In the most recent issue of New York magazine — which features Jon Stewart mugging on the cover — a sidebar stat jumped out at me more than any feature story could.
It compared suicide rates nationally versus those in New York City. (The percentages quoted were per 100,000 population.)
Nation: 11.4 %
New York City 5.7%
(The numbers for Manhattan drop to 5.2% if you take away the out-of-towners who come to our lovely metropolis to off themselves.)
Surprised? I certainly was. I think we all assume that city living is more stressful, and higher stress leads to more thoughts — and acts — of ending it all.
And then you see these numbers.
But then — maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised. Because even if New Yorkers think about ending it all, there is so much here to distract us from taking that final step!
Having a bad day? You can go see a Broadway show!
Is your job is driving you insane? Walk home through Central Park or just sit along the Hudson River and you’ll feel instantly renewed.
Life can seems meaningless and without merit…and then you have the opportunity to hear a great writer speak or witness an amazing piece of artwork up close and personal. Even when your world seems small and claustrophobic, you can look around and see the diversity and beauty that is New York City. I’m sure that fact alone saves people every day.
Oh…and Jon Stewart. He keeps us going as well.
Posted in Beauty, Celebrities, Commentary, Health, Home, Humor, Life, Magazine, News, Travel
Tagged beauty, Broadway, Broadway show, Central Park, commentary, feature story, Health, high stress, home, Hudson River, Humor, Jon Stewart, life, magazine, magazine sidebar, Manhattan, New York City, New York magazine, news, off themselves, out-of-towners, suicide, suicide rates, Travel
Save our slice
Say it isn’t Sbarro.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the pizza chain may file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as early as next week. They are seeking something called ‘debtor-in-possession’ financing from a group of hedge funds to keep the stores open and operating while in bankruptcy.
I for one hope they find the sauce they need.
But Sbarro is the slice I associate with Times Square.
Long before I lived in Manhattan, my trips into the city were for one thing and one thing only: theatre. We would jam two or more plays into a day, if the show times allowed.
And when you’re running from venue to venue, grabbing a slice at Sbarro was quick and cheap and satisfying. I’m sure it still is for the legion of tourists who overwhelm the theatre district every single day (except maybe Mondays).
Call me nostalgic, but I can’t imagine Broadway without Sbarro. Let’s find the bucks, people, and help them keep their slice of the Great White Way.
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Posted in Broadway, Business, Commentary, Entertainment, Finances, Food, Foods, Humor, Life, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged bankruptcy, Broadway, Broadway show, Business, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, commentary, entertainment, food, Foods, Great White Way, Humor, life, Manhattan, New York City, pizza, pizza biz, pizza chain, pizza pie, pizza sauce, pizza slice, Sbarro, theatre, Theatre District, Times Square, tourists, Travel