Eight Young New Yorker Share Their Favorite Slang!

Plus! A dinosaur bodega in Park Slope!! Introducing CAFÉ ANNE MATCH!!!

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Issue #162 of CAFÉ ANNE!

Just a short note because there’s a lot in this week’s edition: the launch of CAFÉ ANNE MATCH, a new bodega for dinosaurs in the Grand Army Plaza subway station and my second annual round-up of NYC slang! Please enjoy.

Regards!

Anne

DEPT. OF UNLIKELY CONNECTIONS

Introducing CAFÉ ANNE MATCH!!!

You know what kind of person is the best kind of person? A person who reads CAFÉ ANNE, hello!

Which is why I am pleased to announce the launch of CAFÉ ANNE MATCH, a free service for readers seeking new connections both platonic and romantic.

This is sort of a lark, but it is also real! And it is open, of course, to folks of all ages and persuasions.

This experiment came about after I got an email from reader Ava Huang in San Francisco who writes the very popular Bookbear Express newsletter. With the help of a data scientist friend, NYC researcher and statistician Sophia Deng, Ava recently offered a free match-making service to her readers. It was a big success. Now, she’s looking to do some free match-making for us!

“As a reader, I’d like to meet others who like CAFÉ ANNE,” Ava told me. “It’s a very unique newsletter!”

Here's how it works.

First, take the CAFÉ ANNE MATCH survey. It's almost entirely multiple choice, so it goes super fast—it’ll take about seven minutes.

The questions are all directed at considerations I personally think are important in a pal or partner—like how much you read, how curious you are, and whether you’d rather go to a Broadway show or walk the entire length of Broadway.

You can specify if you are looking for a new friend, a romantic connection—or both!

When all the surveys are in, readers will be matched using an algorithm, based on your location and how much you have in common. You will receive contact info for at least one match. After that, it's up to you!

Please take the survey here:

I’ll be participating myself, though on the friend front only. Maybe I’ll match with you!

Good luck and have fun everybody!!!

DEPT. OF REPTILIAN RETAIL

Meet Rex and His Dino Bodega!

Rex, tending his new shop.

I recently got a delightful email from a reader, artist Akiva Leffert in Park Slope. He and his collaborator, artist Sarah Cassidy, were about to unveil a new store located in a former newsstand space inside the Grand Army Plaza subway station.

The shop, "Rex's Dino Store," caters exclusively to prehistoric reptiles and is manned by a small but industrious Tyrannosaurus. Would I be interested in an exclusive interview with Rex on the store's opening day?

Of course!

The project started when the artists learned of the MTA's Vacant Unit Activation Program, Akiva told me later. This sounds fancy, but it's really just the MTA letting artists and community groups use vacant retail space in the subway system for "creative, non-traditional uses." Good idea!

Akiva and Sarah's first proposal was to create a space that mimicked the experience of being in a womb. Which the MTA loved! But for logistical reasons, this did not pan out.

Then they started riffing on the idea of an old newsstand—a really, really, really old newsstand. For dinosaurs! "Once we started on that, there were just so many jokes, including New York jokes," said Akiva.

The shop's personal care display, for example, includes Alka-Saurus antacids “for fast relief of poison bites.” A flyer advertises "Dan Smith Will Teach You Flying."

The level of detail throughout the installation is bonkers.

Akiva and Sarah, who both have day jobs in tech, spent about a year and several thousand dollars from their own pockets creating the installation. They threw a pun party to generate ideas and had graphic designer friends create product packaging. They even got the required insurance policy, which wasn't easy. "We contacted a bunch of insurers, and they're like, 'We don't know how to insure this,'" said Akiva. "Sarah eventually found someone who was like, 'Yeah, we do this. We do weird art insurance.'"

Rex, Sarah and Akiva at the shop

The MTA is letting the duo use the underground space for free until the end of the year. "I was really surprised that the MTA was like, 'Oh yeah, you guys can do this,'" said Akiva. "We're just a bunch of randos!"

This past Friday, I stopped by the Grand Army Plaza subway station to chat with Rex. Our conversation follows. Please enjoy!

Hi Rex! Congrats on your opening. The store looks great.

Thank you! It feels like it took an epoch to come together.

So this is a bodega strictly for dinosaurs. How did it come about?

It has always been my dream to open a Dino Store so dinosaurs on the go could grab what they need. When I saw that the space at Grand Army Plaza had opened up, I enlisted some of my mammal friends to help make it a reality.

Was it hard to convince the MTA?

The Mesozoic Transit Authority knew that dinosaurs on the subway have been underserved historically, and this fit perfectly with their Dinosaur Equity and Inclusion initiative.

You've got some unusual snacks I've never seen before.

I just keep munching on Meteoritos™ even though they make my claws gross.

You've also got some interesting publications…

We’ve got the big continental papers like the Maul Street Journal, but for people in the neighborhood, we’ve got the Jurassic Park Slope Courier. I’m a big reader, so I love to devour Eater’s Digest just right off the rack. We also have a variety of magazines including Dinopolitan and Sports Zillastrated.

Do you sell loosies?

They say smoking leads to extinction, but yes of course.

Where's your bodega cat? Don't tell me you ate it.

Sabie the sabertooth is my noble and trusted friend. She’s responsible for eating all small mammals evolving in the store room.

What payment do you accept?

Masterclaw and Dinos Club.

At the start of the year, I interviewed bodega owners all over the city to get their predictions for 2025. They didn't forecast anything that’s happened so far. What are your predictions for the rest of the year?

I predict a great year for dinosaurs. Plenty of chewing and the shell market is booming. I am worried about the cost of eggs.

What's your favorite NYC park?

Jurassic Prospect Park. I love to hunt there, though uhhh they banned me from the zoo unfortunately.

And restaurant?

Dinosaur BBQ on Union Street, obviously.

Who’s your pick for the next NYC Mayor?

Brad Land-dweller. I understand he is land-inhabiting, so he understands the importance of grazing and hunting. The other candidates are sea-dwelling bottom feeders and quite slimy.

Any final thoughts you want to share with CAFÉ ANNE readers?

Believe in yourself. Arms are overrated. If you think that you can't fly, just wait 200 million years.

Have a question for Rex? I’ll have him answer in the next issue. Leave your query in the comments or send me an email: annekadet@yahoo.com. Bonus: tell me what you’d do with your own free retail space in the NYC subway!

STREET TALK

Eight Young New Yorkers Share Their Favorite Slang!

Last spring, I stopped by Washington Square to ask the kids hanging out in the park to share their favorite slang. I had so much fun, I went back for more last week!

Nicholi and Shinobi

Nicholi (left) lives in Harlem and is a professional wrestler. Shinobi lives in Brooklyn and is a recording artist.

So what’s your favorite slang?

Nicholi: First up, we got "fine shyt."

Shinobi: Fine shyt!

Nicholi: “Fine shyt” is a nice, beautiful lady.

Shinobi: So like you, for example! You walked up and I be like, "Oh, you fine shyt!" It's like you see a beautiful woman across the way, you say, "That's fine shyt over there. I'm gonna go talk to 'em."

Is it one word or two?

Shinboi: Either. But it's spelled S-H-Y-T

Can you only use it on a lady?

Shinobi: You can use "fine shyt" to describe a dude. And there's variants. If you come across someone who may not look that good, you may call them "horrendous shyt." You may call them "unbearable shyt." And now I'll give you one term that's a bit more controversial: "snow bunnny."

Nicholi: "Snow bunny" typically refers to a white woman.

Shinobi: It's white fine shyt.

Is it like calling someone a snowflake?

Nicholi: No, calling someone a snowflake is an insult. Someone who’s like, real sensitive. Basically a Debbie Downer.

Shinobi: The two we just named are very, very popular. "Fine shyt" might be the slang of the year. Like "delulu."

Nicholi: Delulu!

Shimobi: It's short for "delusional." You like somebody who doesn't like you back, you're delulu.

I love that!

Nicholi: It's like "Yo, I really like this girl, but she's not taking my advances. I'm feeling so delulu."

Can it be used in any context other than having a crush on someone?

Shinboi: Any context, but most of the time it's a relationship thing. Unrequited love vibes.

Nicholi: And "tea," that's another one. "Tea," like the drink.

Shinobi: It's gossip!

Nicholi: Yeah, like, "Let me give you the tea, let me give you the drop."

Shinobi: It's like tea time. We're going to sit down, we're gonna talk, we're gonna discuss the tea!

Lauron

Lauron, a student, lives in the East Village

Okay. I have one that is appropriate and one that is inappropriate. One is, "ate." Like, A-T-E. Like you're eating something. You did amazing. You "ate" that. You're like, the bee’s knees. So like, I'm eating this interview right now! Or you can do the reverse: "Oh, she did not eat. She left a lot of crumbs."

So I guess that's the appropriate one.

Yes, and then the inappropriate one is like the curse word, the "c" word. People think of it way too seriously but it can be endearing. You're reclaiming the word. Like reclaiming the word "slut." Like joking with your friend. She's such a c—, in a good way.

Is it that you're saying she's kind of tough? She's got it together?

She's like, everything you want to be.

I have to say, I would never use the “c” word. I just can't do it.

I get it. It's really scary for people. It's such a harsh word. But with any kind of slang, it can mean so many different things.

Kissy and Katie

Kissy (left) lives in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and works in online communities. Katie, a social worker, was visiting from Kentucky.

Katie: I say "period" way too much. It's like an affirmative.

Kissy: Like, if someone says something and I don't have anything to say back, I'm just like "Oh, period." It's like, "Oh, great."

So it's different from saying, for instance, "This is the best donut, period."

Katie: It's kind of like that, but different.

Kissy: It almost literally means, "exclamation point." But you're using the word "period."

Kissy: Another one I like is, "Blank." It can truly be whatever. It's something that is obvious between us, but you don't want to say it. So it's, "I just broke up with blank." We know we're talking about the guy you were seeing, but we don't want to say his name. So we just say "blank."

Katie: You'd use it if you're talking about a painful experience. Or it can be about a taboo. With my roommate sometimes, if we're going to smoke weed, I'll be like, "Do you wanna blank a blank?"

Kissy: And it's kind of fun to see how far you can go with it. Like, "Oh my god, I am so blank right now!" Do they know what I mean?

So it's a little bit of a test of whether you're on the same wave length. And one more?

Kissy: I like to say, "six-seven-ate." That means it's incredible—looks incredible. Because "ate" is to look incredible, to really have killed that look. But you build up to that. "Six-seven-ATE." Because just "ate" is so overused.

Nico and Pedro

Nico (left) lives in Chelsea and Pedro lives in the Bronx.

Pedro: What have you heard so far?

A couple people brought up "ate." And I heard "delulu," which I really liked.

Pedro (sneering): I hate that. That's internet slang!

Nico: There's internet slang, like "ate," and "delulu," and then there's New York specific slang that's been around forever. I feel like that's a lot better.

Ok. Well, I wouldn't know the difference. So what's good New York slang?

Pedro: "Ock." Ock is like the guy at the deli counter.

How do you spell that?

Pedro: O-C-K. It's like the stereotype that most guys at the deli counter are Muslim. And they're usually called Mohammed or Ahmed.

So it's short for Ahmed.

Pedro: Yeah, that's the stereotype. It's not the greatest thing. And another classic is "brick." Cold.

Nico: It's really cold. It's brick outside!

Okay, one more. It could be Tiktok slang, New York slang, whatever.

Pedro: "TSPMO." It's an internet thing. It stands for "this shit pisses me off."

Give me an example.

We're in high school, so let's say we're doing a really hard math question, like, calculus. You'd just say, like, "T-S-P-M-O!" Just like, fire off every letter. All at once.

It doesn't really save you that much time, though.

Pedro: It's just funny! It's funny to shorten a term like that, even if it's not actually more efficient or saving time.

Ashley and Ray

Ashley (left) and Ray are students who live in the Financial District.

Ray: We say, "Clock that." It means you're right—and you know it!

Ashley: It's like, you ate that. You called that out.

Ray: And then there's "tuff," or "tuffington". It can be a person, an outfit.

Ashely: It's like, you're cool. You ate. But I only use tuffington for someone with like, Rick Owens style. Do you know Rick Owens?

I'm not familiar.

Ray: Like opium style. Dark and grungy. And then there's "gworl." I'll be like, "Don't do that, gworl." It's like "girl," but said in a weird way. "Gworl, she shouldn't have done that."

Ashley: I use it negatively. The tone matters. The way you say it changes it.

Ray: It's like, "Gworl, stop doing that. Gworl, you look crazy right now. You look absolutely crazy!"

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