Musings of an Irate Commuter

A chocolate chip cookie and a Coke

2012-01-11T19:43:00.001-05:00

With my daily commute, I tend to see a lot of the same people on a regular basis. Every day I see familiar commuters, subway conductors, bus drivers, MTA Police, workers within Grand Central and even the same homeless people.

There's one particular man I have seen for years. I remember him because I tend to spot him outside of the Zaro's Bakery situated across the hall from the bathroom where I take my daily photo. Often I catch him standing there, just staring through the glass window towards the baked goods. He barely moves. He just stands there, staring. I always assumed he was looking at whatever his most favorite item was, longing for the taste of it again.

Several times I considered asking him if he wanted something from the bakery, but never actually went through with it.

I hadn't seen him in a few weeks, but as I was rushing past that intersection this Tuesday night, there he was, standing and staring into the same window.

I approached him.

"Do you want something from in there?"

I think my speaking to him caught him off guard - because it took him a few seconds to snap out of his stare - and I realized he seemed to be more zoning out towards the window than staring at the items in the window. But after a brief moment, he realized I was speaking to him and responded:

"A chocolate chip cookie and a Coke. Thank you, Ma'am."

He didn't even hesitate in his choice. I guess he likes carbs & sugar as much as I do.

I told him I wasn't sure the bakery sold Coke, but I'd see what I could do.

It was my first time in that Zaro's. I ordered a chocolate chip cookie and a Coke. And after paying an inexplicable $4.85, turned around and left.

As I handed him the bag and told him to take care, I wondered when was the last time he ate, what he ate, and still pondered why of all things he chose a chocolate chip cookie and a Coke. But I wasn't going to ask.

He didn't quite crack a smile but he seemed genuinely surprised by the gesture. He thanked me again, called me ma'am again, and offered me a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a God Bless You.

Then I turned and left because I was overcome with emotion and didn't want to cry.

Something tells me that even if he sees me again, he won't remember me. But that's ok. Because I will remember him. And I'll think about how if I was in his situation I would surely appreciate the random kindness of a passing stranger.

I know it wasn't much but I hope the chocolate chip cookie and Coke were as good as he remembered.

Say it ain't so!!

2011-06-27T00:59:00.005-04:00

It's been well documented on this blog just how much I love the Moustache Artist. You know, the anonymous street artist who wrote the word "moustache" beautifully in script across the upper lips of many personalities who appear in ads displayed in the NYC subway system.

In fact, one of the highlights of 2010 was finding two posters that were personalized for me - a thrill I will never forget!

But more recently, I was beside myself with joy when I found and tumblr'd this. It was a cardboard cut out that was tagged not only above ground (breaking his tradition of underground subway poster tagging!) but I saw it just 2 blocks from my apartment. It meant the Moustache Artist was right here! In Greenpoint! The 11222! I may have even passed him on the street and not known it!

Well, I guess the NYPD was hard at work trying to capture this menace to society (don't get me started...) because I received terrible news yesterday - apparently my beloved Moustache Artist was arrested! Many blog readers, friends & twitter followers alerted me to the breaking news. Needless to say, I think this is a terrible injustice. (You can read about it in the Daily News and see what he really looks like. You will also see nothing but support in the comments for the piece!)

And according to Gothamist today, he was made to apologize and say he would 'never do it again'. Well you know what? This blows! For one thing I'm sure he isn't sorry. At least I hope he's not. However, I do believe he will not do it again - I mean, who wants to go to jail?! - and that's the part that blows.

I guess that means this is really over. I will miss those little "moustaches" so much. And not just me, I know many people were a fans of his work, much more so than the ridiculous posters he was defacing. His style was simple and elegant - and he gave me and many other commuters something to smile about on occasion.

So, in honor of Moustache Man and this unfortunate turn of events, I am showing off the moustache photos I took earlier this year that I haven't had time to blog. Here you go:

Farewell, Moustache Artist, I will forever be a huge fan and miss that gorgeous cursive of yours. Even though I know I won't see any more of your work, it will be a long time before I get out of the habit of scanning posters as I walk down a subway platform, hoping to catch a new "moustache". Thank you for brightening mine - and many other commuters - trips on the NYC subway system. Your work will be missed by many.

Stay strong and good luck in court!

forever your fan,

*Bitch Cakes*

President of the "Free Moustache Man!" campaign

Update: The Overhead Digital Displays in Grand Central on the 7 Train Platform

2010-12-26T22:23:00.004-05:00

You may remember the overhead clocks on the 7 Train platform in Grand Central. I had originally reported back in summer 2008 that one of them needed to be set. How did I know? Because for as long as I had been commuting that way - since March 2008, it said "Set Time and Day".

On August 6, that year, I wrote to the MTA, alerting them to the issue. And on August 8 - just two days later - I was shocked to see they had actually set the time & day! They even wrote to me a week later, thanking me for telling them.

Awesome, right?

Well, that thrill was short lived.

By November 2009 when we had to set the clocks back for that ridiculous daylights savings time ritual, those clocks didn't change. And when they still hadn't been fixed a month later, I wrote to the MTA in December 2010 to tell them about it. Being obsessive, I continued to monitor the clocks. And it took them 2 months to fix the clocks - but they never even wrote back to me!

But on February 9, 2010, I heard back from them regarding the December clock change. I am guessing I only heard back from them, however, because of my blog post.

February 19, 2010 I posted a short blog showing that although the time was fixed, the 3 out of 4 that were out of service had still not been fixed. And I wanted to keep an eye on those that didn't work at all...

02/24/10 Same status - only the rear left clock is operational...

And in early March 2010, it was time for yet another clock change. This time I was shocked - they were set to the right time within a week!

But in that post, on March 19, 2010 I mentioned:

While that's fantastic, it doesn't explain why the displays facing the other direction on that same end of the platform are still not operational. The ones that have been out for well over a year.

It's now December 26th, well over 9 months later. I pass through that station twice a day almost every weekday. And of course I've kept an eye on those clocks over the course of the year, occasionally photographing them...

03/25/10 Only the clock on the rear left is working...

04/21/10 Same situation

04/29/10 Ditto

05/12/10 Still just the rear left clock

05/28/10 Unchanged

06/11/10 Same situation -

06/17/10 On that same side of the platform, but in the opposite direction, facing the escalators, the 2 on the right are working-

But facing the other way, it's still only the one on the rear left that is working -

06/23/10 It's now summer and the rear left one is still the only one working -

07/08/10 This one is on the other side of the platform. And I photographed it because it still lists the "W" train (which is no longer in existence)

The time is right,

but it also lists the "V" train, too (also no longer in existence) -

07/20/10 The rear left one is still the only one working -

08/08/10 It's now August and still just the one on the rear left is working...

09/03/10 Still just the rear left display is working -

I didn't photograph it for about a month when I noticed something interesting in October. Care to guess what changed? If you guessed they fixed any one of the non-functional clocks, you'd be WRONG. Because now...

10/12/10 NONE OF THEM ARE WORKING!

11/19/10

12/09/10 In fact, no displays are working facing the other way too!

and last week, 12/21/10, still all the clocks are out of service -

I mean, at this point, they've been out of service for nearly two years. Two years! Obviously they don't care. And I'm not going to waste the time writing to them again since they are not interested in replying *or* resolving this issue.

Now, I realize this is not the most pressing issue the MTA is facing, nor should it be at the top of their to do list. However, these things have not been working for over a year! It's the neglect that bothers me the most - This is just one tiny piece of the MTA puzzle but it shows how things deteriorate and get worse and worse. And I think this one clock situation speaks volumes about the whole system - I know it's been said before but we really do keep paying more and more for less and less service. I will never understand how this agency does things or justifies itself.

Thoughts from the 7 Train

2010-11-17T21:21:00.000-05:00

I take the 7 Train everyday, just one stop. One 4 - minute ride in that steel box transports us from Long Island City in Queens to magnificent Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. And since the boroughs are separated by water, that means only one thing - we're going under water - under the East River.

Now, if I let myself think about this little fact while I am on the train, it can terrify me, so I try not to. But I do often consider this - I ask myself what if something catastrophic happened that forced us all to come together on this particular train ride? What if we were stuck in that tunnel and had to escape that train, making our way down the tracks on foot for our very survival???

And then I look around at my fellow passengers and wonder:

Who would step in and try to take on the leader role? (certainly not me!)
Who would panic/scream/faint? (I hope I wouldn't, though I might pee)
Who has military or survival training? (I sure don't!)
Who has a flashlight? (My grandpa always carries one!)
Whose instruction would I trust and listen to? (Call me sexist, but probably a man 40 or older)
Who would I need to help? (an older person? a pregnant woman or someone with children?)
Who would assist me? (again, I'm sexist - I'd be looking for a physically strong man to help me since I'll be in something impractical like a tight skirt and heels... as usual)
Who would I buddy up with? Or would I try to go it alone, just following the 'leader'?

As I scan the faces of these random strangers in the subway car, those thoughts and others occur to me. And I try to imagine who would be in what role. But fortunately, before I know it, the train is pulling into the station. We were not forced to come together, fighting for our lives with a magnificent story to tell. We all simply go on with our mundane little days. And I'm relieved for that.

I can't be the only one that has these thoughts, can I?

Another Open Letter to the Wild Haired Man from the 7 Train

2010-11-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Wild Haired Man from the 7 Train,

Hi! How are you? Do you remember me? I know it's been a while. I used to see you on the 7 Train most mornings. But as suddenly as you appeared, you vanished.

Months went by before I saw you again - and it was in Grand Central, filling your water bottle from the fountain. Remember that? Probably not.

Well, since then, the weird thing is I've seen you twice - but not on the 7 Train or in Grand Central...

Coming home from work one night, I had taken the B62 from Long Island City bound for Greenpoint. I don't remember much about the trip at all - except that you got on at Greenpoint Ave. With a guitar! Where were you going? Are you in a band? WTF?

We had that moment on the bus - the "Oh, hey, it's YOU again" moment. And as usual, you just sort of half-heartedly smiled and nodded at me. I was getting off the bus very soon after you boarded and I wondered "Should I say something to him? What would I say?" And I didn't say anything. I just exited the bus.

Then, back in August, when I was off for birthday week, I was meeting my friend Amy at Bliss Cafe in Williamsburg for lunch. And who should I see pushing a yellow bicycle west on North 6th Street but YOU! And even though it was about 98 degrees you STILL had that crazy freaking beard and wild hair going on! I couldn't believe it! Even more shocking - you weren't alone! You were with a woman! She was significantly older than you, so I'm guessing she was your Mom, your boss or maybe you just really dig cougars. Anyway, it was weird because we had that moment - where we saw each other - and it took us a second for it to click who we were. That sometimes happens when you run into people 'out of context', you know? But come on, who looks like us? We're both pretty unforgettable. We knew who each other were. We didn't acknowledge the encounter, but we knew.

So what's your deal, wild haired man? I used to think you were homeless. Now I know you have a job (at least I'm pretty sure, since I saw you board my Metro North train one day). I know you bike (or do you? you were only pushing it, not riding it). I know you have friends (or at least a Mom or a boss or a much older lady-friend). And now I know you play guitar (unless it was just a prop to pick up chicks or perhaps you were bringing it to someone?). Actually, I guess I don't know anything, really. But when I see you again, I'm going to say something. And you better do more than just nod and awkwardly smile at me.

xo
*Bitch Cakes*

Return of the Moustache Man to Long Island City

2010-09-19T12:56:00.001-04:00

I've written about the Moustache Artist on this blog numerous times. And many of my friends and readers have sent me "Moustache" sightings at various subway stations throughout the transit system. I've enjoyed all your notes and photos, thank you. But unless I stumble upon it myself, it just doesn't have the same thrill. I love the aspect of surprise and delight when I'm walking down a subway platform, glancing at the posters and I spot one, and another, and another.

And that's exactly what's been happening in Long Island City again! It appears my sharpie carrying friend is back and has been hitting many of the posters on the Vernon-Jackson platform!

This one is extra special - not only is there a moustache, but there's a unibrow!

Welcome back, Moustache Artist. I missed you!

I knew you'd be back :)
xoxoxo

Update: Metro Newspaper Bin in White Plains

2010-09-16T22:15:00.001-04:00

Yes, this post is very late and I know I've barely blogged over here this summer. That was due to riding my bike every waking sunny minute (when I'm not working, of course) and then hanging out with friends when the sun goes down. The few chances I have had to blog were spent updating my weight watchers blog since that has the largest audience. But I do love this blog and have missed it. Anyway, biking weather is just about coming to an end and I have a ton of stuff to post so I will do it as I have time.

Here are my photos of the Metro newspaper bin from June, 2010. Unfortunately, it was a fairly uneventful month, as you will see...

06/01/2010 No papers, some trash in the bin and some trash to the right.

06/02/2010 Papers in the bin, along with some trash. And the trash on the right side remains.

(I was out sick for a few days, then rode the Tour de Brooklyn that Sunday and had Monday off)

06/08/2010 Papers in the bin. And some paper trash appears, but no bulky trash. And the stuff on the ground, on the right side the week before is no longer there.

06/09/2010 Papers have been supplied, same paper trash remains and the ground still appears clear.

06/10/2010 What happened here? It's actually the same paper trash but also a crumpled copy of the AM New York (the Metro's arch rival, and the paper I prefer) and no Metro papers!

06/11/2010 Still supplying newspapers, which is good. But those "deals" ads are still in there.

06/15/2010 The delivery is getting consistent - more papers in the bin.

06/16/2010 Papers again! (but there is still some trash in the bin)

06/17/2010 Papers are still being delivered. Awesome!

06/18/2010 Is this a record? There are still papers! (and you can still see those "deals" ads back there...)

06/21/2010 Once again - papers, and that trash in the background of the bin.

06/22/2010 Same deal, different day - papers and those same ads in the bin.

06/23/2010 Deja vu! Just a different paper.

06/25/2010 Papers again. And trash has returned on the right side of the bin, on the ground.

06/28/2010 Papers again. And that trash remains on the right side.

06/29/2010 Same as the last two days...

06/30/2010 Closing out the month with a close up. You can see those "deals" ads have been in there most of the month - first spotted on the 8th.

As I said, June was pretty uneventful and this was probably the least exciting installment in the series, but I had to document it. Cause you know, I had to. I'm just quirky like that. If you want to see any of the previous (and more exciting month's entries), here you go:

May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
November & December 2009
August 2009
July 2009

I can't believe the MTA did something to help me...

2010-09-02T08:18:00.002-04:00

I've been taking the same morning Metro North train out of Grand Central for over a year now. It's what I call a 'super express' - it makes only 2 stops: Harlem (which really doesn't even count because every train stops at Harlem) and then White Plains - my stop. This train is ideal because it's 99% daily commuters who know the 'rules' and there's rarely drama - no kids, no talking, no cell phone conversations - it's peaceful.

On the occasion I miss my super express, there's a 'normal express' just 10 minutes later which still gets me to work in time. I used to take that train, until I discovered the 'super express'. What I don't like about the normal express is that it makes a few more stops - including the dreaded Fordham. So even though the 'super express' gets me to work a full half hour before I need to be there, I prefer it and always aim to catch that one.

The only problem is that since the MTA took my bus off the schedule in January, I was having an incredibly stressful and hectic time getting to Grand Central in the morning to catch the super express. I usually caught it, but I was a sweaty, stressed out mess by the time I got there.

Then, about a month ago, I abandoned the morning bus in favor of the G Train and I am keeping that route because I discovered that, on average, I was getting to GCT with 5 minutes to spare.

But yesterday, things got even better!

I was out sick on Monday and Tuesday but a schedule change had gone into effect this weekend. I was aware of it, but normally these changes never affect the rush hour trains, so I didn't even check the schedule on line. However, when I arrived in GCT and checked the digital board for my super express train and track number, I couldn't find a blue bar (the Harlem line is denoted in blue) for 7:40 - my time, my train.

At first I panicked: Where the hell is my train?!

I saw a red line with the time 7:40 listed, but that's not my line nor my train; red is the New Haven line. WTF?! Where is my train?!

I allowed my eyes to scan down the board a few rows and there I saw it. One of the most beautiful things I've seen in my 3 years of commuting:

a blue line that showed a 7:42 to White Plains.

Seven forty TWO?! TWO?! Really?! Do you know what this means????? That 2 minutes makes all the difference in the world! That 2 minutes practically guarantees I never miss this train again. That 2 minutes means time to wash my hands and take my daily photo. That 2 minutes means no Fordham people! That 2 minutes means peace of mind and walking - not running - in 4" heels up the escalators when I get off the 7 Train! That 2 minutes changed my morning completely!

I rarely get a chance to say this, so let me do so: Thank you, MTA. Thank you for that minor schedule change. You've made this commuter slightly less irate!

Wait a minute...

2010-07-22T23:03:00.004-04:00

ok why did it take me a month for this to hit me/bother me?

As I blogged, the "Moustache" artist left me this present on the Manhattan bound side of the Vernon-Jackson platform a while ago-

and when I saw this on the Queens bound side of the platform days later, I just assumed it was from him again-

But the more I think about it, the more I think it was NOT left by the same person. After it was pointed out by reader Laramie Glen in my comments, I am certain the first "bitchcakes" moustache in the Warehouse 13 poster was done by THE moustache artist. I still have no idea who that person is but I assume they googled themselves and found my blog. But I am now fairly convinced the "Moustache Man <3 BitchCakes" poster was done by an imposter! Not done by the actual moustache artist!

GASP!

I mean, I'm no handwriting analyst, but since the curly-que before the "m" in moustache is done in the wrong direction, the "b"s in "bitchcakes" don't match, and the pen used in the latter picture is not as thick, I am just inclined to think these were not done by the same person.

And if that's true, it begs the question - who would go through so much trouble for me? Is it someone who really loves me (not likely - despite my online popularity, I'm pretty unlovable) or is it someone who wanted to see me blog about them, albeit anonymously? I mean really - who was it and what were their intentions?! And will I ever know??

All I do know is I haven't seen a new "moustache" in Queens for a few weeks now. But readers are writing in to me that they've spotted his work on other lines. In midtown, I think it was, I have to check my email (thanks readers!). But this guy is clearly on the move. He's made himself famous in LIC so he now has bigger fish to fry in Manhattan.

I won't lie - I miss seeing his "moustaches" in LIC and I still look for them. I hope this isn't over...

The end of (yet another) transit-related love affair

2010-07-11T20:58:00.007-04:00

As you likely recall, I was excited about the work of the Moustache Artist since I started seeing his modifications on posters at Vernon-Jackson in Queens. But then, when I saw he addressed me in some of his posters, I was simply smitten!

Since that post, I noticed two additional "moustache" works on the Manhattan bound Vernon-Jackson platform; but am not sure how long they've been there since I don't often make it down this far on the platform before the subway arrives -

However, it's been weeks since my "Bitch Cakes" poster and he has not made any contact since then.

To pacify myself, I theorized that the above posters must have been modified around the time he established contact with me via his posters and I just hadn't noticed.

But if that were true, then how would I explain this???

Remember this poster? The one where he wrote "Moustache Man <3 Bitchcakes"?

Well not only has he not responded to my "*Bitchcakes <3s you too!" but when a new poster appeared adjacent to it, he drew a *new* moustache on it - while completely ignoring my poster!

So that means he was there - in that location. He must have seen what I wrote, but completely ignored me.

I'll be honest, it hurt. :(

But the more I think about it, I think it's for the best that he ignore me and not make any contact. I have a feeling if I met the Moustache Artist it would - at best - take the mystery away and at worst, what if I were disappointed? I think some things are better off remaining a mystery.

Besides, at this point, I have a feeling he might abandon his moustache premise because a friend of mine told me she saw a bad copycat "goatee" in another station and then I saw this (see below) in Vernon-Jackson. While mildly amusing, it's obviously not his work, but someone trying to make it look like it is:

Anyway, whatever you decide to do, Moustache Man, I wish you the best. It was fun while it lasted and I was thrilled to be a part of your art. In the immortal words of Tim Gunn, our savior, "Carry on!"

Update: Metro Newspaper Bin in White Plains

2010-06-30T22:21:00.001-04:00

It's time for last month's Metro Newspaper bin activities! This is what our green metal friend was up to in May!

05/03/2010 I was off this day because I rode in the 5 Boro Bike Tour the day earlier. Therefore, I have no photo. (I always take off the day after a bike tour!)

05/04/2010
As you can see, no newspapers (that again?) and lots of litter in and around the bin-

05/05/2010 Just a day later and still no papers (were the delivery people too busy celebrating Cinco de Mayo?) and what appears to be totally different trash!

05/06/2010 Hmmm... still no papers yet there is *less* trash. That's fairly odd. And the cups on the left side of the bin from the day before are gone, but the one on the right is still there -

05/07/2010 Finally! Just in time for Friday, there are papers! (and some trash is present in the background)-

05/10/2010 Hmmmmm That doesn't look like a Metro paper (but note the cup on the right hand side was removed at some point over the weekend)-

Probably because it's not. Someone left the sports section of the New York Times-

05/11/2010 Hmmm So far this month the paper was delivered only once! And the New York Times sports section from yesterday has yet to be claimed by a lucky recipient!

05/12/2010 Inexplicably, papers begin appearing again-

05/13/2010 And just as quickly, they are gone! (though there is not much trash!)

05/14/2010 No papers and the trash begins to accumulate inside the bin again (but note how clean the ground is).

05/17/2010 No papers, more trash in the bin *and* more trash on the ground. These people in White Plains are animals!!!

05/18/2010 Oh, look at that! Papers again! What a novel concept!

05/19/2010 Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted because once again there are none. And once again, there is more trash-

05/20/2010 This is a wildly inconsistent month of deliveries - there are papers in the bin (and the ground trash is still present)-

05/21/2010 It was Bike to Work Day! And even though I took Metro North, I had to use a different entrance (with an elevator for my bike) so I didn't get near this area to photograph it :( Boo!

05/24/2010 A new week. A new beginning. Papers are in the bin-

(Close up on story headline and side note: It's true, we can't)

05/25/2010 Two days in a row! This is good! (Note the abundance of trash on the right hand side!)

05/26/2010 I had the day off for a hair appointment. And my hair looks pretty amazing, thankyouverymuch.

05/27/2010 There are papers again! Could it have been 4 days of deliveries in a row? I will never know... But I hope they didn't hurt themselves achieving that record if so!

05/28/2010 Clearly, 4 days in a row is just too much to ask of a mere mortal. Because on Friday, they had not been delivered again. And the trash is just getting ridiculous at this point-

05/29/2010 I guess they started celebrating Memorial Day early too because there were no papers that Friday before the holiday (and still plenty of trash on the ground next to it)-

That's it for May 2010. I know you all feel better now that you've had that update and you can now go on to enjoy your 4th of July holiday weekend in peace!

(I do apologize that all of my blogging has been light the last month or so but I've been socializing and biking like crazy. I am so behind and there is so much I want to write and post. I wish I could figure out how to eliminate sleep or get an assistant - one that I don't have to pay and isn't attractive enough that I will want to sleep with them. If you know anyone that fits that bill, send them my way!)

And if you want to get caught up to speed, you can see the previous Metro Newspaper bin entries:

April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
November & December 2010
August 2009
July 2009

The Moustache Artist strikes again, leaving another present for me!

2010-06-16T21:32:00.002-04:00

As I blogged last night, I didn't even notice that the newest 'moustache' at Vernon-Jackson was addressed to yours truly until I got home and uploaded the photo. And as I mentioned in that post, I wanted to get a photo of me *with* the poster this morning. Alas, that was not meant to be. So I just took a quick close up of it before getting on the train-

While at work, I found out about a sale not to be missed at Banana Republic (trust me, this is integral to the story, just keep reading), but the thing was I had to go there tonight in order to take advantage of it. While the one outside of Grand Central is the most convenient, they don't carry petites. So that meant I had to go to my favorite one - the one in Rockefeller Center - after work tonight.

I accomplished my mission while I was there. I bought (are you ready for this? I hope none of my WW blog readers are over here because it will spoil the surprise) pants. Yes, PANTS. As in those things you step into one at a time that cover each leg from waist to ankle. (I.E. Not a skirt or dress, which have dominated my wardrobe since I was 14.) Actual freaking PANTS! Don't believe me? Well, look at this!

I ended up buying the three pairs shown above. And I swear there is a point to all of this besides me once again gratuitously showing off how good I look. Ahem...

I left Banana and headed to the subway to get home. From the Rockefeller stop, I would normally have taken the V/M uptown and over to Court Square, Queens and switched to the G. However, I wanted to get a photo with my subway poster since I didn't have time this morning. Therefore, I made a point to take the V/M back downtown one stop to Grand Central, taking the 7 Train to Vernon Jackson - just so I could get those photos. (see, I told you there was a point to the Banana story! I was so determined to get those photos I changed my route home! Just for my blog and you, Moustache Artist!)

I exited at Vernon Jackson and as I walked up the platform, of course I checked for any new posters/new moustaches. I saw the same ones I had photographed last week: 'Drop Dead Diva' girl, 'Get Him to the Greek' guy, and this actual mustached man -

But something had changed since I last photographed that poster. And I don't know if this was here yesterday and I didn't see it, or if this appeared today. But tonight, I noticed it immediately!

OMFG. For realz. He was so excited, he forgot to cross the "T" in moustache! (Inexplicably, he also gave the man in the poster eyeliner, which is fine - just an observation.)

Armed with a red pen I brought home from work specifically for this purpose, I wrote him back a note:

and asked a random passer by to get a photo of me:

Look at that ridiculous smile on my face. I was so excited! Super surprised and elated!

From there I exited, crossed the street, went down the stairs and swiped my MetroCard to complete my original quest: getting a photo of me with the poster on the Manhattan side:

Now, I swear, I have NO IDEA who this artist is and (since some of you asked) it's not me! I'm not nearly that clever OR self absorbed, thank you very much (close, but not quite). So I have no idea who has been doing this. I am more inclined to think they are male now, since they wrote "Moustache Man" but that could have been specific to throw me off. Anything is possible. I'm guessing it someone that lives in LIC near that stop, but maybe they just go through there every day like I do. I don't know! The only thing I do know is this person has a beautiful penmanship and excellent sense of symmetry. Not to mention, their curly-ques are outstanding!

I must admit, I am really looking forward to whatever happens next. Maybe there will be something new waiting for me tomorrow. Maybe I will see the artist in action at some point. Maybe it's someone I know. Or maybe I will never see another 'moustache' and it will remain an unsolved mystery until the day I die. One thing is for certain: I love New York City and this is just one tiny example of how magical and awesome something as mundane as commuting can be.

Thank you again, Moustache Man. You made me giddy! :D

xoxo
*Bitch Cakes*

Thank you, Moustache Artist!

2010-06-15T21:19:00.007-04:00

You may recall that I recently blogged about the mysterious Moustache Artist. And I'm sure it's no surprise that I continue to be on the hunt for new moustaches (even at other subway stations) because I love them so much.

This morning was totally normal - I caught the B62 with my usual driver and arrived in Vernon-Jackson without incident. A 7 Train was pulling in as I entered the turnstile, and while I normally like to get as far up on the platform as possible, I walked slower than usual, checking for new subway posters and new 'moustaches' along the way.

I immediately noticed a young man taking a photo of the subway poster with the little kid with the moustache. I already have that one, of course, but it was nice to see other people appreciate the work. Then, right next to it, I noticed a new poster - and the woman in poster had a 'moustache'. With the 7 Train already in the station, I quickly snapped a photo of the poster - literally with only a second to spare - and then turned around to board the 7 Train.

I never inspected the photo any further. That is, until right now...

I just downloaded today's photos and am quickly looking through them to decide what to upload tonight. And that's when I saw it. Something so incredible that in my excitement I startled my cat - Something I didn't notice in my haste this morning.

Look at this!!

Holy. Effing. Crap! Did you see that? Did you SEE THAT?! There's a BitchCakes moustache!!! I didn't even look at the guy in the poster this morning when I snapped the photo or I would have squealed in the subway station! I hope it's still there tomorrow because I want a photo *with* it, even if I miss a 7 Train because of it.

That is so freaking awesome, I can't stand it! (And in case my readers are wondering: No, I have NO IDEA who the artist is!!)

Thank you, Moustache Artist! It's an honor to be featured in your work and I'm so glad you found my blog! You rule!!! Keep up the great work!

xoxo
*Bitch Cakes*

An Open Letter to the Moustache Artist of Vernon-Jackson

2010-06-09T18:44:00.003-04:00

Dear Moustache* Artist,

From the first morning I encountered one of your pieces of modified subway art on the Manhattan bound Vernon-Jackson platform of the 7 Train, I was smitten. It was such a simple modification to a poster, but so fun and clever. I loved it so much, I had to take a photo of it:

Just a few days later, I was thrilled to find more!

(Ironically, those Italian women likely spend a good deal of time ridding themselves of unwanted facial hair... not that I would... *cough* know what that's like *cough*...)

Heck, even Jennifer Lopez wasn't safe!

Since then I have seen quite a few more of your works, all at Vernon-Jackson, and on both sides of the platform. Here are some I captured one night coming home, on the Queens bound side:

I noticed the other 2 members of that poster were already 'stached, so your pen did not meet their upper lips:

And I am guessing that is the same reason you left this poster alone:

Although this has not been going on very long, I must admit that I get excited when new posters go up, because I keep hoping to see new 'moustaches'. And this week, you did not disappoint me, even moustaching a little kid!

and a dorky college student:

Finally, I know this is going to sound weird, but I dreamt about you. That's right, you left such an impression on me that you invaded my subconscious. In my dream, I met you. And sure enough, you had the beautiful scripted "moustache" written across your upper lip (that's how I knew it was you). Aside from that, you looked like my favorite employee at B's Bikes, Andre, but in my dream it was you: The Moustache Artist.

Now, you may or may not be Andre, or look like Andre or even be male for that matter (I am making quite a sexist assumption here, I realize), but I think whomever you are and whatever you look like, you're pretty fantastic regardless. Thank you for brightening my commute and giving me something to look forward to each morning and night.

Keep up the great work! I'll be on the lookout for more moustaches. And perhaps yourself.

Sincerely,
*Bitch Cakes*

*I spelled "Moustache" that way for you, since that is your preferred spelling. I usually keep with the traditional "mustache" myself...

Update: Metro Newspaper Bin in White Plains

2010-05-28T20:20:00.002-04:00

Here's the update post all my regulars have been eagerly anticipating - the Metro Newspaper bin in White Plains. There was a shocking turn of events in April. Read on...

04/01/10 It's no April Fool's joke - the month started off with a ton of trash:

04/02/10 The following day saw even more trash than the previous day:

04/05/10 It doesn't appear to have changed much through the weekend:

(Note: 04/06-04/08 I was out sick so there are no photos)

04/09/10 Friday looked a lot like Monday:

And here is where it gets really interesting...

When I returned to work on Monday I followed my usual routine of walking past the stairs and around the corner to get a photo of the bin. But when I turned the corner, I let out a sound of shock and horror. This is what I saw!

04/12/10 It's gone!!!!!

What?! How could it be gone?! It was just there on Friday! Why would they take it away?!

I was crushed. It just seemed so anti climactic to be gone... again. (Or so I thought...)

I walked back towards the stairs to get up to the train platform and something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I looked to my left. And sure enough, there it was! Back where it originally had been last summer!!! (Note: I actually walked right past it on my way to get the photo of it where it had been for the last 6 months.)

Not only was it back in its original spot, but it had even been (*gasp*!) filled with Metro newspapers!

Crazy, right?! I mean what possessed them on that particular day to not only clean out the trash, but to return it to its original position and actually start using it for its intended purpose? I can't even begin to imagine how any of that happened! But I knew one thing, my daily monitoring would continue...

04/13/10 Holy moly! Papers again!

04/14/10 Here it is in the line with the others:

and once again, there are actual papers for that date!

04/15/10 They are still filling this bin. I can hardly believe it!

04/16/10 The end of the week and they're 5 for 5!

04/19/10 It's only been a week since the bin is back in use and it already appears to be neglected. No papers on Monday. People waste no time turning it back into a trash can:

04/20/10 No papers again on Tuesday, but the trash has been removed:

04/21/10 Again, no papers. But no trash either:

04/22/10 Wow. Thursday and still nothing!

04/23/10 Friday. And they appear to have forgotten about this bin all week. Was last week just a fluke?

04/26/10 But wait! It's Monday, and the papers are back!

04/27/10 Tuesday - a lot of trash for one day:

but they must have filled it, because there is one paper for that date:

04/28/10 Wednesday. Papers *and* trash:

04/29/10 Thursday - papers and the bulky trash was gone:

04/30/10 And Friday. Just papers, no trash:

April was an exciting month for this bin! It had been subjected to a remote corner for months, being misused and neglected. I didn't think it would ever be returned or refilled and still wonder what prompted it (my obsessive coverage of it, perhaps?). However, if they think I'm going to stop blogging about it just because it's being filled again, they surely do not know me very well.

If you want to get caught up to speed, you can see the previous Metro Newspaper bin entries:

March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
November & December 2010
August 2009
July 2009

Happy Birthday to the Brooklyn Bridge!

2010-05-26T23:29:00.000-04:00

This has nothing to do with my daily commute, but the bridges are a crucial part of transportation between boroughs in NYC and I *love* bridges -especially our bridges - so I have to share it here...

This past Monday, May 24th, was the Brooklyn Bridge's 127th Birthday! I think the Brooklyn Bridge is easily one of - if not - the most recognized bridges in the world. And it should be - there is nothing quite like it. From the distinct neo-gothic stone towers to the miles of diagonal criss crossing steel cables, it's instantly recognizable and an image synonymous with New York City. I have seen it and been on it many times, but I still get excited when I'm in its presence. It's just stunning. Simply spectacular.

Monday night, the weather could not have been more fantastic for a bike ride. So when I got home from work that night, I quickly changed into bike clothes and headed out to visit her. Here are some photos from my trip.

First, there's my bike outfit:

Some riding shots:

Shots I took while stopped on the bridge:

This band was actually really good - The Lucky Chops:

A shot of me on the bridge (a woman walking over it saw me snapping photos and offered to take one of me)

The Manhattan Bridge in the background:

Happy Birthday to the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge - providing a connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn for over a century. And in that 127 years, its style, grace and beauty has not diminished a bit.

Commuting Adventure: Bike to Work Day!

2010-05-24T00:21:00.001-04:00

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Dear Diary,
Today was National Bike to Work Day and it was the perfect day for it: sunny and beautiful. I knew I wanted to take part but since my job is 28 miles away (4 boroughs + 1 county), there was just not enough time for me to ride the whole thing. I decided to cycle for the bus, subway and walking portions; but would ride the Metro North commuter train.

(I should mention that in order to prepare for this adventure, I actually had to fill out a form and send the MTA $5 for a bike permit to take her on Metro North. I still don't understand why this is a necessary item since the conductor may not ask to see it and can pretty much tell you not to bring your bike on board at their own discretion, regardless of the permit. But I played their little game and my bike permit came in the mail in about a week-)

Of course I had to find a cute bike outfit that I could also wear at work. This is what I decided on -

I left my usual time, when I would leave for the bus, and rode North on Greenpoint Ave. It was emptier than usual for that time-

I took the Pulaski Bridge to Queens and made my way over to the 59th St Bridge. While stopped at a light in Long Island City, another cyclist pulled up next to me. He asked "Do you have a blog?" Why yes sir, yes I do, three in fact! I'm not sure which one he had seen but he recognized me. I love it when that happens!

The light turned green and I continued towards the Queensboro Bridge. The good people @ Transportation Alternatives (you know, the ones who interviewed me for their commuter profile!) had a booth set up at the base. I took a few quick pics, said my hellos, and then took off -

I rode over the bridge, Manhattan bound, as I have done many times before.

Here's my shadow!

Waiting for a light on the Manhattan side of the bridge, a woman told me I was the "best accessorized woman she has ever seen on a pink bike." I'd like to think I was the best accessorized woman on ANY bike, but I'll take the compliment. At that same light, an NYPD officer directing traffic was delighted to see me and dubbed my cruiser the "pinkmobile". I get a ton of comments when I ride around and I'm actually surprised I've never heard that before...

Finally the light turned green. And I still had a lot of riding to do to get to Grand Central. I really wanted to catch my usual train, so I was focused on my ride. But that means I have no photos from that point on.

I rode harder and faster than I normally do and I have to say: Cycling in Manhattan during rush hour = not nearly as fun as on the weekends.

I made my way west to Lexington Ave and then turned south. I finally arrived at the Grand Central entrance I wanted. Before entering the building I had to get a photo of the cruiser outside the Terminal-

I entered the building and started running with my bike. I passed one of the Metro North departure schedule screens and saw my train was on its usual track that morning. I also saw the current time: It was the exact minute my train was supposed to be departing. I continued to run, weaving in and out of passengers on foot doing my best to reach the platform in time.

I did not make it. As I got to Track 24, I actually saw my train pull away. I won't lie, it sucked (those two red lights in the distance are my train that left without me. And yes, I am very aware if I didn't stop for that last photo, I would have made the train...)-

Since I had only a few minutes before the next train, I asked one of my mechanic friends, Richie, to take a photo of me and the bike. He did a terrific job-

I had to go downstairs to get the next train out and knew that meant I had to maneuver my bike in the elevators (which was not easy). I didn't even have enough time to try to get my morning photo in the bathroom. :(

When I arrived at the track, I had to find the car with the fold up seats (not all cars have them) because that was the only car that had a seat configuration and enough space to accommodate me and the cruiser -

It was a stressful 40 minutes on Metro North but I arrived at my destination eventually. Once I got to White Plains, I had to get her from the train and onto another elevator to get downstairs to street level -

From there, I did the same thing I do every morning, went to Starbucks. (I don't enjoy admitting that I am back on their evil corporate juice, but I am). I locked the cruiser up outside-

I drank my coffee and then rode to work. I brought her into my building (having to carry her up about 20 steps), brought her into yet another elevator and into my office. I worked with her by my desk all day and it was so surreal to look over and see her there.

When it was time to hit the gym with William, I rode over. Of course he took his car. And of course, I got there in half the time he did. Here's my pal, Sour Balls. I look so tiny next to him!

I didn't really sit on my bike all day, but I made William take this photo anyway -

Finally, at quitting time, we left the office. It was time to do it all again in reverse. Here I am, leaving work-

Waiting for the train, I posed her with one of the signs -

And when I arrived back in Grand Central, I ran into another Metro North mechanic I know. He took this great shot for me -

I left Manhattan via the 59th St Bridge again. And after making it back to Queens, I wanted to swing by Queens Plaza South to see if the Laundry Line Art was still there... It was not -

So it's a good thing I was there on Monday to photograph it and blog about it.

I continued through Long Island City and saw them filming "Rescue Me". I stopped to get a shot of my bike in front of one of the No Parking signs -

And shortly after that, I was finally home; ready to start my busy and awesome fun-filled weekend. Woo hoo!

I'm glad I took part of Bike to Work Day, and it certainly was a memorable commuting adventure, but I definitely would not do that again. At least not while working in White Plains and not with that huge bike. It was way too much trouble getting it through doors, on elevators, up and down stairs and on Metro North.

I love my bike and will still ride it like crazy but I'm looking forward to the bus and subway again on Monday. I kind of missed it. My commute just didn't feel right without those elements.

An Open Letter to my B62 Bus Driver tonight

2010-05-19T19:16:00.005-04:00

Dear Ms B62 Bus Driver (is that a real title? I'm not sure),

You did it again tonight. You did it two weeks ago and you did it again tonight.

I had just gotten off the 7 Train @ Vernon-Jackson and had to walk those long two blocks to get to the bus stop. I could see the bus was already at the stop and the last few passengers were boarding. The bus was currently stopped for the red light, but since there was no one left to board, I thought "I have no chance in hell of catching that bus, and these shoes are killing me. I'll just suck it up and wait for the next one or walk to the G".

I continued walking toward the bus stop at my usual pace, which is actually pretty fast considering I am a short 5'2" in a tight skirt and wearing 4" heels, but I had no intention of reaching you in time. And now, about half way there, I could see the light was about to change in your favor, and I accepted my fate.

The light changed. But your bus didn't move. And then I saw something that could only be described as a commuting miracle: Though no one was standing in the vicinity of the bus stop or even approaching the stop, THE BUS DOORS OPENED!

I realized what this meant. You were actually *waiting*. For me. Waiting for me! From a block away!

I began running, in my tight skirt and 4" heels and could see that you used a hand motion telling me to slow down, take it easy, don't rush, be careful. And at that moment I knew it was you - you had given me this same gesture when you waited for me two few weeks ago. And I couldn't believe you were doing it again.

I ignored your command to slow down because I couldn't believe you would miss the light for me and I didn't like the idea of holding up the whole busload of other passengers just for me. So I continued running.

I reached the bus, and there you were, smiling. I boarded, exclaiming "I would kiss you if I could!" and you laughed. You told me you hate to see people running for the bus and wouldn't leave when they're trying so hard to make it. And I thanked you.

Ms Lady Bus Driver, you're amazing. Truly. You don't know how rare of a gem you are. You're kind and compassionate and you saved me at least 10, if not 20, minutes tonight. And you didn't have to do that. You could have left when that light turned green. But you saw me coming and chose to wait.

I thanked you again when I got off the bus, wishing you a good night, but wanted to thank you here too. Because I want people to know that NYC isn't as hard as the reputation we sometimes get. It's surprisingly friendly and kind. And this shows how genuinely nice people can be - even people in a high stress job such as yours - even when they don't need to be nice. But you were - You took the time to do something you didn't need to do just to help make a stranger's night a little better. And you did it with a smile.

Thank you again. You helped remind me that not everyone sucks. There are some awesome people in this city and in our lives. We just have to open our eyes and see them. Thank you for that.

Sincerely,
*Bitch Cakes*

A follow up to my Miss Grand Central post

2010-05-18T09:58:00.004-04:00

Since crowning myself Miss Grand Central, the media has swarmed in on me! Well I guess that's a bit of an exaggeration, but two sites did pick up my post...

I'd like to thank Crushable for not only writing about me and linking to the post, but interviewing me too (it's a pretty fantastic interview if I may say so myself).

Also, in case any of you wandered over here from those sites or are fairly new readers, I just wanted to point out a few more things about my love affair with Grand Central Terminal that you may not know:

I photograph it often. Here's my Flickr set of photos of Grand Central.
I am a bit bathroom obsessed and I eagerly awaited the opening of the refurbished downstairs bathroom. When it was finally revealed, I blogged a review.
And when the upstairs bathroom was redone, I not only blogged about that too, but that has become my favorite bathroom - the one where I take my (nearly) daily photo.
I blogged about the Whispering Gallery aka Whispering Corners outside of the Oyster Bar (yes, they really work!)
I met TV celebrity, and World Champion, Judah Friedlander in Grand Central.
I once was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit and walk on the glass walkway with my favorite Metro North conductor, Anthony.
And prepare to be very jealous: I managed to score one of the best birthday gifts ever last year - a mini photoshoot and personal tour of Grand Central Terminal with Dan Brucker. (yes, I am ten pounds heavier in those photos) I somehow (looks? personality? luck? probably all three) scored that super secret tour of parts of Grand Central that very few people ever get to see!

So as you can see, my memories here and love for this magnificent building run deep. And I'm excited about the upcoming one hundred year anniversary in 2013 - I wonder what they will have planned (one suggestion: no more laser light/electronic events please. They cheapen the beautiful interior. Thanks). I, for one, want to be a part of this celebration and will gladly make another appearance as Miss Grand Central!

One last thing - call me a hopeless romantic - but if I am ever proposed to again, I want it to be in Grand Central Terminal (as opposed to the first time, when it happened in the front seat of my 92 Jetta in front of the courthouse in downtown Brooklyn. Tres romantic!). Of course I will have to find someone worthy of dating me first. But yeah, that's my fantasy. A girl can dream...

An Open Letter to the Hasidic Man on my morning bus

2010-05-16T20:50:00.002-04:00

Dear Hasidic Man on my morning B62,

I see you most mornings on my normal bus. You board before me - I am guessing somewhere in Williamsburg - and you always have a seat. On mornings you were lucky enough to score a single seat (as shown here, you just happened to be sitting behind a man I had to photograph because of his amazingly awesome "Atheist" jacket):

And when I see you in one of those single seats, I stand somewhere in your vicinity - even if other seats are available. I do this for two reasons:

The single seats are my favorite (and probably everyone's preferred seat).
I know you get off two stops after I board. So I don't mind standing and waiting that short time if the payoff is landing that coveted single seat.

This has been going on for quite a while - a year, maybe more. In that time, you've noticed my pattern of behavior, and just recently you started doing something very generous - you've been standing up early, before your stop, riding your last two stops by the rear doors, just to allow me to take your seat that much sooner.

This is unbelievably kind and restores my faith in the human race. Though I am sure to thank you every morning this occurs (you look right at me, but you neither acknowledge me with words, nor with a nod or a smile), I wanted to thank you here too. And say that I appreciate it - you're a considerate man.

I'll be looking for you in the morning. I hope to see you in a single seat!

Sincerely,
*Bitch Cakes*

A Dream Come True: My Day as Miss Grand Central

2010-05-09T15:43:00.007-04:00

Last year, when it was announced that there would be a competition for Miss G Train, several people encouraged me to enter. I wrote about why I did not want to do that, and in that post I also mentioned a different dream I had. A much bigger dream...

You likely know I commute through Grand Central Terminal daily to get to and from work. I've been doing this for over two and a half years now. And I do not take a single day of that portion of my commute for granted -

After getting off the 7 Train each morning, I walk up 3 flights of escalator stairs to reach the main floor of the terminal. And when I arrive upstairs, I walk quickly as I check the current time and which track my train will depart from that morning. But then there is that moment I look forward to every single day - the magical moment that I turn the corner to enter the main hall - where I first get a glimpse of that magnificent building - to see the high ceiling with the painted constellation, the giant chandeliers, the round center island information booth with its famous clock as well as the hustle and bustle of NYers walking in every possible direction but not colliding. And as I quickly walk through, I take a few seconds to notice the way the sunlight is streaming through the huge windows on that particular morning. It's nothing short of breathtaking to me. Still. I absolutely love that terminal and consider myself very fortunate that I get to enjoy seeing it every day.

It's because of my deep affection for that building that I had a much greater desire than the "Miss G Train" title. In that blog post, I wrote:

Of course the title of "Miss Grand Central" also does not exist, but if the City Reliquary could create "Miss G Train", I see no reason why I can't create a title for the grandest of all train terminals in the greatest city in the world.

But I still don't want to be judged, so the way I envision it is either: 1) I convince someone there to create the title just for me, or 2) I just tell people I'm Miss Grand Central. I can buy a sash with the title and wear it through the terminal. I'll have someone follow me around and take photos while I carry a bouquet of roses and wave like the queen. Why not? What's stopping me?

Now, I'm not sure why there has never been a "Miss Grand Central" but I figured if they had a "Miss Subways" competition for 35 years, why shouldn't there be a Miss Grand Central? And as I wrote in that blog post, what was to stop me from just saying I *am* Miss Grand Central?

So yesterday was the big day. I finally found a suitable dress on Friday night and spent all morning curling and recurling my hair. I grabbed my sash, gloves and tiara and hopped the B62 to the 7 Train, as I do every morning - but this time I wasn't going to work...

Since I am a creature of habit/repetition (*cough* OCD *cough*), I took a photo of myself in the bathroom as I do every weekday morning:

Then, much like Superman, I made a quick change. And with that, I was no longer ordinary "Citizen Bitch Cakes" - I put on my tiara, sash and gloves and emerged from that ladies room as MISS GRAND CENTRAL. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day, in no particular order (I was all over the place!):

The funniest part was that as I walked around to pose for my photos, I overheard so many people say things like "Miss Grand Central? I didn't even know they had that!" or "Look! There's Miss Grand Central!". People waved to me, said hello to me, congratulated me, photographed me and two tourists (one from England and one from France) even asked to have their photos taken with me! As far as those people knew, I really WAS Miss Grand Central!

I cannot tell you how great this day was. I don't think I've ever felt more beautiful than I did yesterday and I can't remember the last time I felt such pure, simple joy and happiness. It's a day I will never forget, and one that I will cherish forever.

I loved being Miss Grand Central, even if my reign was for just a day. The photos and memories will last a lifetime.

(the entire photo set can be seen here)

Update: Metro Newspaper Bin in White Plains

2010-04-25T17:42:00.001-04:00

Here it is. The post you've all been waiting for. The Metro Newspaper bin update for March 2010. Some very exciting things have happened. Behold!

03/01/2010:

There's still snow on the ground and that umbrella spoke is still desperately poking through-

03/02/2010:

The snow has melted a bit and the trash seems to remain the same-

03/03/2010:

Less snow, same trash-

03/04/2010:

The blue and white umbrella is visible again! And note - the empty vodka bottle from last month is still there too!

03/08/2010:

The snow has melted and the trash appears pretty much the same-

03/09/2010:

There's a new bottle on the ground-

03/10/2010:

More trash is added to the pile and the bottle on the ground is gone. But the umbrella and vodka bottle remain-

03/11/2010:

More trash added to the top-

03/12/2010:

I can't believe that newspaper in front of the bin has remained this long-

03/15/2010:

This was a *very* exciting day! The blue & white umbrella has a friend! A lovely little green and gray umbrella has shown up!

03/16/2010:

What the hell? The green and gray umbrella is gone! I guess it was just a one night stand. How sad for the blue & white umbrella. At least he still has his friends Ms Newpaper and Mr Vodka bottle!

03/18/2010:

Saint Patrick's Day must have been a wild night - the umbrella is all fluffed up, the vodka bottle has been moved and another paper has been added to the mix.

03/19/2010:

The umbrella has changed positions *again* (perhaps embarrassed about the previous night's activities?)

03/22/2010:

OH. DEAR. GOD. Merseytart, brace yourself... What happened over the weekend?! Did the blue & white umbrella do a walk of shame?! It's missing!!!! Who would take a broken umbrella that's been in this spot for months?!

03/23/2010:

Since the umbrella is gone, little has changed-

03/24/2010:

Another day and still, I don't think there has been any movement!

03/25/2010:

Again, virtually unchanged!

03/31/2010:

Nearly a week later, and again, it appears time has stood still since the blue & white umbrella made its mysterious departure-

If you thought March was exciting, just wait till you see the April post. Some *very* surprising things occurred! (I know you're all at the edges of your ergonomic computer chairs with baited breath. I'm afraid you'll have to just sit tight!)

(to be continued...)

Update: Construction at Court Square transfer in Queens

2010-04-24T09:55:00.001-04:00

If you've been a long time follower of this blog, you may recall one of my previous evening routes: the 7 Train from Grand Central to Court Square, then transfer to G (or the B61) back to Greenpoint. But back in late 2008 when they began demolishing the stairs from the 7 Train, and a few months later when they closed off the stairs to the G Train (forcing us to walk a few more blocks), I changed my route home and began taking the 7 Train to Vernon-Jackson and transferring to the B61 (B62 now) or walking over the Pulaski, or taking the G from 21 Van Alst.

I know this is all terribly exciting for those of you reading that have no idea what I'm talking about. But the point is this: There was construction at Court Square for nearly two years already for this new project. The initial "Go Live" (I work in IT, that's what we call it) for this construction project was February 2010. When I first blogged about this in December 2008, I wrote:

Call me a pessimist (I prefer the term "realist", thank you); but I'm saying there is no way they will make their February 2010 projected date because the MTA will tell us all of the following 1) things are taking longer than they expected 2) this project costs more than they expected 3) the MTA is broke and need more money (Guess who they turn to first? Yep, their ridership! More fare hikes!)

Well guess what? 1) Things ARE taking longer than expected - February has come and gone and this is not complete (from the looks of it, I can't imagine it being ready by June). 2) I haven't heard that it's costing more (though I'm sure it is) and 3) the MTA has had us on an emotional roller coaster since that post - we had a significant rate hikes (10%), service cuts and no joke - as I sit here and write this, on the news they just reported "the MTA is in worse financial shape than originally reported" (don't we hear that every day? how is that possible at this point??) and we can look forward to an additional 7.5% increase this coming January (but we know that will inflate to 20% and maybe they'll settle on 10% or 12%). Thanks, MTA for being so predictable and proving me right. Though this is one time I'd prefer to be wrong.

Anyway, last night I was on a different blogging mission in Queens which sadly did not pan out (I may blog about it anyway in my BC World blog) but since I was in the area, I thought "Let me check on the progress at Court Square!" This is what I found - these are views of the skeleton of the structure that will house the enclosed escalators. I realize if you are not familiar with this area, you may not understand what you're looking at since this is kind of a mess. But if you know this stop/intersection and haven't seen it in a while (like me) you will understand and note the progress:

But *this* was the most exciting find for me - On Jackson Ave, I found a new subway entrance!! Now, I remember there was an entrance somewhere around here (it's been a while) but I am pretty sure this one was NOT here before. I am pretty sure this is an entirely new stairwell/entrance underground (If anyone knows for sure, feel free to leave a comment). It just looked so clean and shiny!

I think I was most excited about the subway globes being wrapped up like presents - demurely awaiting their unveiling!

And here's a short video of me sharing my enthusiasm:

I'll have to do some research to find out the day this is all opening to the public because I can't wait to check it all out for myself. It's been a looooong time coming. I'll put my money on July. Let's see how close I am...

Update: Metro Newspaper Bin in White Plains

2010-03-27T17:15:00.000-04:00

If you've been following this blog for more than a month, chances are you know about the abandoned Metro Newspaper bin at the Metro North train station in White Plains and how I enjoy monitoring and photographing it daily. If you are not familiar with my obsession with this bin, you can get caught up by viewing last month's installment here. From that post, you will find links to previous blogs. I've been doing this since last summer.

Here is how the trash situation progressed in the month of February:

02/01/2010:
Yes, Mersey Tart, you will be happy to know the umbrella is still there!

02/02/2010:
Strangely, the umbrella is moved and a lot of the trash in front of the bin is gone. Maybe it was a windy day. I don't remember.

02/02/2010 Here is a full shot-

02/02/2010, and a close up:

02/03/2010, morning. Is the umbrella still there?

02/03/2010, evening. Most of the snow melted. And yes, the umbrella is still there:

02/03/2010, close up:

02/04/2010:

02/04/2010, close up:

02/05/2010:

02/08/2010, once again that umbrella is moved:

02/08/2010, close up:

02/09/2010, overflowing with newspapers:

02/09/2010, close up:

02/10/2010 More snow, more trash. If you look carefully, you will notice a spoke from the umbrella piercing through the snow in the lower right hand portion of the photo:

02/11/2010 There appear to be animal tracks leading to the bin, and that spoke is still piercing through the snow to let you know it's still there:

02/15/2010 That looks like a human footprint in the lower left hand corner. No doubt someone that added more trash to the pile:

02/16/2010 More snow, more trash, the umbrella spoke still visible:

02/17/2010:

02/18/2010 Virtually unchanged from the day before:

02/19/2010, New plastic bag at the top of the pile. And that spoke is still visible:

02/22/2010 The plastic bag is gone, and the trash pile appears slightly smaller, or perhaps just condensed. The umbrella is once again exposed. And there is a new piece of trash that either appeared this day, or had been buried under all that snow - a fifth of Vodka:

02/23/2010 What's that at the top of the pile...

...just what I thought. A Toyota hood ornament. I was with a friend when I photographed this and I told him "That won't be there tomorrow, someone is going to take it"-

I had off on 2/24 but sure enough, when I returned the following day...

02/25/2010 ...the Toyota symbol is gone. Someone did, indeed, take it:

02/25/2010, close up:

So let's recap, shall we? At the end of February, we had the blue/white umbrella *still* there and a Vodka bottle on the ground in front - not to mention tons of trash and recyclables thrown in this newspaper-bin-turned-trash-bin.

What is the status of it now? I'm sure you're dying to know. And I have the photos from March, but you'll have to wait a few weeks to see them...

(To be continued. Yes, again...)

Springing Forward on the 7 Train Platform

2010-03-19T23:00:00.002-04:00

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about how it took many weeks for the clocks on the 7 Train platform to reflect the new time after last Autumn's time change. My friend Sherry remembered that post and sent me a link regarding transit clocks on Second Ave Sagas. (That post mentions that one clock in particular is 1 hour and 14 minutes slow. And the writer states it's been that way for two and a half years! That's so wildly inaccurate and ridiculous, it's laughable!)

What I took from this post though, was that they mentioned all the manual clocks in the transit system were going to be "sprung forward" several days before the actual spring time change - so that, in theory, all of the clocks would be accurate come 2am that Sunday morning (March 14th, this year).

I wondered how my beloved digital overhead displays on the 7 Train platform in Grand Central would fare? After all, when I wrote to the MTA about those displays earlier this year, they claimed to not have any responsibility over them. That coupled with the fact that it took them over a month to reflect the Autumn time change, I did not have high expectations for them to be accurate any time soon...

On Monday, March 15th after the time change weekend, I checked the clocks on the escalator side of the platform. Unsurprisingly, they were not correct (I assure you, I was not in GCT at 0630. This photo was taken at 0730):

The next evening, Tuesday the 16th, I was on the other end of the platform and noticed that clock *did* have the correct/new time! I was shocked!

I didn't have time to check any of the clocks on Wednesday morning and I didn't take the 7 Train home that night.

Thursday morning I was in such a rush when I got off the 7 Train that I didn't have time to look up and check, but when I hit the platform that night, I did. And I was shocked to see that the clocks by the escalator (the ones shown above on Monday with the wrong time) had been fixed! They were displaying the new Spring time!

While that's fantastic, it doesn't explain why the displays facing the other direction on that same end of the platform are still not operational. The ones that have been out for well over a year.

And for the record, I have not heard back from the MTA or their "outside company" that fixes the clocks.

Losers.