Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Tourist Lane

For our latest Improv Everywhere mission, our friend Jeff had a funny idea to create separate lanes on the sidewalk with chalk for tourists and New Yorkers.


New Yorkers are known for always racing to their destination and since people from out of town like to take their time and actually enjoy the city, having separate lanes isn't a bad idea!
Everyone thought it was hilarious and suggested that it be painted in all cities.



I'm guessing this couple has a long distance relationship.

Our friends wore orange vests and pretended to be in charge of keeping people and dogs in their lanes.
They were improvising the whole time and were talking like very stereotypical New Yorkers. Their interactions with people are absolutely hilarious. I've been quoting some of their lines all week!
Even though I live in New York, I'd prefer to take my time and stroll in the tourist lane ;)

80 comments:

Dori the Giant said...

That idea is soooooo good!
There are so many things you can do with sidewalks.

Dodo said...

Brilliant! Would have loved to be a part of it!

Maaike said...

That's a really nice idea!
Greetings from Belgium!

Eleanor said...

I think I saw you snapping photos at some point in the video, Miss Katie! You're a star!!!! :)

-Eleanor
unfamiliarceiling.com

Meg said...

I always love seeing the latest improv everywhere initiatives! you guys are awesome. i can't wait to visit new york city, and of course i'll stay in the tourist lane!

colormekatie said...

@Eleanor-haha, good eye!

Brandi said...

This is a brilliant idea! My boyfriend and I were walking around NYC last weekend -- he wanted to know how to spot the tourists. I told him that they're the ones walking MUCH slower than the rest.

I've been reading your blog for some time and just adore it. It's in my "Make Me Smile" reader folder.

Kelli said...

Ahhhhh I love it! Hilariously brilliant!

Unknown said...

Hahaha I love it! This is so funny.

Anonymous said...

I love when he says to the tourist guy, "it's ok, i didn't bring my gun today" the look on the guy's face was priceless! what a fun idea!

Effie said...

Great fun!

brionyskerjance said...

now that is awesome. i love new york and when i visit i am a total tourist. i would appreciate a lane where I don't feel i am getting in others way. hahaha

the clothing menu said...

haha, that's a great idea! can you do that in boston too? :)

Lubna said...

This was an awesome idea. My favourite remains the invisible dogs and the look on some of the real dogs to see leases with no dog attached at the other end. But this comes a close second.

Amber Shumake said...

this was such a cool idea- i loved seeing the way people reacted, haha!

GM said...

This is awesome! I'd heard about it on the news!

OB said...

this is so funny I love it what a fun Idea!

Griffin and Gretchen said...

hilarious!!!

Stephanie ;) said...

a real cool initiative!!

Anonymous said...

I saw this somewhere else, but didn't realize Improv Anywhere was behind it! Hilarious! And beautiful photos as always.

. s h e r r y * said...

Hahaha, that's hilarious! :D

Heather Taylor said...

I love this :)

Anonymous said...

Hilarious

Renee said...

Haha funny idea :D

The AfterCraft said...

Oh my gawsh.. we NEED one of these in my town during the summer.

Victoria BC is "plagued" with slow walking tourists when the rest of us are trying to get from A to B.

Jacqueline said...

What a hilarious idea! You New Yorkers are hilarious. :]

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

k. said...

There is nothing like REALLY being in a rush & getting stuck behind a family of 5 wanting to take a family photo in the middle of the sidewalk, or people with their faces stuffed into their maps trying to figure out where the cheap "designer" bags are on Canal Street! :) I think this idea is brilliant! Someone call Bloomberg.

colormekatie said...

@ Kathryn- Bloomberg actually commented on it and said it was cute, ha!

Steve said...

Come do this in London ... please?

Sue said...

I live in the Midwest, but I walk so fast that I'd love having that New Yorker lane.

Krissy said...

Haha! That's awesome!

Nedda Ebo said...

That is SO FUNNY.

Mustart x

Valeria said...

wow! the idea is great!!! :)

tublogaporter said...

In Barcelona too!!!

Clouds said...

great idea, and I love your blog by the way. Not sure how you do it but the colours are so amazingly vibrant! good stuff!

anna said...

Love this idea. Big help if you want to pretend to be a real New Yorker :D

♥peachkins♥ said...

I had fun watching the video,Katie!

Karen said...

Too much fun!!! While I live in a small town, it swells in size every summer and great weather spring & fall weekend, so I can definitely groove on the tourist v. local vibe! :>

Farmgirl Paints said...

That is too funny. Love the expressions on their faces. I'd be embarrassed to walk in that lane, but that's where I'd be...camera in hand;)

Anonymous said...

haha! this is hysterical! i love it. :)

http://barefootandvintage.wordpress.com

Dr. Jason said...

funny! me like funny things.

*fart-noise*

Anonymous said...

muito interessante e divertido, e eles agiram com muita seriedade o que fez ser mais legal ainda!!
adorei.

beijos...

Venassa said...

Too funny. I love the part where he says he doesn't have a gun today. I love NY humor.

mina said...

I saw this on the news. Some New Yorkers were going on about how they should have this all the time because tourists are so slow - which kind of annoyed me because I find that a lot of people from NYC are too busy texting on chatting to ever move efficiently.

C said...

What a fun idea!

By the way, your blog always brings a smile to my face. So I've dedicated a blogger award to you over at my personal blog (carolution.blogspot.com). I hope it brings a smile to YOUR face :)

Sincerely,

Carolina
illuminession.blogspot.com

Michelle Kendrick Hartney said...

I love it! These videos always put a smile on my face. Thank you!

chryssiedanger said...

Color Me Katie, you always inspire me to look for the sunshine and brightness in everyday life, and I love seeing a brand new post from you! :) Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Lol, I love it! :D

Stephanie said...

I heard about this on the news all the way across the country here in Utah. It made me smile then and makes me smile now. :)

I heart your blog, and have been visiting for months now. I just love all the sparkly bits and pieces of colorful joy. Thanks!

-Steph Day
www.stephaniessecretblog.blogger.com

Anonymous said...

I linked to this story on my blog because this is something my husband and I always complained about on our college campus...I guess it happens everywhere, no?

your blog always makes me smile :)
maybe because I am a Katie too!

Alycia Grayce (Crowley Party) said...

SO FUNNY! SIMPLY HILARIOUS!

Shell said...

Oh, I wish this could be done all over in NYC. We need this.

Unknown said...

All of your stuff is so colourful and happy.

and, of course, i think i am falling in love with moo. :P




abhilasharoy.blogspot.com

Rosita said...

I LOVE THIS! Bravo :) you should do it all over NYC. hehe


xoxo


http://rosita311.blogspot.com/

Shelley Trbuhovich said...

so it was you! i read about somebody coming across this recently in nyc and in the 3yrs i lived there was racking my brain if i'd ever seen it anywhere!!!
fantastic!

greetings from melbourne, australia. x

Vanessa said...

This is so awesome! I love the idea :)

Judy said...

Love how they did the stencils using boxes. Is that standard? I've never seen it done before and like how it contains the overspray.

claire said...

Hi Katie,
I love your work.
I was just wondering what you thought of banksy as i love his work. your like the street artist that represents the good in everything and him the bad.

Heather said...

such a fun idea! how adorable!

Anna Grostina said...

The idea is amazing, I love your blog!


http://colourful-inspiration.blogspot.com/

Kaye said...

This idea is amazing and hilarious! There should be a team around the Disney area in Orlando!

Also, mind me asking what camera you're using? Thanks. :)

Anonymous said...

"but you are statistically slow"

this is just golden :)

wood & wool stool said...

hehe! what a chalk line can do

Ellen said...

haha, I realy like the idee

Lane said...

Haha thats awesome!!

Theres a giveaway going on at my blog mylovelylittlesuitcase.blogspot.com come check it out!

Cranberry Morning said...

That's so fun! I knew a couple guys who took their mountain climbing gear to Chicago and 'climbed' the sidewalks of Chicago as if they were vertical. It was a riot! :-)

Raptor Plateado said...

Brilliant!! i live IE that idea are greit!!! see you Katie!!!

Polly Rowan said...

This is a fab idea, it should be done in London too! So many tourists!
I just discovered your blog and have read every single post from start to finish. You are such an inspiration and you made my day (and got me out of my bad mood!). Seriously, your blog is so colourful and happy and I can't wait to follow along xxxx

sara said...

aww i saw this on the news and they had no idea who had done it! its brilliant.

x said...

that was you?! i watched the youtube of it a few days ago!

Bridget said...

that is hilarious!

Hilary said...

That is awesome!! We need something like that on our roads down here in SC! I saw your love story over at Gwen in Love & wanted to tell you how adorable it was!

Becky said...

So funny! ♥

Kristine said...

Cool idea!

Unknown said...

I have been searching for that landscape chalk ALL OVER town! I don't think it exists in Alaska. I wish I could find a way to make my own liquid chalk-- I've searched and searched for a way online but to no avail. I won't give up the search!

Fish Food Tees said...

This is so great!

lori* said...

Hilarious ^.^

Anonymous said...

I wanna go visit NYC again. The only crowded place I love in this world.

grass-harp said...

great idea :D i want to have lanes like this as well :)
and i love those stencil techniques. my dad and me are "collecting" them, e.g. taking pictures whenever we see them.

MUS said...

:) i like!