Allow me to entertain you with thread: A few days ago, there was a twitter storm about the worst places in NYC. Many people said Times Square, which I would typically agree with except for one thing: My dad. 1/11
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Some of you don't know this but my dad is a street vendor in Times Square. He's been at the same spot on 45th and Broadway for the last 23 years. (ie. he was there before MTV's TRL madness). He has SEEN some thangs. 2/11
Important SN: My dad was also the vendor who found that bomb in Time Square, back in 2010. (So he's a legit hero and stuff) 3/11
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Times Square has unwritten rules between the vendors, entertainers, police, and everyone in between. I know a lot of the ins and outs: where the clean bathrooms are, how to navigate through building, which hotdog stands are legit, & been backstage of most Broadway theatres 4/11
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I kinda grew up there & the staples have seen me grow. Naked Cowboy sent me a card for my HS graduation. Some of the sketch artists came to my graduation party. Free bicycle taxi to job interviews. When I went to India, guy at the hotdog stand next to my dad gave me tips! 5/11
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Time Square folks have come and go, but my dad is a staple. Everyone knows him. Whenever any of my friends or old co-workers are near Times Square, they all walk by and say "Hi Tiffany's Dad!" (My dad always tells me so and so stopped by) 6/11
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Fast-forward to today: Summer and Holiday seasons are the busiest time in TS but thanks to Corona, everyone has taken a beating, including my dad. He hasn't been working since March. The longest he's been away and he's slowly making his way back.
I went to visit him. 7/11
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Times Square is SUPER eerie with all the plays & stores closed and zero tourists. My dad set up his stand anyways. He's a people person, likes being in the center of everything.
But it's a STRANGE ghost town and it might be time to move spots. 8/11
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Naked Cowboy is also out there, still inappropriate as ever. They're keeping themselves entertained. 😜 9/11
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All this to say: Time Square is def a tourist hell trap, but it's also a microcosm of the very hustlers that make New York NEW YORK! A lot of them have lost their livelihood but some are still out there...selling whatever they got and keeping this city...unique. 10/11
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SN: My dad is also an unofficial bookseller and has been known to sell signed copies of my books from the back of his truck. (Allegedly. *smirks and winks*)
If you stop by, tell him I sent you.
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Whew! This blew up! Thanks for all the love for my dad! You made his day! ❤️ Here are some more pics: Grad school graduation, Person of the year, as well as him standing in front of a billboard for a show I worked on.
Support Disabled Veterans and NYC Vendors!
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Also: 1) No, I won't tell you where the clean bathrooms are. LOL!! Vendors need them more than you! 2) Yeah, I guess I should write a book about this... 3) But I have PLENTY of other books 🙃
writeinbk.com/books-1
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Also, and I can't stress this enough.... arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.
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