3QQ interview: Anne Kadet on New York City
The creator of popular newsletter Cafe Anne answers three questions about her home city.
Welcome to Three Quora Questions, our series of interviews in which a guest expert joins me to field strange and interesting questions posed on Quora.com (the internet’s oddest knowledge repository).
Today’s guest is Anne Kadet, creator of the Subssential (Substack essential) newsletter CAFÉ ANNE. Formerly a columnist at the Wall Street Journal, Anne’s weekly newsletter now focuses on the everyday delights and absurdities of living in New York City.
Fresh off of my quick trip east to see Oh Mary!, I picked three questions about the Big Apple from Quora, and Anne answered with more New York flair than Pizza Rat hailing a cab at the Port Authority. Read on!
Other stuff from Chortle
What screams "I am new to New York City?"
ANNE: First, as someone who was once new to New York, I'd like to note that there is nothing shameful about being an NYC newcomer. New York City NEEDS newcomers. They are fun and add a lot!
That said, one easy way to spot a newcomer is that they typically try to settle disputes with words. Here in NYC, everyone knows that when someone disagrees with you, you just whip out your gun and shoot them in the face.
Another thing that screams, "I am new to New York City," is the way someone enjoys their pizza. The newbie typically sits down and eats off a plate. Long-time New Yorkers know the proper way to enjoy a slice: You fold it in half, fold it in half again, fold it in half again, and then shove it up your neighbor's ass.
What are some of the unwritten rules in New York City?
ANNE: Since there are 8.3 million New Yorkers, there are likely a billion unwritten rules! I can only share a few of my own:
All New Yorkers, including billionaires, vagrants, cops, robbers, rats, artists, stroller moms, immigrants, bankers, models, natives, and hipsters, deserve appreciation and respect because they make NYC complete.
Keep it simple—everyone who asks for money on the street gets a dollar. No more, no less.
Get out of my bike line. It's MY bike lane!!!!
Is New York City dying?
ANNE: The way you view New York City is a reflection of your inner self. Take that how you wish!
I <3 Anne
actual iconic answer to the "is NY dying" question