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METROPOLITAN DIARY
The Best Metropolitan Diary of 2023: The Readers Speak
An anecdote about wisdom dispensed at a deli claims the top spot in this year’s voting, outpolling four other favorites. All five are presented here.
The Winner
Valuable Tips
Dear Diary:
I was taking a walk in the Wall Street area a few years ago when I decided to pop into a deli.
I ordered a sandwich and began chatting with the proprietor as he made it. Our conversation eventually turned to the shop’s location.
I asked whether being in the financial district ever caused him to play the stock market or led to his getting valuable tips from informed customers.
He paused his sandwich-making, put down his knife and looked at me with a perplexed expression.
“Every day, those brokers come in here,” he said. “They get their bagels, sandwiches, doughnuts, coffee, cigarettes … ”
He paused again and pointed toward the door of his shop.
“ … and every day, they’re out there on the sidewalk, pushing and shoving on a door that is clearly marked ‘pull.’”
— Steven Scharff
The Finalists
Submit Your Metropolitan Diary
Your story must be connected to New York City and no longer than 300 words. An editor will contact you if your submission is being considered for publication.
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