As New York crooner Frank Sinatra once said, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”
No small feat when it costs $2500 a month to rent a shoebox.
So to help salute those New Yorkers who not only made it, but killed it, our friends over at Headlines & Heroes have rounded up five of their favorite icons of New York (Naked Cowboy not included).
1. New York City’s floating hero
Fact: every woman on earth loves a man who can dance. And no one, and we mean no one, can compete with the legendary Fred Astaire.
We’re fairly certain that Fred was born with tap shoes on (or at the very least, a top hat), because by the age of 6, way back in 1905, Astaire was lighting up the vaudeville stage, dancing with his sister Adele.
It’s no coincidence that his fame followed quickly on the heels of his family’s move to the Big Apple, so Fred could better pursue his lyrical talents.
Fred and Adele danced together for years, but things really took off when Fred found his most famous partner, Ginger Rogers. From there, Fred blithely danced his way across Broadway, the silver screen, and into the hearts of Americans everywhere. And the rest is New York history. We tip our top hats to you, Fred.
2. New York City’s captain
Captain Clutch. Mr. November. Number 2.
Unless you live under a rock, you know we’re talking about Derek Jeter, an icon that needs no introduction.
The recently-retired Captain had quite the illustrious career, winning five World Series Championships and 14 All-Star selections.
He’s the all-time Yankee leader in hits, stolen bases, and at-bats-- and in 2011, Jeter became the first Yankee in uniform to reach 3,000 hits with a bomb of a home run that sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.
Though he’s retired, he will always be remembered. After all, legends never die.
3. New York City’s funny man
There are a lot of things we can thank the good ol’ borough of Brooklyn for.
First there’s Brooklyn Gin, then there’s artisanal mayonnaise, and last but certainly not least, there’s America’s most infamous funny man, Andrew Dice Clay.
This Brooklyn-born hero made his claim to fame with his crude humor in the late 80’s, where he became notorious for his lewd jokes as a stand-up comedian. But did you also know that this foul-mouthed Hero became the first comedian in history to sell out the Garden two nights in a row? (‘atta boy Diceman).
Although Clay ditched the big city for a home somewhere in the swamps of Jersey, he’ll always be a tried-and-true New Yorker to us. Long live the Diceman!
4. The bearded New Yorker
With great beard, comes great responsibility, and icon Rick Rubin has one great beard.
So far, we think he’s living up to the responsibility. You may know Rubin for his revolutionary role in the music industry, as the elusive spirit responsible for the most influential records and artists of our time.
Before collecting Grammy Awards and recording amongst the likes of Yeezus himself, Rubin started Def Jam Records in his NYU dorm room alongside Russell Simmons. In that dorm room, he produced chart-topping albums such as the Beastie Boys “Licensed To Ill” and gave LL Cool J his first radio hit. He even helped another New York icon, Andrew Dice Clay, produce his first comedy album.
Although Rubin rarely mingles with the media and prefers to stay behind the scenes, you can catch a glimpse of him (and his grizzly beard) along yet another New York icon in Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” video. We doubt that Rubin has 99 problems, but if he does we’re certain a beard ain’t one.
5. New York City's debonair hero
Brooding. Leering. Tough-skinned. Looks good in a hat.
We’re talking about Humphrey Bogart, aka Entertainment Weekly’s “number one movie legend of all time.” Best known for his iconic roles in films like “Casablanca” and “The Big Sleep,” Bogart was a just little rascal born in the big city on Christmas Day.
A rascal he was born, and a rascal he stayed, getting tossed out of high school for tossing his headmaster in a pond. Ha. There’s also an air of mystery surrounding the signature scar on his lip, which was rumored to be evidence of being hit by a piece of shrapnel while he was in the Navy.
Scar and all, Bogart became an icon on the silver screen, and married another icon, actress Lauren Bacall. In the mid-1950’s Bogie founded the Rat Pack, whose sole mission was “to drink a lot of bourbon and stay up late.” And to think he did all that with a name like Humphrey.