Hey how ’bout that…the musicians in the subway have officially switched from their greatest hits to holiday tunes.
There’s this one guy I love at the Times Square stop. He usually plays all Mexican music. He plays a mean Feliz Navidad! Hour plays it a lot too, so if you are at 42nd Street, and hear that song you’ll know who I am taking about. He’s a guitar player/singer. Sometimes he has a sidekick with him as well.
Anybody know any other good ones?
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…
Ok, new law proposal: kids can no longer trave lin packs larger than 4 on their way to school. Period.
The groups of these school kids are huge! They travel in packs of ten in order to build their powers. They come screaming onto the train in the morning pushing eachother and bumping into other passengers.
Obviously, that’s not a good idea for a law, but you know what I mean.
It is so funny to watch the adults try to get away from them. The grownups see the kiddies coming and immediately start trying to get down to the other side of the train car. Somw pwoplw look like they are legit scared of these kids.
There’s such a look of relief when the kids get off the train. They tend to all get off at the same stop.
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…
The Daily News reports that the MTA’s budgets for next year hold fares at their current levels! It was feared that the fare hike was going to happen within 8 months or so, but not anymore.
The MTA is going to make its final vote hopefully before Christmas, so that would be a nice little gift. Unfortunately, 2008 isn’t looking so hot. We will probably be paying out the ass then, but for now, we’re all good.
Oh, and as for the stupid service cut idea, that isn’t going to pass either. All around, sounds like a great deal, and that’s what makes SUBWAYblogger suspicious. How could it all be coming together so perfectly. Something is up.
It seems to me that the bums in the system are a little antsy lately. They seem to be causing more trouble than usual.
Most of the homeless guys is see regularly are pretty harmless. However, there are a couple that have been going nuts lately.
One guy I saw this morning was all messed up. He had obviously gotten his ass kicked. His face was all cut up, and his eye was swollen shut. But there he was all loud and obnoxious this morning on the subway platform. Just random people he yells at.
The other day, there was a different one that was being arrested by 4 cops, since of course he was resisting arrest.
Maybe it is the mild weather. It isn’t really that cold just yet even though it is the end of November. So maybe it is the chill that normally keeps them quiet this time of year.
Has anyone else seen the crazies a little extra busy lately?
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…
Rumor has it that they are experiencing generator problems at Bryant park for the tree lighting. Some of the production, lighting, and sound gear may not have enough juice! It may even impact the tree lights too.
Anyway, that’s our segue into a transit alert for that part of town. If you ride the 5th Ave lines or the 7 train, you might experience some extra crowding after the tree lights up (or doesn’t).
Your best option is to identify an escape route to get you to the subway as quick as possible when the festivities are over. Thousands of people are going to rush for the cabs, busses, and subways so be ready.
Otherwise, plan on being at the park for the long haul. Just wait it out. Go get dinner or a coffee because the crowds are not worth the battle.
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…
How young is too young to be riding on the subway alone? Am I the only one who is astounded by some of the kids you see on the subway alone? I mean the summer is one thing, but it is dark now by 5pm. There’s 12 year olds on riding the subway alone when it is dark outside.
Maybe SUBWAYblogger’s parents were a little over protective, but is just seems really strange.
I could perhaps understand if it were a big group of kids heading for the subway together to go to school. Then they ride together on the way home. But some of these kids are riding alone or with just one other friend. Even the ones that have a buddy with them are a little sketchy. Eventually, the friend gets off at one station. The other kid has to stay on because he/she lives 2 stops further up town. So eventually, they are both alone.
Also, some of these kids are straight up punks. Yeah, I said it. They just go ape sh*t as soon as there are no authorities around. Then the rest of us have to put up with their crap. God forbid another adult tell one of these kids to cut the crap because then psycho parents come after you for disciplining their kid.
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…
Part of the holiday cheer in NYC comes from the many nightly holiday events. Moments ago, the tree was lit in Lincoln Center.
SUBWAYblogger hoofed it over to check it out. The spread begins all the way down at Columbus Circle with many of the Time Warner Center’s business giving away stuff on the streets.
I made sure to strategize my viewing location. I planned out which corner to stand on in order to allow quickest access back to the downtown 66th Street platform. As soon as I arrived at Lincoln Center, I knew planning was needed.
It was standing room only. People were crowded across the street! So I knew as soon as the switch was flipped to light the tree, it was going to be a battle of humanity to get back to the subway.
Strategically, I got into possition. A good enough view of the dark tree and a couple performance stages. Lights go on, look at the tree, and I was off…along with 2,000 other people.
Luckily, I beat the bulk of the crowd back to the platform. Five minutes later, it would have been super ugly as the thousands of other people and families exit Lincoln Center Square at the same time.
(There was a bit of an email glitch this morning that held up the morning posting. Sorry for the delay, we’ve fixed the issue!)
Well, the end of Thanksgiving weekend marks the start of Christmas in New York City. Sure, most stores have had the decorations up since…ohh…4th of July or so. But now we are really into it.
Soon, shopping bags will out number passengers on the subway. Black Friday weekend was our first look at that.
There will be a little slump as people get back on track. However, as early as this weekend, the shopping surge will be back in full force.The subway pretty much becomes a cargo train during the month of December. People schlep their purchases all around town.
Folks, keep in mind that it is an official violation to carry an item(s) that inconvenience other passengers or cause a safety hazzard. We’re not making this up. It is official.
So don’t get pissed when people squish the 14 Macy’s bags you are trying to carry on board during rush hour. YOU are breaking the rules, not us.
I love when packs of little latino girls think that I can’t understand them when they speak spanish. Well, guess what, I can.
I especially love when they cop an attitude in spanish. I let them rant on and on about how dare I stand close to them in a crowed train. They spew on and on in spanish, then I shoot them a look. They immediately shut up.
Later on in the ride, one of them cracks a joke, and I purposely start laughing. All of a sudden, they realize I understand every word they are saying.
The best times are when they have been talking about really gross, private stuff. Then they realize that I know too. Priceless.
Understanding spanish in the subway allows you to hear a lot of crap you wish you didn’t know. It seems to be mostly latino girls that are stupid enough to think that they are the only ones on a NYC subway train that knows spanish. Sometimes there are clearly other latino people standing near by, yet they rant on about the dumbest stuff in their “secret language.”
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…
Many predict that today will be almost as bad as Wednesday in terms of commuter traffic. People are leaving the city for Thanksgiving today in an effort to avoid the insanity of tomorrow.
Unforunately, the idea spreads fast so there are more than a couple people scooting out today.
I bring it up because I already see a bunch of suitcases on the subway. I know I’ve made my possition on obnoxiously huge suitcases on the train during rush hour, but I can let it go this time.
When you think about it, there really isn’t going to be a good time to get your suitcase on the train over the next few days. So what the hell, do what you can. But as soon as the holidays are over, stop being a bitch, and keep your makeup suitcases out of our way.
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…
SUBWAYblogger 