Everyone knows rats are living among us - in the parks, the subway system, buildings and restaurants. But we don't expect to see hordes of them scurrying in plain view in a restaurant as recently witnessed at the Taco Bell-KFC in Greenwich Village. This was a major news item for all the local networks and papers on February 23, 2007. Click here for the Gothamist coverage - they had numerous articles spanning several days. And if you have the stomach for it, here's the video clip of the rats in action - this was run over and over on the day the news broke. Since this episode there have been many similar stories regarding other restaurants. I decided to stroll by the location last night and see the status. The place was completely closed of course. The only things of interest were the two Department of Health notices on the windows with an accumulation of comments written on them (click on the photo or this link to view a larger image for better reading). New Yorkers are extremely tolerant and adaptable. Very little really shocks us or for very long - even then, we bounce back rather quickly. And we have a good sense of humor, as evidenced by the comments on the notices. However, many doubt that Taco Bell will reopen at this location - how many would want to eat here? Tolerant or not, even New Yorkers can draw the line ...
9 comments:
Oh man, that's an awesome capture. There's just so much comic relief in this situation.
Theres a great documentary film that came out a few years ago about the Rats of NYC Their numbers are incredible.
They sure as hell are not going to move to the suburbs.
They were there before the Indians and the Dutch.
But I still hate em ..Ohhh you Dirty rats
ianqui - At first I was disappointed when I arrived at the scene. But as I read the comments, I found it very entertaining. By the time I wrote this posting and worked on the photos it was becoming one of my favorites.
fritz - I can't say I like them either. Many say they provide a necessary function - I still would prefer the world without them.
Brian
NYC is smart aleck central and this captures it well...
so funny - brilliant gallows humour!
Very black humour.
A little bit of me wants to click on the video but I don't dare...
Angela
Much more coverage than only in NYC, The KFC story made it around the world and should also have a negative impact everywhere. Very bad advertising. I try to eat at a KFC not more than once every two years.
I imagine they hold conventions anywere they choose to once we go to sleep. ;-) Recently in Venice I was told that ever since they have managed to eliminate most feral cats (thought to be a good deed as regards the cats), the rats are partying night and day. ;-)
There's an entertaining character in John Behrend's "City of Falling Angels", an internationally successful Italian rat poison manufacturer, who explains in detail how the food preferences of rats change from country to country. ;-)
This is the film I was referring to
Post a Comment