Some New York Observations

Seen on 125th Street, Harlem: A young black man wearing a T-shirt with the word "Loser" on the front and over the letter "S" is a big red "V," changing "Loser" to "Lover."
(Originally posted on Twitter and Facebook on July 28, 2018.)
                                                       

While riding the New York City subway system, I sometimes feel like I'm part of a traveling circus:
panhandlers, a man covered in gold paint and glitter posing as a statue, homeless people asleep on the benches, people talking to themselves, young break dancers/gymnasts performing to rap music, musicians on the trains and platforms playing every kind of music you can imagine, et al.

One day I'll probably see on the subway a snake charmer or a magician or a palm reader. Scenes out of a Fellini movie.
(Originally posted on Facebook on September 24, 2018.)


When I see the name "Herald Square," I think of the long-gone Woolworth's even though it's the name of the area around 34th Street (formerly the home of the now-defunct New York Herald newspaper). "Herald Square" was the name Woolworth's gave to its line of stationery items (envelopes, writing pads, index cards, etc.).


Three days ago, I saw a barefoot middle-aged black man on 116th Street. He brought to mind the Barefoot Prophet, who walked the streets of Harlem in the 1920s in all kinds of weather reciting scripture.
(Originally posted on Twitter on August 30, 2018.)