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Intro “Tolerant of your beliefs. Judgemental of your shoes.” A saying that has stuck with me about New York since I heard it my first year of living here. First impressions are unavoidable wherever you go with whomever you meet. New York is no exception—perhaps even extreme. This is one of the most tolerant cities in the world, but it is also a city where your appearance is everything. I feel fortunate to get to know a wide variety of New Yorkers featured in Quoted, who at first glance, seem to be very different from me. But then I find an unexpected sameness as I get to know them beyond their appearance. I love it every time that happens. By introducing you to a mix of locals sharing their unpolished truth, my hope with Quoted has always been to increase the recognition and tolerance of differences between us, and also to let you discover that we’re more alike than we think we are. That’s the privilege of running Quoted. That’s the privilege of living in a city like New York, which shows us it still has the capacity to surprise. In this issue of Quoted, you’ll get the variety of unfiltered encounters with New Yorkers you’ve come to expect from us. They each share stories concerning their appearance and perceptions of the city in one way or another. I hope you take your time to get a moment of intimacy with a New Yorker you usually would judge by their cover. Enjoy! Every story, Quoted. Rolf Arne Leer Founder & Editor-in-Chief
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Khadija 5
Trevor 61
Matthew 19
Nicole Ann 93
Noel 33 Gemma & Josh 47
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Rana 107 Holly 121
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Photographed by M. Cooper @mcoopercreative
Journalist Rolf Leer
Khadija “I grew up in Pakistan, a society where anyone with a disability is seen as incapable. My whole life became about showing everybody that sure, maybe I’m different from a ‘normal’ person, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do what you can or be as good as you are. I’d never met anyone else who was visually impaired until I moved to New York. I used to try to hide my disability, but then I came here and for the first time in my life I could be me. Yes, I use a cane. I have a visual impairment, but that’s not all that I am.”
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“ When I first ‘met’ New York, it overwhelmed and terrified me, and I didn’t know how to keep up with the city. It always seemed to be in a rush. I thought I would lose my way in trying to figure it out. After spending a few months here, I began to find my own self. I began to understand how much the city had to offer. New York made me independent. Made me strong. And most of all, New York gave me something I thought I would never find. It gave me love.” 8
“I asked some of my friends who are visually impaired about their approach to dating. Some of them only want to find a person with a disability because they feel they will understand them better. Others think it doesn’t matter. I wanted to try both approaches as a social experiment. I jumped on an app and I decided to meet people who didn’t have a disability. Remember how I said I don’t like that people’s first impression of me is that I am blind? So I left that out in the app. I didn’t want that to be the reason somebody swiped left or right.” “I’m self-aware enough to know that I might not be the person you had in mind. And I’ve
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had my own preferences as well, but for me, these preferences were never based on appearance. I want to hear someone’s story and I want to feel a level of respect and open-mindedness from them.” “I’ve been married for a little over two years now. My husband is not blind. I’ll be honest, initially I had decided that I didn’t want to be with somebody who already had a child. But then I met my husband and now I have a lovely stepdaughter. It’s that openmindedness. You get to know the person, and you’re like, ‘Maybe this person is worth making an adjustment for.’”
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“ There is a certain way you have to dress in Pakistan. Certain things I really couldn’t wear outside. So when I moved here, I started looking up fashion videos on YouTube. A lot of them are descriptive enough for me to follow. Every time I go shopping, I try to remember the garment by the cut, size, and texture of the fabric. I’ll fold them a certain way or I’ll put them on a different kind of hanger at home so that I can tell the difference. Little tricks. Because first impressions are important, fashion is my way of expressing my creativity and personality. I also feel that fashion is a way to not let my white cane be my defining statement.”
“I got sucked into the rush of the city. I know exactly where to get off the train, which streets to cross. I follow the pace of the city. Every day, going to work during rush hour is an adventure. I’m surrounded by different people every time. I find it exciting.” “Part of my job at Visions is business development where I have to make connections with different companies. It involves a lot of traveling, networking events and meetings with different companies. In order to get where I have to be on time, asking for help is definitely something I’ve had to learn to become comfortable with.” “You immediately blend into this city. You’re out in the streets, you’re part of the crowd, you’re part of New York. You hear 50 languages every day. There’s no such thing as, ‘you don’t belong here.’”
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Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? I live in Jackson Heights, Queens. Best thing about living there? Jackson Heights is the most diverse neighborhood in the most diverse borough in the most diverse city in the world! I love the variety of food options at convenient walking distances. Given my low vision, I enjoy that everyday conveniences are close by. Favorite neighborhood? My neighborhood! Favorite street to stroll? On Fifth Avenue along Central Park. Why? I enjoy the contrast between the nature and urban living on the same street. Favorite restaurant? There’s a restaurant on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn called Lahori Chilli. The authenticity of the food takes me back to the flavors of my home country of Pakistan.
Favorite bar? The Ginger Man, located in Midtown East, because of the delicious sour beers and its cozy vibe. Hidden gem? The Long Island City boardwalk has breathtaking views of downtown Manhattan. I especially recommend going there during sunset. How to be(come) a New Yorker? To become a New Yorker, one must pick up the pace, whether it be in living or walking. New Yorkers initially come off as rude, but we are simply a population open to expressing our opinions. The best part about NYC is that you become a part of the city and its people as soon as you step outside. Your New York soundtrack? Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson.
“ Some people say that New Yorkers are very rude. I have a different impression. If I walk into a grocery store, people are aware enough and educated enough. I tell them I can’t see and ask for their help. And people help. There are people helping me all the time. New York gives me the independence that I want, so I don’t look at New Yorkers as rude.” Quoted, New York
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From The Top from Ring & Bangles 5 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT KHADIJA
RING “This is my engagement ring. I didn’t want the traditional diamond ring, also green is my favorite color. It symbolizes our union.” GOLDEN BANGLES “These golden bangles belonged to my grandma. My mom gave me these to wear on my wedding day. I wear these on special occasions like family gatherings or with traditional outfits. I want to pass them down to my daughter one day.” ENLARGEMENT TOOL “My parents purchased this for me when I was 15. This is how I survived high school and college. It allowed me to read books again when my vision started to worsen. There is a camera and you place what you want to read to display on the screen.” CARD “This very special to me. This is the first mother’s day card I got from my stepdaughter. I was so surprised. She made one for her mom and then she made this one for me.” CANE “It wasn’t until I moved to New York that I started using a cane. My first thought was all the attention I would get, people seeing this girl with a cane on the street. It would be their first impression without knowing anything else about me. My instructor basically put it down for me, said I had two choices: either spend the rest of my life having to hold onto someone’s arm to get from point A to B, or do it myself. And that was really it.”
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Movement Makers
Photo: Henrik Halvarsson
StrawberryFrog.com
Photographed by Robert Whitman @robertwhitmanphoto
Journalist Rolf Leer
Matthew “The truth is, New York burnt me out. I did my thing, thinking I could take over the world and inspire the planet. The idea was mythological. I was performing, and farting in people’s faces, and making them smile. Everybody here in New York is fighting, they’re playing the rat race and everyone is trying to win. I realized I was part of that race myself. Well, you’ve heard the expression, ‘You win the rat race, but you’re still a rat.’”
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“ New York was a frightening place for me when I was a kid. I was shy and scared. My parents would take me to see Broadway shows and Shakespeare in the Park. I never thought about being a performance artist; I just wanted to make people laugh. It wasn’t until I saw Robin Williams in The Fisher King that I got inspired to do acts in public.” @silver.matthew
“One time in high school, I was with a group of friends and one kid said, ‘I’ll give you money if you do something stupid in front of the girls.’ So I did, and everybody cheered me on. That was a big moment, and the first time I thought ‘I can do this regularly.’” “I have been a performance artist in New York for the last 15 years. The last few years, my performances have been focused a lot around farting. My intention was clear: to make the whole world laugh as an act of peace. You can get confused with all these people around saying ‘That’s stupid. What are you doing?’” “I compare love to farts because you fart and you feel embarrassed. It’s almost the same thing as sharing your love liberally. You give a little love to somebody and they might reject you. It’s vulnerable. We should be loving love. It’s natural just like farts, and letting it go or letting it out there should be embraced more.”
“A lot of people misjudge me, but there is a point in that. It’s by them misjudging me that they can get a true realization of my intentions. I’ve heard people say years after they saw me ‘Oh. Now I get what he was about.’ That’s the beauty of art. Sometimes when there’s cruel judgement, it hurts, though.” “I’m inspired by this guy, Prince Ea. He’s a poet and rapper. He made these videos that inspire love, connection, and seeing everybody as ‘one’. He believes that the way to reach unity is to not see black people as black and white people as white, but see beyond physical appearance. That’s one good thing about New York. You’re surrounded by so many different people that you accept everybody. There is racism, but not as much as there would be if you went into the countryside.” “I’m just a guy who’s doing his best for his existence on the planet. I read somewhere that our purpose is to inject love into the world in order to heal it. I’m trying to align myself with this new consciousness because this world is built on some really bad things like slavery, war, and nasty governments. My interpretation of love is smile, make people laugh, inject joy to the world, heal it, give hugs and kisses.”
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“ I love that New York City is where I was able to explore myself and expand my mind. There’s so many people with a creative mind here that once you come here with an idea, it will evolve. It still is a unique playground for new ideas. I had so much freedom to perform out in the parks and on the streets, but was here for too long. I’ll come back. Maybe I need 10 years out of here, but I’ll be back.”
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“ This whole culture of snapping photos endlessly changed the connection I had with people. People didn’t even care whether or not I was in character. They just wanted a picture so they could move on. I was just a product to them. They didn’t want to be inspired by what I was trying to communicate.” “ You lose yourself to the idea of being a product here, and then you’re not really having a real conversation with anyone anymore. Everything is about ‘How can this benefit me?’ There’s still hope though. We can change it. There are still genuine people here.” Quoted, New York
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Purchase products at Museum of Sex at 5th Avenue and 27th St.
Naughty Drawer
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1. SORAYA STIMULATOR, LELO “I bought this vibrator last year for my birthday. In fact, I used it before going out that same night and it definitely helped usher in a new year of my life (with much higher standards). This stimulates the clitoris and the G spot very thoroughly. It really aims to please.”
even a ‘vibrator’! It uses sonic waves and pulses to stimulate more of your clitoris than a traditional vibrator can. This means I don’t even have to apply it directly to my clitoris, which is great because I’m quite sensitive. I also use this over my panties, on my nipples–even on my partner. It’s the most versatile toy in my drawer.”
2. CUFFS & FLOGGER, ROUGE “Last week was great; I got a promotion and a raise! To celebrate, I spent the weekend in nothing but these cuffs getting flogged by my Owner like the good sub I am. It was the most relaxing weekend I’ve had in a long time.”
4. WITCHES, SLUTS, AND FEMINISTS “You can definitely experiment with your sexuality here. But, like any place, some people feel threatened by how free you are. A friend gave me this book when I was feeling mentally exhausted by a lot of these toxic attitudes. It reminds me that although society has often worked against women, there have always been those who’ve refused to be silenced. It also encourages me to be as free with my voice and my sexuality as feels right, because
3. SONA STIMULATOR, LELO “When I first got this, I thought, it’s a vibrator; I know what I’m getting myself into. I was so wrong. It’s not
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so many people before me did not have that privilege (and many still don’t).” 5. S(E)X ROLL, JIVA-APOHA “The city’s energy can be very stressful, which is why it’s so important to find time to be in the moment and unwind. I use this CBD roller when I’m in the mood, but anxious. It makes my vulva feel so relaxed. Plus, the buildup for an orgasm with this oil is slow, smoldering, and delicious: perfect for ‘me time’.” 6. HEX CONDOMS, LELO “When I know I’m safe, I lower my inhibitions. Everyone wins in bed with that attitude. These condoms are very thin and they have a hexagonal texture, so they feel amazing. I’ve had the strongest orgasm of my life with these.”
7. LOLLIPOP, PANDORA’S POPS “They were giving these out at a party. I thought it was such a fun gag gift. The first few licks were good, but I didn’t realize how much I liked it until I stopped thinking and let it express itself. It felt different the more I turned it over with my tongue, and definitely turned me on. You lower your inhibitions when you think about how something feels, how it tastes.” 8. HUGO REMOTE-CONTROLLED TOY, LELO “This toy is loads of fun. It’s operated by remote control, so you can use it by yourself or be at your partner’s mercy. Just be aware that you’re in for some explosive results–and you probably can’t take back any promises you make in a fit of ecstasy. It’s dangerous like that. I learned that the hard way.”
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Photo by @rmartin_
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Photographed by Sean Pressley @seanpressley_
Journalist Rolf Leer
Noel “What I really love about my job is that I am able to pass on what I have learned through life. I am not talking about barbering, I am talking about life.�
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“ I came to New York December, 1993. I got out of the airport and saw this Christmas tree. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. You could light up my entire neighborhood in the Dominican Republic with the lights from that one tree. My father, who already lived here, met me at the airport and we drove straight to the city. I remember I was looking out the window around 42nd street and this girl in a Santa outfit just flashed her boobs. I was like, ‘Wow! Ok. This is New York!’” @nocturnosumarian
“When I first moved here, I was depressed. I didn’t speak English and I was bullied at school. When I was 16, I got addicted to cocaine and by the time I was 21, I was gone. I wouldn’t think about eating, taking a shower, getting a job or anything. I was only focused on getting drugs. I was homeless for three years.” “One day, I saw my dad on the street and I wanted to say hi to him but I was too embarrassed because of the way I looked. I started crying. Around the block I met this woman I knew. I told her what had happened and she invited me to stay in her house. She told me it was time for me to get myself together. That was the moment I decided to change. She saved my life. She had two daughters and a grandchild and she still took me under her wings. There’s no way I can pay back what she did for me.” “If I had still been living in the Dominican Republic while battling my addiction, nobody would have helped me, not even my own family. Here, I got help from people who didn’t even know me. My community helped me so much, so I feel I have to give back.”
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“I was raised by my grandma, so I am always ‘on top’ of the guys about how to speak to women. Just because you live in the hood doesn’t mean you are going to ‘be hood’. ‘Hey, what’s up Mami?’ Not everybody likes that.” “I cut guys that are trying to be tough, guys that are humble, queer guys, gang members in the area, guys that you don’t want to mess with. Let me tell you, these guys are very picky when it comes to the way they look. They don’t play with that.” “ I love living in Harlem. We got Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Brazilians, Italians, Arabs, everyone. I think it should be like that everywhere. I feel like Harlem represents New York in a sense. It was created so everyone can feel free.” “I am not afraid here. In the Dominican Republic, even if I hadn’t done anything wrong, anytime I saw the police, I was scared. We are two blocks away from heaven here. The safety and the freedom here sold me. A lot of stuff has happened to me, but when I see what life can be like other places in the world, I realize my struggles do not compare.”
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“ There are places where you are judged by your skin color, where they look at you in a funny way for being different. But not in New York. The freedom is what makes me love this city so much.�
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Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? Hamilton Heights. Best thing about living there? The diversity of races. Favorite neighborhood? Where I live. There’s too much drama in other places. Not that this is a piece of cake, but it’s better than other places. Favorite street to stroll? Bradhurst Ave. Why? Because of Jackie Robinson Park. It’s a tenblock park with everything. There’s a pool, playground, basketball, everything. Also I grew up there. It’s where I go to relax my mind.
Favorite restaurant? La Casa del Mofongo on Saint Nicholas and 183rd. Favorite bar? Kennedy Sports Club on 151st and Broadway. How to be(come) a New Yorker? First thing you need is to live here. But you need patience. You’re a real New Yorker when you don’t let minor things, like a delayed subway, bother you and ruin your day And you also need to get used to having no private space. Your New York soundtrack? The ambulance sirens, for sure.
CLOCKWISE from Shell
BRACELETS “This was a gift from the first friend that I made in the United States at this skate park. I couldn’t speak English and I couldn’t skate, and this guy approached me when no one else wanted to talk to me.”
5 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT NOEL
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NECKLACE “This is a gift from this guy. He woke me up gave me the slaps that I needed to get my life together. He told me that the same way that I learn from him, he also learns from me. The beauty of that is that we learned from each other. I wouldn’t be as good as I am now without him.”
SHELL “I love New York, but we’re slaves. Voluntary slaves, but we are. I work constantly without treating myself. I decided to spend a little bit of money on myself, and bought this. It’s a reminder of how important it is to care for yourself.” BABY CLOTHES “January 29, 2009, my first son was stillborn. We bought this so he could be buried in it, but he was too small to fit the clothes. We spread his ashes in a park by a tree.”
CUTTING MACHINE “I was sleeping in parks for three years, and this helped me get out of there. Instead of selling drugs or trying to rob someone, this was my way out. I feel blessed to have found a living that I also love.” 43
Union Square 10:05 AM Jabar
10:32 AM Shaun
10:51 AM Larry
“This is a melting pot of entertainment, laughter, love, life, and beauty. You have to be able to deal with the rollercoaster ride of New York. If you can handle the ups and downs here, then you can make it anywhere.”
“You either make it or you lose it here. It all depends on your will and ability to adapt and evolve. If you get comfortable you’ll get nowhere. Learn how to deal with the city, and New York is the only place where your dreams can come true.”
“I love New York because it’s exciting! Everything that I want in the world is here, including the cold weather and the dirt. New Yorkers are friendlier than their reputation, but we are busy, so sometimes it’s easy to mistake that for rudeness. But in general, I think we’re pretty nice to be around.”
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Stories 11:12 AM Nancy
11: 27 AM Pop Boss
11:41 AM Gizell
“I hated New York when I moved here. I guess I’m used to people being more bubbly, and everybody here is in their own world. You feel that most people are unapproachable.”
“If I could change one thing about New York, it would be to bring the Twin Towers back. I want it to be like 9/11 never happened. To be a New Yorker, you just need to be yourself. You don’t need nothin’. Give love and be kind. And just be you. I think it’s easy to make friends, as long as you show respect. Respect will get you a lot of places.”
“No matter who you are or what you say, you can always be yourself here. Just listen to your music, dance by yourself. People might take pictures of you, but no one will bother you. You are free. And as long as you don’t bother anyone, you can do whatever you want. Live the life that you love, and love the life that you live.”
“I used to live outside of Philly and later Illinois. I like Philly, the love there. People are so wholesome. Illinois is really clean. Then you move here and at first it’s like ‘forget everything you know.’ But it changes. You find your niche and it works out.”
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12:21 PM Kelly
12:37 PM Mother Pigeon
12:47 PM Austin
“I think New Yorkers are actually pretty awesome. The only downfall is the intensity. We live in a culture where everything is about working hard, working out more, and it’s never enough. I always tell new arrivals that as long as you stay focused on exactly why you’re here, everything will be fine in this beautiful chaos.”
“I used to watch these old movies that showed the glamour of the city, and then I came here and I was enthralled with being in that energy. I really enjoy the nostalgic feeling of it all here. On the flip side, we’re so disconnected from nature here. I love animals and I don’t like what the city is doing to the parks. These designer trees that don’t bear any fruits or seeds will ruin the animal life here.”
“What surprised me the most when I moved here were the smells. I was prepared for everything else, like the crowded subway, the expensive rent. But once you get out on the streets, the smell is kind of shocking. I also learned that it’s harder to make friends here than any other place I’ve lived. It’s crazy because we have eight million people on this tiny plot of land, and everyone is in their own little world all the time.”
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Gemma & Josh
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Photographed by DeSean McClinton-Holland @dsmh
Josh:
Journalist Carly Quellman
We get dressed for ourselves. Everything else that comes from it, whether it’s attention or a compliment, that is a gift with purchase. You don’t buy that oven because of the omelette pan, but I’ll take the omelette pan, and I’ll use it. Gemma:
For the most part, people are very positive, very “Go you!” but every so often you’ll get the mean girls or people who have negative things to say. Josh:
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I love being in public with Gemma. We can go get french fries from McDonald’s, I don’t care. By myself, there’s a weird dynamic, it’s kind of like me against the world. When it’s us together, we’re the army, we’re the parade. We have permit from the city. You can’t stop us.
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Josh:
I came across a photo of Gemma outside of the White Castle in Bushwick. I love the idea of looking beautiful and sparkly like a princess, and then putting it in front of the White Castle. I never usually DM people I don’t know, but I was like “I need to write to her because we need to be friends.” Gemma:
So we met at this gay bar in Manhattan. I had just rediscovered early 90s Madonna and I was obsessed. We walked into the bar and they were playing Madonna, and I was like “It’s a sign! We’re meant to be.” That was one of the best days I’ve had in New York. Josh:
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Proof that social media can bring people together. There’s still hope!
Josh:
It wasn’t until I was living in New York that I felt the pressure to identify my style. I grew up on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. I had no neighbors, I never thought “What am I doing stylewise?” I just sort of indulged. Once in a while I would stumble upon a fashion blog or magazine and think, “Oh, that’s what that style is called?” Gemma inspired me to go bigger with fashion. I was like, “Gemma would do it, so I’m going to do it.” Confidence, pass it on. Gemma:
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I came to New York for the first time when I was 14. I was here for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It was completely outrageous. I came back from that trip and I was enchanted with New York. At that time Sex And The City and Friends came out. This idea of New York had me sold, coupled with an amazing experience. I was like, “I need to live there.” I was never going to be happy until I made that happen.
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Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Best thing about living there? The waterfront is right outside my building. It makes life feel less claustrophobic. Favorite neighborhood? Soho. Favorite street to stroll? For me, all roads lead to Wooster Street, and to the Moschino store, which is my favorite place to shop. It’s the epitome of fun fashion. Everything is larger than life and everyone is welcomed by the staff, regardless of what’s inside their wallet. Favorite bar and restaurant? Fred’s at Barney’s Downtown. It feels sophisticated and special without being pretentious. Hidden gem? There’s a vintage clothing store In Williamsburg called Le Grand Strip. Everything in there is a showstopper dripping in personality, including the owner and the staff. I adore them. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Everyone seems to have a magic number of years or a specific set of experiences that they use as criteria to determine who is a “real” New Yorker. I keep it a bit more simple: if you want to become a New Yorker, move to New York. And don’t behave like a tourist. Your New York soundtrack? I Don’t Give a.... by Madonna. She’s such a boss. So is New York, and so am I. @itsjoshklinski
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Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? Bushwick, Brooklyn. Best thing about living there? After a few years of living there, it’s a bit like Cheers. Everybody knows my name; or at least, they recognize me because of my hair! People say “hello” when they see me, which is always nice and as a home away from home. Also, I live really close to House Of Yes and love seeing everyone lined up outside in all of their fantastical looks as they wait to go into events. New Yorkers turn it up for a night out, especially for a theme night. Favorite neighborhood? Fort Greene. I love the tree-lined streets of brownstones close to the park. It feels much more relaxed in comparison to other neighborhoods and the bonus is there are so many dogs to creep on! Favorite street to stroll? First Ave. below 14th Street. Why? I love the feeling of getting off the train and walking down to No Relation Vintage, which is always the starting point for my shopping adventures. Favorite restaurant? Gemma at The Bowery Hotel. Not only because it shares the same name as me, but also because between the atmosphere, decor, and incredible food, it caters to every expectation I ever had about dining out in an old school Italian restaurant
(inspired by a mild-medium obsession with mafia films). When I go here I really feel like I’m in New York. Hidden gem? I think, given the sheer volume of people in NYC, there are so few “undiscovered” places. For me it isn’t a place, it’s the unexpected moments of kindness that occur amongst the intense hustle and bustle. A little boy called Andrew who was with his mum stopped to give my Pikachu boots a hug on the street across from White Castle, just after Josh and I had finished our shoot for this issue. It was so sweet. He gave Josh a hug, too! How to be(come) a New Yorker? I’ve read several articles on the topic of “You know you’re a New Yorker when…” Common examples are when you’ve cried openly on public transport, when you’ve seen a human take a dump in front of you, etc. I feel it’s a mindset over and above everything else. It’s about being resilient and having an attitude of “I’ll do what I want,” in a positive sense, not an arrogant sense-without the influence of others. Your New York soundtrack? Definitely has to be ‘Salsation’ by David Shire from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. I love this film because it portrays the gritty, darker side to New York life (albeit in a different era). Before I moved to New York, I’d fantasize about the glamorous scenarios in which I’d find myself when I got here and in my head, this was always the song playing in the background. @thescarletbob
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Josh:
When I was younger, I used my image as armor. I would tell myself, “If they’re mean to me or talking about me, it’s not about me, it’s about the clothes.” That set the trajectory for looking to clothes as armor. Gemma:
At work I would always push the boundaries with what was considered “acceptable” to wear. It was sequins every day. Josh:
I call my office dress code “Office glamorous” like I’m telling them It’s a joke. Gemma:
Josh:
It is the truth. Josh:
People love to define the things around them. I’d say every time people try to define me they get it wrong. No one has ever guessed what I do for work. Getting dressed is one of my favorite parts of the day. It is a costume and I get to decide who I’m going to be that day. Some people may look at me and think it’s too much, that it’s tacky. Yes, it is, but it’s still beautiful. Gemma:
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But it’s also the truth!
A few years ago I was in Ireland, wearing one of my usual outfits, when these kids started pointing and laughing at me. I went over to them and said “It’s really sad that the default reaction to seeing someone different is to make fun of them.” Being different is a good thing.
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Gemma:
I think in New York people definitely celebrate uniqueness, but they’re also ready to tell you whether they like it or not. Whether you want to hear it or not.
Josh:
There’s nowhere else in America that’s like New York. There’s nowhere else I would go in the US. And I don’t really speak any other language fluently, so outside England, it’s a bit limited. And you know, I’m more Italian fashion than British. Gemma:
I don’t speak Italian, but I do speak Moschino! Josh:
Quoted, New York
YES! And Guido.
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Josh:
You play the comparison game here all the time. “Why don’t I have that?” I would tell anyone coming here to lower their expectations. And if you have a problem with jealousy, you should reconsider. You have to be really comfortable with yourself. Gemma
I think New York did a really good job on its PR. People told me, “It’s going to be really hard.” But somehow you think that it’s going to be different for you and you’re going to get this chance that will precipitate your journey. Josh:
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We know inherently that we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, and yet people come to New York and they don’t realize that the postcard of the Empire State Building or Times Square does not accurately capture the New York experience. It doesn’t even capture the Times Square experience, because that postcard is so pretty. If someone were coming to visit I would tell them. Gemma:
To not visit Times Square.
Josh:
I always feel pressure to get people what we call a real New York experience. Gemma:
Yes! Josh:
Both:
Not Times Square! Josh:
Quoted, New York
Not something necessarily off the beaten path, just something...
The taller the buildings, the longer the shadows. Once you’re comfortable in New York, you start having fun with the dark. The shadows are fun-you start venturing out to those non-postcard type places.
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Photographed by Omer Sela @Omersela
Journalist Rolf Leer
Trevor “Staying humble and being honest helps me escape the noise of the city and understand who I am. I’m an influencer, but I’m a lot more nerdy than most people think. I think the people who follow me see me as this douchey person flexing his muscles. I remind myself to just own what I do, own what I love. And then the rest will work out.”
Quoted, New York
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“ Growing up, there weren’t that many black kids at my school. I felt like an outcast, rebel-kid. After a while I started owning that I was different. My biggest dream was to play for the NFL, so that became my focus. I got good grades, became president of my class, star football player at my school, and had a cheerleader girlfriend. I had become the ‘popular kid’. I got a couple of scholarship offers, and decided on Columbia because I was sold on New York.” @trevorbell
“When I first got here, I thought ‘New Yorkers are mean and everybody's selfish.’ But now I understand them. So many of the people living in New York aren't from New York. They’re just like me, people who have their dreams and come here to pursue something and make something of themselves. That takes resilience and focus.” “After I graduated from Columbia, a lot of my friends were like, ‘Don't take the risk trying to pursue the NFL. It's not going to happen.’ But I decided to do it. I turned down job offers and started training with the New York Jets and Houston Texans. But football players are really big, and I didn’t have the height to keep going. It was tough. The part that hurt me the most was that it was such a big deal for me to prove everybody wrong.” “I got a job but I just couldn’t settle with sitting at a desk all day after training for
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16 years to become a football player. That’s why I started using Instagram as an outlet to show my athletic side.” “I had seen a picture of a black guy in a Spiderman costume on Buzzfeed. The picture stuck in my mind. I was like ‘What if I did that, but did it for real, did it better?’ I contemplated other heroes too, but I’m in New York, Spiderman is in New York. It’s legit. The location sold me. Spiderman’s not physically big. He’s fit, but he’s not gigantic, so my body type fit the character.” “I obviously love it when people approach me when I’m in my superhero costume and they’re like ‘Whoa! Can I touch you? Is this fake muscle?’ But the real joy is when the kids see me, their eyes light up, thinking I might be the real deal. The amount of people I’ve seen smile from that Spiderman suit is crazy. It’s an addictive feeling.”
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“ New York just gives you hope that you can live a life where you do something that you love every day. And then you have to work your butt off. It’s a very enticing thing. It can spit you out really fast unless you have a certain type of resilience and long-term vision.”
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“ There are more cows than people in the small Texas town I’m from. I’m not saying the people there all think in the same way, but they’re not as different, you know? Coming to a place like New York, I was amazed by the people. Then realizing that you don’t have to do a nine-to-five thing was intriguing. Getting married, having kids, and buying a house was never the vibe for me.”
Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? Harlem. Best thing about living there? The people. Once people get to know you, it’s like everyone is family. Favorite neighborhood? Upper West Side. I lived there for eight years: four during college and four after graduating. The sunsets by the water are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Favorite street to stroll? Broadway in Soho. Why? Shopping and the people. Favorite restaurant? Ellen’s Stardust Diner. Their staff is full of trained musicians. It’s like walking into a Broadway show. Favorite bar? The Press Lounge or The Standard rooftop. Your New York soundtrack? My Way by Frank Sinatra.
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Quoted, New York
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SPIDERMAN MASK “My friends said I was crazy when I decided to get the mask and the suit and take my personal brand to the next level. They were like, ‘You’re going to spend $800 on a costume?’ To think about how much has happened since then is crazy. It’s changed my life.”
CLOCKWISE from Sword
5 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT TREVOR
SASH “Columbia was such a hard experience for me. I tried to fit into a group of people that were so different from me. It took me a while to accept that I was going to pursue something else.”
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SWORD “I wanted to show people that I’m multidimensional and play other characters as well. I did a ninja character with this sword, and it was something that I just invented.” COWBOY HAT “I’m from a rural area in Texas. I went to a high school where they had an agricultural department. I was raised riding horses and I spent every summer at my uncle’s farm. I try to stay true to what that upbringing gave me.
BOOK “This book encouraged me to pursue my passion. It’s the first book I found that was like, ‘It’s going to be hard as hell, but if you really know what you want to do, you have to take a risk.’ It opened my eyes.” 73
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Quoted, New York
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Photo by @lucabravo
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Photo by @matthewlejune
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Do This Alphabet City MANHATTAN
Astoria QUEENS
Bed-Stuy BROOKLYN
Bushwick BROOKLYN
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Music & poetry: Nuyorican Poets Café Exquisite cocktails: The Garret East Bagels: Tompkins Square Bagels Quaint little restaurant: Virginia’s Jazz: Nublu 24-hour hookah: Rotana Hookah Place Adult playground: Break Bar & Billiards Neighborhood cocktail bar: The Ditty Greek food: Taverna Kyclades Gastropub: Gastroteca Fried rice heaven: Fan Fried Rice Bar Seasonal drinks: Bed Vyne Cocktail Cuban spot: Pilar Cuban Eatery Middle Eastern pastries: Golda Live music: C’mon Everybody Mediterranean oasis: The Turks Inn Opulent cabaret: COMPANY XIV Whiskey: Môtô Spirits distillery Vegan power foods: Pitanga French brunch: Mominette
Carroll Gardens Vintage vinyls/mags: Yesterday’s News BROOKLYN New comfort food: Buttermilk Channel Daring brews: Other Half Brewing Classic plays: Smith Street Stage Middle Eastern food: Zaytoons Chelsea MANHATTAN
Chinatown MANHATTAN
Cobble Hill BROOKLYN
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Tibetan/Bhutanese art: Rubin Museum British comfort food: Tea & Sympathy Tasty meat pies: Myers of Keswick Atmospheric tavern: The Tippler Plant-based culinary: XYST Wacky mini museum: Mmuseumm Know thine aura: Magic Jewelry Dim sum institution: Nom Wah Secret karaoke dive: Up Stairs Tui Na massage: Zu Yuan Spa Independent films: Cobble Hill Cinemas Eclectic Pan-Asian dishes: Vekslers Falconry-themed bar: Fawkner Industrial-chic bar: 61 Local Natural wine bar: June 81
And That Crown Heights BROOKLYN
East Village MANHATTAN
Greenpoint BROOKLYN
Harlem MANHATTAN
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Authentic Italian restaurant: D’Antan Cave Music: Crown Finish Caves Karaoke Tuesdays: Franklin Park Dance party: Friends and Lovers Upscale Israeli cuisine: ALENBI Booze-free bar: Listen Bar @ VON Vegan chocolates: Confectionery! BOGO happy hour: The Key Bar Exotic cocktails: Angel’s Share Vegan food: Peacefood Cafe Chill Colombian cafe: Pueblo Querido NY slice: Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop Hip bar + cocktails: Broken Land Traditional Polish food: Karczma Bakery: Peter Pan Donut Historic: The Langston Hughes Home Jazz experience: Minton’s Playhouse Vegan soul food: Seasoned Vegan Beer. Booze. Bites: Harlem Hops Brunch spot: BLVD Bistro
Hell’s Kitchen MANHATTAN
Hunts Point BRONX
Jackson Heights QUEENS
Jamaica QUEENS
Quoted, New York
Car wash cake donuts: Underwest First neighborhood gay bar: Posh Margarita: Arriba Arriba Midtown Rotating craft beers: As Is NYC Thai joint: Pam Real Thai Food Under-the-radar tamales: City Tamale Fresh treats : Hunts Point Juice Bar Latin record store: Casa Amadeo Kayaking: Concrete Plant Park Craft beers: Bronx Brewery Poetry slams & world music: Terraza 7 Piscos & Peruvian: Amaru Pisco Bar No cover live music: Espresso 77 Street food: Roosevelt Ave. Tibetan fast food: Lhasa Wildlife: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Chocolate: Schmidt’s Confectionery West Indian food: Singh’s Roti Shop Portuguese cuisine: O Labrador Cash-only Irish Pub: Maloney’s 83
...Still Going Long Island City QUEENS
Lower East Side MANHATTAN
Morris Park BRONX
Nolita MANHATTAN
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Beer hall & giant pretzels: Bierocracy Drinks with a view: Penthouse 808 Art: Self-Taught Genius Gallery Two-level pub: Alewife Italian food: Bella Via Vegan Mex: Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas Prohibition-esque: The Back Room $2.50 Noodles: Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Hidden Cocktail Bar: Attaboy Homestyle Thai food: Wayla True espresso bar: La Casa del Caffé Brewery: Gun Hill Brewing Company Bangin’ Cuban food: Havana Cafe Bronx dive: Williamsbridge Tavern Solid sit-down Italian: Patricia’s Thai rotisserie & grill: Uncle Boon’s Slushie drinks: The Garret Nolita NZ cooking: The Musket Room Real Neapolitan pizza: Kesté Wine on tap: Mother’s Ruin
Prospect Park BROOKLYN
Red Hook BROOKLYN
Riverdale BRONX
Soho MANHATTAN
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Brew your own beer: Bitter & Esters Diner pancakes: Tom’s Restaurant Low-key cocktail bar: GoodLife BK Vintage wares: Marche Rue Dix Korean restaurant: White Tiger Korean-accented eats: The Good Fork Texas dining: Hometown Bar-B-Que Knickknack-adorned bar: Sunny’s Seafood shack: Brooklyn Crab Art gallery: Hot Wood Arts Convivial restaurant & bar: Tin Marin Cocktail Bar: The Bronx Public Latin Music, art, and nature: Wave Hill Cold beers: Tortoise & Hare Bistro: Yukka 250 cubic yd of dirt: The Earth Room Early Pop Art: Peter Freeman Gallery Influential mixology bar: Pegu Club 100% Organic Matcha: Matchaful Fabulous French steaks: Raoul’s 85
And This South Williamsburg BROOKLYN
Sunnyside QUEENS
Tribeca MANHATTAN
Upper East Side MANHATTAN
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Tropical drinks & live music: Donna Sicilian-inspired food: Concrete Well-priced hangout: Duckduck Bukkake ramen: Samurai Papa Coffee & pastries: Butler Performances: Thalia Hispanic Theatre Mexican-fusion luncheonette: La Flor Vintage finds: Sunnyside Thrift Shop No-frills Turkish food: Mangal Kabob Classic Irish pub: Donovan’s Pub Immersive experience: Dream House De Niro’s restaurant: Tribeca Grill No-frills pub: Nancy Whiskey Pub Rare spirits bar: Brandy Library Townhouse restaurant: Tiny’s Funky 1970s + go-go dancers: Ethyl’s Literary bistro: The Writing Room Ready, set, art!: Museum Mile Beer pong : The Stumble Inn Refined Thai Cuisine: THEP
Upper West Side MANHATTAN
Washington Heights MANHATTAN
West Village MANHATTAN
Williamsburg BROOKLYN
Quoted, New York
Literary Irish pub: The Dead Poet Smoked fish: Barney Greengrass California Food: Playa Betty’s Dive bar with games: E’s Bar Live music bar: Prohibition Quaint urban hangout: Locksmith Bar Wknd spot: Dyckman Bar & Kitchen Tapas & Live music: Manolo Tapas Neighborhood bar: Coogan’s Dominican food: El Malecon Craft cocktail spot: Employees Only Upscale omakase sushi: Kosaka Vegan crepes: Delice & Sarrasin Piano sing-alongs: The Duplex Tacos: Empellon Taqueria Chinese food: Kings County Imperial Family-owned Peruvian joint: Chimu Retro railcar restaurant: Diner Cocktail & cigar bar: Velvet Nightclub: Black Flamingo 87
Joshua E. Matias, a native New Yorker, an image stylist currently producing a hip hop documentary film.
“ When I was in high school, my drama teacher who was not from New York used to say students born and raised here always seemed to be ten years older than students who were not born here. In my experience, that’s been true. Living in New York is a constant learning experience, and you have to be able to adapt to different environments and cultures. Whenever I feel like I truly know something, I’m hit with something new here and it’s like I don’t know anything at all. As someone who’s been living here my entire life, I feel like if New York were a person, it would be that girl who puts you in your place and lets you know that you don’t know shit.” -Joshua
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Jane Marx, a native New Yorker, a tourist guide, using color as language, words as spray paint. “ The idea to be ‘young’ as a goal, misses the essence of living. In New York City, intergenerational conversation exists on every corner. Try it. Converse with another who meets the light of day years after your awakening. You’ll both be in for a surprise. My advice is to have a face that shows who you are. Wear attire that lifts your spirits. I say flaunt what you have and forgive what’s missing. Being born in New York City, where the visually different mingle with those who look alike, is my norm. I’ve learned this. Nature has a course. It’s you who has the self-loathing. Real beauty is self-acceptance. In giving yourself permission to be, you’ll thrive.” -Jane
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Erik Cohen, third-generation shoemaker. Emigrated from Russia to New York in 1979 and opened his shop in 1984.
“ My grandfather and my father was a shoemaker in Russia, but I came to New York for freedom. When I lived in Russia, my life was tough. What I made in a month there I made in a week here. New York has changed and has become very expensive since I first moved here, but it’s still better than any other place, because over here, you’re the boss of your own life. Work hard, make an honest living, and you’ll be okay in New York. I did that all of my life.” -Erik
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Wear the socks
T H E
Mucker.se
R I C H
Join the mucker movement.
E A T
Printed by
Photographed by Felipe Duque @pipeduquee
Journalist Rolf Leer
Nicole Ann “People from my high school look at me now and wonder what happened to me. But this is who I always was on the inside. I just wasn’t able to express that in high school because my parents would have killed me.”
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“ I get objectified because of my look. It’s weird. People think I’m super outgoing and crazy, but I’m not. I went to this really nice cocktail bar here in New York, and an older man came up to me and said, ‘My friends and I have been staring at you from across the room and I would just love to see more of your tattoos.’ I felt like a piece of meat. I’m shy, I’m kind, and I get nervous. I don’t know what to say in those situations. A lot of men in New York are very provocative with their words. The energy of the city is amazing but also very aggressive. I guess a lot of guys get that into their blood.” @officialsheargenius
“Living in New York has made me tougher. Sometimes to the extent where I feel like I have lost my compassion. I’m more standoffish. Growing up in a small town, you’re just friendly and bubbly. I used to smile all the time until I moved here. Sometimes I catch myself just sitting on the train with a dead face thinking, ‘Maybe I should smile a little bit.’ A smile is contagious, and I need to remind myself of that.” “Both of my parents are artists, but I was never good at drawing. I always wanted to learn, but I just didn’t have the talent. I decided to make my body a piece of art instead. I moved out of my parents’ house because they were against tattoos and piercings and I wanted to do my own thing.” “Back home in Colorado a lot of people judged me and assumed things about me because of my tattoos and piercings. People would stare at me, tell me I should go to church. Some people even thought I was a criminal. But here, people really celebrate my look and the way I stand out. I love that about New York.”
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“ When you’re a woman with tattoos some people are just like ‘I don’t get it, why would you do that? You’re too pretty to do that to yourself.’ I really hate that. When a guy is fully tattooed it’s seen as cool. People don’t judge them.” 98
“New York has made me settle into the individual I always wanted to be and be with. I’m marrying the guy I went on my first and only Tinder date with in New York. When I first moved here, I expected to date multiple guys. I mean, it’s New York after all. But after a month I met Eddie. I remember being pretty late for our first date. He took me to this fancy Mexican restaurant. I came in a crop top, ripped jeans and Vans. He was in a suit. I thought ‘We’re so different, this will never work,’ but here we are.”
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Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? Currently living in Harlem. Best thing about living there? I’m happy I get to live next to one of the iconic places in New York: Central Park. Favorite neighborhood? Lower East Side. Favorite street to stroll? Clinton Street. Why? Some of my favorite bars and restaurants are on that street. Favorite restaurant? el encanto de lola in Harlem! It’s the best Mexican food I’ve had since moving to New York. Favorite bar? The Burgery in the Lower East Side. I never know what I want to drink. So the bartenders always surprise me with a delicious cocktail. Hidden gem? Harlem as a neighborhood. I feel like when people come to visit from outside of New York that’s not a first priority on the list. It’s full of some of the best jazz clubs and beautiful brownstones. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Be yourself and don’t judge others for being themselves. Your New York soundtrack? Come Away With Me by Norah Jones. I literally cried on the plane to New York.
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“ If New York was a tattoo, it would be a rotten apple. Apples can be sweet and tasty, but they can also be rotten. So when I think of the Big Apple, it’s pretty gritty.”
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PENDANT “This is from my mom’s funeral. She had cirrhosis of the liver, and she didn’t tell anybody. She just got really sick one day and passed two weeks later. My mom always said I should move to a big city. It scared me, but after she passed, I thought, ‘I’ll try it’. I brought this with me. My mom never traveled so I felt like I was taking her on a trip to NYC.”
Clockwise from Scissors
4 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT NICOLE ANN
TATTOO “I got a heart tattoo with Eddie’s initials on my thumb. That’s a really big thing for me because I always said I would never get anybody’s name tattooed on me. And I always said I would never get married.”
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SCISSORS “I love being a hairstylist because I get to interact with different people, learn about their lives, and really get to know them. I also get to do beautiful hair. Someone can come in, have a terrible day, and then you give them a good haircut and blowout and they just feel so much better.”
ENGAGEMENT RING “My fiancé proposed to me at Rockefeller Center in front of the tree. He played the violin and his friend sang. I get really nervous in front of a crowd so I was surprised he proposed to me there. People were taking pictures and I felt so awkward. But it was very sweet.”
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“ New York is a city where humming around in your underwear, or dancing, singing, and jumping in the streets is just as normal as grabbing your morning matcha or coffee. You become open to the extreme in a city where everything is accepted, though, so I keep reminding myself to be, well, accepting.” @melieschof
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Photo by @withluke
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Photographed by DeSean McClinton-Holland @dsmh
Journalist Carly Quellman
Rana “After 9/11 there was fear, anxiety, mourning, sadness. A lot of Muslims kept their heads down. People changed their names. For me personally, I internalized self-hate. I always saw being Muslim as just another community in a city that embraces diversity. But then my identity was given a negative connotation, and I felt less connected to my culture. I didn’t want to identify with my Egyptian background. I didn’t want people to know.”
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“ I was born and raised by two Egyptian immigrants in an immigrant-heavy community in Queens. The community was all immigrants, undocumented, working class, of color who came to New York with this really great vision of what the future could be.” @ranaabdelhamid
“Sometimes I think about my parents like, ‘how did they do it?’ I speak the language, I have a job. Everything for them was about sacrifice and love for the next generation. Everything was about survival in a city that’s so rough. In a way that also created so much beauty, that retained and transported culture. I think everything in my life goes back to being born and raised in Queens. I represent Queens so hard!” “I love to walk around these immigrant neighborhoods like 82nd Street in Jackson Heights. It just reminds me of my childhood. The smell of food, the hollering of vendors. For me, that’s New York.” “It was post 9/11. I was fifteen, and I was walking down Jamaica Avenue. The street was busy, and suddenly, a man attacked me and tried to take off my hijab. I remember seeing this broad-shouldered man hovering above me. The only reason I was able to get my attacker off of me was because I had been doing karate since I was seven. I had a black belt. I still felt very small and weak. Quoted, New York
I spent the months following feeling scared and isolated, not being able to walk down my street and feel safe. It was very shaking.” “After that experience, I started teaching self-defense for girls at a community center, and I started my non-profit, Malikah. We’re not just focused on self-defense. The most beautiful part of Malikah is our healing spaces. I call it ‘the AA of race and gender’. Women come and gather and we talk about the trauma we carry and experience in our present lives, but also what we carry historically. How do we build safety and create power for all women? We do selfdefense, healing justice, organizing training, and literacy training.” “I’m at the intersection of this yuppie culture, and this very traditional world. I work in tech at Google and then I’m in the mosque. But I’m also part of this transient culture. It’s been really tricky for me to navigate, being part of two worlds that are so far apart from each other.” 111
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“ Every time I travel I miss New York. I just came back from a big trip, visiting seven different countries. I came back to the city and I was so overjoyed. The blessing of being in a place so diverse, that affords opportunity. Then I get sad as well because I see these massive buildings and I think, ‘What is going to be the reality of these communities in five years?’ In Astoria, 30% of the subsidized housing has been lost. And it’s only going to get worse from here.”
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“What I love about Queens is the way our streets beautifully sing ‘foreign’ but always unapologetically belonging here. Like it’s the only place where no one can tell us we don’t belong. I love the way we gift Spanish, Arabic, Bangla, Korean, and Urdu with New York slang we picked up on stoops. 800 languages here. I love the way our hustle breaks backs, bending faces peacefully into laps on late subway rides home. I love the way our ‘safety’ has been carefully crafted by older immigrants, developed to make me, and the other immigrant children in the neighborhood, feel whole and affirmed in our identities. And I love their stories. Each of our immigrant parents holds a story-one that always starts with something between $3 and $15 in a pocket, a voyage across a vast sea, and a cash-only hustle sheltering families in jam-packed busted Queens apartments.”
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“I love the way our women rock shalwar kameez and Timbs. The way our women rock their cornrows and headwraps. I love the Yemeni mother who started the corner street deli on my block, the father still driving that taxi cab plastered with pictures of family from el blad, the homeland, blasting reggaeton or Quran. I love how public school hallways burst of first-gen children carrying gratitude and endless sacrifice past broken, segregated school systems, exploitation and discrimination. How our parents built so much with nothing, from nothing. Dreams of future through generations. Never for them, always for others. Little Egypt falafel, K-Town barbecue, Chinatown dumplings, Corona empanadas, Jackson Heights jhal and chai. In Queens, even when they never learned how to pronounce our names, we gently breathe life into the American dream, over and over again.”
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Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? I live in Flushing, Queens. I grew up in Astoria, Queens. I rep Queens hard hard. Favorite neighborhood? I love Queens. I know that Queens is a whole entire borough and not a neighborhood. But every neighborhood in Queens feeds my soul in another way. Favorite street to stroll? I love Little Egypt on Steinway Street. It’s where you can find a great night scene with Arabic music and belly dance vibes. In the morning you can walk down the street and smell the sweetness of knafeh and fresh bread, stores blasting a mix of Egyptian trap music and Quran, almost like you’re in downtown Cairo, but you’re not. Favorite restaurant? Not a restaurant, but Mahmoud’s Corner Halal spot is by far the best halal spot in NYC. It’s on 34th Avenue and Steinway. Favorite bar? Eeep. I don’t drink, so I’d have to say Layali Dubai is my go-to night spot. Hidden gem? The JMart food court in Flushing. There’s every single East Asian cuisine your heart desires in one spot. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Be in New York in a way that is not extractive. Be invested in the local community, in your neighbors; recognize that you moving into a neighborhood is probably doing harm to the local community. Be engaged to make things better. Your New York soundtrack? Blessings by Chance the Rapper.
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“ You can still find that interconnectedness between communities here because we organize. That is the magic of New York–going to street community fairs or attending a block party and rubbing shoulders with a diverse crowd.”
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BLACK BELT “It represents years and years of commitment and dedication. Being able to test my own emotional and physical strength, and then coming out of it with a very tangible skill that I could pass on to other women. It’s part meditative practice, part strengthening, part sport, part tradition.”
CLOCKWISE from Wedding Photo
5 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT RANA
POCKET RUMI “I love reading and writing. They’ve both been an integral part of my life since childhood. This is one of my favorite books. It’s a short book with poems from Rumi.”
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WEDDING PHOTO “Reminder that I come from love. Being a child of immigrants, seeing their hustle and sacrifice and all the difficulties and hardships they’ve been through, I sometimes forget my parents were once young people, too.” PAINTING OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WOMEN “It is part of my legacy and history of knowing that Egyptian women have been and continue to be so powerful. The way I was raised, seeing the immigrant community my mom was a part of, all of the aunties that helped raise me. This painting reminds me of that.” PRAYER BEADS / MAT “As someone who travels a lot–a lot!– my on-the-go prayer mat has a compass which directs me. No matter where I go, I am rooted in the five daily prayers. My center has God, love, and faith. Being able to bring that practice with me is important.”
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Photographed by M. Cooper @mcoopercreative
Journalist Rolf Leer
Holly “New York is like the land of broken toys. We all have our struggles, and we’re all broken. No matter your background, baggage, or broken past, New York is a welcome mat. Lady Liberty stands in the harbor to embrace and support you. The rest of the world may reject you, but New York will welcome you.”
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“ I’m a second-generation native Upper Westsider. I grew up right across an old post office, where homeless people would camp outside. They used to build these fake homes from cardboard boxes. I remember being very young seeing these homeless people sitting on the ground. When looking into their eyes, I saw such profound sadness, this sense of desperation, that nothing was going to get better and the world was just a terrible place for them. It still makes me sad. I worked in Central Park when I was a child and I became close friends with a number of homeless people. I always knew my future was in social justice work.� @hollylynchny
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“A real New Yorker is somebody who doesn’t break promises. So many vulnerable people come here and they’re so used to broken promises that it’s easy to become flaky. I think it’s the people who stay vulnerable and committed who are the real New Yorkers.” “I was really accepted into the LGBTQ community here. I guess they call me a friend or an ally. It was the first time in my life where I felt that we were all fundamentally flawed and that was okay. Because my family is definitely not like that. It’s like ‘Your hair needs to look like this, you need to dress like that, behave like this.’ But that’s not who I am. I’m kind of messy, I don’t like hair, I like wearing pants–Isn’t that okay? I think I’m a heterosexual, but does it really matter?” “We want to label things so that they fit neatly into a box. Frankly, we should just accept that we’re all different, we’re all broken,
we’re all human, and we’re all just desperate to survive and make it somewhere.” “I was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and then again in 2016. Same tumor, different location. The first time, the tumor was so big that they thought I was going to die during surgery. I got through it.” “The second time was when Hillary was running for president and I was just like, ‘You know what? I need to see this woman win the presidency.’ The morning after the election I just had this sense of purposelessness because I’d been so hell-bent on surviving cancer to see her win. She was supposed to win and I was supposed to live. I watched her concession speech, and it was like she was speaking to me when she said ‘I didn’t win, but it’s your job to win.’ It was like running a race and you’re handing off the baton, so now I’m running for Congress in district 10.”
“When you talk about New York, people often say, ‘Don’t you realize what a bubble you live in?’ I get it, but New York is also where the world collides. We’ve seen ghettos. We’ve seen rallies and riots.” “Everything that’s ever happened in the country has sort of consolidated in this tiny, little microcosm called New York City. And somehow, we’ve survived. 126
To me, that is what makes this such an extraordinary place.” “There’s always a ‘should’ here. ‘I should be doing this, I should be doing that.’ You feel guilty when you sit down and take a break. When I know I need to take a break, it’s like, ‘Okay, phone off, computer off.’ I need those moments where the city is not the most important thing.”
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“ I think we’re high on the hard here. The harder it gets, the more you’re like, ‘I’m going to beat this thing, I’m going to survive this.’”
“ When people say I’m in a bubble in New York I’m like, ‘Actually, this is what America should be like.’ Even though it’s an island of strangers, we all belong together. I do think New York is a very lonely place, but in some way, it’s also the most warm and comforting place because we’re all searching for something.” 128
Q&A What neighborhood do you live in? The Upper West Side. Best thing about living there? There are a number of great wine bars and sidewalk cafes, which are just spilling over with happy energy. On top of that we have both Central Park and Riverside Park right around us. And if you have a dog (like me), the dog community is so lovely and welcoming. Favorite neighborhood? I guess if I didn’t love the Upper West Side so much, I would live in Harlem. I love the diversity and West African influence as well as the abundance of different churches and houses of worship. There’s something amazing about going up there on Sunday and experiencing the strength of the community and its real commitment to upholding African and African American culture. Favorite street to stroll? Riverside Drive. Walking the drive from 72nd up to Grace Church and its historic bell tower at 12 is a trip through NYC history. It’s so calming, almost as if you’ve left the bustle of the city behind by simply crossing a street. Favorite restaurant? Chez Napoleon on West 50th Street. It’s one of the few truly French restaurants left in the city. The grandmother Marguerite still runs the kitchen, the mother Eliane runs the house and the son and master puzzle assembler Guillaume runs the bar. It’s been there since 1960. There’s nothing fancy about it. It’s just very real. Like coming home. Favorite bar? My favorite bar right now is Le Chalet on the rooftop of Saks Fifth Avenue. It’s super cozy
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with a fireplace in winter and has incredible views outside in the summer. Hidden gem? The Cloisters. It’s the medieval wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art up at Fort Tryon Park, overlooking the Hudson. The Rockefeller family actually bought a series of monasteries that were about to be torn down and brought them over stone by stone to be rebuilt in this incredible spot where the Hudson River connects with Manhattan. It’s as if you’ve traveled back in time to the 15th century by simply taking the M4 bus or A train. How to be(come) a New Yorker? To become a real New Yorker you’ve got to be pushed hard and to push back harder. It’s a tough town full of immigrants. It’s always been a tough town full of immigrants. So you just need to understand we’re all stepping stones for each other on roads potentially going in opposing directions. So my suggestion is to jostle around, test out a few lanes, find a few reliable friends, and just settle down into the bump and grind. It doesn’t really get “easier”; it just becomes “more normal”. It’s not personal. It’s ambition and a drive that brings us to this crucible of life, business, and culture/pleasure. Once it starts to feel “normal,” even “good,” you know you’re a New Yorker. And for some it’ll just never happen. New York is a place you end up loving or hating. For me it’s a drug. I love every hit, no matter how hard it is. Your New York soundtrack? Chasing The Sun by Sara Bareilles– It captures the city perfectly and my deep love for every molecule that makes it up. I ran the marathon to this song after almost dying of brain cancer.
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“ This is my radiation mask. I was strapped down while they were radiating my head. It was like 30 minutes for each radiation section. I have this on my wall because I never want to forget. I actually asked someone to take a picture of me with this. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I look like Hannibal Lecter.’”
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Love Letters Follow @quoted_magazine
“I lived in the Lower East Side until I was 15 years old. Old stores and buildings were renovated, and the value of the area skyrocketed. Watching LES become the cool ‘hipster’ place to go drink and party made me appreciate the little things this city has to offer. So, before you buy at a chain, check out your local bodega.” @narz “When I started living here fulltime, I thought I would rather be surrounded by lions than by sheep. However, I quickly learned to be careful what you pray for because it crushes and rebuilds you in ways unimaginable.” @jeh.z
“After living in other cities, when I come back to New York, I realize that it is the only place on earth where my personality and the city actually have real chemistry.” @msweetwood
“Being exposed to so many personalities, people from different economic standings and backgrounds from young has made me more adaptable. New York has made me, me. I really don’t concern myself with others unless it’s relevant to me. Why? Because it’s not my business!” @stephaniesatara
“There is no need to ‘follow the herd’ here. New York has given me a multidimensional point of view towards myself and others.” @sagesnakechalmer “They say that when folks get a limb amputated, they can still feel that missing piece of themselves even when it’s no longer there. New York is like a phantom limb, an invisible segment that I take with me everywhere, even though the outside world cannot see it on my body.” @carobaker1
...to New York “When I first moved to NYC, I used think, ‘This is the best city in the world!’ After a couple of decades, I often think how much of a dump this place is. It’s filthy, it smells, our subways run terribly, we pay exorbitant amounts of money to live in tiny rundown shoeboxes–yet every time I leave town, I’m always happy to come home.” @ginminsky “Stepping foot in New York as a fresh transplant is like being swallowed up whole and then regurgitated. You’re stunned by the endless opportunity and the big mystery of the city. As the years pass, New York is filled with landmarks of my own memory and history–of friends made, lost, jobs hired and fired. It becomes a geographical time capsule.” @jessglistening “The most important lesson I’ve learned about living in the city longterm is, we are all responsible for our own attitudes. Being a New Yorker doesn’t mean we need to live up to the ‘get out of my way’ stereotype. Unless you’re in Times Square; in which case, do what you have to do to survive.”
“Living in the city has shattered my perceptions of how different everyone is from each other. Seeing everyone in the train cramped together no matter your socioeconomic level; everyone is the same in the city.” @hadyouatsalaam “New York City, to me, is like denim. The most universal fabric there is. Pristine and stiff at first, but after a decade of living here, I’ve grown to know its character, its strength, its charm, and its resilience. This city has become as familiar as a pair of beloved blue jeans that’s frayed at the hems and patched at the seams—perfectly imperfect and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” @sy.wendy
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Outro We hope these featured voices left their mark on your memory, whether from stepping into a local’s shoes, experiencing intimacy with a stranger, feeling emboldened to explore the city in new ways, or simply by renewing a love and fascination for the diversity New York represents. All New York asks is for you to open your mind to the people who live here and the experiences you find here. If you do, there is definitely a risk that the city will suck you in to the point of addiction–maybe even heartbreak. But that’s a chance you must take if you are to understand the city truly and embrace it wholly. What’s your relationship with the city? We’d love to see your love letter to New York, so please write a few words on the opposite page and send it to us through Instagram @quoted_magazine for a chance to be featured on our page. Free your truth!
Credits Founder & Editor-in-Chief Rolf Arne Leer rolf@quotedmagazine.com Publisher Julia Mignone julia@quotedmagazine.com Graphic Designer Jimmy Muldoon Associate Producer Carly Quellman Brand Butterfly Luana Barretos luana@quotedmagazine.com 136
Copywriter Anne Brigg Contributor Samuel Robinson Photographers Felipe Duque DeSean McClinton-Holland M. Cooper Omer Sela Sean Pressley Robert Whitman
Dear New York,
Sincerely,
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