NYC, the Knicks and What have you
NYC is much in the news these days with the Knicks seemingly set to win the NBA crown. You have to be careful anytime you assert ‘something is in the news’ because it’s possible it’s just in your news, your feed, reinforced and self-perpetuating with each like, follow, linger or forward of any given post.
As least in my curated algorithm, the Knicks, the games, and the streets of NYC including watch-parties and street corner gatherings have garnered a certain momentum of celebration. I’m a big NYC appreciator - lived there, fish there for most of my business clients, still read Crain's Business Journal for the micro-business take on the city, do the Five Boro bike tour whenever I can and read the New Yorker since I was 20, which while this publication covers a variety of international and national issues, at its core is a tribal coverage of the five boros.
Mamdani continues to impress - policy success in real life and real time still to be determined - but as for a coherent vision of what he sees as important for NY, and building coalitions around that goal, he seems to be on the right track. His infectious smile hurts my face just looking at it. He eschewed a front-row ticket to the Knicks game, though you can bet it was available to him with all the celebs showcasing their status and access. Instead he picks a fight with the Knicks owner and watches the game from a small LGBTQ bar. He’s got a good feel for the micro-political theater, which is an interesting skill in one of the world’s largest cities.
Glad I checked my facts before posting - seems Mamdani did attend game 3 but with nose bleed seats. The NYPost seems to think this is a betrayal of his 'everyman' act, since even the nose-bleed seats are tough to get and are expensive. But, not to me - since I'm sure he could have gotten court side, could have gotten opening ceremonies, and could be putting himself front and center in the whole spectacle. (remember, this is just my world-view, wholly determined by what's being fed me in my social media). That's a more typical approach and tactic of a NY politician.
Taylor Swift on the other hand, she just can’t see someone else’s parade and not want to be the Queen of it. I remember thinking the same thing when Olivia Rodrigo was singing Vampire at one of the award shows and Swift stole some thunder by standing, and dancing with prominence, knowing full-well where the cameras would swing. She did it with Karol G, but less so. And now with the Knicks - seeing all the attention hoisted on the celebs she’s like “I need to be there” and so she was, getting a lot of attention for a sport and city that as far as I know holds no particular interest for her. Her over-the-top fandom wherever she is grates on my sense of propriety. Think about - worth billions, universally lauded, applauded and even worshipped around the world and still needs not to miss out on a moment of international fame and attention. Trump-like. Her constant energy is exhausting. Humans - we are a weird bunch.
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night
Dua Lipa got married, and that was a bit of a disappointment to see my chance for that relationship extinguished with finality. That guy of hers most be some kind of lover since her energies and demands would seem to be inexhaustible. My employee from a few years ago put together this bar car for me and included a framed photo of my girl Dua.
I was concerned about Ariana Grande's physical appearance so I killed some time googling her and surprise, I wasn't the only one. But then I opened up my unrelated TikTok app just a few minutes later and low and behold the very first thing in my feed is a threat about Grande and her appearance. We used to think the idea that our phone is listening and recording was coincidental and eye-brow raising - now it's clear it's happening real time all the time. Every conversation, All the time. Catalogued and archived. Marketed to and surviellenced from.
My Tik Tok feeds is giving me a lot of raucous loud boisterous New Yorkers being New Yorkers. Fun to watch. A bit dangerous this brew of excitement and mix of all the classes of NYC.