Toddler tourist boy, during rainstorm: Mommy, my shoe has a puddle in it.
Slightly older sister: So does everyone’s. Deal with it.
–59th St & Broadway
Overheard by: she passes as a local
Toddler tourist boy, during rainstorm: Mommy, my shoe has a puddle in it.
Slightly older sister: So does everyone’s. Deal with it.
–59th St & Broadway
Overheard by: she passes as a local
Teen girl on cell: So, where are you? So, what happened? Not to your shoe! In the hospital?!
–Central Park
Overheard by: concerned trespasser
Thin preppy girl to heavier stranger: Oh my god! I love your shoes.
Heavier stranger, looking her over: Girl, I wish I could give you a compliment, but you just look hungry.
–95th St & Madison Ave
Overheard by: Adriana
Eight‐year old boy, barely audibly: Do you have any kid’s shoes?
Middle aged clerk: Do I have sex? (pause) Well…
Eight‐year old boy, slightly more audibly: Naw, do you have any kid’s shoes?
Middle aged clerk: Kids? Yes. I’ve got one 24 and one 19. I know they’re not really kids, but they still seem like it to me.
Eight‐year‐old boy: Naw, naw! (loudly) I said “do you have any kid’s shoes?”
–Shoe Store, Brooklyn
Overheard by: Eremi
Guy on cell talking loudly: Where the fuck are you, Emily? (pause) Are you shopping? Don’t lie to me, Emily! I will come over there and fucking beat the dogshit out of you. (pause) I don’t care if I go to jail, it will be worth it to slap your lying ass around. (pause) You don’t buy me shit, Emily. Do you buy me my underwear? No! Do you buy me socks? No! I do. What about all those purses and shoes you have? Me!
Random Dominican teenage girl: Damn, Emily really don’t buy him nothing.
–Lucky Star Bus
Overheard by: chinatown bus traveler
Guy: Damn, would you walk a little faster, please?!
Lady friend: You try walking fast in three‐inch heels!
Guy: That girl in front of you is wearing three‐inch heels, and look how fast she’s walking!
Lady friend: Well, she’s a ho on the go!
–Herald Square
Overheard by: Ruby
Lady looking at another woman’s Roman sandals: I don’t like those Jesus‐lookin’ sandals!
–The Village
Girl: Do flats make your butt look big?
–9th St & 3rd Ave
Overheard by: Matt Morgan
Guy with faux‐hawk: You know in Pee‐wee’s Big Adventure, after he loses his bike and everyone around him is riding bicycles? I feel that way with high‐tops right now.
–14th & 1st
Overheard by: Heather
(trendy, skinny, Upper West Side woman on sidewalk is staring down at her feet and looking concerned)
Preppy 30‐something boyfriend: I think your toes look better in those sandals.
–86th & Broadway
Overheard by: Sushene
Girl: My uncle is gay, like, flying‐out‐of‐his‐loafers gay.
–W 67th & Broadway
Overheard by: magical-newyork.blogspot.com
Female cop to two male cops: So he’s standing there, really well dressed, nice shoes, and all of a sudden he pulls out this big, big (voice drops) boner, and says “Give me the shoes!”
–Continental Ave Station, Forest Hills
Girl: Wait… guys.
Group: What?
Girl: I just realized… I have to put on my shoes when we leave!
–62nd St
Guy: They’re squatters and ravers. They squat and rave…They squave.
–Belle and Sebastian show, Battery Park
Overheard by: Lacey
Suit: You know how some people wing it? Well I wanged it. I totally wanged it.
–52nd & 7th
Overheard by: Jatmos
Asian guy: It seems like everyone is giving headjobs these days.
–Flinders St
Overheard by: duygu
Female nurse: I’m telling you, he is totally intercontinental. I have to change him 4 times a day.
–Hudson & Spring
Overheard by: AJ Stone
Wordsmith, on the phone: Ma’am, her train is being delayed because of constipation.
–Office, 1250 Broadway
Teen on cell: He’s not very smart…Yeah, I just need someone to conversate with.
–Macy’s
Overheard by: Chelsea
College guy: The word “secretion” just fucks me up.
–NYU
10‐Year‐Old boy: I ain’t speakin’ no language.
–B48 bus, Franklin & DeKalb
Overheard by: Kyri
Tourist: Sexual attention is the only language I really understand.
–Around the Clock Diner, Stuyvesant & 3rd Ave
Overheard by: gweny
Woman: The lesbians don’t like the Jews…I mean the Lebanese.
–Party, 16th & 1st
Girl: Stop staring at all the buildings, you look like a terrorist!…I mean tourist. Same thing.
–8th & Broadway
Overheard by: ceci
Girl: Oh, my shoes totally fell asleep…Fell asleep? Fell apart!
–Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Tiny elderly woman, angrily: I want some comfortable shoes that I can walk in!
Salesman: Oh, but we have so many…
Tiny elderly woman: I can’t decide like that! Brands! Give me one brand!
Salesman: Mephisto.
Tiny elderly woman: No! Not Mephisto!
–Shoestore, W 72nd St
Overheard by: Harriet Vane
