Is living in the Upper East Side like having to survive in the jungle? I don't know about that but if you believe everything you read book "Primates of Park Avenue" you do begin to wonder. Wednesday Martin, anthropologist, describes her life in the Upper East Side and compares it to that of primates. My jaw dropped when I read the quick calculation that Wednesday made during a lunch with a friend on how much money an Upper East Side woman "needs" to spend yearly on maintaining her killer looks. And I laughed while reading the part where Wednesday described how she got knocked over on the sidewalk by a "lady" carrying a Hermes Birkin bag. She compares that situation to the behaviour of a monkey which, by showing its teeth, making a fuss and throwing branches and stuff around is saying "this is MY territory and I'm above you".

I don't think I'd survive in the Upper East Side jungle. But next time I'm there I'll definitely look at it differently. And will be on the lookout for Birkin's. Before I'm run off the sidewalk by one.....

Primates of Park Avenue. The Newyorkcitytrippers love it! Get it here.