The Ebony Hillbillies are a New York MTA underground sensation. They are absurd. They are talented, hilarious, and hell, if they're still here, I can be here, too.And as of late, I have contemplated being here, in the most expensive and "diverse" city of the world;Whole Foods, Whole Foods Wine Store, T.J. Maxx and Michael's - a one-stop craft store (I once - proudly - didn't know what Michael's was) are across the street from my apartment. Modell's. Crumbs. Cupcakes, soon to follow. As a result of this oh-so-convenient "suburban" strip mall, I am becoming much more desensitized to the enticement of "natural" salad bars, artisan pizza, and am drinking almost every night (mind you, one glass of wine - I have two small kids who get up early each morning) after nickel-and-dime-ing away in Retail Wasteland...after enough years of lusting after unaffordable things on Madison Avenue and beyond, perhaps a great majority of New Yorkers are getting their grooves on with the lower end of the retail chain?
I now know my way around (and out!!!) of the Michael's photo framing and scrapbook areas and I just bought some glow stick bracelets and made my first-ever pink glitter glue purchase (and return). Costco (never been) just opened up a monster of a store several blocks east in Harlem and another bank is sure to open up around the corner. The "Old-schools" of the UWS and Harlem are becoming safe, sterile, suburban strip malls as of late, and I am clearly reaping the benefits of such gentrified transformations. I might as well be in Short Hills, NJ or Burnsville, MN. But, no, I am in Manhattan, residing as an adamant, "big city girl" advocate, while calmly and covertly binging on suburban inspiration and trying to remain calm about it.
But, if you take the train on a random day, you just might see The Ebony Hillbillies, or an impromptu street-break-dancing troupe, or a panhandler shaking believably in a Glad garbage bag.
Yes my friends, you are still in New York. And it's still way cooler than you.
