From the Archives: New York Magazine, special issue, “Where to Find It” – an insiders guide to New York City from April 1994.

And the caption reads: “The first time I saw Popeye, I said to my parents, ‘I’m getting a tattoo,'” reports motorcycle mechanic turned ubiquitous model Jenny Shimizu. Now she’s covered with them ; on her biceps, for instance, there’s a naked lady riding a monkey wrench. Shimizu, 22, recommends Kaleidoscope Tattoos (365 Canal St.; 274-8006). Not far from a porno shop, Kaleidoscope sits in an enormous, spotless loft. Sure, tattooing is illegal in the city, but the law’s rarely enforced, and Kaleidoscope’s needles are wrapped and sterilized. On the walls are hundreds of snapshots of the obligatory panthers and dragons, but also Winnie the Pooh and Piglet (hugging). The average tattoo costs $200; Shimizu says it’s worth it. “They’re better than lovers,” she says. “They don’t talk back.”

Two things. One, Jenny’s tattoo is actually a girl dressed in cut off shorts, a button-down shirt and wearing work boots. And, two, who knew that 20 years ago, tattooing was illegal?