Comments on: What are some atypical symbols of New York?

Question: What are some atypical symbols of New York?

Cochise — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:36:06 -0800

Can anyone think of any cool, though perhaps unusual images or symbols that represent New York?

I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for years, and a while ago I decided on the old New York City subway token for the design. I'm still a fan of the token, but I'm curious to see if anyone has any better ideas. Essentially what I'm looking for is something that represents New York in some unusual way (no Statue of Liberty drawings or sports teams or anything like that). Any thoughts?

By: These Premises Are Alarmed

These Premises Are Alarmed — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:46:18 -0800

Two rats in a circle, each consuming the other's tail.

By: backupjesus

backupjesus — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:50:21 -0800

Sewer cover?

By: luriete

luriete — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:50:42 -0800

A rat on the tracks. They may have driven them off the street, but there are still plenty left in the stations, no matter how many "warning: rat poison" signs you see.

I like the token, but what about the color-coded signs for the Manhattan lines (or whatever part of the city you live in)? Those are pretty cool. A silhouette of the island with a green square for the Park would be neat too.

I am also partial to the library's lions.

By: thewittyname

thewittyname — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:51:33 -0800

Something incorporating the checkered design from yellow cabs?

By: infinitewindow

infinitewindow — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:56:05 -0800

How about the New Yorker logo dude with the monocle and crazy clothes?

By: grobstein

grobstein — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:56:51 -0800

One of those Greek deli coffee cups? It's hard to think of something that hasn't been pre-emptively cliched. The Subway-line letters / numbers are really cool but lately have been all over all kinds of merchandise.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:07:54 -0800

A World's Fair logo?

By: nebulawindphone

nebulawindphone — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:13:42 -0800

Bonus points for getting the sewer cover tattooed on your ass.

By: djb

djb — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:15:23 -0800

Unisphere?

infinitewindow - his name is Eustace Tilley.

By: Mikey-San

Mikey-San — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:43:34 -0800

I'd say the graphic and type design of the signage of the NYC subway system.

By: missed

missed — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:47:46 -0800

maybe one of the station identifying mosaics from your favorite subway station?

By: mbd1mbd1

mbd1mbd1 — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:50:08 -0800

The building fire escapes from the Village (I'm thinking of the post from a couple of weeks ago)?

By: indiebass

indiebass — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:52:10 -0800

I like the rats consuming each others tails. It makes me giggle. I was going to say the old 2nd Avenue Deli logo, but that's a little corporate and (at least for the time being) they're not open at the moment.

By: mkb

mkb — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:18:50 -0800

The little brass statues in the 14th st and 8th av station or many of the other subway artworks.

By: lia

lia — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:40:55 -0800

I dare you to get a tattoo of the Naked Cowboy!

By: JaredSeth

JaredSeth — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:02:59 -0800

I've always thought a band (say around the calf for example) of the city skyline would make an interesting tattoo.

By: DefendBrooklyn

DefendBrooklyn — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:18:30 -0800

A manhole design covering your entire back would badass.
A MetroCard? The NYC logo the Knicks wear on their shorts? Little LED stick figure from the walk/don't walk signs? A taxi meter? The Intrepid? Staten Island Ferry? The entire MTA map on the front of your torso with bus info too.

By: damn dirty ape

damn dirty ape — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:41:55 -0800

Rudy Guiliani in drag.

By: The Bellman

The Bellman — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:47:07 -0800

Wormy apple a la this?

By: damn dirty ape

damn dirty ape — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:53:22 -0800

A disturbing looking deli sandwich.

By: Davidissimo

Davidissimo — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:11:46 -0800

Gray's Papaya Hot Dog. or CBGB's.

By: 23skidoo

23skidoo — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:28:41 -0800

Perhaps a bit too political (and I can't find a link to the exact image I'm thinking of), but I think the Village Voice had an Amadou Diallo cover with I <3 NY riddled with 41 bulletholes, 19 of which outlined the heart. When I was living in NY, that kind of summed up the sweet and the sour that the city had to offer. So I'ma suggest a heart, outlined in 19 bullets.

By: rob511

rob511 — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:45:18 -0800

- A restaurant inspection certificate — you choose the grade
- An upraised middle digit
- Mr. Met
- The no-smoking sign
- The digits "9/11" (or WTC silhouette)
- Logo of your nearest subway line
- The phrase "What you lookin' at?"

By: clango

clango — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:31:42 -0800

A middle finger?

By: unknowncommand

unknowncommand — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:46:08 -0800

The Wonder Wheel and/or the Parachute Drop at Coney Island.

By: myopicman

myopicman — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:35:07 -0800

Water towers. I miss being able to look out from a certain height and being able to see all the rooftops with hundreds of those wooden cylinders with the cone dome tops.

By: thinkingwoman

thinkingwoman — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:45:57 -0800

it would never work, but there's that "what to do in case of choking" poster that every restaurant is required to post...

i second the greek coffee cup, but only a new yorker would get it. eustace tilley might have a little more name recognition, but not much. and you'd have to really like the magazine. i love the idea of patience and fortitude, the library lions.

what about an eagle gargoyle from the chrysler building?

By: crayolarabbit

crayolarabbit — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:55:31 -0800

When I think of home, I think of subway signs. Like, on NY1 (the local news), almost every "random shot of neighborhood" has an establishing shot of the subway station staircase.

Also good: bagels, Broadway (the giant Coca Cola sign and Cup O Noodles and all the other advertising, OR old school shows in lights), and a taxi.

By: rob511

rob511 — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:10:17 -0800

"La vía del tren subterráneo es peligrosa. Si el tren se para entre las estaciones quédese adentro. No salga afuera. Siga las instrucciones de los operadores del tren o la policía...."

By: gfrobe

gfrobe — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 01:29:25 -0800

NYC diner coffee cups with the "we are happy to serve you" logo.

By: Caviar

Caviar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:19:35 -0800

There's the NYC Parks Dept. logo:

By: Caviar

Caviar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:20:22 -0800

Parks Dept. Logo.