10 People You'll Only See in New York City

Naked Cowboy

Well, nearly-naked cowboy is more like it.

Donning a cowboy hat, boots, briefs and one strategically placed guitar, Robert John Burck can almost always be seen in Times Square strumming his six-string and waving to tourists.

He's stuck his nearly-naked foot in politics, too: In 2009, he challenged New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the election. The following year, he announced he was challenging President Barrack Obama in the 2012 election as a GOP candidate. He withdrew from both races shortly after entering.

Matthew Silver: The Great Performer

Matthew Silver just wants people to smile.

Silver, "The Great Performer," can be seen throughout Manhattan using dance, song and oversized props to ease the tension of everyday life -- because, as he says on his website, "it's OK to be silly from time to time."

That Dude With the Cat on His head

Yep. Not much else to say.

Let's hope he at least keeps the cat's claws well clipped.

Ranting Elmo

Just like "Tickle Me Elmo," only anti-Semitic and scary.

He claims his real name is Adam Sandler --Mashable full disclosure: not the Adam Sandler we know and love -- and has a history of shouting anti-Semitic rants while dressed in an Elmo costume.

He's been arrested several times for disorderly conduct, most recently in Times Square.

Saw Lady

Natalia Paruz's skills at using a carpenter's saw as a musical instrument have made her a one-of-a-kind act throughout the city -- and earned her the honorable title of "Saw Lady."

Check out her eerily beautiful rendition of "Silent Night."

Blackwolf the Dragonmaster

New York City's "first and only unofficial wizard." According to his resume, he's got more than 4,800 years of experience.

The Upper East Side Lingerie Jogger

Elliot Offen, better known as the "UES Lingerie Jogger," has gained notoriety around Manhattan's Upper East Side for his ladies' underwear-sporting runs.

The outspoken fitness fanatic is also a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show, where he yells and swears a lot -- seriously,watch this clip.

East Village Topless Lady

In 1992, a law was passed that gave women the right to go shirtless anywhere in Manhattan. Philadelphia topless activist Moira Johnston, most often seen in the East Village, wants to raise awareness of it.

Back in May, she was detained by cops for walking shirtless in public, then released shortly afterwards when they realized she wasn't breaking any laws.

Rat Man

It's an often-repeated statistic that there are as many rats in New York as there are people; some go as far as to say there are four times as many rats as New Yorkers.

One New York resident, known largely as "Rat Man," has embraced that ratio. He's been seen, usually in Times Square, with a gang of rats on his shoulders, head and -- sometimes -- in his mouth. He's dyed some of them different colors, too.

... and Woody Allen.

Obviously.