Manhattan

Man, to old woman pouring paint thinner into the sewer: You know, you’ll kill the alligators like that.

–39th & Lex

Methodone lover: I told him, “If you do that again, I’m gonna sic the alligators on you!”

–Whitehall Ferry Terminal

Overheard by: Steven Lowell

Tourist, kneeling in front of a giant stone head: Help me, Olmec! Where is the shrine of the silver monkey?

–Museum of Natural History

Chelsea boy: Yeah…My God, the boys there were so hot! Their asses were all tight and round…Mmm…like a Chihuahua’s.

–19th & 6th

Overheard by: CocteauBoy

5-Year-Old boy, passing the smelly horse carriages on Central Park South: Eww, are there camels around here?

–59th between Broadway & 7th

Overheard by: Carmiya Weinraub

Old man, passing bear sculpture: Bears eat too much.

–American Wing Cafe, the Met

Overheard by: guingel

MTA hardhat: Yeah, for lunch I’ll have either the rat on a stick or the pigeon on a stick.

–Bleecker & Lafayette

Overheard by: Brewster

Guy on cell: I just saw a pigeon, and it reminded me of you.

–Houston & Bowery

Overheard by: Jon A.

Commuter: Oh, I’ve always been into manatees.

–Penn Station

Overheard by: Jon

Woman, to child: That’s why imagination is really nice. You can imagine that cat you have always wanted, and it’s almost like having him for real…even though you never will.

–53rd & Broadway

Animal lover: I never used to like cats. But then I had this dream where this cat, like, told me, “I love you,” so I got a cat.

–10th St & 1st Ave

Bus rider: My son’s frog jumped up there, and now I can’t take a poop.

–Q101 bus

Overheard by: Kaleena

Suit: No, no, it’s a woman with a donkey, not two donkeys! Jesus.

–14th St 1 station

Non-Ghetto woman on cell: That’s nigga’s crazier than a road lizard!

–59th & 7th

Picky girl: You won’t believe the pick up line he used. He actually said, “I want to be your beast.”

–The Strand, Broadway

Overheard by: Miss Parker

Local hipster chick: Well, what did you think of the show?
Jersey girl: It was different… better than going back to Hoboken and falling asleep on my couch.

–Theater above KGB bar

Girl: I wish I hadn’t eaten those pancakes for breakfast. I feel sick. Thanks a lot.
Guy: “Thanks a lot”? All you wanted to do this morning was eat pancakes!
Girl: What? I just wanted oatmeal. You are the one who woke up and said, “Yay! Let’s make pancakes!” You are the one who wanted them!
Guy: That’s because last night you said you wanted pancakes!
Girl: Oh. I was drunk.

–Houston & B

Overheard by: alison

Security guy: I wanna have like 15 kids all by the same woman.
Cashier: That’s crazy.
Security guy: My grandmother had 16 kids. That’s a real woman. I want to marry a real woman.

–Duane Reade, Bleeker & LaGuardia

Bald, dorky white guy on date: What kind of Italian restaurant doesn’t have Chicken Parmesan on the menu?
Homely-looking white girl on date: I know.

–Isola, 83rd & Columbus

Fortysomething dude: Don’t tell me I don’t know about metabolism! I have known about metabolism my entire life. Metabolize yourself!

–The Gate, Park Slope

Overheard by: Moochy and D-Rock

Girl on cell: I don’t want to talk about your eating disorder every fucking time we talk!

–Penn Station

Overheard by: mondo man

Girl #1: I just don’t think I’m his type. He’s very intellectual.
Girl #2: What do you mean?
Girl #1: He’s all “yada yada yada” and I’m very “What’s your favorite Starburst?”

–Cosi, 31st & Park

Overheard by: Clara

Girl #1: Ha, ha, you said first was the worst.
Girl #2: No, I said, “first was the burst.”
Girl #1: What the heck does that mean?
Girl #2: It means…Starburst.

–M104 bus

Overheard by: Fatty McFingers

Little boy: Mom? Can I have this gum? I haven’t had this in years!
Mom: “Years”? You’re only 5!

–Duane Reade, 49th & 9th

Chick #1: Do you have a book called White Supremacy by Fredrickson?
Store guy: No.
Chick #1: Can you see if any other Barnes & Noble has it?
Store guy: No, none in Manhattan. I take it it’s for a class or something?
Chick #1: No, it’s for my own, uh, personal knowledge. Thanks anyway.
Store guy: Sure.
Chick #2: I need a book of art or photographs by crazy people.

–Barnes & Noble, Astor Place

Next Wednesday, 2/22, the Overheard staff–both of us–will be reading and signing the new Overheard in New York book at the above location. It starts at 7.

Guy #1: What’s that? A parking garage?
Guy #2 [alarmed]: That’s the Guggenheim!

–Across the street from the Guggenheim

Overheard by: Mary T Helmes Sheely