The City That’s Perfectly Imperfect

The tourists. Not only are they slow, but most of the time they are also clueless.

“GUEST: We want to have Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Can you make us a reservation?
CONCIERGE: They don’t actually serve breakfast.
GUEST: Well, brunch then.”

– “How May We Hate You” The Huffington Post

Constantly having to live in fear of getting kicked in the face by one of these guys.

Pigeons. They’re everywhere.

“Basically just more rats, but with wings.”

– “Winged Rats or Wronged Warriors” Living on Earth

God forbid the train stops on its delegated subway platform.

“The only rainbow you’ll see is the Pride Parade.”

– “26 Reasons Why New York City is the Worst” BuzzFeed

But you love it anyway.

“New York, New York!
It’s a helluva town!”

– “New York , New York” On the Town

“Living in NYC is like having a baby. You will never understand how much money and how much sacrifice it actually takes until you do it… but it will be the best thing ever when you make it through alive.”

-“Do You Belong in NYC?” Penelope Trunk

Bethany Freynk says:

October 13, 2014 at 12:42 pm

Ann, your post highlights the everyday struggles of being a New Yorker while reminding us why we love the city so much all at the same time. I cannot stand walking along side tourists as I rather fast-walk on the road parallel to cars and buses. Also, I always dodge the swinging limbs of the train performers as they jump up and down the poles, completing stunts for free that can be found in The Big Apple circus. NYC’s pigeons contribute to the character of this metropolis. They may be rats with wings but feeding the birds as a child is a hobby that I’ll never forget. The subway is yet another of the city’s conflicts; but, without it, I would not be able to commute to college or high school as efficiently as I do. Trains may constantly be delayed and standing squished between strangers is never fun; however, the city would not be “the city that never sleeps” without the MTA. Therefore, I appreciate many aspects of this post as they accentuate the perfect imperfections of New York City.

anandpoonai says:

October 13, 2014 at 4:21 pm

Your visual arts blog was very comedic. I really like the fact that you point out the minor hardships New Yorker’s face everyday, yet you sum up at the end why New York is so special. I really felt a personal connection to your blog. When walking on the streets of New York, I get so agitated when the tourists take their sweet time on the sidewalk. They need to understand that New York City is all about being fast-paced and that they always need to be on the move. The pigeon picture could not be more true. Everywhere you look, there are pigeons bombarding the streets of New York City. I personally hate pigeons, so this picture really made a connection to my frustrations of these little animals. The subway system is obviously extremely useful in the city, but I hate when its crowded or when theres a huge delay. That is probably my biggest struggle in the city. I really liked your quote from On The Town, considering we just saw the play and it really sums up your blog as you make your way to the end. Lastly, your picture with the huge heart serves as a reminder that even though the struggles of New York City seem a bit overbearing at times, getting well adjusted is the key to falling in love with New York.

The tourists. Not only are they slow, but most of the time they are also clueless.

– “How May We Hate You” The Huffington Post

Constantly having to live in fear of getting kicked in the face by one of these guys.

Pigeons. They’re everywhere.

– “Winged Rats or Wronged Warriors” Living on Earth

God forbid the train stops on its delegated subway platform.

“The only rainbow you’ll see is the Pride Parade.”

But you love it anyway.

“New York, New York! It’s a helluva town!”

– “New York , New York” On the Town

“Living in NYC is like having a baby. You will never understand how much money and how much sacrifice it actually takes until you do it… but it will be the best thing ever when you make it through alive.”

-“Do You Belong in NYC?” Penelope Trunk

“New York, New York!
It’s a helluva town!”