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New York Post
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Gen Z, Gen X square off in slang showdown: Do you know what 'slay,' 'tubular,' 'Bogart' and more mean?
These generations are lost in translation. Gen X isn't exactly 'slaying' when it comes to understanding their zoomer children's slang — but Gen Z is similarly stumped by the popular words and phrases their parents said way back in the day. The Post took to Times Square to host the ultimate fun showdown — Gen X vs. Gen Z in a battle of the slang — and the results were mixed. Advertisement 9 James Curran, 49, and his daughter Katie, 17, battled it out in our Gen X vs. Gen Z slang quiz. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post 9 Isabella Moss, 18, and her mom, Allison, 53, visiting from Austin, Texas, took part in our quiz. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post We asked Gen Xers the meaning of five slang words currently used by Zoomers, including 'serve,' 'stan' and 'rizz.' Advertisement To test whether their kids could speak fluent throwback, we subsequently quizzed Gen Z teens on five slang words popular among Gen X back in the 1980s and 1990s, including pop culture-inspired 'gnarly,' 'grody' and 'tubular.' If you fancy yourself a superior slang decoder, take our test below and find out whether you fared better than those we stopped on the street. GEN X SLANG Gnarly 9 Mya Lenahan, 16, tries to guess Gen X slang in our Post pop quiz. The Gen Z teen was left stumped by some of the words used by older generations. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post According to Surfer Today, gnarly 'originated from the word 'gnarled,' meaning 'knobbly, rough, and twisted, especially with age.'' Advertisement It first came into usage way back in the mid-18th century and kept its literal meaning for more than 200 years before it was appropriated by California surfers in the 1970s to describe something completely different. The slang word subsequently became a Gen X staple after it was used by Sean Penn's surfer stoner character Jeff Spicoli in the 1982 teen smash 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High.' But do you know what it means? Answer: 'gnarly' can mean either difficult and challenging or excellent and cool Bogart Advertisement 9 Brooklyn teen Azeeah Philips, 15, was stunned to learn the meanings of some Gen X slang words. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post This popular Gen X slang word baffled the Gen Z participants who took part in our quiz, with several theorizing it was related to the 'Harry Potter' universe, in which a 'boggart' is a shape-shifting creature that takes the form of its observer's fear. However, the word is actually inspired by Hollywood icon Humphrey Bogart, who often kept a cigarette in his mouth without smoking it in scenes from his famed black-and-white movies. Thus, to 'Bogart' something means to hog or monopolize on something without sharing. Tubular Another slang word that originated in California's surfing culture, 'tubular' was initially used to describe a hollow, curling wave. By the late 1980s, it had entered Gen X lexicon with a different meaning and reached peak usage after 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' in 1989. Zoomers quizzed by The Post were mystified by the term, which fell out of fashion long before they were born. Advertisement It was widely used by Gen X to describe something cool, awesome or — imagine Keanu Reeves saying it — most excellent. Bodacious 9 Mom and daughter Angelique, 52, and Michelle, 18, stopped in Times Square to test their knowledge. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post This Gen X slang word stayed popular even as they aged out of their teens and into parenthood. 'Bodacious' was subsequently picked up by millennials — but only a few zoomers we tested were able to guess its meaning. Advertisement It's used to describe someone impressive or remarkable. Additionally, it's used as an adjective for someone who is sexually attractive. Grody 'Grody' is an American variation of 'grotty' — a British slang word first made famous by The Beatles in the 1964 film 'A Hard Day's Night.' In California, 'grody' gained traction in the surfing community in the early 1980s, and several Zoomers we quizzed correctly guessed its meaning. However, they all insisted it's no longer a part of everyday conversation. Advertisement A shortening of the word 'grotesque,' it's slang for gross, disgusting or unpleasant. GEN Z SLANG Stan 9 New Jersey dad James Curran, 49, correctly guessed the meaning of the Gen Z slang word 'stan.' Impressively, he was even able to explain its origin. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post The origin of this popular Gen Z slang word dates back to the year 2000 — long before Zoomers held cultural sway. Inspired by Eminem's song 'Stan,' released in that year, it's a term used to describe a devoted — and possibly deranged — fan. Advertisement Conveniently, it's also a portmanteau of the words 'stalker' and 'fan.' One hip Gen X dad, James Curran, 47, from New Jersey, correctly guessed the meaning of the slang word and was even able to explain that it originated from the Eminem track. Slay 9 Zoomer Hadi Baydoun, 25, is seen taking part in our Post pop quiz. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post 'Slay' is derived from the LGBTQ+ ballroom scene but has become a key part of Zoomer vernacular in recent years. Several Gen X parents were able to guess the meaning of this word correctly, possibly thanks to Beyoncé's iconic hit 'Formation,' in which she sings: 'I slay all day.' It's commonly used to describe someone's appearance or accomplishment, e.g., 'You're slaying in that outfit.' Serve Despite being a popular variation of 'slay,' most Gen X'ers weren't able to guess the meaning of this word correctly. It's used to describe someone or something that looks good or amazing. For instance: 'You're serving in those shoes.' Rizz 9 Laney Schmidt, 15, and her mom, Sara, 47, took our test in Times Square. The tourists were in town from Omaha, Nebraska. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post First used by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, this word is now a Gen Z slang staple. It stumped many Gen X'ers who participated in our Post pop quiz, despite the fact that it's an abbreviation of an actual word. 'Rizz' refers to charisma and is often used to describe an unconventionally attractive male who has an indescribable allure over gorgeous women. Delulu 9 'I know Labubu, but not 'delulu,'' confessed mom Angelique, 52, standing next to her daughter, Michelle, 18. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post While most Gen Xers we quizzed were able to identify the meaning of this colloquialism, one mom was left baffled. 'I know Labubu, but not 'delulu,'' Gen X mom Angelique, 52, told The Post as her daughter, Michelle, 18, stood laughing alongside her. Labubus are, of course, the viral collectible dolls from China that are currently the hottest toys on the global market. 'Delulu,' on the other hand, is a colloquialism for 'delusional' and is often used in a romantic context when the person reads into the actions of their crush a little too much. The results Gen X came out on top, with an overall score of 48%. However, that means that most participants didn't guess a majority of the five words correctly. But zoomers fared even worse, with a score of 41%, failing to understand the meanings behind their parents' generation's popular slang.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Staten Island summer theater rises again for first time since COVID: ‘Emotional tie for all of us'
The lights are back up in Staten Island. The borough's summer theater is operating again for the first time since COVID swept through the city half a decade ago — and the stars of the show are celebrating the return like a family reunion. Ten families and countless friend connections make up the cast of this year's 'Fiddler on the Roof' production — relying on their close-knit links to bring the little Russian town of Anatevka to life on the CUNY College of Staten Island stage. 11 Lee Tennenbaum and BJ High rehearsing for their roles as Golde and Tevye in a production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' at the College of Staten Island on July 24, 2025. Rachman 11 High performing in a scene with Claire Scala (Fiddler) at rehearsal. Rachman 'It was really important for me to bring the connections that I had growing up so that it felt like an emotional tie for all of us,' said Bronwyn Fugate, the show's director and choreographer, to The Post. 'Myself and many of the cast members are community theater kids that grew up with our families doing theater,' Fugate said. 'We were the generation that would sit and watch our parents create lighting design or be the directors or be on the stage. 'It was a no-brainer that these were the people that I wanted to be the inhabitants of Anatevka because that is kind of the heartbeat, the pulse of Anatevka.' More than 90 people auditioned for the inaugural community theater production show, with 46 people and an orchestra of 10 musicians making the final cut. 11 'Fiddler on the Roof' is the College of Staten Island's first summer theater production since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachman 11 The cast of 'Fiddler' rehearsing choreography for the show. Rachman The cast and crew have been in intense rehearsals five days a week since the end of May — and have their eyes set on a July 31 opening night. As grueling as the process has been, the players said they treat the experience like a homecoming and an excuse to spend time with one another — especially those who are sharing the stage with their own families. BJ High, 46, said he is honored to play the leading man, the impoverished milkman Tevye, with his wife and son at his side. 11 BJ High, a retired NYPD officer, is performing alongside his wife Christie and son Liam. Rachman 11 The cast of 'Fiddler on the Roof' listening to notes from director Bronwyn Fugate during a rehearsal. Rachman 'We run lines at homes, in the kitchen, wherever we are, in the pool, in bed, and the basement, any room, we can,' said High, a retired NYPD officer, adding that he met wife, Christie, on stage during a 1998 performance of 'The Most Happy Fella.' 'If the kids aren't bothering us too much, I grab a script,' he said. 'We took a trip recently, and while I was driving, I'd have the two of them acting out scenes with me. It was great.' 11 High singing a song as Tevye with Amelia Gordon (Tzietel), left, and Adam Simancas (Motel the tailor). Rachman The experience has been made even more special because of the message behind the play — which explores clinging to tradition during a time of political and social upheaval. ' 'The Fiddler' is about family, it's about tradition, and it's the perfect show for this cast with these people in this space, because it basically goes back to the ideas of the show,' said Peter Ascolese, 41, the play's costume designer. 'It's tradition, it's generations, it's being all together to do something special,' he said. 'Once I saw the cast list, I was like, how do I get involved?' 11 Katie Callahan, center poses with her daughter Claire, and father Ed during a rehearsal. Rachman 11 High in a scene with Katie Micha (Chava). Rachman This year's show is dedicated to the memory of Jennifer Straniere, who ran the performing arts program at the College of Staten Island for 18 years before passing away in June 2021. 'Fiddler on the Roof' was chosen as this year's performance because Straniere fondly referred to it as her favorite — and one she, her husband and newborn daughter performed in together in 1984. The father-daughter pair are back this summer to carry on Straniere's legacy on the stage, and this time with Strainiere's granddaughter in tow. 11 Judge Philip Staniere (Rabbi), left, poses with his daughter Amanda (Village Mama) and granddaughter Abby Hart (Bielke) during a rehearsal. Rachman 11 Katie Micha, right, poses with her aunt Lee Tennenbaum, second left, and cousins, Lucy Schnall, left, and Molly Schnall, second right, at a rehearsal for 'Fiddler on the Roof.' Rachman Katie Micha, 30, who plays Chava, the youngest daughter of Tevye, also is taking the stage this year with her aunt and two cousins, a mission they call a 'family affair.' 'It's one of my favorite musicals ever. Besides the music being fabulous … it's just a really fabulous show, and I am so excited to be doing this,' Micha said. 'It's really cool to see the whole Staten Island theater community come together. It's very special. We all have known each other forever. All of our families know each other.'
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Barbara Corcoran has facelifts every 10 years — and gets ear filler
There's only one question that the outspoken property guru Barbara Corcoran won't answer. Just how much does she spend on her plastic surgery? 'I'm not going to tell you,' she laughed. 'I know exactly how much, but I hesitate to say it out loud.' Advertisement The 76-year-old, who has amassed an estimated fortune of $100 million, recently regaled fans on social media with the full rundown of her cosmetic maintenance. 14 Barbara Corcoran admits she has had a facelift every 10 years since turning 50. Tamara Beckwith/ The 'Shark Tank' had her last facelift with Dr. Andrew Jacono five years ago — and reveals there are celebrity-favorite doctors in Manhattan who now charge more than $300,000 for a deep-plane face lift. Advertisement Corcoran who sold her real estate company, The Corcoran Group, in 2001 for $66 million, had her first facelift at 46. 'I do it every 10 years, that's my rhythm,' she told The Post. 'All of a sudden I noticed nobody was noticing me anymore on the street. I was invisible. 14 The real estate queen sent social media abuzz with her recent Instagram post about her various cosmetic procedures. @barbaracorcoran/Instagram 14 She detailed every treatment she's had — including three facelifts. @barbaracorcoran/Instagram Advertisement 'The guys weren't whistling, they weren't even turning their heads — nothing. [I was becoming] an invisible lady around town. And that really bothered me.' In June, Corcoran shared on Instagram that her list of procedures includes — among other things — 'three facelifts, lower eyelid skin pinch, filler four times a year, brow lift, professional teeth whitening, fractional 1550 laser once a year, and a clear and brilliant laser twice a year.' Also: 'an eye lift, neck lift, ear filler four times a year, fractional CO2 laser on face 1x a year and brow wax' once a month, along with at-home hair cut and color sessions every six weeks. 14 Corcoran said the one secret she won't reveal is how much she's spent on surgery and other procedures over the years. Tamara Beckwith/ Advertisement 14 Corcoran is moving into a new home on Fifth Avenue. Tamara Beckwith/ Corcoran made the bold decision to come forward in the wake of Kris Jenner confirming she had a $200,000 facelift with Dr. Steven Levine (who has also treated Brad Pitt), Kylie Jenner revealing details about her breast implants, and Khloé Kardashian opening up about various procedures. 'Heard the cool kids were sharing their plastic surgery secrets,' Corcoran said in her post. 'Well, the reason I put that post out was because there was so much hoopla about Kris Jenner — and it was kind of like a vote of support, like join the bandwagon,' she told The Post while sitting in her sleek Park Avenue apartment on a recent Thursday morning. 14 The 'Shark Tank' star says she wants to be open about her cosmetic work so people don't feel bad about themselves. @barbaracorcoran/Instagram 'The real reason I do it, and I'm being very upfront about my facelifts, is because I noticed that when you look better than your peers and they know how old you are, it makes them feel badly,' Corcoran added. 'So I did it mostly to come clean right away. I just didn't want people to think less of themselves, you know, because a lot of people don't have the money to keep up after that stuff.' She admits she hasn't always been so open about her cosmetic work. After having her first eye lift she fled to Greece for a vacation with her five sisters and young son, Tom Higgins, because she didn't want anyone in New York City to see her. Advertisement 'I gave up that shame factor on my full facelift that I got like five years later,' she said, 'And the pain was the worst of all the facelifts because I didn't know what to expect and I took the drugs for three days. 14 She has been married to husband Bill Gibbons for 36 years. Barbara Cocoran/ Instagram As for how much pain she is willing to endure to look good, Corcoran said, 'I'm very good with pain, so I didn't find any of the facelifts very painful. 'Now I don't even take the drugs — it's just like, 'Get over it.' But you know what was the most painful? I recently had laser treatment on my neck and I could hardly tolerate the pain for five days. I would never do it again just to make my skin better on my neck. I had the worst pain, much more so than facelifts.' Advertisement Ear filler — what even is that? 'It's so damn smart!' Corcoran exclaims. She uses her ears as a sort of canary in the coal mine: When her ear filler starts to disappear, she said, it's a sign that it's time to get her other fillers re-upped. 14 Corcoran is mom to Tom (far right, next to his wife Lia) and daughter Katie, far left. She also has three step-daughters, Shani, Sandi, and Lori, with husband Bill Gibbons. Barbara Cocoran/ Facebook 'Particularly if I have a season of 'Shark Tank' coming up, I want to know when I should go back in there,' she said. 'The minute my ear gets thin, I go, 'Uh-oh, time to go in.'' Advertisement And while being on TV is a big reason for her desire to keep up appearances, Corcoran said viewers might not even recognize her on the street. 'I don't really wear makeup when I'm not working. I walk down the street really looking vastly different. I like it because I wear a baseball cap. I don't wear sunglasses, but I dress in my most comfortable, oldest clothes I own … nobody recognizes me,' she said. 14 Corcoran and her beloved pup Max. Tamara Beckwith/ 'I go around town, I have no eyes, no eyebrows, no lips, because I'm very fair. So my face really disappears. I can really walk around that way and be very happy because nobody's bothering me.' Advertisement But even when she is going to a friend's house for dinner, she puts on her full face and plays it up. 'There's a different expectation for me,' Corcoran said. 'I don't want them saying behind my back when I leave, 'She's not looking good, Oh my god'!' 14 Corcoran said she once pondered running for mayor of New York. Tamara Beckwith/ Unsurprisingly, everyone she knows asks her about the next areas of smart real-estate investment in NYC. Right now, Corcoran is pointing them toward Two Bridges — the downtown, East Side neighborhood around the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges that she calls a 'phenomenal area' — as well as Queens, especially Breezy Point. Corcoran, who recently sold her beloved Upper East Side penthouse for $12 million, plans to spend her time between her home on Fire Island and a new apartment on Fifth Avenue, which she is about to move into with her husband, former FBI agent Bill Higgins, and their 19-year-old daughter, Katie. New York is in her 'veins,' and she is adamant she will never move — although there are quality of life issues that infuriate her, like how utilitarian products including toilet paper and toothpaste are kept under lock and key at pharmacies due to shoplifting: 'You'd think it was diamonds, for God's sakes.' 14 Corcoran has had a 'second act' with NBC's 'Shark Tank.' ABC 14 'Shark Tank' will return to NBC in September. The sharks are Kevin O'Leary, Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Peter Jones, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, and Daymond John. ABC via Getty Images And while she admits that Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani 'ran a wonderful social media campaign' ahead of the primary, 'I think that he's going to have a lot of opposition because the real estate community has piled up against him. 'He used word that are like the worst words in the real-estate language: rent freeze. That is a sure-shot way of getting people to pit against you … everybody who owns a building in New York knows if you can't raise the rent, you can't pay for the maintenance. You have to pay for the new boiler, the new lobby, everybody that you have to take care of if you're a landlord.' 14 Corcoran and Gibbons recently sold their NYC penthouse for more than $12 million. Barbara Cocoran/ Instagram Has the colorful, well-connected Corcoran ever considered running for Mayor? 'There was some committee like 20 years ago that asked me to run for mayor,' she revealed. Although she thought it might be 'fun,' her mother changed her mind by telling her that politics is 'such a filthy business, why would you want to get involved?' Still, Corcoran added, 'I'm sure I would win — because I'm a good salesman and I know how to market. It's just about marketing yourself. But … I would hate the job. I would be hate being political. And I have the worst mouth that gets me in trouble all the time because I always tell it like it is. That never goes over in politics very well.' 14 Her 'Shark Tank' career 'justifies my facelift money,' she said. Tamara Beckwith/ Besides, 'Shark Tank' keeps her busy. After selling her business, she missed her work 'terribly' and was thrilled when the show provided her a 'whole second career.' She returns for the 16th season of the NBC hit in September. 'I'm good at spotting talent,' she said of her TV gig. 'How really lucky am I? And that justifies my facelift money!'
New York Post
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Can you tell an AI influencer from a real one? The Post polled Times Square visitors — and the results were not great
Don't believe your lying eyes. With the incredibly rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence, it's getting harder to tell what — or, more precisely, who — is real these days. Sexy influencer Mia Zelu made headlines earlier this month after her stunning snaps from Wimbledon sent fans into a frenzy. Advertisement 13 Instagram users were fawning over photographs of Mia Zelu at Wimbledon earlier this month — but it turns out she's not a real person. The AI character was created by an unidentified software developer, fooling millions of people. The blonde beauty boasts 168,000 followers on Instagram, but there's just one problem: she isn't real. Mia is an artificial bot designed by an unidentified software developer, and she's just one of a growing species. Advertisement 'AI influencers' are cropping up on social media in droves, duping users into believing they're actual humans with their incredibly lifelike images and videos. Findings from Getty Images VisualGSP research and image testing revealed that 68% of people '…can't tell if an image is AI-generated. This highlights the need for clear labelling for AI-generated content…' Getty Asia-Pacific head of creative Kate Rourke told Stockhead. Knowing that, The Post took to Times Square to see if both locals and tourists could tell the difference between real beauties and fake bots. We showed each participant six different images — three snaps of real-life influencers and three of computer-generated AI models — and asked them to guess which was which. Advertisement 13 'Naked Cowboy'Robert Burck, tries to tell the difference between real and AI influencers. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post 13 Big Apple resident Quinn Starner, 23, was stumped several times doing The Post's quiz. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post The results were shocking: It turns out it's extremely difficult for people to distinguish between the genuine and computer-generated. Not a single person was able to guess all six correctly. Many more failed dismally, showing just how easy it is for software developers to trick even tech-savvy youngsters into believing what they see on a screen is real. Image 1: Dina Advertisement 13 Dina boasts more than 172,000 followers on TikTok — but is she a real beauty or an AI bot? @diinaxxy/Instagram 13 Manthan Thaker, 32, from Tampa, Florida put his skills to the test. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post Swedish influencer Dina boasts more than 172,000 followers on TikTok — but the brunette has recently faced AI accusations. 'Lemme tell you guys I am not AI generated,' she insisted in a video shared online, saying she's simply 'very good at doing makeup.' But a majority of the pedestrians The Post tested in the pop quiz thought Dina was designed by an AI tech whiz, citing her use of Photoshop and filters. Several were stunned to learn she was indeed a real person. Sometimes, it seems truth really is stranger than fiction. Answer: Real model Image 2: Aitana Lopez 13 Aitana Lopez boasts 372,000 followers on Instagram, where fans fawn over her too-good-to-be-true beauty. @fit_aitana/instagram Advertisement Aitana Lopez, an AI model, is the brainchild of Spanish software developer Rubén Cruz. Real companies pay the fake model to advertise their products online, and Cruz is now making up to $10,900 a month — thanks to his AI creation. And while the items she promotes are authentic, it's assumed that a sizable share of Aitana's 372,000 Instagram followers don't know that she's simply a fictional character. A majority of the people we stopped and tested in Times Square were also unable to tell that the beauty was a bot. Advertisement 'You're gonna make me look like an idiot out here today,' Robert Burck, the famous 'Naked Cowboy' quipped after guessting incorrectly. Answer: AI Bot Image 3: Ines Troccia 13 Italian model Ines Trocchia, 30, is pictured. Several social media skeptics believe she's AI. @inestrocchia/instagram 13 'That's fake man, that's AI, that's AI,' David Gonzalez, 20, told The Post. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post Advertisement Italian model Ines Trocchia, 30, is another real-life beauty facing AI accusations due to her sizzling photographs. 'It's extremely frustrating that people think I'm an AI model,' Trocchia told outlets last year. 'It's complete insanity to me.' Several people we stopped on the street were also convinced that Trocchia looked too good to be true. 'That's fake man, that's AI, that's AI,' David Gonzalez, 20, told The Post. Advertisement The Queens local was stunned — and excited — when he learned Trocchia was indeed a real person. 'Oh my God,' he enthused, joking that Trocchia ought to give him a call. 'I'm Dom, I'm from New York if you wanna… you know what I mean.' Answer: Real model Image 4: Gessica 13 Gessica Kayane has close to 20 million followers on Instagram. @gessica/instagram The third real-life beauty in The Post's quiz was Brazilian influencer Gessica Kayane. The brunette has an eye-popping 19.5 million followers on Instagram, but she still faces skeptics — including immigration officials from her own country. Recently, Gessica revealed she was almost barred from re-entering Brazil because her dowdy passport photo didn't match her hot Instagram images. Most of our poll participants were equally confused, believing Gessica was the creation of an AI expert. Several pointed to the model's rippling abs in the image we showed as proof that she was't human. But the influencer insists she's the real deal — aside from a few Photoshop touch-ups, of course. Answer: Real model Image 5: Milla Sofia 13 Milla Sofia is a 24-year-old social media influencer from Helsinki, Finland — but is she the real deal? @AiModelMilla/X 13 Aaron J Christopher, 21, a self-proclaimed social media influencer, stopped for our test in Times Square. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post Milla Sofia is an AI bot — a fact that her creator doesn't try to hide. Billed as a 24-year-old 'virtual girl' from Helsinki, Finland, the blonde-hair, blue-eyed bot has become a sensation on social media. Her anonymous creator told the Independent that he's not trying to push unrealistic beauty standards. 'Social media influencers edit and airbrush their content all the time, and different filters are popular,' he explained. However, the tech whiz may need to brush up on his skills, as everyone we quizzed was correctly able to identify Milla as AI. Answer: AI Bot Image 6: Mia Zelu 13 Mia's photos are so incredibly lifelike that she's managed to dupe even famous athletes into believing they're legitimate. @miazelu/Instagram 13 Father and son Oscar and Carlos Simon put their skills to the test in Times Square. Olga Ginzburg for N.Y. Post With our vox pop quiz, we saved the hardest 'til last, testing tourists and locals as to whether or not they could tell if Mia Zelu (mentioned at the top of the article) is real or AI. Mia's photos are so incredibly lifelike that she's managed to dupe even famous athletes into believing they're legitimate. Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant has liked many of her posts, leading fans to believe that he'd been'catfished' 'Rishabh Pant thinks he's interacting with a real girl, totally oblivious to the fact that it's an AI,' criticized one. But it turns out Pant isn't alone. Almost all the pedestrians who partook in The Post's quiz believed she was a real model. Big Apple resident Quinn Starner, 23, was one of the few who figured out that the beauty was a bot. 'She's beautiful,' Starner stated. 'But she's fake.' Answer: AI Bot.
New York Post
21-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Beloved watch repair-shop owner defies eviction, gentrification: 'I don't want to stop working'
Takes a licking — keeps on ticking. For 42 years, David's Shoe & Watch Repair shop was a staple at the corner of Hudson and Barrow in NYC's West Village — repairing timepieces and mending soles for generations of loyal, local customers. Through it all, proprietor Raphael 'David' Davidson endured. Gentrification, COVID-19, brutal rent hikes — even a move down the block last year into the dry cleaners couldn't stop the faithful watch man from tending to the ever-evolving neighborhood's needs. Advertisement Or, so it seemed. It was 1982 when the Russian-speaking immigrant from Uzbekistan first hung out a shingle at 460 Hudson St. — nearly 40 good years before serious trouble for the family-run spot reared its head in the form of the 2020 pandemic. 19 A customer gives Raphael 'David' Davidson a shoe for repair beside of his car on Sunday afternoon. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 Patrons surround David's makeshift car-trunk workroom on Hudson. Stefano Giovannini for 'For six months I was closed, and I applied for a loan, but I couldn't get any loan because I work alone,' the 80-year-old told The Post. 'Me and my son, we work together for ourselves.' He explained that he applied for the same financial relief that many other businesses did at the time — but that his small size worked against him. With his $4,200 monthly rent due and little money coming in, his bills ballooned to roughly $65,000. The government eventually sent him a paltry $1,500 — all going straight to the landlord. Advertisement 19 David is shown working in his shop in 2008. Michael Sofronski 19 He is now drawing faithful customers to his car, where he keeps some of his tools. Stefano Giovannini for That same landlord tried to evict him just as business was getting back to normal — even taking David to court over the amount of rent owed. A judge ordered payments of $5,000 until the lease ended, back in June 2024 — with no offer to extend. New Yorkers in the close-knit community were saddened and shocked to hear the historic shop was shutting down, and they set up a GoFundMe page and a petition that amassed nearly 300 signatures and over $16,000. Advertisement And for a while, it looked like a victory, albeit a qualified one — with the Acme Cleaners just up the street at 508 Hudson willing to free up a small amount of space to keep neighborhood tradition alive. A great idea — but ultimately impractical, David said. 'All my tools, machinery, everything was in the shop. I couldn't take anything,' he said. 'I just took some of the tools for repair and watches there, but all the machinery that was there for thousands and thousands of dollars, I couldn't take it because I didn't have room.' 19 David toils away in his storefront workshop in 2022. Billy Becerra / NY Post 19 The longtime store was previously located at 460 Hudson. Michael Sofronski 19 David, shown in 2008, has been in the trade for 42 years. Michael Sofronski Then, there was the working environment — a no-go for the aging octogenarian. 'For six months I was working, but they use chemicals over there. I couldn't take it,' David confessed. Advertisement But the dedicated area fixture wasn't about to give up — taking his business fully mobile earlier this year. Now, David can be found at the corner of Hudson and Christopher every Sunday — working from his car. 19 Customers wait in line as David welcomes their business. Stefano Giovannini for 19 Customer Cassandra Bucalo brought several shoes for repair on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 David had a stream of visitors during his four-hour stint. Stefano Giovannini for 19 His weekly visit to the street outside of his former shop brings NYC residents in need of shoe and watch repairs. Stefano Giovannini for There, steps from where he operated all those years, the most loyal locals line up to drop off their afflicted accessories, which David takes to his home-based workshop, returning the items the following week. 'I lost most of my customers, but I have some that have known me for a long time, and they wait for Sunday for me,' he shared. Advertisement 'They come because they know I do a good job and give good prices and provide good service,' David said. 'They've known me for many, many years, so I keep those customers long enough — and they keep me busy also.' David Cohn is just one of the many customers who have come to find the service invaluable — over a period of nearly two decades, he's stopped by for watch repair, shoe repairs, even valuations of his most treasured timepieces. 'He's very trustworthy,' Cohn, also 80, said. 'And his son was also just as gentle as him and just as helpful. 19 David takes a closer look at a watch brought to him on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 These are just some of the tools he uses. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David inspects a woman's ring on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David shows off a June 2024 blog post about him by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. Stefano Giovannini for 'It's a shame to lose an institution that's been around for as long as his,' he added. 'It's just a shame that the apparatus of the landlord is destroying the mom-and-pop-ness of the community.' On average, David gets about 10 customers over four hours every Sunday — but after a video of him recently went viral on Instagram, his phone started blowing up with messages from potential new customers. 'I think we're going to have some new customers,' he told The Post. 'I'll find out Sunday.' 19 Ashwin Nirantar exchanges money with David for a watch fix. Stefano Giovannini for 19 Nirantar beams with his repaired timepiece. Stefano Giovannini for Once the video started gaining traction, a new GoFundMe was set up — 'for whatever that next chapter becomes,' the fundraising page said. 'We want to make sure he and his wife have the support they need — because for 42 years, David showed up for New York,' organizer Kate DePetro wrote. As of Monday morning, July 21, the GoFundMe has received 2,000 donations and raised just shy of $50,000 toward a $60,000 goal. DePetro revealed that outcome to him on Sunday in a new Instagram post. 'No way,' the surprised senior said. 19 David takes a closer look at a watch in need of work. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David poses with satisfied customers Patrick Fuller and Elena Hanissian. Stefano Giovannini for Even without that boost, David had planned on sticking with the new arrangement for 'as long as [he] can.' 'I don't want to stop working,' David told The Post. 'My Social Security is very little, so it's not enough if I don't work,' he shared. 'My wife and I retired, and all the kids, nobody's home. I don't make much money, but at least I keep this running and keep me busy. I can pay my home rent.' David can be found on the corner of Hudson and Christopher every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
