Ten things to do in a NYC subway.

I enjoy observing people. One of the best places in the world for people-watching must be New York City, with its 8 million inhabitants, hundreds of languages and cultures, crowded subways and bright-lit streets. But since I tend to spend a lot of time in the subway - around two hours per day - most of my people-watching is focused on that area. Based on my perceptions during these hundreds of travel-miles so far, I listed ten possible things to do in a New York subway, depending on your skills, interests and energy level.

1. Watching people is obviously the number one thing. After that, I like to spend my time just for thinking.

2. Reading the free newspapers in the morning: my commute seems to be perfect for reading both Metro and AM, to catch up the latest gossips about presidential elections or the financial crisis.

3. Sleeping, especially during the late-night traveling. Just don't miss your stop.

4. Knitting seems to be in fashion now when the days are getting chillier.

5. Singing or reading sheet music: there a lot of music students on the number 1 line which I'm taking at the moment. I don't mind listening to their rehearsals in the subway at all!

6. Break-dancing - only possible outside rush hours, and somewhat dangerous in a moving car. But definitely doable, because I saw one group dancing to a Michael Jackson song. This is a very New York thing though...

7. Solving a Rubik's cube. I saw one guy doing and re-doing the cube multiple times in a row, with a stunning speed - most of the time his eyes closed. Very depressing for us not-so-special people.

8. Listening to your iPod / iPhone - this must be the most common way to spend time, after reading.

9. Chatting to your fellow passengers. Yes, you're not considered to be a weirdo if you talk to other people, it's totally OK!

10. Taking the subway to a wrong direction while writing these notes in a little black book. Which is not that fine when you're going to work in the morning and it is already 2am...

As an end note: It would be great to have more subway musicians during week-end nights - waiting for the metro which never comes (or that's how it feels like) would be a lot less painful with live music. Yesterday night I found another great subway music find, as an addition to my last post: Corey Frye yesterday on F line stop at 14th street. An amazing singer with an angelic voice! You can watch a badly filmed video of him playing at the Union Square station on YouTube and get a grip of New York subway life at the same time. For more New York subway scenes I would recommend a fan's video of "New York Cares" by Interpol.

Comments

Elise (gramofoni) said…
Rubiikinkuutio ratkaistaan yksinkertaisesti asettamalla kuutio oikeinpäin käteen ja siinä on tietty algoritmi, millä sitä alkaa purkamaan . Ja se menee aina samoin. Ne ihmiset ovat vain opetelleet sen... Jos sulla aikaa riittää, niin siitä vain. http://www.kolumbus.fi/mikko_peura/Rubikin%20kuution%20ratkaisu.htm :D

Muutoin NYC subway saa hiukan odotella, katsotaan tilanne uusiksi huomenna!
03 November, 2008 11:52
Minkki said…
Mihin asti se Ison Omenan metro oikein kulkee, kun kahdelta vielä pääsee väärään suuntaan?

Toista se oli Lontoossa - vikat metrot tais mennä linjasta riippumatta puolen yön maissa. Onneks oli läpi yön ajavat yöbussit, jotka kulkivat (toisin kuin Helsingissä, murr) viikon jokaisena päivänä.

Tällä hetkellä turvaudun vielä pyörään mutta loppuviikosta pitää ehkä jo luopua. Lupasivat vaan pari astetta plussaa päivällekin...Talvi tulee!
03 November, 2008 21:17
Riikka said…
No koko yon, tietysti, kaikkina viikonpaivina - kaupunki joka ei koskaan nuku ja silleen :) Eivat kaikki linjat tosin, mutta kaikki joita on tarvinnut kayttaa...
03 November, 2008 21:37
Anonymous said…
That's New York and we just love it!

Ann & Kjelle
03 November, 2008 21:43
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