If you fight over the use of your bathroom with your loved ones you can only imagine what it must have been like to share one with several neighbors and their broods. Maybe if they where smaller, people would get out of them quicker. I know you are probably thinking how much smaller could a New York City apartment's bathroom get. C'est ne pas possible! But Yes, it is possible as once upon a time they were like this.
Photos: Tenement.org
These spaces were for one function only, the rest of your morning regime was taken care of via the multipurpose sink, in the living room-slash-kitchen-slash-washroom. There was was one knob for cold water, cold water and more, you guessed it, cold water.
Photo: Tenement.org
"Are you done with the toothpaste?"
"Can you hand it to me please?"
(The supposed master of the pet asks)
"I'm not done yet! Close the door!"
(Answers the real King of the castle)
I have had the pleasure of living in boxes of different layouts and sizes in buildings and private homes in New York City most of my life and besides the lack of closet space complaint there is the L-A-U-N-D-R-Y. Few tenants have the luxury of having a dishwasher let alone a washer and dryer in their homes. This task is still one in which you must exit you box and commune with others in a space specially designated for the the spin washing, drying and folding of your delicates, linens and rough and tumble clothing. Even if you own your lovely box and have your own machines, chances are you still have to make make a trip and commune with your neighbors because they can't handle blankets.
Once upon a time the living room-slash-kitchen-slash washroom was also the slash-laundry room. The basin you used to shave and the dishes from breakfast did not sit long before being cleared. And once done the laundry was hung. Decorating every inch of available air space like streamers in bizarre celebration.
And so my fellow New Yorkers like many in urban areas throughout the world go on quest for change to feed the hungry machines so their clothes can come clean.
Quarters. Forget "Buddy, can you spare a dime." We need quarters and plenty. Before cell phones became the norm for everyone to carry, even seven-year old's, and debit cards replaced cash, for the most part, people carried purses just for change to feed the pay phones, buy newspapers, ride the buses, etc. You can't get change in most places in the city, unless you make a purchase and today a pack of gum costs a dollar. Good luck trying to break a five and getting 4 quarters in that mix of change for your Wrigley's Spearmint. There appears to be a change shortage in some parts of NYC or maybe it's just that merchants are fighting the same roll of quarter fees because some have taken to posting signs asking patrons for change. Meanwhile, laundromats have change machines for use by their patrons only! And unfortunately, I have not seen nor heard of any friends having change machines in laundry rooms in the buildings they reside because of theft and maintenance concerns.
It costs at least 3 dollars to wash and dry a small load of wash, so depending on the size of your brood or laundry sacks, you'll need 10 to 20 bucks worth of quarters and were do you go to get them? To the bank.
Banks. Once upon a time every week or two weeks you got a check in exchange for you labor. You endorsed said check and gave it to the teller at your bank for deposit. Thanks to advancements in technology, funds are transferred electronically and with the flexibility of paying bills on line, nowadays one rarely steps into a bank except to get cash from ATM machines, which do not dispense quarters. So you have to get on line (make that queue) and depending on the bank you go to your conversation will go something like this: Teller- "How can I help you today? (smile)" You- "I need a roll of quarters." Teller- "Do you have an account with us? (still smiling)" You- "No." Teller (no longer smiling)- "Well then, I'm sorry I can't give your quarters" or "We only offer this service to our customers. I'll do it for you this once, but next time I will have to charge you." If I needed a bank, I certainly wouldn't want to bank with one who was so inhospitable. It's just a roll of quarters for the laundry!!
Two Stupid Dogs had a hard time getting just one quarter to use a pay phone. What an odyssey they would have gone on if they had to get 10 or 20 bucks worth.
I don't endorse any financial institution but Citi is quintessentially NYC as apple pie and base ball are to America. And no teller has yet to give me 'tude for 10 or 20 bucks worth of quarters. Citi Teller- "How can I help you today." Me- "I need one, no make that two rolls of quarters." Citi Teller- "Here you go will there be anything else I can assist you with today?" Me- "No, that's it. Thanks." Citi Teller- "Thanks and have a good day!" Sometimes they throw in "thanks for banking with Citi." I could be cynical and say, "Hey, we bailed them out didn't we? So, they have to be nice." But that has been the Citi way even before we the people backed them and the others.
Citi's new campaign: "Our Promise to New York"
"I promise," started the slogan on the tee that the teller helping me was wearing, "to reward you for banking with us!" I asked about the slogan when he returned with my quarters and was told that yes, he (meaning they- Citi) meant it. We'll see. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Citi's towers grace the skylines of Manhattan and Long Island City in Queens, and its name crowns the facade of our Met's new stadium to the chagrin of many. There are almost as many Citi branches as there are Starbucks. But with quarters in hand my thoughts return to completing the remainder of the weekly challenge, communing with my neighbors at one of the many designated spaces for the spin washing, drying and folding of the L-A-U-N-D-R-Y.
Links of Interest
Tenement Museum
Tenement Museum Blog
http://tenement-museum.blogspot.com/
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