The Cash Invasion of New York

By Gamal Hennessy

New York has never been known for being cheap. Our nightlife can be especially expensive. The $30 cover, the $9 pack of cigarettes, the $15 cocktail, and the $700 bottle are not uncommon. As Wall Street falters and gas prices rise, some New Yorkers have less and less disposable income. All of a sudden, a $15 margarita seems a little pricey. This situation can become even more stressful when you look across the bar and tourists of every stripe seem to be buying bottles of Grey Goose and then giving it away. Tourists are using their economic power to wine, dine and pay for all the things we can’t afford this summer…

New York City nightlife has always included a considerable amount of tourists. This year the numbers are expected to rise. NYC Company expects tourism to increase 20% from the same period in 2006, which means almost 3.3 million tourists will descend on New York this summer. A large reason for the increase is money. The U.S. Dollars is currently weaker than currencies in Europe and Asia. When tourist exchange their euros, yen and pounds for dollars it turns normal, middle class people into extravagant VIP’s who are willing to make it rain from SoHo to Central Park.

If you’ve ever taken a trip to the Caribbean or to Mexico, you’ve probably lived through this experience before, just on the other side. We show up with our American dollars and we can get into clubs where the locals can only work. We can easily afford things that we couldn’t afford back home. The people who lived in the places we visit probably feel a mix of appreciation and envy. They wanted us to spend money…that’s how their clubs stayed open. They just wanted to be able to have fun too. New York hasn’t become Cancun just yet, but experiencing the feeling from their point of view can be a little disturbing.

A savvy New Yorker will see this cash invasion as an opportunity, not a problem. If you have European friends, invite them to New York, all of them. Offer to take them to the best spots. When they bring you along, you’ve got a built in sponsor. If you don’t have international friends, now is a good time to make some. As a native, you know the best spots to party, now they have money to party. It’s a win win situation.

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Sex in the Summer

Yvonne Fulbright: Fox News

The first week of June is pivotal in the New York summer season. The weather is consistently hot, everyone is out of school and the city is primed for its annual nightlife rituals. Drinking on rooftop bars, going to outdoor concerts and weekends in the Hamptons are staples of New York summer.

Summer sex is another less publicized, but no less important feature of summer nightlife. The change in seasons prompts a change in behavior on a variety of different levels.

There are several factors that increase the frequency and variety of summer sex. On a biological level, increased sunlight raises levels of MSH hormone and melatonin. On a visual level, more skin is revealed in public and that skin tends to be more tanned and attractive. On a social level, more people are focused on relaxation and pleasure as opposed to school and work. On a functional level, it is simply more comfortable to engage in sex when everyone is wearing less clothing. The combination of all these factors creates an atmosphere conducive to fun in the sun.

While we agree that summer weather promotes sexual activity, it’s clear that the exposed skin, raised hormones and focus on pleasure are a part of New York nightlife in every season. It’s also clear that higher levels of sex in an already sexual environment (supported by large amount of alcohol) can lead to al fresco sexual experiences. Couples are hiding in secluded shadows inside and outside club more often common than might think. If you find yourself in these circumstances…congratulations. We have two pieces of advice for you. Pay attention to the rules of public sex, and for God’s sake remember to bring a condom.