The song “Signs” by the Five Man Electrical Band goes through my mind as I take these photos and post them. So I borrowed lyrics for the headline. These are signs unique to New York City. Like this one on the Weed World store. This colorful shop sells candies which contain CBD as well as cannabis-themed merchandise. They also have green trucks parked throughout midtown Manhattan where you can purchase a wide range of items. If you visit, don’t forget to say “high” to the sales people :).
After enjoying your Weed World purchase you may get the munchies. So you can amble over to a 99 Cent Pizza restaurant for a slice. Who said everything in New York City is expensive?
Another bargain - New York hats. Three for $10 bucks. There are cheap tee-shirts in the various New York gift shops, too. As well as more expensive items, including pricy cameras.
Signs like these are all over the place, too. Unfortunaely there’s a lot of vacant retail and office space. Still, there’s construction underway of new buildings and plans to build even more.
I’ve lived places where your family has to have been there for several generations before you’re accepted as being from there. Here, one becomes a New Yorker as soon as he or she moves in and declares themselves one. This poster advertises an art exhibition reflecting that welcoming culture.
There are signs, alright. But as this photo shows, not everyone pays attention to them.
This sign is uniquely New York. In fact, it’s uniquely Times Square. Where pedestrian traffic flow patterns have been established because the Crossroads of the World frequently gets gridlocked with people, not cars.
Another uniquely Times Square sign. All around Times Square there are costumed characters. Some dressed, like this guy, like the Statue of Liberty. Others wearing superhero or cartoon character costumes. Kids love to pose with them. Parents love to take photos. But this isn’t Disneyland and they don’t work for the city. They are trolling for tips. So posters like this one are on display reminding Mom and Dad that they are expected to tip them for posing with their children.
One of my favorite signs unique (obviously) to New York. On the Times Square police office.
In New York, you’re required to be vaccinated if you want to go into a restaurant or similar establishment. Proof of vaccination is required. Even for children older than 5. Enforcement of this mandate is controversial because the restaurant owner is required to enforce the rule. Failure to enforce it could result in the restaurant being fined. That sometimes pits restaurant workers against angry anti-vax customers. This has resulted in several confrontations.
This sign, and similar ones on other theaters, is the kind no one wants to see. Many Broadway shows have been forced to shutdown because of COVID cases among members of production companies.
I can’t end this photo tour of uniquely New York signs without this…
…and of course, for obvious reasons, this.
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All photos copyright Gary Baumgarten
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