Things are still strange in NYC - but hey, where there's giant inflatable rats, there's hope.
I don't have a smartphone, but I always throw at least my little Optio in my bag when I'm heading into Manhattan these days, because you just never know what you might see.
I was really glad I did that yesterday -- what a kick to see these classic symbols of NYC union protest! I was on my way to one of my appointments at the NYU Langone Laura Perlmutter Imaging Center on 34th Street; I'd taken the B train to Herald Square and caught the bus from there* - spotted these outside the Empire State Building and walked back to take a picture on my way home afterwards.
I shared these on FB yesterday and a friend asked about the symbolism and I realized that I didn't really know precisely. You see them in NYC pretty regularly and I did know that they were connected with union protests, but I went looking for more detail and found a very informative article about the history of Scabby the Rat. That's right, they not only have a very specific message, they have a name!
The cat, on the other hand, is a new one to me. The balloon company that created Scabby also offers a Fat Cat balloon, but he's much more cartoony, dressed in top hat and tux, with one fist clenched around a laborer's neck and the other around a money bag. Not sure whether this one is a Fat Cat or the opposite, the union come to catch the rats - he looks pretty benign compared to the obviously nasty Scabby, right?
Anyways, weirdly nice to see this normal bit of NYC weirdness after all the weirder weirdness we've seen here in 2020.
I don't have a smartphone, but I always throw at least my little Optio in my bag when I'm heading into Manhattan these days, because you just never know what you might see.
I was really glad I did that yesterday -- what a kick to see these classic symbols of NYC union protest! I was on my way to one of my appointments at the NYU Langone Laura Perlmutter Imaging Center on 34th Street; I'd taken the B train to Herald Square and caught the bus from there* - spotted these outside the Empire State Building and walked back to take a picture on my way home afterwards.
I shared these on FB yesterday and a friend asked about the symbolism and I realized that I didn't really know precisely. You see them in NYC pretty regularly and I did know that they were connected with union protests, but I went looking for more detail and found a very informative article about the history of Scabby the Rat. That's right, they not only have a very specific message, they have a name!
The cat, on the other hand, is a new one to me. The balloon company that created Scabby also offers a Fat Cat balloon, but he's much more cartoony, dressed in top hat and tux, with one fist clenched around a laborer's neck and the other around a money bag. Not sure whether this one is a Fat Cat or the opposite, the union come to catch the rats - he looks pretty benign compared to the obviously nasty Scabby, right?
Anyways, weirdly nice to see this normal bit of NYC weirdness after all the weirder weirdness we've seen here in 2020.
And here's Scabby all ready to go full King Kong on the Empire State Building!
*Notes for friends concerned about me taking public transportation:
1. I wore the N95 mask a nurse friend gave me specifically for wearing to appointments.
2. Neither the subway nor the bus were too crowded, and both pretty clean.
3. Almost all of the other passengers were wearing masks, and wearing them right. Nice!
4 comments:
Scabby is still on the job. Good news.
That's right! :D
Scabby made an appearance in downtown Binghamton, New York several years ago, I believe. I thought I had a picture somewhere. I couldn't find it, but nice to make the re-acquaintance of the rat. I'm happy people were behaving themselves on mass transit for your appointment. I worry about everyone I know who needs to use it.
Will there be gigantic rat balloons in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year, do you suppose?
Post a Comment