Bespoke Framing Gallery for Jerseys: Eastside Art Gallery

Eastside Art Gallery, at 1239 First Avenue between 66th and 67th Streets, is the family-owned framer the Upper East Side has used since 1996 for the awkward objects other counters turn away: signed jerseys, ketubahs, diplomas and acrylic mounts. It opens Monday to Friday 11 am to 6 pm and Saturday 11 am to 5:15 pm, stays closed on Sunday, and takes same-day jobs on custom picture framing.

The closest stations are 68th Street–Hunter College on the 6 train at Lexington Avenue, two long avenue blocks west, and 72nd Street on the Q at Second Avenue. The M15 bus runs up First Avenue and stops within a block. The shop sits on the avenue across from the playground at St. Catherine's Park, so if you see swings and a basketball court on the east side of First, you are in the right place.

The website does not print a street address, but the shop's Google listing places it at 1239 First Avenue. If you are travelling with a framed piece already wrapped, call ahead so someone can hold the door.

The business describes itself as family-owned and says it opened in 1996 to bring a high-quality picture frame shop to the Upper East Side. Reviews summarised in our venue listing describe a friendly couple behind the counter, an owner with an artist's eye who points out details in a piece that customers had not noticed, and a habit of sending autumn visitors home with a pumpkin grown in the owners' garden.

The shop puts long-term customer relationships at the centre of its pitch, and that is what the regulars come for. Families return for each child's diploma, and the shop names ketubah framing as its own service line, so couples marking a wedding can bring the contract in and plan the mat and glass with the same people who framed their diplomas. It is a counter where people are greeted by name, and where a repeat order can be matched to the mat you chose years ago.

The service list is broader than most small framers publish. It includes custom picture framing with same-day jobs, mounting on acrylic, stretching canvas, shadow boxing, custom and ready-made mirrors, ketubah framing, jersey framing, diploma framing, posters and framed art, plus custom orders for products that are not in the regular samples. That last line is the useful one for anyone with an unusual frame in mind.

A jersey is the classic test of a framer. It needs a deep shadow box, a backing that holds fabric without pins showing, and a layout that shows the number and the signature at once. Bring the jersey folded loosely in a clean bag rather than on a hanger, and bring any ticket stub or photo you want to include. Deciding the layout with everything on the table saves a second trip.

Same-day framing is listed for custom picture framing, which makes this the counter to remember when a gift is due tonight. It works best for standard paper pieces and simple mouldings that are in stock. Shadow boxes, stretched canvas and acrylic mounts take longer because each step needs drying or careful assembly, so plan those a week or more ahead of the date you need them.

Arrive early in the day for a same-day job. A drop-off at 11 am gives the workroom the afternoon, while a request at 5 pm on a weekday is asking for a small miracle. Saturday closes at 5:15 pm, earlier than many people expect, and the door stays shut on Sunday, so a weekend gift needs to be ordered by Saturday morning at the latest.

Mounting a print on clear acrylic gives a modern, frameless look that suits photographs and posters in contemporary apartments. It is less forgiving than a traditional frame: dust trapped behind the face shows, and the print must be flat. Ask the shop which of your images will suit it, and accept the honest answer if the counter suggests a slim frame instead.

The mirror service is the other reason neighbours come in. The shop makes custom mirrors and also sells ready-to-go ones, which is handy when an entry hall needs a mirror that matches the frames already hanging. Bring the dimensions of the space and a photo, and ask to see mouldings that pair with your existing pieces.

St. Catherine's Park across the avenue is the simplest pause, with benches under the plane trees and a view of the neighbourhood's school-run rhythm. Walk east toward York Avenue to see the campuses of Rockefeller University and NewYork-Presbyterian, then follow 67th Street west toward Lexington for the brownstone blocks between Third and Park.

If you want more art on the same outing, the Frick Collection and the museums along Fifth Avenue are about a twenty-minute walk west. Looking at how the Frick frames its old masters is a fine lesson in proportion, even if your own project is a jersey or a diploma.

This is the shop for families, sports fans, couples framing a ketubah and anyone who prizes a familiar face over a showroom. It is less suited to a collector who wants period frames for an old master drawing, which is a job for a specialist gallery. For everyday framing with a personal touch on the Upper East Side, it is hard to beat a counter that has been learning its neighbours since 1996.

Address: 1239 First Avenue, New York, NY 10065. Hours on the official site: Monday to Friday 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday 11 am to 5:15 pm, Sunday closed. Nearest subway: 68th Street–Hunter College on the 6. Services include same-day custom framing, acrylic mounting, canvas stretching, shadow boxes, mirrors, and jersey, ketubah and diploma framing. Ask the Karpo APP to find a coffee near St. Catherine's Park while you wait.