NYC Tattoo Convention

Photographs: Jolie Ruben & Roxana Marroquin

THE PIGEON AND THE RAT
Who: Juliana Mayor, 25, tattoo artist at Kingdom Tattoos (329 Sixth Ave between Carmine and Cornelia Sts, 212-929-9541); Bushwick, Brooklyn
Inked by: Mike Drexler at Fly Rite Studios (492 Metropolitan Ave between Rodney St and Union Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-599-9443, flyritetattoo.net)
Behind the tat: “There’s a fire hydrant outside my tattoo shop. One day a pigeon was standing in front of it, and it all kind of clicked,” says Mayor. “I got the pigeon on the front of my leg, and then around my ankle I got a rat with a rotten apple. No roaches, though. You’ve got to be the right kind of person to appreciate roaches.”

GHOSTS OF CONEY ISLAND
Who: Suzanne Bivins, 34; lawyer; Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Inked by: Michelle Myles at Daredevil Tattoo (174 Ludlow St between E Houston and Stanton Sts; 212-533-8303, daredeviltattoo.com)
Behind the tat: “I love Coney Island! I’m even a member of the Coney Island Polar Bears,” says Bivins. “The place has a nostalgic feeling, like it’s haunted by spirits having a good time. I wanted to capture both its present and past. It’s kind of desolate this year, but still magical.”

THE VILLAGE PERSON
Who: Lisa Gigante, 41; sales rep; West Village
Inked by: Adam Suerte (see TONY’s tattoo giveaway ) at Brooklyn Tattoo (99 Smith St between Atlantic Ave and Pacific St, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-643-1610, brooklyntattoo.com)
Behind the tat: “I was born and raised on Bleecker Street, and I went to the Village Gate when I was a kid to hear the music,” says Gigante. “Then, I’d get my packs of cigs at Village Cigar. We didn’t have to show ID! I was probably 11 or 12 years old. I moved to Florida for eight months—the worst of my life. Coming back home was so refreshing. I love it here. New York is who I am.”

THE BARD OF THE ISLAND
Who: Joshua Newberg, 26; floor captain at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse(131 E 54th St between Park and Lexington Aves, 212-207-8050); East Village
Inked by: Ray Jerez at Inborn NYC (85 Ludlow St between Broome and Delancey Sts, 212-387-8480)
Behind the tat: “It’s a mash-up of Billy Joel’s ‘New York State of Mind’ and the Nas cover, something that incorporates both the city and the Hamptons, two elements that really shaped me,” says Newberg. “Billy Joel represents my Long Island side—he lives in Sag Harbor, the town where I grew up. The lyrics of the song are relevant to me, and he’s a laid-back songwriter, which nods to the coastal theme. That’s contrasted with Nas’s urban vibe.”

MR. MET
Who: Darren Meenan, 28; bartender–clothing designer; Douglaston, Queens
Inked by: Eric Ziobrowski at Visionary Tattoo (527 Hawkins Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY; 631-615-2838)
Behind the tat: “Both of my grandfathers worked at Shea Stadium: My mother’s father checked to see if the phone worked from the dugout to the bullpen, and my other grandfather was head of the press gate,” says Meenan. “We’d show up without tickets, he’d talk to the usher and we’d sit behind home plate. The Mets have been a constant for me since birth.Watching a game on TV or going to the stadium isn’t something that I do for fun—I have to be there. Hopefully, Mr. Met will be a part of the team forever.”

THE REFORMED VANDAL
Who: Joe Roc, a.k.a. Ro TCS (“The Crime Scene,” his old graffiti gang), 31; car-dealership service manager; College Point, Queens
Inked by: Johann Florendo at Mean Street Tattoo (1846 College Point Blvd between 18th and 20th Aves, College Point, Queens; 718-353-4717)
Behind the tat: “I grew up in Queens, and I was involved with the street life, the vandals, the gangs,” says Roc. “I chose to dedicate my back to New York City, and I’m fascinated with the Statue of Liberty. But I didn’t want her to look like a sexy lady with a gun and a crown on her head; she had to resemble a gangster. There’s a lot of dreams out here, but when it comes to street life, you gotta be prepared for war. I have no regrets: It’s made me a wiser person.”

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