus points for mini business cards and artists statements you’d need a magnify glass for)

- A miniature scavenger hunt in the aisles of @brattleborofoodcoop, including vignettes inside a laundry detergent bottle and a produce shopping bag made by employees

- A mini church rescued from a retirement home

- @brookslibraryvt “Miniature Madness” book display taken in Brattleboro, Vermont by @emorlow

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10 months ago

Some of my favorite stories to write are about collectors. Got to report this one for @nytimes about the @fineobjectssociety, a members group for professional antiques obsessives started by Ben Miller about a year ago. It has grown to some 200 members (ranging in age and experience level, from an expert in Shaker design to an archeologist and a high school student collecting funerary objects like a Victorian mourning bodice), and has since inspired offshoots like the Young Antique Dealers Association @yadaantiques 🪑 Wish I could’ve included every member’s story because they are all so passionate and knowledgeable about their niche in the field. by @emorlow

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10 months ago

For all the nut jobs in your life….

🥜 I WENT NUTS IN NEW YORK CITY 🥜

We made hats! available for $42 (+ $5 shipping or free pick-up in Brooklyn in time for Xmas) embroidered right here in the beautiful five boroughs. DM to purchase. EDIT: we are now sold-out. by @emorlow

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10 months ago