Navel of the Universe

Unisphere (Pixabay)

"Living as you do in New York, the navel of the universe, it is easy to confuse the Midwest and the South."
John Fleischman, quoted in Zany's New York City Apartment Guide

City of Freaks

"New York is a city of freaks; there is always room for one of everything."
Francis Ogilvy, quoted in The King of Madison Avenue

Running Behind

"Getting pissed that someone is slowing me down—don't they know I have somewhere to be?!—instead of getting mad at myself for not leaving home ten minutes earlier is not only ridiculous but also very New York. We're always running behind, overbooked, and missing the train all because some idiot (not us) made us late."
Phoebe Robinson, You Can't Touch My Hair