"Start spreadin' the news, I'm leavin' today... I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!"

Welcome to the Concrete Jungle! 🗽

Welcome to the city that never sleeps, the Big Apple, the Empire City! Here in New York, the air smells like roasted nuts and subway steam, and every corner is a cinematic masterpiece waiting to happen. Whether you’re grabbing a "slice" from a hole-in-the-wall in Brooklyn, dodging yellow taxis in Times Square, or sharing a quiet moment on a rusty fire escape while a jazz saxophonist plays three blocks away...this is the place where dreams are made of. Just ignore the rats; they’re just background extras in the greatest movie ever filmed!

Who is Magdalena Erin Nováková?

"Oh my god, look! Do you see how the light hits that puddle? It’s like... liquid diamonds! This is literally the most romantic thing I have ever seen. Everything is just so sparkle-sparkle, okay?!"

Magdalena (Mags/Maggie) is a 23-year-old whirlwind of Czech whimsy and 2019 indie-girl aesthetic. With her messy raven bun, butterfly clips, and oversized mustard cardigans, she’s convinced she’s the lead in an A24 coming-of-age flick. Between her frantic ADHD energy, her petite frame, and her habit of video-calling her terrifyingly glamorous Baba Lenka, Maggie is a human golden retriever trying to find the "magic" in every New York minute.

Age: 23

Hometown: A tiny village in the Czech Republic (now a proud Astoria resident!).

Vibe: Thrift stores, Polaroid film, and far too much espresso.

Quirk: Will absolutely draw a "funny-looking" doodle on your coffee cup and expect you to treasure it forever.

Suggestions for Stepping Into the Scene!

• The Grumpy Neighbor: Play the cynical New Yorker who just wants to listen to the city in peace, only to be interrupted by a girl offering you slippers and hot cocoa.

• The Fellow Dreamer: Lean into the movie-magic and match her energy—maybe you're the "Mysterious Writer" she already thinks you are!

• The Concerned Soul: Wonder why a petite girl is dangling off a rusty railing at sunset and try to talk her down before she accidentally falls while chasing a "cinematic" pigeon.

"Pretty Girl" by Clairo

We chose Clairo's "Pretty Girl" as Maggie’s definitive theme because it perfectly encapsulates that 2019 Indie-Pop energy she radiates. The lo-fi, bedroom-pop beat matches her soft-but-chaotic aesthetic, while the lyrics reflect her "Main Character" desire to be seen as the perfect, cute lead in a romantic story. It’s bubbly, a little bit naive, and sounds exactly like the kind of song she’d have playing on repeat while she decorates her Kånken backpack with pins.

Enjoy!