The Big (Frustrating) Apple: The Best and Worst of NYC, According to Workman

Hi There,

I’m Zatio. I’ve been interning at Workman for a few weeks, spending time in various departments, and helping out with different tasks. I’ve worked in special sales, gift sales, and now, editorial. This has been a wonderful experience that has given me a glimpse of what real, adult life is like. I just graduated from high school and am heading off to college (already!) in August.

I have lived in New York for my whole life. It would be fair to call me a true New Yorker. As a result of this, I know how to get around the city. I am accustomed to crowds, small spaces, smog, and traffic. And there is nowhere else I would rather live. This also means that I am often impatient, easily incensed, and quick to complain—especially about New York City. These characteristics are why I found this particular project so interesting. As you’ll see from the following survey, everyone has different feelings about this city. But, I think, even through our gripes and frustrations, we love this place for all its quirks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the spirit of a pair of Workman books: Don’t You Just Hate That? and 14,000 Things to Be Happy About, we’ve decided to make a special Workman collection of loves and hates related to New York City. The following is a list of some funny, some serious, and some curious pet peeves and best things about the Big Apple.

Don’t You Just Hate…?	Things to Be Happy About
when the train doors close right in front of your face	being just a few paces away from a variety of cuisines
when you have to deal with tourists crowding Grand Central Station on your way to work	people that hold the door open
when people don’t have proper umbrella etiquette	Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park
when people get to the top of the subway stairs and stop to make a call	empty seats on the train
when you can’t afford a bigger apartment	outdoor summer cocktails
when the light is green but there are cars blocking your way	being able to walk down the street and see the Empire State or Chrysler Buildings
when people walk slowly and don’t bother to move aside to let others pass	water-cooler conversations
when you have to go through those revolving-door turnstiles in the subway	you will never need a car as long as you’re in New York
when you can’t wear flip-flops without your feet getting caked in dirt	beautiful little West Village side-streets
midsummer subway odors	friends who don’t live in the city are always coming through—and need a place to stay
when you have to walk past a gaggle of cat-calling construction workers	the nightlife
the constant noise	the energy
when it’s so humid outside that your dog would rather forgo using the bathroom than leave the house	there are so many different New Yorks. If you get tired of one, there’s another in the next neighborhood over.
when you unwittingly go into the only train-car that isn’t air conditioned	you can walk pretty much anywhere
when you have to witness every single unfortunate fashion trend. Really, muscle-tees?	the Met!
when there is always someone dressed better than you are	there is always someone dressed worse than you are
when people text while walking. Seriously, we need texter and non-texter pedestrian lanes, ASAP.	being able to experience world-class dining, theater, and nightlife at affordable prices, and sometimes for free
bed bugs	parents that read aloud to their children on the way to school
the fact that, if you’re ever bored, it’s your fault	if you’re ever bored, it’s your fault!

—Zatio (a proud New Yorker)