The lady who sits atop a newspaper vending machine

every day outside the Starbucks on 53rd Street was in a good mood today. She was singing "Like a Virgin" at the top of her lungs.

We just don't get that here in Cleveland...things just aren't as entertaining.

Everyone here is hoisting their freak flag high. You can just go about the business of being yourself without people peering out behind their curtains at you saying, "She's weird!"

the world would be a better, more peaceful place. I know the world trhinks of NYers as edgy and obnoxious, but what we really are is incredibly tolerate of different people and different attitudes because there are so many here.

The African guy that walks up and down Broadway every day handing out Christian pamphlets and yelling "Alleluia! Alleluia!" from anywhere from Times Sqaure to 116th street is just part of the fabric. In my hometown 9small town in WI) he would be arrested because people would fear him. In NYC, he's just the Alleluia guy. Like Carl Rogers at the 53rd Street E/F station spouting off loudly and constaly his anti-woman rhetoric. he's just the anti-woman guy at the 53rd street E/F station. And he's funny, but also really, really nasty. He really and truly hates women. But it's at such a depth that it becomes funny in it's over-reaching immensity. I only had nine months using that station, and I've missed him since then.

But I do think that NYC teaches tolerance and understanding, because one encounters a shitload of people who don't speak English, but who all don't speak it in different ways. There's the Ethiopian restaurant staff who don't speak in a way different from the Afghan Kebab House people who don't speak English in a way different from the Greek guys at the fish retaurant in Astoria, etc.

I do have to say that, especially since 9/11, I've found it to be one of the friendliest cities, contrary to conventional wisdom. The last time I was there, I took my son to visit my father and my son loved Times Square at night. The time before that, I visited my sister and brother-in-law at Columbus and West 80-something (their condo) and also had a great time exploring. Different neighborhoods, but always interesting.

and my heart will be broken when I leave here.

NYC after 9/11 is a different place, much more friendly. It is still a polyglot, and one of the most interesting places in the world.

I have a feeling the new friendliness that I found will not be extended to shrub and his cronies during the convention, though.

my cousin always hangs out there and plays chess in a park. Me, I live in Lincoln park and pay way too much.

...but we shore got us some freaks...

Where there are people singing all the time, at all hours, beneath our window. Fortunately we're 14 floors up, but after more than a decade of it, it's gotten very old. Especially when it's like 3 a.m. when they're doing it. x(

I've had a pink floyd level "baby shower" going on since goddamn 6:30 pm, which is now 8 hours of bullshit repulsive salsa/merengue abomination music.

And the cops couldn't give a shit, because the clever half-illegals have totaklly figured out the system in order to totally abuse it.

I'll take your singing people anytime.

Imagine the sound of repulsive, violent music being played in a 12'x24' cinderblock space, but driven by more power wattage than my friend's rock band WHO ARE PLAYING AN OFF-BROADWAY SHOW, all in the name of some pregant woman.

Child's gonnna end up brain damaged, but then, the mother's probably some sick drug addict idiot anyway.

there are some facets of my neighborhood that are pretty cool, but there are a hell of a lot more that are totally unredeemable and reprehensible.

with a choice every fifteen minutes: Do I watch the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, or do I watch the craziest guy I've ever seen? She's so incredible, but he's standing there playing a casio in a bunny outfit with tin foil over his head... who do I watch? Oh, they're going in different directions!!

53rd and what?

53rd and Harper, Chicago.

oh well

Keep looking for her.

...floats between the Chinese restaurant and the newstand (when she's not sitting on the newspaper machine).

but when is NOT talking about NYC, and using terminology like "53rd Street", one HAS to say what city.

The entire world, and I'm not exaggerating, will assume you mean NYC.

I mean, really. Chicago. Sheesh.

And as I say, meaning no offense, but come on. No one outside Chicago will know that Chicago has a 53rd street. I totally assumed you meant NYC. And I hnoestly don't think this is NYC-centricity at work here. I truly think I'm talking basic facts of people's perceptions of the world. You may not like it, and that's fine, but it's true.

That's like me starting a thread stating that Broadway Street was wild today only to later on say it was Broadway Street in Orlando... LOL

to take your crack pipe and move back to New York; but you're already there, and already smoking.

They can't actually smoke anywhere in NYC anymore. }( Not like in Chicago, anyway! ;-)

I think we can safely rename 53rd to Tony...no wait, you've got the Tony Awards...Bob? Are you using Bob?

Okay, so 53rd will be called Bob. Make a note.

Now, 54th....

Though that might be 52nd. I can't remember. Over by Madison Ave.

I knew right away.

The world does not revolve around NY, sorry to say.

The city rocks. However, I will take Chicago any day.

Of course, that could be a result of living a few minutes away from said 53rd.

Window washer guy(s).. in downtown Houston.

Prob is you gotta give him a dollar

You also a student here?