New York Today: A Mascot for Our Time

Sep 23, 2015 · 17 comments
Tony Longo (Brooklyn)
What incredible arrogance - I mean exceptionalism - to think the rat is "our" mascot. Rat has ruled in every human city, everywhere, in every century.
You oppose us in vain. Ha ha ha ha ha!
Tal Barzilai (Pleasantville, NY)
The only reason why the Liberty are playing tonight is mainly because the pope is coming to MSG tomorrow, though I don't know why it couldn't just be played on Friday to allow them for some rest and practice unless the pope will be there as well.
Patricia Murray (NYC)
Don't understand the Dutch settler quote about arriving in "the city of New York". Wasn't it Niew Amsterdam in 1679?
Tatiana Schlossberg
Hi Patricia,
The Dutch actually surrendered the colony of New Amsterdam to the British in 1664. You can read more here: http://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-City/Cultural-life#toc215683

Thanks for writing in, and I hope that helps.
NK (NYC)
And this just in, thanks to DNAInfo: Shake Shack shake enjoyed by squirrel.
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150922/flatiron/pizza-rat-meets-its-ma...
NK (NYC)
Loved the Pizza Rat story and followed the links, first to the squirrel who knows how to eat pizza and from that to Jon Stewart taking on The Donald's pizza habits and from that to the Pizza Rat game. A wonderful way to start the day with a smile, or rather a belly laugh.
a (NYC)
Pizza Rat game. My high score: 4.
Nancy Cadet (Fort Greene Brooklyn)
It's depressing and disgusting to see so many of my fellow subway riders toss trash on the tracks , drop it thoughtlessly on the platform, or even , as I saw last week in Brooklyn , leave a take out container of half-eaten food on the platform and take a seat on the Q train. I don't dare to say anything because of the violent, aggressive reactions that this provokes (as with dog walkers who don't pick up afte their pets-offense becomes their defense).

I remember being chided by Berliners when I jaywalked or brought a bulky package on the bus. Kids and their parents here aren't taught to respect public space.
Peter Rant (Bellport)
Yes, we all need more German discipline. I'll take the plucky rat any day.
Mizz (Dee)
I love pizza just as much as Subway Rat, but In Response to TC, we are definitely an era of generational ignorance.
Freddie (New York, NY)
This YouTube video is a few years old but it seems so timely that maybe it's worth sharing - some friends had written:

"We Are The Rats" spoof for "Willard, the Musical" (note: PG-13 language)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTLhFgSZYHw

when they did a bit on musicals that really should never happen.
Mark (New York)
As many New Yorkers of a certain age, I recall many subway stations had food vendors-- pizza and hot dog stands. Remember Nedicks? (Didn't Seinfeld have an episode where people ran off the train at one stop to grab a gyro?). They smelled the place up-- in a good way. It was the old-school days of the IRT, BMT and IND. I think by the mid 80's most were gone. I never saw a rat. Never. Now, they are everywhere. What was different? I'll take my answer off-line, thanks.
Freddie (New York, NY)
I had all decent intentions of trying to fast for Yom Kippur, but I got hungry when I saw the coverage of Pizza Rat carrying that terrific-looking slice. (What one-percenter threw out that perfectly edible leftover slice, by the way?)
TC (Bronx)
Is it an editorial lapse or generational ignorance that Pizza Rat trumps the death of Yogi Berra in a piece titled "New York Today"?
mls (ny)
Both. I am shaking my head as I write.
Alocksley (NYC)
damn right.
Alan Chaprack (The Fabulous Upper West Side)
TC: Take comfort in the story of Yogi once ordering - while on the road -a pizza to be delivered to his hotel room. When the order taker asked whether he'd like it as six or eight slices, he reportedly answered - and I'm paraphrasing - "Make it six. I don't think I could eat eight."