stories

new york fiction

TNY Archive
That Afternoon
That Afternoon
Mister Almost
Mister Almost

Mister Almost, a doorman at a prestigious Midtown Manhattan hotel, once dreamed of success in show business but saw his aspirations fade slowly over the years. Despite his cheerful exterior and charming rapport with guests, he never let go of his unfulfilled ambitions, often recounting his near-misses in the acting world. His poignant story highlights a man who remains connected to his dreams, even as he watches others achieve the success that eluded him.

new york narratives

TNY Archive
Broad Daylight at the Museum
Broad Daylight at the Museum
Welcome Great Turnip
Welcome Great Turnip
The 226 year old unsolved NYC murder case of Elma sands
The 226 year old unsolved NYC murder case of Elma sands
You Heard Florence, Dog Days Are Over
You Heard Florence, Dog Days Are Over
Hey! I’m driving here!
Hey! I’m driving here!
Of Gods and Rats
Of Gods and Rats
The Rockefeller, The Xylophonist, and the Canadian
The Rockefeller, The Xylophonist, and the Canadian
A New York City Ferry Tale
A New York City Ferry Tale
The Stretch Zone
The Stretch Zone
Why Is It So Hard To Date In NYC
Why Is It So Hard To Date In NYC
Ghosts of Subways Past
Ghosts of Subways Past
NYC Kinda Sucks in January
NYC Kinda Sucks in January
Closing Time
Closing Time
I Get It Now
I Get It Now
New Year, New York
New Year, New York
I'll Be Home for Christmas
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Death Race 2022
Death Race 2022
New Yorkers Are Secretly Kind
New Yorkers Are Secretly Kind
Spooky Season is Upon Us
Spooky Season is Upon Us
Why the NYC Libraries are the Best Part of the City
Why the NYC Libraries are the Best Part of the City
Someone Else Used to Live in Your Apartment
Someone Else Used to Live in Your Apartment
A Guide to Owning a Car in NYC
A Guide to Owning a Car in NYC
Hot Take: Murray Hill Is Not Just for the Finance Bros
Hot Take: Murray Hill Is Not Just for the Finance Bros
Down In Front
Down In Front
An Interview with Aram of Lorens NYC
An Interview with Aram of Lorens NYC
They want to open a casino in Times Square. Oh Jesus… On second thought, why not?
They want to open a casino in Times Square. Oh Jesus… On second thought, why not?
When I Worked at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
When I Worked at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Apropos of Nothing
Apropos of Nothing
I've Been Redistricted And I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore
I've Been Redistricted And I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore
When West Virginian Parents Come to the Big Apple
When West Virginian Parents Come to the Big Apple

THE Burned bagel

TNY Archive
The City While We Wait
The City While We Wait

Before smartphones, waiting in New York meant sharing space with strangers, on subway platforms, buses, benches, and sidewalks. Boredom was public, attention was communal, and unmediated time felt unavoidable. This essay reflects on growing up before constant connectivity, arriving in New York without a smartphone, and noticing how screens have quietly reshaped waiting, presence, and civic life in a city built on shared downtime.

A New Yorker’s Honest Take on the Mamdani Win, and a theory of aesthetics (Since No One Asked)
A New Yorker’s Honest Take on the Mamdani Win, and a theory of aesthetics (Since No One Asked)