September 19, 2013: Subway Musician made of win

Date: September 19, 2013
Event: Subway Musician
Location: New York City, Union Square
Cost: FREE (well, except for the cost of one subway ride)
Summary: There are a lot of subway musicians, some better than others. This guy? Loved him.

So I was running just a minute or two (or three or so) behind schedule on my way to take the subway to Grand Central then an Express Bus to LaGuardia airport. But as soon as I swiped my metro card and maneuvered my carry-on suit case through the narrow turn-stiles of the MTA, I knew I had to pause and appreciate the site and sounds before me.

Setting up shop was a 'One Man Band', Jeffrey Masin, with sing-a-long tunes, completely genius/outrageous-contraption-of-musical-cacophony-producing-instruments, energy, joy, and little self-deprecating one liners like, "I'm Jeffrey Masin, One Man Band, otherwise known as 'A Whole Lotta Noise" and "If there are any musicians in the audience, I apologize."

I would have loved to stay for an entire set and even sing along with a few songs (I had to leave just as he was starting up a Beatles song, dang it!) But I had to mosey. Maybe next time.

Still, I wanted to thank him anyway for brightening up a few moments of my hectic day. :)

(click the read more for a couple more pictures)

Never stop amusing me, New York, please never stop. :)

September 18, 2013: Commuting to Work

Date: September 18, 2013
Event: Commuting to Work
Location: New York City, Union Square
Cost: FREE (well, except for the cost of one subway ride)
Summary: It was a wee crowded on the subway this morning

I don’t often take the 4-5-6 train at rush hour. I’m fortunate that I can just as easily work at home as in the office so I’m pretty flexible as to when I actually go into the office. But today it so happened that I was ready to head to the office just before 8:00 am.

And MAN, was I reminded just how crowded the platform (and trains) on the 4-5-6 line get during morning rush hour. Now, don’t get me wrong. I actually don’t mind it. Not really. I mean, in New York you can choose to find such experiences as annoying or fascinating. I choose the latter. :)

With this subway line in this station, you can get a kind of ‘preview’ of what you’re going to face when you head down the stairs and onto the actual platform from which you’ll catch the train. So when I saw what I saw in the picture below, I decided to just stop for a moment, pause amongst the hustle and bustle, and actually *enjoy* the little bit of insanity, even marvel at it.

July 26, 2013: Fun on the Subway: Sketching Man

Date: July 26, 2013
Event:  Fun on the Subway:  Sketching Man
Location:  New York City Subway
Cost: FREE
Summary:  Sometimes subway rides are horrid.  Most of the time they're just the best way to get from point A to point B.  And then there are the times that make you smile.

Today I got on the 6 train to take me from 33rd St to 14th St.  Not a long ride for sure, but I saw this:  a man sitting on one side of the train and randomly offering to and then drawing strangers sitting across from him, then signing and giving them the quick sketches.  I love this city to death.