Emmanuel

Emmanuel

Astoria Warrior, Yellow Cab Driver, Gardener

“I never talk politics. That’s what I learned at taxi school because it can cause conflicts. You learn to feel people out and respect them. Once passengers opens up, you realize there’s a lot of dreamers here who have nightmares in the morning. They feel stressed out about their job and life. I’ve learned to enjoy a lot more after I started driving.

“ I like to consider myself the Astoria warrior. You either make a name for yourself or you’re given one. I like to think that I made my name. I grew up here when it wasn’t so colorful and beautiful as it is now.”

“Now I have a CDL drivers license, a taxi drivers license, a license for being a personal trainer. It’s best to have a bunch of certificates, so you can have multiple income. You have to learn how to make income from multiple industries in this city. In New York you’re called an entrepreneur if you do this.”

“I was looking at growing black roses and truffles on my balcony. I will always find the money because I learnt how to use the city.”

“Some of us joke around with what we call the entitled New Yorker. Being you’re from New York you have everything at your fingertips, so you assume you can pay yourself to get whatever. I was driving a guy once whom wanted me to make an illegal turn. He screamed at me. I do not break the law, so I got to the destination legally. It was a $4.75 ride and the guy screamed at me to give his change back. I threw it on the sidewalk. If you give me that attitude, I’ll give it back.”

“There are no colleagues in the taxi driver industry. If we’re on the road we’re trying to cut each others throats. I get up at 5am to kill the rush hours all pepped up to attack the city. After the landscape changed with Uber, Lift, Uno and so on, the industry is so much harder though, competing on the same dollar. We have to drive faster and more efficient.”

“Being a cab driver is not the most prestigious profession, but at least it’s an honest living.”

“Maybe you should have enough common sense to move, knowing that I’m pregnant is what I was told by a lady behind me on line at a supermarket. As if I have eyes behind my head!”

Favorite neighborhood? Astoria.

Favorite street to stroll? Steinway Street.

Why? For the shopping and social aspect.

Favorite restaurant? Agnanti on Ditmars blvd and 19st. Great Greek food.

Favorite bar? Karaoke Shout which includes songs with your alcohol.

Hidden gem? Purple Park right by Astoria park. Nice views of the east river and Manhattan.

How to be(come) a New Yorker? Keep moving at a moderate pace on the streets of NYC. Don’t stare wildly into space looking at building facades and for Christ sakes stop taking selfies in the middle of the road.

Your New York soundtrack? Spoon — The Underdog

5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT EMMANUEL

VIDEO GAME “I have been a gamer since I was 7. It gives me a feeling of completion and rush finishing one. I live vicariously through video games. I can do evil things that you can’t do on NYC streets:-)”

TAXI “Nothing will ever be as iconic as this car to NYC. This was the work horse of the industry for 10 years. You could get it fixed within an hour and then be back on the road. We drive a different car today because of carbon footprint initiative in NYC, but it doesn’t drive the same and doesn’t feel the same to me.”

DOG PHOTO “My best friend ever recently passed away. He was always here as the protector. He was loving. He was the perfect soul.”

PLANT “I have about 50 different plants. They keep me grounded in the concrete jungle. When I breath, these plants are loving me. I give them carbon dioxide and they give me oxygen in return. I’m all about taking care of our earth.”

RED WINE “I call this my blood water. As soon as the first glass is poured I start worrying. We’re almost done and need more!:) Everybody loves something, and I love wine. I just want to relax after a long day at work.”