Midwesterners

Woman: And you are not a lesbian either! You are only gay on weekends.

–Union Square

Overheard by: Adam Bozarth

Teen girl: I know Jimmy’s not gay because he stole my girlfriend.

–R train

Preacher: Mark my words – by sunrise you will be smothered in lesbians.

–53rd & 5th

Overheard by: Kaleena 

Thoughtful guy: I always thought that if I were gay I’d be the manlier one. But now that I think about it I’d want to be the girly one for all the free stuff.

–26th & 1st

Overheard by: Charles

Guy on cell: Wait…Christ! It’s gayer than three snaps in Z formation in here.

–The Hangar, Christopher St

Overheard by: TK

Midwestern guy: That is complete bullshit! How do you make a dog gay?

–Century 21

Teen girl: It’s funny talking to him now. I mean, in the eighth grade we knew he was gay, but not take‐it‐up‐the‐butt gay.

–Uptown 1 train

Tourist backpacker with hands on subway doors: Do these open on their own?

–1 Train

Tourist mom to uncool son: Well, that’s what you get for trying to be a hipster!

–Union Square Park

Overheard by: j

Tourist: Holy moly, look at that Olive Garden! It’s huge! I wish I lived here!
(takes a picture of the restaurant)

–Times Square

Obese Midwestern woman to obese Midwestern man: Oooh, Applebee’s… Now I feel at home here!

–Times Square

Southern tourist guy: I thought people in Greenwich Village would look stranger.

–Bleecker Street

Tourist from west coast, after observing the locals for a few innings: You know, Seinfeld makes so much more sense to me now.

–Cheap Seats, Coney Island Cyclones

Overheard by: Kevin Eliasen

A hobo is holding a sign that reads, “Why lie? I need a beer.”

Hobo: Hey there, mister.
Cleveland guy: Is he serious?
Cleveland girl: I don’t know. What do we do?
Hobo: Smile, folks! It’s a joke! I need a whole six‐pack!

–Yankee Stadium

Overheard by: Gave him five dollars

Hobo: Sorry to interrupt, but I’m starving. Please help me to get some candy and a soda.
Chick: How about a perfectly good pear? You know, if you’re so hungry.

The hobo walks away angry and disgusted; 20 feet later he turns around to give her a dirty look.

Chick: Obviously you’re not that hungry – and it’s called pop!

–Washington Square Park

Overheard by: James Lin

Michigan tourist: The first time I came to New York, Shannon and I saw two men pull knives on each other – they had a gang fight in the street!
Michigan tourist’s mom: Oh my!
Michigan tourist: It was hysterical. We took pictures.

–Long Island Railroad

Drunk queer: I am not gay! Just remind me of that later.

–Bushwick

Overheard by: uninvited party guest

Lemming: Are we still following the Gaylords or are we becoming Independent?

–Central Park

Overheard by: Collegiate Cutie

Midwesterner: I had a dream that I had a lot of funny faggot friends. It was so much fun! Then I woke up.

–Avents

Metrosexual: So, I’m thinking of becoming gay. What about you? Are you still gay?

–35th & Broadway

Chick on cell: I mean, when it’s just the two of us, he’s really gay — and I’m talking gayer than you — and frankly, that’s gay… And I don’t understand why he can’t just be that gay on stage… So hey, did you hear about that plane crash? Yeah… yeah… yeah, New Yorkers are really sensitive to planes crashing into buildings — something must have happened a while ago or something… Yeah, so I think I’m going to have sex with that guy from Craigslist… Although, he is ten years older than me, so if he’s looking for commitment he can have sex with me while he’s looking… It is not trashy — you can’t do anything trashy in your early 20s. I still have four more years until I have to even start thinking about being too trashy… Hey, can I call you back? I have to call my mom.

–10 express bus

French woman: So this Gaydar… It is like a radar? For the gays?

–Columbia University

Overheard by: Ladle

Latina on cell: I’ll fucking kill him. I will. I’ll fucking kill him. I don’t know. No. He’s not. I just hate it that he thinks he can treat you like that. I mean, I’ll fucking kill him even though he’s a man, you know? I’ll fucking walk up to him and, like, stab him or something. Fuck yeah, I got a knife. I mean, maybe he’s gay, though. That must be it. He’s gay. No, no, no. He’s gay.. He has to be. No, I know he is. It’s a fact. That’s the only thing that makes sense, right? I mean, what other option is there?

–Graham Ave, Williamsburg

Overheard by: Following Quietly Behind

German vendor: Hello.
Midwestern kid: Look, chocolate.
German vendor: Do you know Mozart chocolate?
Midwestern kid: No.
German vendor: But do you know Mozart?
Midwestern mom: No.

–Christmas market, Columbus Circle

Texas girl: Oh look, y’all! It’s a half moon. That means tomorrow will be a 34 moon, and then the next night will be a full moon.

–Williamsburg

Overheard by: andybennett 

Tourist chick: Know what would be awesome? If we could manage to not sound like assholes for like 10 minutes.
Tourist guy: We’re from Ohio.

–PATH train

Midwestern tourist lady #1: So last night we saw this great show, Fela!, about this musician. It was so moving, and I learned so much about that political situation…
Midwestern tourist lady #2: Which political situation?
Midwestern tourist lady #1: Well, you know, the political situation in Nigeria… And how Fela, like, helped to change it.
Midwestern tourist lady #2: But what was the situation?
Midwestern tourist lady #1: Just like, the political situation in Nigeria.
Midwestern tourist lady #2: I see. Well, I’ll try to get tickets!

–F Train