A Review Of Public Pay Phones

The previous content undoubtedly makes it clear that today I whiled away my time outside the Garden Spot. We have a friend visiting from out of town so we’re pulling out all the stops. Or more accurately: we’re stopping constantly. So as to feed my public pay phone fixation. The way I see it, these fixtures— or more accurately: what is to be found in them— are a reflection of the communities into which they are placed. These “urban artifacts”, however revolting they may be— and they frequently are— tickle my inner anthropologist’s fancy. Without further ado, here we go!

Sixth Avenue & 28 Street, Chelsea

6aveand28street

This is located around the corner from Jeff Boss’s manifold number of missives (which I featured previously). There is a lot going on here, so let’s go in for a closer look!

yellowpants

One pair of neon yellow pants.

Soiled

Soiled.

petals

Rose petals grace the concrete.

roses

Which brings me to the right-hand stall. We have what once was a bouquet and this.

You are an asshole

No argument here. Upon closer inspection I discerned that both “stalls” bore this missive.

980 Sixth Avenue, “Fashion District”

980sixthave

This one is gold— in ways I could not begin to fathom.

enemyinplainsight

Initially, I thought the above-depicted flyer was related to this incitement. Nope.

PORNSTARSWELCOME

I have taken the liberty of highlighting my favorite passages.

notakers

I suppose it is not surprising he has not gotten any “takers”. Has not this fellow ever heard of Craigslist? It would save him a lot of money on fliers (which, in turn could be used to pay for entertaining). So it goes…

LADIES

Here’s what I found placed deftly atop of the receiver. NEEEXT!

40th Street, Bryant Park

spoonphone

Not much to see here save a misshapen spoon. Now let’s proceed to the Upper East Side…

Second Avenue & East 68 Street

pissphone

Public pay phones in New York City are often pressed into service as privies. This is hardly news. However, the elegance of what happened here is truly noteworthy. So much so I outlined it to my travelling companions like the tour guide I most assuredly am.

  1. This individual— a man— despite probably being in an inebriated state utilized the features of this phone in a rather clever way. He first placed the cup between the rails. 
  2. He peed into the cup. That will make it easier for whoever is charged with removing it.

whoops

For the most part. Still this gets an “E” for effort. Closing on a poignant  note…

59th Street & Third Avenue, “Midtown”

elizabethgardner

You can learn what Elizabeth Gardner did by clicking here. She was a lot more than a pretty face…

New York Shitty Photos Du Jour: Special Labor Day Weekend Edition

September 2, 2012 ·
Filed under: 10022, Midtown, Midtown Manhattan, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy 

Taken September 2, 2012.

P.S.: Shortly after I took the above photographs a pair of young women walked by. One said to the other:

Oooh, it’s so cute!

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part II: Liberty

June 30, 2011 ·
Filed under: 10022, Midtown, Midtown Manhattan, New York City 

Taken by Steven R. Hazlett.

Miss Heather

New York Shitty Pay Phone Du Jour: An Offer You Can’t Refuse

October 4, 2010 ·
Filed under: Manhattan, New York City 

From East 52nd Street & Third Avenue.

Miss Heather

Reader Contribution Du Jour: Camraderie

April 9, 2010 ·
Filed under: Manhattan, New York City 

Some of the newer readers of this site might not be aware that yours truly loves rats. The inflatable, scab-busting kind that is. For this reason I cannot resist sharing the following fella from the Omni Hotel in midtown. As you will see he has a friend to keep him company! Donna writes:

Hey There,

Since the union busting rat is part of your wedding photo album (I love that story!) – I thought you might appreciate these photos I took today of the rat and his friend the roach arm in “leg”??  For a month the union workers have been protesting the non union workers hired by the Omni to no avail. They’ve  added drums, whistles and military style chants…nothing! Now, the piece de resistance, The Roach!!!

Those of you craving more rodentia goodness can and should click here. In so doing you will be directed to The Rat Patrol: a photo pool dedicated to documenting our inflatable friends!

Miss Heather

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