Writing

Cynthia Zarin on New York: "The City Becomes a Kind of Character in Our Lives"

By Diana Clarke Tue., Feb. 19 2013 at 3:03 PM
Categories: Existential Pain Sadly Doesn't Pay the Bills, New Yorkers We Love, Writing

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Poet Cynthia Zarin writes hard truths with a soft voice, and for the first time she puts that same voice and poetic density into a book of prose. Out this month from Alfred A. Knopf, Zarin's memoir An Enlarged Heart: A Personal History is a series of essays about her life in New York: work, apartments, relationships -- all the normal things -- but written about from a rare place of fierce tenderness and self-awareness. I was caught up from the very first page of the book's first essay, "Real Estate," and by the time I'd finished it I knew I wanted to talk to Zarin about her book and her relationship to the city came to be. We spoke by phone.

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cynthia zarin, harlem, how to be a writer and also live, poetry, the new yorker
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The NYPD Tapes

Stop-and-Frisk Controversy...Pol Might Be Overshooting the Mark

By Graham Rayman Mon., Sep. 24 2012 at 7:00 AM
Categories: Existential Pain Sadly Doesn't Pay the Bills, Featured, Graham Rayman, The NYPD Tapes

City Councilman Peter Vallone offered an interesting claim in yesterday's tab. He said a stop-and-frisk bill being considered by the council could cost the city $1 billion a year. We think he might be overstating things.

Vallone, the chair of the council's public safety committee, did not offer any basis for this estimate, according to the article in the New York Post. But he claimed the bill will make it easier for New Yorkers to sue over stop and frisk will "bankrupt the city."

"This is the most dangerous and irresponsible bill ever to be considered by the city council," he told the Post.

The comment was immediately assaulted by Joo-Hyun Kang, a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform. Kang said stop and frisk is already costing the city millions a year, and said the legislation will "help protect New Yorkers from abusive policing and the city from paying out millions of dollars a year due to discriminatory and unlawful policing."

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New York Observer

The Written-in-the-Style-of-Tao-Lin New York Observer Profile, Reviewed in the Style of Tao Lin

By Foster Kamer Wed., Aug. 18 2010 at 11:40 AM
Categories: "Never Again", Books, Existential Pain Sadly Doesn't Pay the Bills, Foster Kamer, Happiness Is a Warm Something, Hipsters, New York Observer, Sorry, Tony, There Tao Lin There Is Your Village Voice Post Are You Happy Goddamnit

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The blogger woke up on Wednesday morning around 9 a.m. and showered and put on clothes. He took the train into Manhattan. He once saw a young child eat a carrot alive on that train. He went to go buy the New York Observer from that newsstand on Astor Place and Third Avenue where they overcharge for everything but can't overcharge for the Observer or any other magazine really because of the cover price. He bought that week's New York Observer, which he does every week. He could also buy the Observer at the Starbucks at Astor Place and constantly thinks about doing so but doesn't. He wishes he could ascribe a political motive to this, but he can't. He is not a "political" person. He wishes he did better on his SATs. He opened the New York Observer and saw a profile of a "New York" "Literary" "It" "Boy" named "Tao Lin," that is written "in" the "style" of "Tao Lin."

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Brooklyn Is the Center of the Universe

Brooklyn's Largest Sandbox Opens Tomorrow, Will Become Union Pool for Brooklyn Toddlers

By Foster Kamer Fri., Jun. 4 2010 at 10:40 AM
Categories: Brooklyn Is the Center of the Universe, Brooklyn Shit, Existential Pain Sadly Doesn't Pay the Bills, Foster Kamer, IDK, In Need of Vacation, Kids

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Big news, literally: Tomorrow, not only will ferry service between Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governor's Island begin, but the park will also open up a new constructed portion to the public. Dare you ask what amazing things await the public in this new part of Brooklyn Bridge Park?

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