Patti Smith famously counseled budding artists not to move to New York – you’ll spend all your time just trying to pay the rent and never get around to your art. Rather, she said, move to the “Second Tier Cities.” By that she meant: cities where the living is easier (cheaper). These days even the Second Tier Cities are becoming prohibitive. So I’d amend that to say, move to a city with a healthy “weirdness” factor. Portland has it. Austin has it. And St. Louis definitely has it. And how can you tell?
Well something like this might give you a clue:
Well something like this might give you a clue:
Yes, it’s the St. Louis Annual Naked Bike Ride. I’m here for the Netroots Nation 2016 Conference, but this is truly one of the highlights. I still don’t have permission to ride (coming soon), or I’d be joining in.
It's a ride where you can never wear enough watches...
It's a ride where you can never wear enough watches...
And you can never have enough tattoos.
It can't be comfortable.
Unless you're on a recumbent.
As you can see, not everyone participates fully, though everyone adopts the spirit of weirdness.
And style is everything.
You may be surprised to learn this is a world-wide event:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Naked_Bike_Ride
And New York has one too:
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/see-cheeky-nsfw-photos-from-the-nyc-world-naked-bike-ride-2015
But don’t expect full frontal in New York City (courtesy The Gothamist)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Naked_Bike_Ride
And New York has one too:
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/see-cheeky-nsfw-photos-from-the-nyc-world-naked-bike-ride-2015
But don’t expect full frontal in New York City (courtesy The Gothamist)
If you want to ride naked here, it’s gonna be more of an Underwear Ride.
New York long ago lost its cachet for being weird.