$8,500 For This Dress - I Don't THINK So!

Yes, that's right. The model in the ad (left) is on crutches and the dress is tagged at a mere $8,500.

The setting for the advertisement is given as "At St. Vincent's emergency room". And it you think the wisp of chiffon is pricey, then ponder the tag on the guy's suit. At $2,200, the Timothy Everest suit can be bought at Dormeuil.

The caption that goes with the ads (the one pictured here is one of a series), tells us that "The party's over [but you can look] just as cool on your way home". Presumably the emergency room at St. V's is a hip place these days in the Big Apple. Way to go... Or maybe I should use New-York-speak, and say,

I'm Not Even Going There

Steven, a New Yorker emailed me and pointed out the New York expression, "I'm not even going there". This expression, and variations, such as "don't go there", are used frequently here to indicate that the speaker is not interested or is positively averse to something. The closest Australian expression that I can think of is, "cut it out", but it's not really the same. "Don't go there", indicates more personal aversion than does the Australianism. An example: if someone starts to bore you with some long story about what they did last night, you might interrupt with a, "Let's not go there".

I've heard the expression a lot, but never paid much attention to it, until I read Steven's email. Now I am saying it all the time. It's a very appropriate expression for this city, which is full of daily hassles and annoyances.

A couple of other New Yorkisms were pointed out by Peter Carey, the Australian/New Yorker novelist, in The Sydney Morning Herald (November 8, reporter: Terry Durack). Carey is reported as saying,
'I [...] like the rhetorical "What are you going to do?" as a response, and the one I find myself using a lot at the end of stating a desire to do something, "but who's got the time?"'

Notice that all these expressions are essentially negative, expressing frustration, resignation and/or disinclination.

Let Them Eat Cake

Two weeks ago I gave $1 to a panhandler at a subway station. She was about 22 years old, not obviously drunk or on drugs, but slightly disturbed-looking. "Why give her money; why doesn't she get a job?" a fellow commuter grumbled.

I don't often give money to the many homeless who are a daily feature of New York life. Something about this young women must have moved me. The next morning I picked up the paper and read about what is now a well-publicized case. That of Sabrina Green of the Bronx, who died aged 9, of head injuries, burns and gangrene. She was living with her half-sister and her half-sister's ten children.

Of her early life, The New York Times reported, "Her mother, Joanne Coleman, died of cocaine and methadone poisoning in 1991 as Sabrina, then 3, lay weeping on the bed with her. Sylvia Simmons, the family friend who then became Sabrina's legal guardian, died of cancer in 1996. Ronald Green, one of Sabrina's 11 siblings, died after being scalded during a visit with his godmother, and another, Troy, 20, was shot dead in Harlem. Two other brothers are in prison, one for murder. Her father, Ronald Kelly, 49, has struggled with drugs, occupying only the margins of the child's life".

Had she been lucky enough to survive against these overwhelming odds, Sabrina Green may have been successful enough to have become a panhandler on a NYC subway.

"Why don't they get jobs?" Why don't the people who say this sort of thing get real?

("Loneliness of the Long Distance New Yorker", on isolation in Manhattan, is held over till next week)



Your Questions and Comments

Laurie from the US asked: How does the Broadway production of "The Titanic" end? How do they represent sinking of the ship?
I don't know, Laurie, and I doubt I'll be seeing "The Titanic". Can anyone tell Laurie how the play ends?

Steven from New York wrote: I found out about your web site from the New York Times article (as did, no doubt, lots of others). It's fascinating to see a foreigner's perspective, as well as the perspective of someone who isn't really a "city person." I say this last comment not to be harsh (I realize it may sound that way) but as a statement of fact. I am originally from Philadelphia, which has about 2 million people but always seemed to be small and provincial to me. New York is just my size, and I don't find it as draining as you do. I LOVE the subway, for instance, and rather than regard it as a hassle, most of the time have fun on it. Of course, when I am tired or stressed, I do wish things were easier here. But usually I love the stimulation.
One thing that you seem to focus on is the extreme elements - fetish nightclubs, ridiculous ads for jewelry purchasers, etc. You have to realize that for the majority of New Yorkers, these things are of no importance whatever. They are there for those who want them or can afford them; the rest of us ignore them. To me, the thing that makes New York special is that due to its sheer size and its appeal to migrants from all over, every "minority" is sizable. So, people who can afford to hire Pavorotti for the evening, or people who want to attend dance performances by obscure Senegalese artists, can get their needs and wishes met in a way that few other cities (even large ones) can match. New York is the city that specializes in specialization - that's simply part of its style and we take it for granted.
[...]BTW, your answer to the woman who asked about rude salespeople who take personal calls and keep you waiting was priceless - everyone I've told it to agrees with your assessment 100%. Keep up the good work.

Alex, an Australian in New York emailed: Does anybody know WHERE I can find some Australian papers in NYC (for instance, The Age, The Australian, the Sydney papers, - I would even settle for the Courrier-Mail :-)). I used to read the Australian in Barnes and Nobles but they do not carry it any more. I guess there are not too many Australians in New York City.
I read the on-line papers. See Australians Abroad - Media for a good list of Australian newspapers and magazines on the net. For printed editions, try Hotalings, on 42nd St. between 6th and 7th, on the South side of the street. For other OZ stuff in New York, see the OZ Stuff.

Rebecca of the Cleo question emailed: I organised one through ISA Australia. The year's subscription will cost me less than AUD$100 which is half what the official overseas rate quoted in Cleo magazine is.
Thanks Cleo. That's good to know. I've wondered myself about getting actual subscriptions to papers like The Australian. Even with the major newspapers which have on-line editions, there's a lot that's only available in the printed versions. But now that I know of a Hotalings (see above) I'll certainly be making a trip there.

David Vacha, in answer to Troy's question re shopping for Christmas presents, emailed: There isn't really that much stuff here that you can't get anywhere else (aside from souvenirs), and the quirky stores tends to be spread out. It all depends whether you want quirky clothes, quirky housewares, quirky toys or what. Try having a look in the East Village (Little Rickies comes to mind). There are also a number of interesting stores on Greenwich Avenue and 7th Avenue in the Village.
Generally the T-shirt idea is good, American ones are of better quality--thicker cotton and long enough to tuck in. Also light--you don't end up spending more than you paid for the item on mail. Here's my usual standbys:
Magazine subs - for interesting magazines that you don't see a lot in Australia. (I was thinking here of Harpers and Natural History.)
Books - If you know of something newish that someone wants, they often come out sooner here and they are usually much cheaper than back home.
Things which are just more pricey in Australia - but are light enough to mail; (Ray Ban sunglasses, those enormous Durabeam maglight torches cops carry (my Dad loves these), Leatherman tools, some jeans and clothing and, for teenagers, whatever foolish sneaker is deemed to be cool at the moment. Yankee baseball caps were a hit with some of my family.





Till next week,

Kate




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