Personally, I've never bought into the idea that some people are so brilliant they can't help but be a-holes. There are plenty of amazing artistic types in the world who are also great people. Those types that are jerks simply seem to be the sort who people coddle because they are so talented -- and they just take advantage of it.
It'd be interesting, Mr. Jensen, to see what percent of the artist/creative population are assholes compared to the general population. Maybe you're right that the tendencies are evenly distributed and its just that the creative types get away with it.
Oh Steph K, I don't live there either but I visit my sister in the Bronx and just keep a little list from the newsletter of places to go and people to see!!
Also we must be on a parallel reading wavelength — I just finished Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” and might do a little book report on substack
I will read your report too! I started it about a month ago after having had it in the back of my mind for YEARS and YEARS as something to get to... but although I'd of course been well aware of the horrific context that inspired the book, his account of the depravity of our species was too much for me to get through, given the state my psyche was already in at the time. Will have to get back to it when I have more emotional bandwith.
Thanks Isabel! I had to look up ethnography, so I appreciate you enhancing my vocab today. I think it's a great idea to think of the expedition this way.
I hope your upcoming 24 hour subway ride is fab! Some underground recs from me:
-You've gotta pass through the Manhattan-bound side of the Dekalb BQ station to catch a glimpse of Masstransiscope.
-Consider trying on the various hats at the 23rd St FM station
-If you make a stop at the 14 St/8th ave ACEL station, enjoy Tom Otterness' Life Underground sculptures scattered throughout.
-Enjoy the view from the Smith-9 St FG station
-I don't know if it's the best churros, but churro vendors are generally plentiful at the 36 St DNR station and I imagine you'll have good luck finding food vendors scattered about the Atlantic Terminal station
haha I did write about Masstransiscope just a few weeks ago! When I used to commute into Manhattan from South Brooklyn I loved seeing that bit of hidden art.
Also, I know for this challenge you're not allowed to leave the subway station, but Tom Otterness has more sculptures like the ones in the 14 st/8av station in the water on the west side of Roosevelt Island. Maybe a journey for another day?
i always just keep a dollar in my back pocket so i can be kind if someone needs it and i don't end up hading someone a $20 by accident. I like the socks idea though!
So I used to work in what was then called the Celanese building, 1211 Sixth Ave., corner 48th St. In the winter when it was too cold to walk outside at lunchtime I would often walk the vast underground network under Rockefeller Center. Mind you, I've been away from NYC for 35 years, so I don't have a clue what it's like down there now, but it was wonderful back in the day. Maybe check it out and report back? Inquiring minds want to know! Could I still get a haircut there? Purchase headphones? Eat a meal? Buy gifts? Watch the skaters? Feel superior to tourists?
Laurie, I also worked on that stretch of Sixth Ave., roughly 2014 I think to maybe 2021, and spent many lunch hours at the Rocka Socka underground. It was indeed great! That whole complex is all in front of (behind?) the turnstiles though, so it's off limits for my adventure. :(
Enjoy your subway ride!! I recommend any of the trains over the Manhattan Bridge for the great views. Also could be cool to check out some of the “newer” stations (not that new lol, on the Q and 7).
Also, an idea for a future NYC investigation for a future edition—I would love to hear interviews from the people who fish along the rivers (on Roosevelt Island, along the Hudson River, and on the upper east side along the East River—I assume there are others doing the same in Queens and Brooklyn too). Do they eat the fish they catch? How often do they fish? Why live in NYC and not somewhere with better fishing? I’m so curious
Maria! I actually have tried doing the fisherman (fisherperson) story as I, too, am curious. And it was one of the few occasions where I couldn't get anyone to chat with me. A big part of it was that none them spoke English (at least not that they'd admit to when being interrupted by a nosy reporter) but this was in Red Hook. I wonder if I might have better luck at the Manhattan spots?
No mention of the mutt. I assume someone will be looking after him for the 24 hours. Try and do a map of your 24 hour ride or a list of stations at least. Have a great time.🐰
O L O you will be pleased to know that my neighbor Shelly, another recurring character in this newsletter, will taking care of Minnie. Though it WOULD have been even better take her with me on the adventure!
And yes it'd be fun to create a little map or list of all the stations I visited. Great idea!
24 hours past the turnstile is bonkers! There are quite a few restaurants that are between entrance and turnstile (pizza at See No Evil at 50th Street 1 train, Nothing Really Matters bar I think at the same station?, Noksu for fancy Korean, etc.), but I can't wait to read about what you find! Maybe just newsstand snacks??
Wow Danielle the idea of subsisting for 24 hours entirely on newsstand snacks would be a great story in itself. Lucky there is Turnstyle at the Columbus Circle which has all kinds of options including Chick n Cone which serves fried chicken tenders stuffed into waffle cones. I don't see a single reason not to try that out.
a - guerrilla marketing, although tasteless is something I wish had been done for my book, Art Heals (shameless plug) b - yes, I am an artist, the muse does what she wants, I was unplanned, born to people that I protected myself from by never letting go of the crayons once I discovered them. I create everyday as if my life depends on it. c - if you see something not right on your plate, say something! d - please take emergency clean water with you on your adventure. if you do not end up needing it you never know when you might come across a thirsty rat in the subway.
Well I did a little research since reading your post about gyro or yeero! I looked up the stop where Kramer goes out to buy one and tries to get back to the same train. Lo and behold, the stop is Queensboro Plaza but there's no Greek gyro place there. Not sure there's ever been one. So instead, maybe check out some art and share a picture of the mural at the stop by the Times Square station (near the shuttle train) to view Jacob Lawrence's mosaic mural "New York in Transit." It is supposed to be located on the mezzanine of the Times Square subway complex and depicts city life from an elevated train. Does the subway never stop? It runs 24/7?
“Sexualize and Stay Focused” sounds like a campaign slogan to me! # winner
LOL yes, a great bumper sticker for sure, Jolene.
It just gets crazier, doesn’t it, Anne?
Definitely my personal mantra for the rest of the year
Hahahaha! 🤣
Personally, I've never bought into the idea that some people are so brilliant they can't help but be a-holes. There are plenty of amazing artistic types in the world who are also great people. Those types that are jerks simply seem to be the sort who people coddle because they are so talented -- and they just take advantage of it.
It'd be interesting, Mr. Jensen, to see what percent of the artist/creative population are assholes compared to the general population. Maybe you're right that the tendencies are evenly distributed and its just that the creative types get away with it.
And it usually seems to be men, and those men often seem to treat women badly.
I don't live anywhere NEAR NYC and I love this newsletter. Thx for the laughs!
Yay thank you Steph!
Oh Steph K, I don't live there either but I visit my sister in the Bronx and just keep a little list from the newsletter of places to go and people to see!!
That makes me happy to hear, Therry!
Ann, this subway idea is bonkers — I’m all for it!
Also we must be on a parallel reading wavelength — I just finished Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” and might do a little book report on substack
I need to re-read that. I hope you do write produce a little book report!
I would love to read your little book report. I've read that book and need to read it again.
Thank you, Laurie! I will come back and post it here. Now I have to write it 😜
I will read your report too! I started it about a month ago after having had it in the back of my mind for YEARS and YEARS as something to get to... but although I'd of course been well aware of the horrific context that inspired the book, his account of the depravity of our species was too much for me to get through, given the state my psyche was already in at the time. Will have to get back to it when I have more emotional bandwith.
I endure the horrific context so you don’t have to!
Thank you Phoebe! I'm very excited!
The 24-hour subway ride would make a great mini-ethnography! Can’t wait to hear about it. Happy third anniversary in advance :)
Thanks Isabel! I had to look up ethnography, so I appreciate you enhancing my vocab today. I think it's a great idea to think of the expedition this way.
On your subway journey, be sure to look out for all the gorgeous new mosaics!
The Times Square/42nd Street Nick Cave mosaics are especially stunning. And there's an app to help you find them all, and more: https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/bloomberg-connects
Oh I had no idea of this app. Thanks for the heads up, Alice!
I hope your upcoming 24 hour subway ride is fab! Some underground recs from me:
-You've gotta pass through the Manhattan-bound side of the Dekalb BQ station to catch a glimpse of Masstransiscope.
-Consider trying on the various hats at the 23rd St FM station
-If you make a stop at the 14 St/8th ave ACEL station, enjoy Tom Otterness' Life Underground sculptures scattered throughout.
-Enjoy the view from the Smith-9 St FG station
-I don't know if it's the best churros, but churro vendors are generally plentiful at the 36 St DNR station and I imagine you'll have good luck finding food vendors scattered about the Atlantic Terminal station
Eden these are great tips! I'll be starting out at Atlantic/Barclays actually so I'll stock up on supplies there for sure.
The Otterness sculptures are my favorite subway art—thanks for the reminder! I'll be sure to stop by and take a couple photos.
Andthe Masstransiscope—didn't you write about this over the summer?
haha I did write about Masstransiscope just a few weeks ago! When I used to commute into Manhattan from South Brooklyn I loved seeing that bit of hidden art.
Also, I know for this challenge you're not allowed to leave the subway station, but Tom Otterness has more sculptures like the ones in the 14 st/8av station in the water on the west side of Roosevelt Island. Maybe a journey for another day?
i always just keep a dollar in my back pocket so i can be kind if someone needs it and i don't end up hading someone a $20 by accident. I like the socks idea though!
It'd be hard to fit a bag of socks in your back pocket, Carlos!
Eric is melting. Soon his outer layer will fall off, revealing a malfunctioning, deeply insecure Terminator. I’m enjoying the process.
LOL such a vivid image, DD. That will linger in my mind the rest of the day.
So I used to work in what was then called the Celanese building, 1211 Sixth Ave., corner 48th St. In the winter when it was too cold to walk outside at lunchtime I would often walk the vast underground network under Rockefeller Center. Mind you, I've been away from NYC for 35 years, so I don't have a clue what it's like down there now, but it was wonderful back in the day. Maybe check it out and report back? Inquiring minds want to know! Could I still get a haircut there? Purchase headphones? Eat a meal? Buy gifts? Watch the skaters? Feel superior to tourists?
Laurie, I also worked on that stretch of Sixth Ave., roughly 2014 I think to maybe 2021, and spent many lunch hours at the Rocka Socka underground. It was indeed great! That whole complex is all in front of (behind?) the turnstiles though, so it's off limits for my adventure. :(
Phooey. I kinda forgot about that. Oh well. I'm sure you have fun anyway and am looking forward to your eventual report on your overnight adventure.
I need a proper Cobb Salad right now!
Come to think of it, so do I, Debra!
Enjoy your subway ride!! I recommend any of the trains over the Manhattan Bridge for the great views. Also could be cool to check out some of the “newer” stations (not that new lol, on the Q and 7).
Also, an idea for a future NYC investigation for a future edition—I would love to hear interviews from the people who fish along the rivers (on Roosevelt Island, along the Hudson River, and on the upper east side along the East River—I assume there are others doing the same in Queens and Brooklyn too). Do they eat the fish they catch? How often do they fish? Why live in NYC and not somewhere with better fishing? I’m so curious
Maria! I actually have tried doing the fisherman (fisherperson) story as I, too, am curious. And it was one of the few occasions where I couldn't get anyone to chat with me. A big part of it was that none them spoke English (at least not that they'd admit to when being interrupted by a nosy reporter) but this was in Red Hook. I wonder if I might have better luck at the Manhattan spots?
Maybe! I always see them along the East River in the 90s and I can see them on Roosevelt Island from Manhattan. And I saw a few along the Hudson today
No mention of the mutt. I assume someone will be looking after him for the 24 hours. Try and do a map of your 24 hour ride or a list of stations at least. Have a great time.🐰
O L O you will be pleased to know that my neighbor Shelly, another recurring character in this newsletter, will taking care of Minnie. Though it WOULD have been even better take her with me on the adventure!
And yes it'd be fun to create a little map or list of all the stations I visited. Great idea!
Forgive me for not remembering Minnie’s name. I assume she is having one last cuddle before you start your 24 hour adventure. 🐰
24 hours past the turnstile is bonkers! There are quite a few restaurants that are between entrance and turnstile (pizza at See No Evil at 50th Street 1 train, Nothing Really Matters bar I think at the same station?, Noksu for fancy Korean, etc.), but I can't wait to read about what you find! Maybe just newsstand snacks??
Wow Danielle the idea of subsisting for 24 hours entirely on newsstand snacks would be a great story in itself. Lucky there is Turnstyle at the Columbus Circle which has all kinds of options including Chick n Cone which serves fried chicken tenders stuffed into waffle cones. I don't see a single reason not to try that out.
https://www.turn-style.com/
You’re definitely not going to go hungry! These places are open 24 hours a day? (Be safe!)
a - guerrilla marketing, although tasteless is something I wish had been done for my book, Art Heals (shameless plug) b - yes, I am an artist, the muse does what she wants, I was unplanned, born to people that I protected myself from by never letting go of the crayons once I discovered them. I create everyday as if my life depends on it. c - if you see something not right on your plate, say something! d - please take emergency clean water with you on your adventure. if you do not end up needing it you never know when you might come across a thirsty rat in the subway.
LIz, you know what you are right that I should at least take a bottle of water. Thank you!
Love the idea of crayons as defense!
Well I did a little research since reading your post about gyro or yeero! I looked up the stop where Kramer goes out to buy one and tries to get back to the same train. Lo and behold, the stop is Queensboro Plaza but there's no Greek gyro place there. Not sure there's ever been one. So instead, maybe check out some art and share a picture of the mural at the stop by the Times Square station (near the shuttle train) to view Jacob Lawrence's mosaic mural "New York in Transit." It is supposed to be located on the mezzanine of the Times Square subway complex and depicts city life from an elevated train. Does the subway never stop? It runs 24/7?
Thanks for the suggestion So!
The subway does indeed run 24/7. They suspended that during the pandemic but it is again the transit system for the city that never sleeps.