Music in the City

I have always been a fan of music. I have eclectic taste. In The Big City my diet is full of music.

It can only be in NYC that, when looking out the subway train window (trying to read what has been written on the subway walls) I hear a tambourine fall onto the floor. I don't turn to look. I know who this is.

There is a gentleman, dressed well and wearing a hat that partially covers his white hair, who plays the violin on the F train. He plays the tambourine with his foot. I have heard him before. He is actually good, considering he is trying to maintain his balance as the train travels at about 30 miles an hour on a track that was laid in 1920. After his performance, which includes portions of "The William Tell Overture" he passes the tambourine seeking donations. I don't usually contribute to "subway musicians" but I made an exception in this case.

Now, the rest of the street musicians are a different story. Last night was reggae night on the E train. The guy looked like Bob Marley and played "I Shot the Sheriff" on an electric guitar. Frankly, I didn't know there was a way to do that without a power source. He had a small battery operated amplifier.

On 42nd Street, between my office and Times Square there is a fellow who plays empty pickle buckets as drums. He has a good sense of rhythm, but I suspect the shop owners along that stretch of street are not thrilled.

In the Times Square subway station there is a woman with a karaoke machine and a microphone singing something that sounds like Britney Spears.

The MTA actually has auditions for musicians who are permitted to play in the stations. This young lady has a permit.

Also having a permit is the trio playing at the 5th Ave. subway station. One of them is playing a pan flute. I would like to say, "there is something you don't see everyday" but, in fact, I DO see it everyday.

Being a bagpipe player I was thinking this would be a good opportunity for me make some extra money. I could bring in my pipes and play in one of the train cars. I could make a fortune from people wanting me to stop playing.

That's all for now. Nothing overly exciting or funny, just different. Very, very different.

Parking

My project last night for my trip home was to move my truck. It is parked on a side street near my apartment. The street cleaning day for that part of the city is today, so the truck has to find another place to park.

I arrived at my truck on my way home from work. I was already wet. It was raining and I walked the mile from the subway station. The regular bus wasn't running. The police had shut off traffic on the bus route because one of the buses had run over a pedestrian.

Upon my arrival at the truck I found the car in front had backed up to within an inch (literally) of my front bumper. This wouldn't be so bad, but the car behind me was actually touching my rear bumper. I couldn't move the truck.

After considerable thought I called 911. I was given the phone number of the local precinct (102). I called and spoke to Officer Fox. (If anyone needs a lesson on how to speak with a Queens accent, they should call Officer Fox).

I explained my problem to Officer Fox. After a moment of thought he asked "Is your car new?” I replied, "Well, it is in pretty good condition. Why?" "Well" he said, "You could use your car to push one of the other cars out of the way". "I can do that?" I asked, sounding like I was from upstate New York.

Officer Fox, using logic with which you can't argue replied, "What other choice do you have?”

I asked "Can't you send someone to look up the address of the owners?"

"Are they legally parked?"

"Yea, except for having me blocked in."

"Well, that's not illegal. That's just rude."

"So you can't send anyone?"

"Sure, but it will be a three hour wait".

After considerable thought I asked "Couldn't I get arrested for just using my car to push another car down the street?”

"Just tell them you spoke to Officer Fox".

"Ok. I understand. Thank you your help." It was at that moment I understood the rule. The New York City Police Department is willing to help if you think advice is helpful. Otherwise, you are on your own. I then placed the 1997 Chevy S10, with no noticeable body damage, into gear and pushed the MG behind me into a position where he was certainly going to get towed. I then drove away. (No damage done to either vehicle.)

I love this city.

Tell Me Off

While walking down 42nd Street last night about 6:00 P.M. I passed a "panhandler" (i.e. bum). This is not uncommon. There are a lot of tourists in this part of town and the street has heavy pedestrian traffic. It is good location for someone seeking financial assistance. It hadn't occurred to me previously that even panhandlers have to compete. They need to find something that makes them stick out. A marketing gimmick...

"Tell me off. $2.00".

I love this town.