Downtown Local

by Aaron Cometbus

Tired of handwringing reports about “lost” and “disappearing” New York? These dispatches show a different side of the city—resilient and flourishing despite the naysayers and high rent.

Like a modern-day Joseph Mitchell, Cometbus visits projectionists studying Chinese in their booths, prophets whose pulpits are illegal sublets, and personal assistants who rule the roost once their bosses are out of sight. Readers get a tour of the downtown photographers and the uptown UN missions, complete with a survey of their trash. Punk scientists make their living counting cards at casinos while Albanian waiters keep hidden horseshoe diners open all night. Cover art by Eisner Award winner Nate Powell.

Genres: Nonfiction

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

Aaron Elliott, better known as Aaron Cometbus, is a drummer, lyricist, self-described "punk anthropologist" and author of Cometbus, a seminal punk rock zine.

Reviews

[Scott Satterwhite]

A great view of NYC and a slice of its beautiful people. My favorite section was the COVID diary, but the whole book was great. it's been a while since I read a book cover-to-cover in one sitting. I like was PM Press is doing with these "reissues," even though this had a good chunk of new material. Worth the read.

[Lewis Ward]

A writer/musician who was in the early punk scene in NYC shares his and others' experiences in publishing over the years. Often on the streets, over coffee in a cafe, or at Yonnah Shimmels listening to a friend's stories and telling his own stories over a bowl of matzoh ball soup and latkes.

I was never part of the punk scene, but enjoyed some of the music. I visited NYC now and then during that era. Haven't really spent any time there since the late 80's.

[David Macpherson]

AJ collection of old and new essays about life living in New York as a real person who is not rich or born rich. Some of it was stronger than others, but it was pretty great. This is why I look forward to the new Cometbus every year.

[David]

A nice lineup of vignettes about New York.

[Jak Krumholtz]

I love Cometbus.

[Joe]

Reliably pleasing but not mind-blowing or anything. Enjoying Aaron as NY transplant.

[Lucas Ebel]

Incredibly immersive, slice of life storytelling. I could read these types of stories all day.