The New York City subway has a much different feel on the weekends than during standard commuting hours. Belligerent, jaded locals cede the trains to tourists, which is fun on several levels: A. Tourists are generally nicer. B. They try so hard to “blend in.” (Note to tourists: Wearing your backpack on your front is a dead giveaway.) C. They congregate in groups around subway maps trying to figure out how to go cross town. (Short answer: walk.)
It was on a 2 train through Midtown Manhattan one recent Saturday afternoon that we broke through the fourth wall. Most of the passengers were tourists, with a few locals like me sprinkled in for good measure. They were busy staring at me reading a book. I could almost hear one woman whisper. “Look, Harold, there’s one now. It’s rarely seen on the weekends. I think they call it Homo Brooklynius. Put your fanny pack away. You might scare it.”
A man took the open seat next to me. He was a bit disheveled. There was a hole in his orange shirt and his basketball shorts were two sizes too big. He was rocking formerly white tube socks with sandals. In short, he was a few ticks beyond “eccentric,” but he seemed content, smiling at nothing in particular.
At the next stop a guitar player boarded the train. There is a direct relationship between the number of tourists on the subway and the number of buskers trying to get money entertain them. As soon as the doors closed, he turned up his amplifier to butcher sing a classic Temptations song. He smartly zeroed in on a young woman a few yards away.
“I got sunshine for the girl in the green shirt. When it’s cold outside, I got the girl in the green shirt.”
She looked around to make sure he was talking about her in the same way I would look around if someone pointed in my direction and said, “You’ve just won a million dollars.” Then, in a spirit of if-you-can’t-beat-em-join-em, she started clapping. Our busker kept singing to her. The eccentric guy next to me swayed in time to the music.
So she began dancing. Of course she did.
“What can make me feel this way? Everybody! The girl in the green shirt!”
“Today is my birthday!” she shouted. Of course it was.
Everyone starting clapping while the busker pulled the Beatles card. “Today is your birthday.”
“it is! It’s my birthday!”
The eccentric guy reached into the pocket of his oversized basketball shorts and pulled out a can of Budweiser. He held it high as if to toast the girl in the green shirt and the busker. Then he popped the top with a satisfying whhushhh and took a long swig.
Another woman across the train caught my eye, her mouth hanging open just a bit, and shook her head slowly. She knew it and I knew it. This would never happen during commuting hours.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Your post made me smile. I remember feeling the same cringing feeling when the tourists invaded on the weekend. There’s a fine line though between those of us who have moved away and still feel like New Yorkers even years later. I am especially wary of being labeled as an outsider, even though technically I suppose I am!
Once a local, always a local, I say. You know how it goes, “You can take the woman out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the woman.” 🙂
I LOVE this. Random acts of weirdness are what I live for. I wish we had the subway out here. I guess I could take the bus!
One thing is true, Susie, the subway is a mosh-pit of weird. It’s hard to run out of ideas for stories. 🙂
This made me laugh, Jackie. When I’m in New York I know it’s hopeless for me to look like a local, so I just enjoy the ride. But I do know to keep my mouth shut and my eyes down on the subway. 🙂
You’ve already mastered the two most important rules for riding the subway, Carole. You’d fit right in. 🙂
I loved this. Where I live the NYC crowd invades my town on the weekends… We are the ones exchanging the glances and shaking our heads. Changes the whole tempo of the Ye Olde Towne. Like you said..can’t take the city out of the girl 🙂
I wouldn’t blame you if you hunkered down at home over the weekend and didn’t step foot outside. 🙂 I think about lovely places like Martha’s Vineyard and how glad most of the locals must be when summer is over and they can have their island back to themselves.
Naa. Not really I’m grateful for the weekenders. They are generous, lively and very kindhearted. Just a little different mojo– different pace– quicker.
What a nice way to look at the influx of weekenders. I suppose they bring a fresh outlook, which can be invigorating.
Loved this!
Someday the train will reach the outskirts of the Phoenix valley, and then I will gladly take it. Along with my camera and notebook. You just don’t get this kind of in-your-face-weird taking the freeway alone in your car cocoon!
How true! The subway is an excellent source of material. That eccentric guy with the beer is going to show up in a future story, I can just tell. 🙂
You… just can’t make this stuff up, can you?! 😉
My imagination is not that good! 🙂
Thank you for this hilarious and wonderful peek back into my old NYC life! So funny and also kind of fantastic 🙂
So glad this post gave you a chance to talk a walk down memory lane. I’m sure you have a few subway stories of your own. 😉
Really enjoyed this! Seriously your city life is very different from my VERY suburban life. I love having a view into yours.
Thanks, Nina! The subway certainly keeps me on my toes. 🙂