“I was walking the “I was walking the streets. I was noticed, streets. I was noticed, but I wasn’t the center of but I wasn’t the center of attention. I felt that I fit attention. I felt that I fit in. You’re not awkward. in. You’re not awkward. You’re not weird. You’re You’re not weird. You’re home. home. It doesn’t matter It doesn’t matter where where you’re from or you’re from or what you what you believe. believe. New York is the city New York is the city for everyone.” for everyone.”
INTRO
THROUGH THE EYES OF LOCAL PEOPLE
Quoted is not your traditional city magazine, but if you feel like meeting local people and have their take and recommendations on New York, I suggest you stay with me. As you flip the pages you will meet 10 wonderful, warm and weird New Yorkers whom generously have open their doors. Me and the wonderful team behind Quoted are simply catalysts for local people to share their story. Quotes, photographs, personal recommendations and QR code/links to enter video interviews are all for your curious appetite. Enjoy the intimacy as we invite you backstage to experience the real New York! HOW IT STARTED?
As king of small talk, I discovered the unique value of New Yorkers from a decade of visits. The random chats guided me to amazing experiences far away from tourist traps and a shallow understanding of what it’s like to be a local. My fascination for the city, diversity and people living in it matured into a wish of getting more up close and personal. What is their story? How do they live? Have fun? What does the city look like through their eyes? These questions resulted in me relocating to NYC in search for the answers. Through a series of portraits from people’s homes, I created an innovative format that first was featured on Huffington Post. Now reborn in a sexier, unfiltered way. Time to let you go! Embrace, accept and enjoy. Every story Quoted. rolf@quotedmagazine.com
4
Margie 8
Honey 68
Ibrahima 20
Karl 80
Hiromi 32
Rachelle 92
Paula 44
Troy 104
Emmanuel 56
Giovanni 116
Quoted, New York
5
Come closer. Visit this editions New Yorkers in their homes, get a glimpse of what happens behind closed doors in 3 minutes flat.
6
Margie
Honey
quotedmagazine.com/margie
quotedmagazine.com/honey
Ibrahima
Karl
quotedmagazine.com/ibrahima
quotedmagazine.com/karl
Hiromi
Rachelle
quotedmagazine.com/hiromi
quotedmagazine.com/rachelle
Paula
Troy
quotedmagazine.com/paula
quotedmagazine.com/troy
Emmanuel
Giovanni
quotedmagazine.com/emmanuel
quotedmagazine.com/giovanni
Quoted, New York
7
8
Quoted, New York
9
Margie XL Blogger Wannabe Britney Spears Influencer
10
“Basically, if you want to live in New York, you need a dream and a passion. You create your own opportunities here. I’m constantly pitching myself. You just have to hustle yourself. A lot of my friends haven’t come here because they’re too scared. They’re like: Oh my God. New York. It’s like the movies. I say stop watching movies and just do it.”
“ I had this Carrie Bradshaw thing when I moved here. I needed to live in the West Village. $1400 a month for a shitty ass room in between two sex shops with mice running around. You couldn’t fully open the door to get into my room. I didn’t care. I was in the west village. I had all my luggage under my bed. There were no place to put it. It was a box. It was next to Boots and Saddle, a gay bar with drag shows. I tried to sleep at 4am, and the gays were singing karaoke like “IT’S RAINING MEN HALLELUJA”. So there I was, in my bed singing along, trying to hate it but I just couldn’t.” “I was the only plus size girl in the office when I was interning at Lucky, and I had all these crazy clothes on. One of the editors asked me to start a blog and I was like: Do people really wanna see me? He was like: Bitch, just do it.”
energetic, but I wouldn’t wear a tank top because I thought my arms were too fat. Wouldn’t show x amount of body because I was uncomfortable. It’s so cool to be one of those plus size girls now that everybody can look up to. I can do whatever I want here. Big orange fur and neon hair. New Yorkers don’t care and I love it.” “I’m focusing on my music nowadays. I want to be the plus size Britney Spears pop star. I will have my own show, create several albums and be on tour. I wanna do both music and fashion, but maximize it.” “You’re never too old to live in New York. Have you seen these women in their 70’s. They’re walking their ass off and looking fabulous with their fur coats and big hair. I think that NY keeps you young»
“It takes work to be yourself. I wasn’t like this in high school. I was always loud and
Quoted, New York
13
14
“Rats—GTF out of my way. I’m trying to walk to the train” Favorite neighborhood? Williamsburg. Favorite street to stroll? Bedford Avenue Why? For the people watching, and Kent Street for the waterfront view of Manhattan. Favorite restaurant? Cafe Mogador. I am vegetarian and they have awesome Mediterranean veggie options (the falafel is a must have!) and an awesome atrium outside eating area. Favorite bar? Union Pool. They always are playing great music and have a super good taco truck in the back. Hidden gem? My hidden gem is is North Brooklyn Farms under the Williamsburg bridge. I actually just got married there in June and its the most magical place to go and hang on the grass for the day with a view of every Manhattan landmark. For bar’s I would have to say the old speak easy downstairs at St. Mazie’s. How to be(come) a New Yorker? New York is all about standing out and being who you wanna be! So the best way to blend in, is to be bold! Your New York soundtrack? Margie — Think About It
Quoted, New York
15
16
Quoted, New York
17
Clockwise from Sewing Machine
CHANEL PURSE
“It was given to me by my aunt when I was very young. She was a bad ass successful business women. On my birthday she gave this to me and said “One day you’ll be able to buy one yourself”. At that time my mother was a single mom and we had no money.”
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT MARGIE
“I got these after interning for Betsy Johnson. That was one of my best years when I was really discovered New York. Going to all the fashion parties, being a part of that scene and seeing how such an iconic brand is made. This American Flag is everything.” SHOES
18
“This was the first sewing machine I ever gotten. I starting playing around with crafts and figuring out how to construct things. This was my soul inspiration for creativity for several years.” SEWING MACHINE
PARTYN PHOTO “I love him so much. He and I met a couple of years ago and now we’re getting married. He’s a music producer and opened my mind to everything.”
“I’ve gone through every single color of the rainbow, but neon yellow has become my signature.” HAIR DYE
Quoted, New York
19
BABY BRASA 22
173 7TH AVE S, NEW YORK Quoted, New York
23
Ibrahima Brooklyn Bridge Enthusiast Tour Guide Marathon Runner
24
“Part of why I became a tour guide was to give back to the city. To share the beauty I saw and the love that grew. Passion is not something you can fake. If you love the city, sharing it is easy. People will never remember what you say. They will remember how you make them feel. Every tour is a poem.”
“ I was walking the streets. I was noticed, but I wasn’t the center of attention. I felt that I fit in.You’re not awkward. You’re not weird. You’re home”. That’s what this city does. And it has room for all of us. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you believe. New York is the city for everyone.” “The first couple of years was hard. I had a lot of jobs that didn’t pay well in the beginning and the language was a big barriere. There was still no doubt in my mind that I could make it in NYC. It was more a matter of when.” “I wanted to have a story like the people in the movies. The feeling of wanting to achieve greater and better was present. If you say you achieved something in New York it sounds different than any other place.” “When you see me, you don’t expect the best. I have to start from the beginning. I have to be ready. People say ‘Hey, he’s African, young and has an accent. That’s not your idea of a tour guide is it? In the beginning I had to
Quoted, New York
be able to stand in front of judgment and assumptions when they knew I was going to be their tour guide.” “When time and emotions allow it, I make it a duty to explain people that September 11 was not a movie. Kids especially need to understand that it is up to them to make their world a better world and never forgetting about that day.” “When you talk about pizza in NYC you got to talk about Grimaldi’s, Patsy’s and Lombardi’s. These are classic old NYC pizza’s. I took a group of people to a different pizza place in Williamsburg today. Anna Maria. I would usually not tell anyone about that place, cause it’s not touristy. It’s an amazing pizza slice place. Cash only.” “You want me to tell you something I don’t like about New York? You’re asking the wrong person. I probably don’t like that there is only one New York in the world.”
27
“Don’t act like you didn’t notice there is a line. Just join the queue!!
Favorite neighborhood? Cypress Hills. It is where I lived for the past decade. Favorite street to stroll? Broadway, 42nd Street and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Favorite restaurant in town? Le Baobab Favorite bar? Ides, the rooftop at Wythe Hotel is an old cooperage transformed into a hotel. Hidden gem? Delightful pastries at Les Ambassades in Harlem. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Be tolerant to other cultures, it is why everyone blends in so easily. Your New York soundtrack? Jamie Foxx — The City’s Yours
Quoted, New York
29
Clockwise from Camera
PHOTO
“I took this picture. It is the essence of what makes New York the city I chose and still want to live in. It shows diversity, the different flavors and colors. The trees, the people, the buildings the clouds. There are so many worlds here.”
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT IBRAHIMA
“This lightsaber is the first tour item I bought. It was for a night tour I had to do for about thirty people on Grand Central. It was dark, so I needed something to light up. It is the mascot of my tour guide company.” LIGHTSABER
30
“It has to come with me. I’ve captured so many memories from New York with it. It holds a special place in my heart.”
CAMERA
CUP “First thing I bought in the US in 2003. It cost a dollar. Ever since I’ve been drinking coffee from it. My life and New York is a cup of coffee that I haven’t stopped drinking yet.”
“A gift from my mom who’s still in Senegal. It has the colors of the flag. It will always link me to my mother no matter where I am.” NECKLACE
Quoted, New York
31
“ See, when you’re walking on that bridge you’re not walking, you’re flying You’re rich, you’re beautiful, you’re famous, ‘cos you own it You walk twelve feet above the road, five meters above the cars, You’re not walking, you’re flying It is the only place where you can be and see A plane fly above a bird A bird fly above a person A person walk above a car A car roll above a boat The boat above the subway There is no place like the Brooklyn Bridge And it has two beautiful eyes Called the Gothic Arches I love the Brooklyn Bridge”
32
Quoted, New York
33
The Pilou is a Scandinavian fashion brand that creates timeless and sustainable quality fashion. Our multi-functional garments fit the modern woman at any occasion. The Pilou can be altered into various styles like a long or short vest, a dress or a poncho. Get inspired thepilou.com Get your Pilou with a discount by using promotional code quoted at thepilou.com and follow us at _the_pilou_
Hiromi Bike Messenger Knicks Fan Turtle Owner
36
37
38
“As a kid, I always noticed bike messengers being out in the city and it always looked like the most bad ass job, so I thought maybe I’ll try to do that and see if I can make it through one month.”
“ My growth as a New Yorker and how I see people here has been widely changed the last 10 years. Normally people have these bubbles. They’re home, they have their neighborhood. Then there’s a train line that runs into work. And then they have a bubble around work. The majority of their life in the city is just time spent between these two bubbles. It’s such a different thing to have the whole city laid out as your office.” “I’m very happy about how my life has turned out so far. I’m one of the few people I know who actually love my job. Most bike messengers do. I feel very privileged being able to spend 10 years doing this really cool job.” “If you’re looking at traffic from the sidewalk, it looks dangerous and chaotic with thousands of cars, honking and jaywalking. But when you’re in the middle of it and flowing through it, it feels like a current. If you get cut off by a cab, you just float around on the other side and the rest of the traffic float with you. It is a flow similar to being a pedestrian. That’s why New Yorkers get mad at the tourists when they walk with a map and just stop. It’s like
Quoted, New York
they’re stopping the current of people. So if you want to stop, you gotta find a safe spot like a garbage can or something and stay behind that.” “The other day I met this Mexican food delivery guy. I passed him on the street and was like: I wonder if he’s an immigrant, if he got kids, he looks my age. Then he started talking to me because he thought I had a cool bike. We talked for a couple of minutes and it turned out he was a skydiver instructor from the west coast. He was just delivering food to stay afloat. I was like wow- I totally misread your story. That’s amazing to me. You have people from all walks of life here. Everyone’s got their own story.” “The Village I grew up in was a whole different world. All my class mates had different backgrounds. Artists, cool hippie parents. It was a warm community. Now it feels like a cold place where rich people happen to live. It feels strange that my childhood neighborhood doesn’t exist anymore. It’s still there. On the map, but it’s not the same neighborhood.”
39
“New Yorkers. Your minds are so dirty. Keep on living it.”
Favorite neighborhood? The Greenwich Village. It’s no longer the place I grew up in, but it’ll always have that special childhood place in my heart. Favorite street to stroll? 125th Street. Why? The culture, character, flavor. It’s real. Favorite restaurant? Rafiqi’s Halal Cart. Favorite bar? The Corner Bistro in the West Village. It’s a neighborhood institution that makes one of the better burgers you’ll ever come across. Hidden gem? Liberty State Park. It’s a great place to decompress without having to go far from the city and the ferry ride/view is tight. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Walk fast, jaywalk when convenient, don’t look up, don’t make eye contact, don’t ask questions, and don’t get in anyone’s way. Your New York soundtrack? Nas — Memory Lane.
40
Quoted, New York
41
42
Quoted, New York
43
Clockwise from Yankees Hat
DRAWING
“When I was a little kid I thought garbage trucks were really cool and I draw pictures of them. I never thought it potentially could be my future career. Now I am applying for a job in the sanitary department.”
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT HIROMI
“I had bed bugs in two different apartments, so I had to throw out all my things. At one point in life this was the only thing I ever had. It has all my most valuable things in it. If I come home and there is a fire, I would grab my turtle and this.”
CONTAINER
44
“I wear a cap every day. I feel I get to sentimental about certain things, so I just threw a few caps out. Now I only have two left.”
YANKEES HAT
YANKESS TEDDY “He’s from my first baseball game I went to watch 20 years ago. I get really into it. It feels like a TV show where you follow characters, grow up with them, get personal with them, but it’s better and unpredictable.”
BIKE “Without
the bicycle I don’t know what I would have done for the last 10 years. I get a feeling of freedom and there is a deep connection to it. It is more like my livelihood and lifeblood.” Quoted, New York
45
46
Inspired by the raw nature OF Norway
48
THE VISION OF A NEW NORWEGIAN WATCH BRAND WAS BORN JULY 2016. THE FOUNDER, PAAL FRIELE GRUNG WANTED TO USE NORWEGIAN SALMON LEATHER COMBINED WITH SCANDINAVIAN MINIMALISM TO CREATE SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. DURING WORLD WAR 2, PAAL’S GRANDMOTHER USED SALMON LEATHER FOR HER SHOES, AS CALF LEATHER WAS DIFFICULT TO GET A HOLD ON. THE SHOES WORE OUT BECAUSE OF ITS WOODEN SOLES, BUT THE SALMON LEATHER LASTED. TODAY WE KNOW THAT SALMON LEATHER HAS CROSS FIBERS MAKING IT MORE THAN 10 TIMES STRONGER THAN CALF LEATHER. USING THIS UNIQUE NORWEGIAN HERITAGE MATERIAL AND COMBINING IT WITH A SIMPLE AND ELEGANT WATCH DESIGN, IS THE REASON WHY BERG WATCHES HAVE BEEN EMBRACED BY WATCH LOVERS AND FASHIONISTAS ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE WATCHES CAN BE FOUND IN RETAIL STORES ALL OVER NORWAY AND SHIP WORLDWIDE WITH EXPRESS SHIPPING. GET YOUR PIECE OF NORWAY AND DISCOVER WHY THESE TIMELESS WATCHES ARE EVERLASTING.
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING. STRAPS MADE OF SALMON LEATHER. SWISS MOVEMENT COMBINED WITH ICELANDIC SALMON LEATHER, INSPIRED BY THE RAW NATURE OF NORWAY. Quoted, New York
Bergwatches
Bergwatches
Bergwatches
bergwatches.com 49
Paula Jewelry Designer Bondage Fan Photographer
50
“All my jewelry’s are functional. Some of these you can tie someone up with or you could wear it as a symbol of something that you’re into within your kink world. I want the girl who wears my jewelry and feel kinky to look into it more. If you’re already attracted to it, there is a little part of you that is naughty. It’s about exploring it and understanding it. There is a depth to it.”
“ Home is where you’re truly at ease with your mind. I think everyone needs to have a home in NYC or else you’re going crazy. Not having that peaceful place can really make you anxious and neurotic. That is what’s so romantic to me. Having that kind of home and then going out doing something dirty.” “I remember last year of high school, and I got a fake ID. All the clubs where suddenly available and I got to do a lot of bad stuff. All the things to explore and the trouble you can get into. It’s not available everywhere.” “In the past I worked as a dominatrix for a while. I once were seeing a guy who worked like 70 hours a week. Everything was extreme in his life. He was a typical guy going to a dom. Really wealthy and had a couple of companies doing well. He had 2 apartments. 1 for all the girls providing him with several
52
things. He would have a girl cleaning his house naked. Once I went to his actual house and he had a girl living in a cage. He treated her like a dog. It was kind of sick.” “I think that any other place in the world, if you work out problems the same way you do in in New York like binge drinking, smoking cigarettes and getting beaten physically by a dom you’re considered a crazy person.” “I get lonely here even though I have good friends. Everyone is busy. It’s just the pace. If it was slower, people would have more time to connect to each other, but you’re always doing something and there’s always something to do, so you can’t really plan a cool friend date. It’s the New York way.”
54
“People who spit on the street. I want you to burn in fire” Favorite neighborhood? Lower east side bordering Chinatown, it’s such a great mix you can get a posh juice but also be broke AF and have a full meal. The clash of cultures is amazing. Favorite street to stroll? I love Bayard Street, but you have to be in a certain mood. Why? It’s crowded and smelly, I put on headphones and blast a symphony of some sort. It fits the ambiance of all the synchronized chaos. Favorite restaurant? I love love KIKIS on Division street. Go during the week you’re guaranteed a table, it’s a trap on the weekends. Sweet staff, and the portions are grandma size. Favorite bar? For a great martini - shitty service NYC style in the best way - Fanellis is great. Hidden gem? My friends are gonna hate me for blowing up this spot... but AUX EPICES. So good cash only serving French Malaysian food. How to be(come) a New Yorker? GROW A PAIR. Do the things you want to, the things that scare you, get out of your comfort zone, This city is dope and people respond to confidence and adventure. New Yorkers don’t hate tourists that hilarious to me, we hate the meek and scared. shut up and do it. Your New York soundtrack? Cam’ron — Hey Ma’ ft. Juelz santana.
Quoted, New York
55
Clockwise from Purse
NIPPLE TASSELS
“My first performance tassels. I was a pinup and I learned how to use these. When I’m old and saggy and my tits don’t work anymore, I can look back at these to remind myself how they once were in excellent shape.”
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT PAULA
“This is my journal from when I was a dominatrix. I keep it as a reminder. I wrote down everything. Clients names, stories, what I went through. It kept me sane.”
JOURNAL
58
“This was the first purse I ever got from a client. I made them buy me stuff. The control I had when being a dom was a different world.” PURSE
GODZILLA “Godzilla first edition. I’m secretly a nerd. I have a comic book collection. If you know about comic collectibles you will freak out when you see this. It lives on top of the shelves and whenever I take it down, my dog goes crazy.”
“The first camera I ever bought. It used to belong to my college Professor. I took my first critiqued photograph with this which was reviewed by Bill Cunningham. I got my grant out of it.” CAMERA
Quoted, New York
59
60
Quoted, New York
61
Airbnb is now offering local experiences hosted by some of the most interesting people in NYC.
62
Book an Airbnb experience hosted by Paula and Ibrahima at airbnb.com/nyctrips Sponsored by Quoted, New York
63
Emmanuel Astoria Warrior Yellow Cab Driver Gardener
64
66
“I never talk politics. That’s what I learned at taxi school because it can cause conflicts. You learn to feel people out and respect them. Once passengers opens up, you realize there’s a lot of dreamers here who have nightmares in the morning. They feel stressed out about their job and life. I’ve learned to enjoy a lot more after I started driving.
“ I like to consider myself the Astoria warrior. You either make a name for yourself or you’re given one. I like to think that I made my name. I grew up here when it wasn’t so colorful and beautiful as it is now.” “Now I have a CDL drivers license, a taxi drivers license, a license for being a personal trainer. It’s best to have a bunch of certificates, so you can have multiple income. You have to learn how to make income from multiple industries in this city. In New York you’re called an entrepreneur if you do this.” “I was looking at growing black roses and truffles on my balcony. I will always find the money because I learnt how to use the city.”
got to the destination legally. It was a $4,75 ride and the guy screamed at me to give his change back. I threw it on the sidewalk. If you give me that attitude, I’ll give it back.” “There are no colleagues in the taxi driver industry. If we’re on the road we’re trying to cut each others throats. I get up at 5am to kill the rush hours all pepped up to attack the city. After the landscape changed with Uber, Lift, Uno and so on, the industry is so much harder though, competing on the same dollar. We have to drive faster and more efficient.” “Being a cab driver is not the most prestigious profession, but at least it’s an honest living.”
“Some of us joke around with what we call the entitled New Yorker. Being you’re from New York you have everything at your fingertips, so you assume you can pay yourself to get whatever. I was driving a guy once whom wanted me to make an illegal turn. He screamed at me. I do not break the law, so I
Quoted, New York
67
“Maybe you should have enough common sense to move, knowing that I’m pregnant is what I was told by a lady behind me on line at a supermarket. As if I have eyes behind my head!” 68
Favorite neighborhood? Astoria. Favorite street to stroll? Steinway Street. Why? For the shopping and social aspect. Favorite restaurant? Agnanti on Ditmars blvd and 19st. Great Greek food. Favorite bar? Karaoke Shout which includes songs with your alcohol. Hidden gem? Purple Park right by Astoria park. Nice views of the east river and Manhattan. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Keep moving at a moderate pace on the streets of NYC. Don’t stare wildly into space looking at building facades and for Christ sakes stop taking selfies in the middle of the road. Your New York soundtrack? Spoon — The Underdog
Quoted, New York
69
70
Quoted, New York
71
Clockwise from Purse
VIDEO GAME
“I have been a gamer since I was 7. It gives me a feeling of completion and rush finishing one. I live vicariously through video games. I can do evil things that you can’t do on NYC streets:-)”
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT EMMANUEL
“Nothing will ever be as iconic as this car to NYC. This was the work horse of the industry for 10 years. You could get it fixed within an hour and then be back on the road. We drive a different car today because of carbon footprint initiative in NYC, but it doesn’t drive the same and doesn’t feel the same to me.”
TAXI
72
“My best friend ever recently passed away. He was always here as the protector. He was loving. He was the perfect soul.” DOG PHOTO
PLANT “I have about 50 different plants. They keep me grounded in the concrete jungle. When I breath, these plants are loving me. I give them carbon dioxide and they give me oxygen in return. I’m all about taking care of our earth.”
“I call this my blood water. As soon as the first glass is poured I start worrying. We’re almost done and need more!:) Everybody loves something, and I love wine. I just want to relax after a long day at work.” RED WINE
Quoted, New York
73
74
Quoted, New York
75
Honey Pizza Lover Sassy Queen Entertainer
76
78
“They say in New York- If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. What they don’t say is: New York will let you make it. New York will definitely provide you the space to make it. It’s up to you to use the opportunity.”
“ I fall on a gender neutral line. Sometimes I feel like a woman. Sometimes I feel like a dude. I like my life as both. Gender is only a social construct that I don’t need to follow.” “When I was 13 years old I fell in love with NYC. I won two tickets for a Broadway show because I sold the most cookie dove at a fundraiser event. My mom took me to New York to see the show, and I remember seeing all the lights on Times Square. That was the moment I knew this would be home.” “I got a lot of help along the way. My first drag mother helped me create my whole esthetics. Having a drag mother started a long time ago when you couldn’t just YouTube how to do makeup or style wigs. Someone had to teach you. It’s been a passed on art form for ages. It’s so beautiful” “To be a good queen you have to work hard. To be a successful queen you have to be a go-getter, a smart business person, be together within yourself. If you don’t know
Quoted, New York
yourself before you take on this persona, your insecurities will definitely creep out into your art.” “We give you a couple of hours of buffoonery and bliss in the middle of the storm in this city. That is our service. To give you a break when NYC slaps you in the face every day.” “You have to remember that NYC consists of 5 boroughs. All with different people and attitudes, so there will always be different reactions when you can’t figure out a persons gender. A kid growing up in the Bronx with few resources and books will have a different look at me than someone raised on the lower east side meeting drags from a very early age.” “I would like to see the day when drag is a legitimate medium for art. We’ve always been an active well spoken voice for human rights and not always rewarded for it.” “I don’t wanna be ordinary, so it takes extraordinary work.”
79
80
“Taxi drivers who are made up largely of immigrants but still are racists- Get your shit together and treat everybody equally. Favorite neighborhood? The West village! It has so much culture and spirit. It’s also the birth place of the LGBTQ+ movement. Favorite street to stroll? Christopher Street. Why? Its the heart of the West Village. Everyone has a story about this street, whether its at the pride parade, or at any one of the night life hotspots lining it. Favorite restaurant? Tea and Sympathy. The tea is incredible and the shepherds pie is to die for. Its a little slice of London hiding in Manhattan. Favorite bar? The Monster. It’s my home, and every night something exciting is going on. Hidden gem? The Earring Plaza in Herald Square. They have awesome costume jewelry for dirt cheap. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Learn how to use the damn subway machine before you get here. If not you will piss off every New Yorker standing behind you. I never want to JUST miss another train, while watching twenty bewildered tourists try to figure out how a touch screen works. Your New York soundtrack? Wicked — Defying Gravity This city is »tough«. You have to be able to soar above the rest to make a name for yourself.
Quoted, New York
81
82
Quoted, New York
83
CLOCKWISE FROM FINGER
FRIEND “He
is my «prote-gay». Jayse comes over, we smoke a lot of pot and then make magical music together.”
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT HONEY
“The glam award has been around for 18 years. I won the title Door Goddess in 2016. I think they misprinted it. It should say entertainer of the year;-) GLAM AWARD
84
FINGER “It
means I don’t give a fuck about anything. One of my friends gave this to me on my birthday and told me I have zero fucks. CUBE “My mum gave this to me when I was 17 years old. I have put it next to every single bed I ever had in my life since college. Every night before I go to bed and every morning when I wake up it reminds me that my mama loves me.
“This is my husband. We got married in 2012. He is my support system. I am the face of the brand. He is the work behind it a lot of the time. I come home late, and sometimes wake him up and then throw all the money I got as tips that night over him. PHOTO
Quoted, New York
85
Karl Family Man Venture Capitalist Ex Monkey Boy
88
90
“You have to have a military mind. You have to execute, stay perfectly calm and not get lost in your emotions. Everyone in their 20’s is a robot. I was guilty of that too. You take Adderall and stuff that will keep you awake. It’s like legal cocaine. It’s not sustainable. You don’t get enough sleep. Not enough sleep causes depression and then you’re in a bad cycle.”
“ People expect that we’re gonna be these huge, moneymaking asses. I’ve found that a lot of the guys who’s been around a while aren’t really that nasty. They’re genuine and smart. Media helps craft it to this wizardry. Movies like The Wolf of Wall Street. I think people want it to be that way, so media feeds it back to them.” “Before you settle down to have a family, there is so much to absorb in this city. Some people get enough of that, some people don’t. They keep on going. My wife calls them Peter Pan’s. The boys who never grow up.” “Once you have a child, it’s like taking care of your artery. It’s a piece of you and it tempers me. It’s the best part of the day seeing this little person light up, seeing her dad. She opens the doors and come running towards me. I pick her up and kiss her. It’s crazy. I’ll tell you: No-one in venture capital does that to you when you get into a room.”
Quoted, New York
“It’s expensive to have a daughter raised in the city. It’s insane with the school system. We had to put our 2 year old daughter into a private school. Up until nursery school we pay $15 000 a year. Then it’s like $30-40 000 a year.” “There’s always a drive here. Every person I meet has something special about them. Even if you first see them, and they seem a little weird or boring, once you get to talk to them, they’re doing something really cool.” “I love the access to so many different types of people. Otherwise it’s just sement. You get to guide your own path here. If you want something to move and happen fast, you can make it happen. If you fail, it’s because you failed. There’s access to all the money, all the people. You just have to do your best to get it. It takes that type of person in New York. Someone who’s self-starting.”
91
92
“New York. Dirty minds. Dirty place. Dirty people. Keep on living it!”
Favorite neighborhood? Tribeca is my favorite neighborhood to hangout in but to live, Riverside. Favorite street to stroll? Well, not a street but the Riverside Walk way from 50th up is a nice escape from the city heat. Why? Escape the people and look at some nice calming waters. Favorite restaurant? Il Baretto – tiny place with the best Italian in the world. Favorite bar? Ward III – best cocktails in town by far. Hidden gem? Raines Law Room – Victorian speakeasy, great for quiet social and cocktails are amazing. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Be yourself!! The best part of the city is that people are different, be weird, be funny, be whatever you are when you look in the mirror. Your New York soundtrack? Jay Z — Empire State of Mind.
93
CLOCKWISE FROM MONKEY
PIANO
“I grew up with pianos and spent hours just nailing the thing. It is a gift I’m passing on to the next generation.”
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT KARL
“We decided to get married 3 weeks after we met, skipped the engagement and went to townhall. It was passionate.” RING
96
“I was a monkey-boy once… I had the exact same monkey when I was a kid.” MONKEY
PICTURE 1 “Nothing has changed in the Andersen family in a long time. You see my grandpa in toga. My great granddad playing the ukulele. We’re always doing ridiculous stuff.”
“It was a fun wedding. Deli stand style. Here we are taking our number 13. You see we are so in love and the woman behind the counter is like aha-next.” PICTURE 2
Quoted, New York
97
98
Quoted, New York
99
100
Quoted, New York
101
Rachelle Ex Subway Performer Rhyming Obsession Quirky Behaviour
102
104
“I started my musical career on the subway. It was a way to connect to the audience with a humorous and seductive approach. Playing on the street and subway gives you a thick skin. Especially back then when the attitude in the city was more rough. People could scream at me that I sucked. I learned how to keep my shit together.”
“ Being a kid here was like growing up in the story books. I felt like NY was a magical place during my childhood. It’s always been that way. Especially when I was running around on my own. I remember we went to the river and riverside park. Everything is moving. The water is there. We’re on this mythical Island full of interesting people. I was always curious about what’s going on behind every single window and their story.” “I play accordion, piano, guitar, electric base, bells, whistles, different kinds of keyboard. I connect these instruments in my performances.” “The subway is a powerful place. I think it saves our city from becoming dangerous. If you ride the subway, you will always stand six inches from somebody you never see in your neighborhood or day to day life. In other cities people are in their cars all the time. There’s a lot more separation and segregation. Riots happening other places, I could not ever imagining the same thing happen in NYC. The subway has a huge unifying power here.”
Quoted, New York
“I still stop and see the magic in NYC. One thing I love about this city is that if you have a thought in your head throughout the day, there will be symbols of what you’ve been thinking or it will manifest.” “There could be a performer singing what I’m thinking. A book someone’s reading. Street art. All these things confirming that I’m not alone having these thoughts. I think that is what makes this city so magical. If you have a shitty day there’s always that one crack open where you can see the light. It’s always there if you want it to” “Time is defined differently here than any other place. Everywhere else I go, people ask me why I’m walking so fast. There is a saying about the New York minute because of the fast pace life here. Everything needs to happen instantly and more things happen in a minute here than any other place. The best anyone could say after a show is that they lost track of time.”
105
“People who don’t understand sidewalk etiquette. Move over!”
106
Favorite neighborhood? The East Village. Favorite street to stroll? First Avenue between Houston and 14th street. Why? It’s got heart. I love the “Mom & Pop” shops: Fineline Tattoos, Mexican food at the Downtown Bakery, shoe store on St. Mark’s. Favorite restaurant? Pangea - it’s old-school! Cozy, delicious, low volume so you don’t have to shout to be heard, plus the back room is one of my alltime favorite places to perform. Favorite bar? I don’t go to bars, I do ice cream at Morgenstern’s on Rivington Street. Hidden gem? Community gardens are the jewels of the city. 6th street and avenue B is lovely. They have events all season, music, films, workshop. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Be cool, have a sense of humor, don’t take any sh*t, don’t start any sh*t. Your New York soundtrack? Odyssey — Native New Yorker.
107
“At 19 I was downtown by myself at night with an existential crises. It was wintertime and I wondered into an abandon building where I found this book lying on the floor. I took this as a huge sign that I was on the right track with my life. This book has encouraged me to do what I do, plus it is the weirdest book in the world.”
BOOK
CLOCKWISE FROM CAR
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT RACHELLE
RHYMING BOOK
“I love using rhyming dictionary to write songs. Sometimes I can pick any word and start creating songs.”
110
“This is my dream car if I was a hot shot driver. Since I am like rinky dink, I have a tiny little El Camino and have to imagine myself driving around. It is my funeral car.”
CAR
TOY MUSIC INSTRUMENT “I love bells and toys. It is impossible to not feel a little bit happy when you see this, and it is one of the most soothing and calming things. I like to use it in performances as well.”
“I like to ride my pink bike with a big black helmet. I think a little bit of autism is in the mix of me, so I like to have the compression. It protects me from over stimulus.” HELMET
Quoted, New York
111
112
Quoted, New York
113
Troy Nightlife Promoter Twerking Expert Future Real Estate King
114
“I’ve taken grandparents to clubs. Age is just a number. If you’re a GILF, you’re hot and you’re working it, you are getting right in. There was one time I had the grandmother, the daughter and granddaughter all at my table.”
“ It’s a hunter gather system. My job is to host a table at nightclubs with people who wanna have a good time. I am the guy that adds human furniture to the room.” “People who come to visit New York are surprised that girls get in without high heals and dresses. That you can see sweaty girls in sneakers and yoga pants. But that’s New York. That girl was probably at the bar next door and feels at home in the club. It’s not always about what you wear. It’s about what’s underneath.” “Let me give you some insight to how New Yorker’s party. There comes a time when you get sick of being around «bridge and tunnel people»- people who live outside NYC or are foreign. That is why most New Yorker’s go out Sunday through Thursdays. Those are the real New York nights.” “I’ve never been to a Broadway show and I’ve been to a museum once during my time in NYC. It’s the people who I love here. I love people watching. I come from a small
Quoted, New York
Caribbean Island with one set of people and when you come here there is such a vibrancy to be entertained with. I can sit on union square steps and just people watch for hours.” “If you are accustomed to being given things, you should not move here. If you don’t like to struggle, you should not come here. People who live here are on this hustle and grind. They focus on work first. Not love and relationship and family. Money comes first and then you’ll settle down when you’re successful.” “There is something about the struggle that makes me wanna stay. Life is tough, but I still feel that I constantly reach new goals. When I achieve something here, I feel good. You’re really living. Sometimes this city can be overwhelming and make you go crazy, and then I ask myself if I could have a different life, but I would get bored. I like the struggle. I want to die in these streets.”
117
118
“Grumpy New Yorkers- life is short. Treat people like they’re human beings. Everybody needs love”
Favorite neighborhood? Chelsea because all the nightclubs and my favorite restaurants are there :) Favorite street to stroll? Broadway. Why? It’s the longest in manhattan and has literally everything on it! Favorite restaurant? Pearls Caribbean. Favorite bar? Clyde, Williamsburg. Hidden gem? Piccolo Cafe on the Upper West Side. How to be(come) a New Yorker? Have your own hustle for something. Ignore the naysayers. Don’t talk to strangers on the street. Do yoga and soul cycle. Never go to Times Square. Your New York soundtrack? Migos — Bad and Boujee.
Quoted, New York
119
CLOCKWISE FROM SWIM TRUNKS
TRAINING WHEEL
“When I first wake up I do roller abs, push ups and pull ups. I feel good when I look good. I feel more confident when I look good.
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT TROY
SKATEBOARD “I
used to go surfing back in Trinidad with my neighbor at 5am or 6am. I hate walking and used to surf at home. This is my surfing in New York. It is a quick way of getting around and it’s fun.” 122
“I have a water polo player for Trinidad national team. Swimming is my way of getting good cardio and my way of meditation. In New York it is very important to have that time just to yourself and go internal.” SWIM TRUNK
DIARY “I started writing a diary in 2010. My dad always used to do that at home and said I should do it. I didn’t understand why, but then I started and it felt good and therapeutic. It is half business and half personal.”
“This is my life, my business, my connection to the world. In that phone alone I have 12 000 contacts.” PHONE
Quoted, New York
123
124
Quoted, New York
125
Giovanni Harley Davidson Junkie Italian Restaurant Owner Boxing Enthusiast
126
Quoted, New York
127
128
“I live in a rich neighborhood with a lot of wealthy people. You can imagine a guy that rides a Harley, smokes pot, is a little more rough… Well, yeah. They judge the book by its cover. They’re like, ‘who’s this crazy bastard? I love it though. To be the black swan up here.”
“ If you rest in this city, somebody will run you over, but New York is fun. It is different from other cities. The timing, speed, energy. It’s special. New York is not United States. It’s not Europe. It’s just New York. Different way to think, different way to act. New York has got the best and worst of all the worlds, that’s the way it is.” “Who can live in New York? You either have to be lucky, rich, or be the best at what you do. At that point, you can be in New York. If you’re poor, or just a normal person without stabilized rent you should go home.” “The most important color here is green. Money. It doesn’t matter if you’re white or black, but if you don’t have the green in your pocket, a lot of people don’t care.” “New Yorkers are very politically correct. Maybe not fake, but always politically correct.
Quoted, New York
They might not always express the way they feel. I’m a bit different. If I’m upset, you’ll see it, if I’m happy you’ll see it. People here are always smiling politely, even if they’re unhappy.” “People often have very high expectations to the top restaurants in this city. When you come to my restaurant there’s no bogus. Italians watching a soccer match, families eating dinner, music that creates a great ambience and atmosphere. It’s not a fine Italian restaurant, it’s an extension of your living room.” “When temperatures are rising after winter, the city get’s crazy, smelly and loud. Like a beast waking up. People loose their clothes and showing off. It’s intense and I love that. Especially the girls in NYC at the first sun of spring are just bellissime!”
129
Favorite neighborhood? East village is the most rock and roll neighborhood of the city. Favorite street to stroll? Queensboro Bridge. Why? It is where I can speed with my motorbike over the water and see the most amazing skyline of the city there looks like Gotham city. Favorite restaurant? Rosa Mexicano have few locations in the city and make the best guacamole in town. I love it!! Favorite bar? McSorley’s Old Ale House is the oldest Irish pub in the city. It feels like going back in time to the beginning of the 1900. Hidden gem? The Sport Center at Chelsea Piers When you are in the hot tub you can see the Statue of Liberty. How to be(come) a New Yorker? You mast be gorgeous and very particular. You have to be over the top with a swag...and you have it or you don’t! Your New York soundtrack? Rino Gaetano — Ma il cielo è sempre più blu translates to “But the sky is always more blue”.
130
“My lovely New Yorkers, the subway is not your house. Stop eating on the face of others and stop clipping your nails. BASTA!” Quoted, New York
131
132
Quoted, New York
133
book changed my life. He’s been in bed for 17 years and wrote this positive book with his eyes. It brings you back to real life. Especially when living in New York, where everything is so material. It puts things in perspective.”
BOOK “This
CLOCKWISE FROM PHOTO
5 THINGS THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT GIOVANNI
EVIL VILLAIN CAT
“When you don’t get married you have to get a cat. I’m probably getting lonely and old.”
134
“I didn’t have a good relationship with my father. My grandfather was the one who took care of me. If I had a problem I would go to him. I take this picture everywhere. He’s my guardian angel.” PHOTO
SCARF “This is love. My football team in Italy. It reminds me of hanging out with all my Italian friends. When I wear it here in New York I feel like I am home again. It represents victory, loss, tears, joy, pain. It’s the same scarf I put in my grandfather’s coffin.”
“It’s freedom. It’s like I can go any time, anywhere. It’s kind of interesting, the rush you can get from riding a motorbike. Everything can happen when I’m riding my bike.” MOTORCYCLE (HELMET)
Quoted, New York
135
Send us a quote on instagram #quotedmagazine and tell us what you love about New York.
136
Quoted, New York
137
Visual Identities, Naming, Vegan Food, Hats, Awardwinning copywriting Like This, Logos In Space, Account Managing, Art Direction, Pointy Shoes Typography, Digital Design, Strategically placed ads, years of experience, Motion Design, Bullshit, Magic, LinkedIn skills, Iconic Designs, Trivial Stock Imagery, Corny Headlines, Poster Design, Visual Identity Systems, Packaging Design, startup lingo, Start-Up Creative Direction, Effortless Ideas, & Passion.
138
Poulsen Projects.
Visual identities for iconic brands.
140
Poulsen Projects.
OUTRO
8,550,405 personalities and stories hide amongst the bustling streets, skyscrapers and city lights of New York. A city that breaks hearts, sucks you in, becomes an addiction of inspiration. You have just experienced the city through the lens of 10 brave New Yorkers, read their unique stories and watched as they invited you to get a glimpse inside their homes and lives. We hope our New Yorkers left behind a memorable footprint. Whether it be a different view on local lifestyle, a feeling of intimacy with people you never met before, excitement to explore the city in new ways, or simply human love and fascination for the diversity NYC represent. This is the city that can give you anything you want! The only thing it asks in return is an open mind. Now go out and enjoy!
CREDITS
Founder & Editor in Chief Rolf Arne Leer Creative Director Mads Jakob Poulsen / Poulsen Projects Head of Photography Paula Andrea @softwhenripe
142
Published by Quoted Magazine New York Backstage APS
“I was walking the streets. I was noticed, but I wasn’t the center of attention. I felt that I fit in. You’re not awkward. You’re Quoted not weird. Magazine, You’re New home. York It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you believe. New York is the city for everyone.”
