Manhattan Hillbilly

Enter The Rate-A-Rat Contest!

Last night I came out to walk the beagles and startled a rat scuttering through our garbage cans out front. He shot across the street with amazing speed -- a bullet would move more slowly. I haven't seen any rats in the subways in the past week or so, but they sure are hanging out on my block.

But should I see one down underground, rest assured I'll be snapping a picture. Why? Because I want to win the "Rate A Rat" Contest the MTA subway workers are currently putting on. They've set up a website for entries, complete with some rather disgusting rats that you can rate yourself as to their level of disgustingness (I don't think that's a word). 

There's a motive to the website. The transit union has seen the MTA cut the number of sanitation workers, and they rightfully are pointing out it's led to an increase in rats.

That said, they clearly need my help. At least one of the photos on the site is actually of a possum. I can understand why Yankees don't know what a possum is, but even they shouldn't be confusing it with a rat.

Because unlike a rat, possums is good eatin'.

 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Tom Hanks and Sandra Bulloch were all over our neighborhood this spring filming this movie. Watching the trailer released yesterday, I don't know if I can wait until December to see it. I may have to read the book, but this may be one of those rare instances where the film exceeds what's been put on the page.

 

The Incredible Folding New York Apartment

We've talked here before about the space limitations of New York apartments and even shown you how one woman lives in a 90-square-foot space. So now, enjoy the awesomeness of the "Folding Apartment."

Video blight hits Verdi Square

Is Verdi Square to eventually become as blinding as Times Square?

This video billboard was switched on Monday morning atop the soon-to-open Duane Reed at 72nd and Broadway. To say that it's blaring images at night totally ruin the charm of this Upper West Side neighborhood would be an understatement.

Who green-lit this obscenity? I thought NYC had said that video billboards were only going to be allowed in the Times Square district.

Time for folks in the UWS to get up in arms and get this thing taken down before it has time to take root and ruin the neighborhood.