Midtown Women's Bathrooms

from Lorelei:

"This happened in 1998. I was using the bathroom in the mid-town branch of the New York Public Library and saw a woman holding her peeing toddler over the SINK. Is nothing sacred?"

A few years ago I was freelancing at Ellegirl.com. I'm not sure what it is about the Hachette building that just depresses me by end of day. If I had to stay late, I'd get panic attacks. Perhaps this was a factor in the condition of one of the bathrooms shared by Elle Girl and some Elle staffers.

Every day by about 11am, the perpetrator would make her presence known. One of the stalls would inevitably be decorated with brown (and red, like clockwork every 28 or so days), and she would usually leave a special surprise on the seat. The best part was the condition of the toilet paper; the rolls were shredded, as if by claws!

A few of us would discuss the situation, and we even tried to guess the identity of the culprit. I actually sat in proximity, and narrowed it down to two women in the marketing department (I think).

One day our little bathroom made Gawker. We all had a good laugh, and one of my friends at the magazine was CONVINCED I'd sent the tip because of the use of "wildebeest" in reference to the toilet paper. She insisted that I was the only one on the floor who would use the term. I wish I'd been the one, but sadly it wasn't me.

This exchange takes place at Palgrave on 23rd St. Read from the bottom up.
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oh no! i used to nap on that table.

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 4:20 PM
Subject: RE: reason why new york is one big toilet #23452356346

This is the single stall one, right? Because some woman changed her
baby in there once and I vowed never to return. I think they had Thai
for lunch.

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 3:20 PM
Subject: RE: reason why new york is one big toilet #23452356346

Me either -- and I love getting to the door just before someone else
and the dirty looks that get exchanged.

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 4:19 PM
Subject: RE: reason why new york is one big toilet #23452356346

hey, i love 9! i've never had a bad experience with it.

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 4:18 PM
Subject: RE: reason why new york is one big toilet #23452356346

I go to 5. It's the one HR uses, and the one that Helen Plog and
company uses, so I feel it's in the best shape. 7 is too personal and contains non Holtzbrinck personnel. And forget
about 9.

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 3:17 PM
Subject: RE: reason why new york is one big toilet #23452356346

i have one that involves grunting noises, foot shifting, and matches
(7th floor as well)

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 4:11 PM
Subject: RE: reason why new york is one big toilet #23452356346

In that case I will keep the 7th floor bathroom story I was about to
tell to myself. That will definitely send you over the edge.