New York City is a vibrant center of energy and opportunity, layered with stories of ambition, heartache, and success. With such a unique and diverse population of people and cultures, the stories that are spawned from all the interactions that take place here can, at times, be unbelievable. While not all of them are suitable for repeat, here are some of the craziest stories that can happen only in the Big Apple.
- Homeless Grand Prize Winner
One of the most unbelievable New York City stories is that of Willie Hayes, a homeless man who won the lottery and walked away with a $1 million jackpot. Abiding by the law, Hayes was promptly given his check, which allowed him to transition himself out of homelessness and begin the process of getting his life together.
- A Vegetable Kingpin in Times Square
Few stories are as strange as that of Choi Lee, who became a minor celebrity in Times Square during the 1980s and was referred to as the “Vegetable Man.” Lee was known for his bizarre yet persuasive tactics as he hawked his produce, as he grew his business largely through donations, and even managed to convince some notable celebrities such as members of the New York Yankees to visit his stand.
- 90-Story Snowman
One of the most famous stories about New York City is that of the 90-story snowman built by three teens in December of 1965. Mackie, Adams and Raphael climbed to the roof of the World Trade Center and built a thirty-foot tall snowman, made from scrap wood, tape, and ice. Surprisingly, the snowman could be seen from all over Manhattan and stood for over three months, earning the youths more than a few seconds of fame.
- The White Horse Rides Again
During the Great Depression, the story of one of the most desperate acts imaginable occurred in ways that only New York City could produce. On October 11, 1930, five people “hijacked” a police horse, “Whitey”, and took him on a joy ride through the city’s streets before finally settling in a nearby park. The rider of the horse described to news reporters that their goal was to “hunt for jobs and find a way to put food on the table.”
- Holiday Miracles
It’s not all crazy and far-fetched stories in New York City — sometimes, there can be some holiday cheer. One of the best is the so-called “snowball miracle” that happened in December of 2009 when homeless street vendor Toni Atkins unexpectedly received $20,000 from a stranger. Atkins had been making small change selling snowballs from a legal street stand that she had set up to make enough money to last through the winter. After the stranger had read a local newspaper article about Atkins’ struggles, a self-proclaimed “Secret Santa” decided to get involved and change her life.
These stories are the exception to the norm in New York City, but they’re a testament to the resilience of the people who live there. There’s no denying that New Yorkers have developed a thick skin over the years, as experiences like these can be quite dangerous and unpredictable. But, at the end of the day, these unique stories bring laughter and joy to the city and can have surprisingly happy endings. From homeless lottery winners to kind-hearted strangers, there’s no limit to the improbable storylines in the city that never sleeps.