I like weird people, and "normal" creeps me out. But when I look at the Weird Trash picture and read about your weird mayor's confident plan of starving the rats, I have to scratch my head... You've got a long way to go, NYC... Thank You for the Brooklyn Gardener's lovely picnic pic!
I was in Prospect Park last night, Amran, and a rat crossed our path, and everyone shrieked laughed and looked so delighted. I think New Yorkers for sure have a love/hate relationship with rats.
Wow how interesting reading about the anxiety the Naked Cowboy has to battle each morning. Reminded me a bit of following Paperboy Prince around for a short documentary (are you familiar with them?!)
The Naked Cowboy piece was so inspirational. We're all running down a dream and it's hard to get after it every day. Really resonated with me as an indie filmmaker!!
It makes me so happy to read the Naked Cowboy piece. When I was a bike messenger in the early 2000’s, he was one of the most familiar and comforting sights when coming through Times Square (which is saying something, as Times Square is a place messengers try to avoid if possible, as all the tourists make for unpredictable foot traffic). The blue collar folks in the city like to keep tabs on each other -- there’s a solidarity there. Makes me want to send him a tip. Ohhh Anne, can you find out his Venmo?
Hi Carrie! I agree his presence is comforting. It was especially so during the pandemic. Times Square was totally empty which felt eerie and post apocalyptic, but he was still out there strumming every day.
Oh thank you! He has been an icon for so long, it was lovely to be able to read about him as a real human. Thanks so much for bringing him into the reader spotlight in a meaningful way!
I spoke about him with my nephew the other day.. we were wondering if he was still going.. reckoned that there were probably lots of imitators vying from r space.. and then he pops up on your Substack. Fantastic. What an individual!
I have a picture of me and three friends in our underwear with the naked cowboy in the middle of winter. It’s no shock to learn how resilient he is...it was cold af and we were only out there for 30 seconds
“Sharing a pie with your boo is the ultimate!” Oh, God, he is the quirkiest Mayor, ever! Loved hearing the Naked Cowboy’s morning routine, I took a bunch of pictures of him 20 years ago, I’m gonna see if I still have them, if there are any good ones I’ll email you. 🤣 😂
If garbage cans in NYC are baking rolls, the rats are having a smorgasbord! Templeton would be very happy! Maybe the rats would be happy with the blueberry bagels! What a quirky mayor - if nothing else, it gives the press something new to report on every day!
You always manage to assemble the most off-beat characters. Off-beat is probably the wrong word because you also profile interesting people like Mike the priest, the Tik-tok nun and of course Mr. Mshanetskiy -- loved the picnic photo. I have always thought the melting pot of immigrants in America started with trying each other's food. Ukrainians eating lots of sushi -- wow.
I had no idea New York's mayor was so...quirky. And the Naked Cowboy is, um, well, hmmm, let's see, yeah, I think that about sums it up...
I love them both so much!
I like weird people, and "normal" creeps me out. But when I look at the Weird Trash picture and read about your weird mayor's confident plan of starving the rats, I have to scratch my head... You've got a long way to go, NYC... Thank You for the Brooklyn Gardener's lovely picnic pic!
LOL NYC has everything for sure!
The rats are stronger than us. There's no hope.
I was in Prospect Park last night, Amran, and a rat crossed our path, and everyone shrieked laughed and looked so delighted. I think New Yorkers for sure have a love/hate relationship with rats.
Chicago rats are unstoppable. They just hang out in broad daylight now.
Rats apparently need about 1 oz of food & water a day to live. Americans waste about 40% of their food -- I'm betting on the rats :)
Wow how interesting reading about the anxiety the Naked Cowboy has to battle each morning. Reminded me a bit of following Paperboy Prince around for a short documentary (are you familiar with them?!)
Hi Jen! I wrote a Paperboy Prince profile last year:
https://annekadet.substack.com/p/paperboy
But it definitely did not get at his dark side. I'll have to check out the documentary!
oh wow!! Ok we will have to debrief (and I can explain why I eventually abandoned this project https://sites.google.com/view/love-prince/home after filming through the primaries 😳)
Oh wow back atchoo!!! Can't wait to watch!!
The Naked Cowboy piece was so inspirational. We're all running down a dream and it's hard to get after it every day. Really resonated with me as an indie filmmaker!!
Oh wow Christina I love the idea that an indie filmmaker was inspired by the Naked Cowboy. So great!
Well Said!
It makes me so happy to read the Naked Cowboy piece. When I was a bike messenger in the early 2000’s, he was one of the most familiar and comforting sights when coming through Times Square (which is saying something, as Times Square is a place messengers try to avoid if possible, as all the tourists make for unpredictable foot traffic). The blue collar folks in the city like to keep tabs on each other -- there’s a solidarity there. Makes me want to send him a tip. Ohhh Anne, can you find out his Venmo?
Hi Carrie! I agree his presence is comforting. It was especially so during the pandemic. Times Square was totally empty which felt eerie and post apocalyptic, but he was still out there strumming every day.
I'll try to get his Venmo!
That’s amazing discipline and committment!
Cara, I suspect he is "one of us"!
Oh thank you! He has been an icon for so long, it was lovely to be able to read about him as a real human. Thanks so much for bringing him into the reader spotlight in a meaningful way!
I spoke about him with my nephew the other day.. we were wondering if he was still going.. reckoned that there were probably lots of imitators vying from r space.. and then he pops up on your Substack. Fantastic. What an individual!
Thanks Kevin, and I agree! He truly is a singular person of his own creation.
I have a picture of me and three friends in our underwear with the naked cowboy in the middle of winter. It’s no shock to learn how resilient he is...it was cold af and we were only out there for 30 seconds
Oh that's so fun that you stripped down to your underwear too!
I continue to love your Mayor Adam’s reports! And the Cowboys copy of Nietzsche!! Wow.
I think my dream "Noted" would be an issue on the Naked Cowboy's notebooks.
Haha! I’m not sure I could handle him.
Please reconsider -- I would sign an online petition
Ha!
😂
Please introduce an online petition in Notes Anne -- Jillian will be unable to resist the groundswell of support -- "Noted Needs Naked Cowboy" (NNNC)
The trash bin photo looks (sadly) like challah dough. Maybe someone didn’t have the minimal patience to braid the dough and gave-up...
Challah dough! Could be! I remember making challah bread when I was little and the braiding was the fun part!
I wonder how many loaves of challah your expert bagel hand-roller could manage? Best looking bread there is!
“Sharing a pie with your boo is the ultimate!” Oh, God, he is the quirkiest Mayor, ever! Loved hearing the Naked Cowboy’s morning routine, I took a bunch of pictures of him 20 years ago, I’m gonna see if I still have them, if there are any good ones I’ll email you. 🤣 😂
Oh Jolene I would love that! Please do!
I missed the original, thanks for the repost. I remember when TNC first appeared. Loved the story.
Thank you Len! He's such a fixture. It's great you remember his early days.
Nooo!!! The groundhog!!! What a gem of a quote at the end of this newsletter!
Right? That was the last time they asked the mayor to hold the ground hog.
Did any member of the New York press corp ask if the boa constrictor could be deployed to fight the rats?
Clearly another missed opportunity!
Maybe New York needs a better rat tsar.
Another great edition. I can't decide which of Eric Adams' quotes to put on a t-shirt...they're all gold.
Haha thank you Alexandra—he really is a marvel!
👌
If garbage cans in NYC are baking rolls, the rats are having a smorgasbord! Templeton would be very happy! Maybe the rats would be happy with the blueberry bagels! What a quirky mayor - if nothing else, it gives the press something new to report on every day!
Ah you are the first to connect the rat thing with overflowing with bread trash bin thing! Everything is connected!!!!!
You always manage to assemble the most off-beat characters. Off-beat is probably the wrong word because you also profile interesting people like Mike the priest, the Tik-tok nun and of course Mr. Mshanetskiy -- loved the picnic photo. I have always thought the melting pot of immigrants in America started with trying each other's food. Ukrainians eating lots of sushi -- wow.
Maybe we will get a Japanese-Ukrainian fusion restaurant. But hopefully not!
The world doesn't need sushi sausage :)