Under The City

Museums and Plazas on the 2.

2009-03-02T09:26:00.006-05:00

Today I continue on my adventures to each station on the 2 Line. I proceed further out into Brooklyn covering the stops from Bergen Street to Franklin Street. Bergen Street was more exciting outside the stop as a came across a cow for advertising purposes for a nearby store. Reminded me of where I grew up in rural Pennsylvania. Except there we have real cows. Onto the next stop Grand Army Plaza. I really enjoyed this stop because outside of it is the Grand Army Plaza hence the title of the stop of course. Inside the station there is artwork displayed which is called Wings for the IRT, The Irresistable Romance of Travel, Jane Greengold which was installed in 1993. The work is based on the winged women in the quadriga on the Soldiers and Sailor's Memorial Arch above the station, with an homage to the original IRT "winged train" logo. Source: nyc.gov.

In the middle of the plaza stands The Bailey Fountain which is approaching seventy five years, the fourth and longest lasting plaza fountain. It was built in 1932 by architect Edgerton Swarthout and sculptor Eugene Francis Savage. Named after Brooklyn-based financier and philanthropist Frank Bailey. It features an elaborate grouping of mythical figures.

The next stop on my journey Eastern Parkway - Brooklyn Museum. This is one of my favorite stops. There is plenty of artwork in the station associated with the museum. It is called Historic New York City Architectural Elements, Brooklyn Museum of Art Collections.

These architectural elements offer a sampling of ornamental forms that once decorated and still adorn many 19th- and early 20th-century buildings in New York City. The molded terra cotta keystones, plaques, lunettes, and borders on view have been salvaged from now-demolished structures throughout the metropolitan area. They were drawn from the Brooklyn Museum of Art's collection, where they have long served to increase public awareness and appreciation of Greater New York's architectural richness. Source: mta.info/Arts for Transit.

The outside of this station places you right in front of the Brooklyn Museum which is a beautiful artpiece all within itself. I have been to this museum numerous times and really enjoy it. It might be just one of my favorite museums. Today I couldn't go in because on Mondays it is closed. However, I proceeded to take photos outside.

Franklin Avenue stop was where I headed to next and compared to the last two stops this one was nothing to write home about so to speak. I took a few pictures but a very run of the mill station stop. At this point there happen to be some change in how the trains were running so I decided to stop my journey and head back home. Next time I will be finishing the Brooklyn end of the 2 train.

Two of us on the 2

2009-01-17T18:12:00.008-05:00

Today I start out on the 2 train. I have a companion today, Maria, who is a great friend of mine. She lives out in Brooklyn so I decided to travel to some stops out in Brooklyn first. The first stop we go to is the Clark stop. This stop is located in downtown Brooklyn and has some artwork in it noticeably on the floor. The passageway from the stairs to the elevators has a marble terrazzo floor done by Ray Ring in 1987. He named it the Clark Street Passage. After you take the elevator to street level there is food stores and some places to eat inside the station and you discover that the hotel St. George is overhead. The area is pretty nice as it is downtown Brooklyn. The next stop is the Borough Hall stop. The stop is not that interesting but outside you will fine a hustling and bustling Brooklyn downtown right at the base of the New York Supreme Court building. It is a very busy square and not to mention that it was soo cold that day so standing above ground to take pictures was a quick event. Hoyt stop was next and it was really a beautiful station stop however the station looked like it was in two parts. One part being in a red color scheme and just looked very new and the other part looking older with pastel color scheme. It was weird that the station wasn't overdone fully. The last stop on this trip was the Nevins stop. This stop was a smaller station but had some artwork displayed. It is called Work & Nature by Anton van Dalen done in 1997. Porcelain enamel on steel frieze. This mosaic is 14 inches high by 83 feet long along both walls of the mezzanine. The work is in tones of soft blue, green and ochre like the original platform mosaics. It features stenciled silhouettes in black of a woman operating a sewing machine, a mother taking cvare of a child, a man planting a tree, an architect reading a blueprint, a female executive addresseing a meeting, and famous musician Furry Lewis. Source: mta.info. I only ended up visiting 4 stops today but plan to do a lot more the next time I venture out. It was great to have someone with me who may see things in a different light then I do as we travel through the subway stations.

Last of this 1

2008-12-24T11:53:00.004-05:00

On this journey I finally complete the 1 line by venturing out to the last 7 stops uptown. Today, is probably one of the coldest days of the year and the wind is fierce. I jump on the train and pray that most of the stops will be underground. Well, first stop is Dyckman Street. Guess what?! It is above ground. The platform itself was quite long and the train comes out of the underground tunnel which is much warmer than standing on the cold platform waiting for the wind to hit your face. I take my pictures that I need and jump on the next uptown train. Next stop is 207th Street/10 Avenue. Once again this stop is above ground. I can't catch a break can I? On this trip I am using two cameras. My Nikon digital camera and the Diana plastic film camera. I have never used a camera like that before and wanted to see what came out of it. Needless to say my hands are freezing but I gotta keep going and hope that the next stop is underground. This stop was pretty typical but what I am really liking about each of these stops is the fact that there are no tall buildings so therefore I can see for miles. I love taking pictures in that way. Next stop is 215th Street/ 10 Avenue. Once again above ground. I really can't catch a break here. Good thing that the 1 train is very efficient and runs about every 3-5 minutes. This stop overlooks the NYC Department of Sanitation Plant which is in fact huge. Never thought I would be discovering that. Also, the station entrances look quite old and I always like to this on my journey, some preservation of how the subways looked long ago. Ok, so I am hoping now maybe I could get an underground stop because at this point my hands are numb and it is getting harder and harder to take pictures especially with two cameras. 225 Street - Marble Hill is the next stop and above ground. My luck. This stop however is really beautiful and you can see for miles. The Metro North trains are nearby and you can see them the midst of their routes. The subway crosses the Broadway Bridge and the station is on the Bronx side. Goodbye Manhattan for the remainder of the trip. The body of water that is crossed is called the Harlem River Ship Canal. Never heard of that in my life and that is why I love doing this project soo much. Who knew?! The canal is also called the Spuyten Duyvil Creek which is a one-mile-long channel connecting the Hudson and Harlem Rivers in New York City, separating the island of Manhattan from the mainland. This stop also has some artwork. It is about time. I haven't seen a lot of artwork on this journey and I was wondering if all my pain and suffering due to the cold would allow me to see some subway art. Elevated Nature I-IV, by Wopo Holup in 1991 depicts fossil-like imprints above the station seats as you will see in my pictures. Onto the next stop because by this time my hands are popsicles. This stop is 231st Street which also had some great artwork and also is another above ground stop. This artwork is very recently done in 2007 by Felipe Galindo called Magic Realism in Kingsbridge. It is beautiful stained glass works that are throughout the station. I really love stained glass and love the colors that were used for this layout. Next stop is 238th Street which didn't have any art but had tons of these huge lamp post about a foot away from each other on both the downtown and uptown platforms. The look of them just made the whole station a piece of art. Not sure if it was beautiful art or just plain ugly. You will have to see for yourself. Once again it was above ground. Onto the next stop which is the last stop on the 1 line called Van Cortlandt Park - 242 Street. This stop looked quite old and the area where you would walk to street level was a wooden porch-type corridor. In this area you felt like you were out off of some expressway in Long Island. Manhattan is long forgotten up in these parts. The subway station is literally above a highway. You have to take a bus to get to shops and restaurants in that area. Well, at this point in my travels my hands are blue and my whole body is just freezing due to each and every stop being outside but physical pain aside these stops were some of my favorites thus far. I felt like I was in a totally different world and I can't believe I live a half hour or so away from all of it. The 1 line is completed now onto the express lines of the 2 and 3!

2008-11-24T20:19:00.007-05:00

Today, I trek out in the cold on the 1 train uptown covering stops from 116th Street to 191st Street. This stretch of stations was a great treat for me. Alot of different stations and each area provided some very interesting surroundings. The first stop at 116th was a pretty traditional station however when I walked outside I was familiar with the area because I live only a few blocks away. The 116th Street stop is Columbia University. It is such a beautiful campus to visit as well. At this point I decided to walk to the next stop because I knew up ahead was a great view of the trains going in and out of the 125th Street stop. The 125th Street is really beautiful. It is an above ground stop and the architecture around this stop is amazing. The skyline of the buildings show this is an older part of New York City that still has its old school charm. I love this part of the city. It is soo "real" to me. There is also some artwork in this station titled River to River, Wopo Holup done in 1991. It is cast stone relief and ceramic tiles. 137th Street is the next station and also the stop to City College. This station is quite different as well and has beautiful pillars throughout. Also, the artwork at this stop is called Fossils by artist Steve Wood in 1988 which are cast bronze relief tiles. 145th Street was typical but the area around peaked my interest. Walking out the subway I saw signs leading to the Riverbank State Park. I had no idea this park even existed. This is what I love most about this project. I find out about things I would never know about otherwise. It is a scenic park that when you walk out to the viewing landing you can see a perfect landscape of the George Washington Bridge. This park as an ice skating rink, a music venue, sports courts and a restaurant. Such a great place and I hope to show my sister this treasure uptown. 157th is the next stop and was probably the must uninteresting out of all the stations I went to today but still the signs of the 1 line always present some artfulness. 168th is one of my favorite stops because it is truly an older stop but the architecture is timeless. I have seen this stop before because you can catch the C train here as well. I was impressed with it then and still impressed with it. I love the bridge you have to take to get from the downtown to the uptown platforms and vice versa. The one thing I don't like in this station is the fact that you have to take elevators and elevators only to get to street level. It kind of freaks me out. I couldn't deal with that station in the middle of the night. 181st Street was laid out the same way as 168th Street with a bridge to get back and forth from each platform and also the elevator situation. Weird thing about this station was as I stood on the platform I kept smelling chlorine. I felt like I was near a swimming pool or something to that effect. Also, as I reached the street level the area was Washington Heights and as I was walking through the station I took some pictures as I always do. However a gentlemen stopped me because he thought I took a photo of him and wasn't happy about it. I told him he was not in the photo at all and that it was just the wall I was taking. I have never had that happen to me and it scared me a bit. But I just put it behind me and moved onto 191st Street. There was plenty of artwork in there as well one installation called Primavera by Raul Colon. I have a picture of the first installation of his work which is a ceramic mosaic mural. However, I couldn't figure out how to get to the other one. It seemed like it was closed off but it is two faceted glass panels, cut and faceted by hand. On my travels uptown next week I might stop off and see if I can get to it. The next piece of artwork is this long walkway to the exit. There is no title for it and it was done in 2008. One side of the wall is blue and the other green and there are a number of different images throughout. It is really an amazing walkway to go through. The other way to exit this station is yet another elevator. This time however there was an MTA employee who regulated the elevator and was soo nice and would always say "Hola" to everyone and to have a nice day. Obviously everyone speaks Spanish in this area. Once again I felt like I was in another world. This concludes my journey today and next time I will be finally completing the 1 line.

Back at it again...

2008-11-05T18:45:00.007-05:00

Well it has been a few weeks since I have gone out to take photos in the subway. I have been busy with my normal jobs and then also some additional photography jobs too. So I am back at it again this time covering stops from Houston Street and finishing off the downtown portion of the 1 train which is the South Ferry. I think I may have stated this before but the 1 line has some really great stops. Each station has mosaic walls and the artwork which is really beautiful. This line also seems to be cleaner than the other lines I have traveled on. The Houston Street stop was first off and there was some artwork to be seen as well. Platform Diving by Deborah Brown done in 1994. Seven mosaics depict an underwater subway, with flooded stations, trains, and tunnels, and sea creature passengers floating on the platform and in the trains. I loved the colors of these mosaics as well, deep blues and greens. Canal street was was next with some interesting construction within the station. The outside of the Franklin street station took my eye more so than the inside. This area of Manhattan I am not very familiar with but I really liked explore this side of town especially on a beautiful fall day with some overcast. Perfect day to take photos. Chambers street was much of the same and then I got out at the Rector station which is downtown in the financial district. The outside of this station was really amazing. It is situation in the middle of roadways going in and out of the city and very tall buildings which make up most of that area. The park area that surrounds the station is geometrically beautiful as you can see from the photos. Inside the station on the downtown side the construction depicts where to board the train in order to get off at the next stop which is the South Ferry. Pillars indicate where to stand. Only the first 5 subway cars leave you off at the South Ferry. Right before I get off at the South Ferry the platform moves forward to close the gap and have people exit safely. There is a lot of tourist going in and out of this station because it is underneath the Staten Island Ferry and also is the stop at Battery Park which is where you can get the Circle Line to the Statute of Liberty. I took photos of the underground as well as the surrounding areas. There is also artwork in this station by Sandra Bloodworth done in 1990 called South Sails which is made of ceramic tile. Sandra Bloodworth is also the director of MTA Arts for Transit. My next stops will include the uptown stations past 110th Street. I am not familiar with that part of town either so it will be interesting to see what lies in store.

Uptown and onto the West Village...

2008-10-11T12:41:00.009-04:00

50th Street to Christopher is the stops I cover today. First stop is 50th Street and instantly I am in a scene from Alice in Wonderland. The artwork on the walls of the station is called Alice: The Way Out by Liliana Porter installed in 1994. These mosaics are located near the station exits, and features the characters of "Alice in Wonderland" such as the Queen of Hearts, Alice, the Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter. I traveled through 42nd street and not capturing many pictures there and then I got off at 34th Street where there was more art to admire. A Bird's Life by Elizabeth Grajales installed in 1997. It is a number of small panels located along the walls of the local platform and depict birds nurturing their young. I stopped to think as I was taking pictures of this artwork how many times I have been at this station and never really noticed what was on the walls. It just goes to show how we get wrapped up in our lives and never realize what is right in front of us. That is a big reason why I am doing this project to appreciate my surroundings. 28th Street was more interesting outside of the station because that is where FIT resides. I found some artwork right outside of the station entrance constructed by FIT students. Not sure if I liked this collage or not. I might have to look at it some more but I didn't hesitate to get a photo of it. 23rd Street was quite typical and didn't have any artwork inside the station. The next stop that had some great artwork in it was the Christopher Street stop. The Greenwich Village Murals by Lee Brozgol done in 1994.

Ceramic mosaic tile murals. The 12 framed mosaic panels, by the children of Public School 41 in conjunction with artist Lee Brozgol ,depict the history of Greenwich Village. Plaques near the panels provide a "key" to who's-who in the 12 mosaic panels The names of the panels are: "Bohemians", "Rebels", "Founders", and "Providers". I really love this area outside the station as well. It is right in the heart of the west village. One of my favorite areas of NYC. This is also the last stop I will cover today. The next part of the 1 train I will be covering will lead me to the last stop downtown, The South Street Ferry. I am looking forward to it.

One on One

2008-09-23T20:06:00.009-04:00

Today I venture out and start another subway line. The 1 line runs from Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street in the Bronx to the South Ferry in Lower Manhattan. Today I will cover the 66th Street, 72nd Street, 79th Street, 86th Street, 96th Street, 103rd Street and 110th Street stops. I am very familiar with these stops because they are all in my neighborhood. The 66th Street stop offered some beautiful artwork it is called Artemis, Acrobats, Divas and Dancers, by Nancy Spero in 2004. Her artwork is of glass mosaic murals depicting scenes of theater, dance, and orchestra-related subjects scattered throughout this station. 72nd Street is one of my favorite stations not necessarily inside but outside of the station. Both entrances are beautifully constructed buildings. 86th Street also possesses some amazing artwork as well. Westside Views by Nitza Tufino in 1989. Artist Nitza Tufino in collaboration with Grosvenor House students glazed ceramic tiles depicting neighborhood scenes, located along the platform walls. The following stops 96th, 103rd and 110th street were somewhat similar so I caught some photos of the straphangers waiting on the platforms.

The last few stops on the D

2008-09-10T22:11:00.003-04:00

This trip I finish the last stops on the D. However, I had to take the R train to get to these stops because the D only makes these stops late nights. I went to Union Street, 9th Street, Prospect Avenue and 25th Street in Brooklyn. Then after those stops I had to trek all the way to the last stop uptown which was 205th Street. I didn't have to go uptown too much this time on the D because I covered most of the stops on the B except for that one so this was totally out of my way. There was some artwork along the way at Union Street it is called CommUnion by Emmett Wigglesworth they were installed in 1994. The rest of the stations were pretty typical and hence I don't have much to write about on this blog. My next excursion will be the 1 train which is the local Broadway train. Until next time...

Coney Island along the D Line

2008-08-26T21:21:00.011-04:00

I have been to Coney Island a few times before, first time being for the Siren Music Festival a few years ago when that festival was actually good. Then again with some of my friends from Denmark who were visiting in February and wanted to do a photo shoot out there. It was cool to see Coney Island in the winter but not soo cool or should I say freezing to be by the ocean at that time. I just remember my hands going numb to the point I didn't care anymore but the more and more I would try to combat the weather the harder is was for me to even push the buttons on my camera. It sure makes for a tough photo shoot. So I am here again in Coney Island in hopes that the renovations have started because Coney Island sure needs some fixing it up. I must say the station is absolutely beautiful and a little trivia for you this station is a major rapid transit station in Coney Island, Brooklyn, serving as the terminal for four New York City Subway services. It is the world's largest above-ground terminal facility, and notable as the most energy-efficient mass transit facility in the United States. The arches as you will see in the photos are reminiscent of classic European train sheds. The roof is covered with solar electric panels. The station uses most of their power from these solar electric panels. It is the largest renewable-energy enabled mass transit station in the United States (Wikipedia). I really had no idea the subways were making use of solar energy. This has to be one of my favorite stations thus far due to the amazing architecture. I felt like I was in a museum than a subway station. There were also murals all over the station that were of silk screened glass. These murals were installed in 2004 by Robert Wilson and are entitled "My Coney Island Baby". I will let the photos speak for themselves. As I exited the station I came upon the world of beach going locals, amusement park enthusiasts and hot dog loving people. Well, of course I had to go get a Nathan's hot dog. These hot dogs are world famous and a tradition of Coney Island. There is actually a hot dog eating contest every year on the 4th of July that is televised I believe on ESPN of who can eat the most hot dogs. I have the picture to prove it. I am starving at this point and wait in a long line for this famous hot dog some fries and a lemonade which all ended up costing me $8.00. $8.00!!!!! what??? for a hot dog, fries and a drink??? This have better be a damn amazing hot dog and the fries better equal it. Well I am not sure if it was my hunger or if it was a pretty great hot dog but I did enjoy it and pretty much had it down my throat in a matter of minutes. I looked across the street and noticed that there was some competition. Chicago's Hot Dog King made with Vienna beef. I just thought that was bizarre especially to be in NYC across from Nathan's. I mean come on...location, location, location. I can't say too much because I didn't take the liberty to actually try one due to being appalled by the eight dollars I just spent but the competition was a bit funny to me. Anyway, I proceeded to walk around for just a bit longer and see what was going on on the boardwalk. It was bit crowded for a Monday afternoon but it is the last week in August so that is understandable. Everyone trying to catch the last few days of summer and today was quite nice and a decent beach day. The only flaw was the overcast. I find Coney Island to be dirty and I feel it just needs a big renovation. I know it will take away from all the nostalgia but I think with a good cleaning and renovation it will forever live on. I have to say though it does have some great photo opportunities. I will let them to the talking....

Bensonhurst to Coney Island...D style

2008-08-26T20:27:00.006-04:00

Today I rode the D train all the way to Coney Island stopping at the last seven stops on the line which are mainly the Bensonhurst area of Brooklyn. I have taken plenty of pictures and mostly at Coney Island which I will be writing about in a separate post. My first stop is 79th Street which was another outdoor stop and didn't have any exciting features to it but I did manage to get some decent shots and one of some the people on the platform which is always interesting to me. You can learn a lot about a person from just observing them on the subway platform, the way they dress, their attitude, sometimes their religion or nationality and what type of work they might or might not do, what mood their in and if they have the latest technology (i.e. Iphone, Ipod or blackberry). 18th Avenue was my next stop and from the platform you could see the Manhattan bridge which I got to capture due to being a clear day. At this point I make my way to 20th Avenue which was peaked my interest due to the surrounding areas. As I exited the subway station and explored the neighborhood I found it to be a line of stores on either side of the elevated subway. At this point the breeze was blowing in the right direction and I could start to smell the saltwater which was waiting for me only a few stops away. These surrounding areas consisted of mainly of Chinese, Russian and Jewish inhabitants. I can always tell of what kind of area I will be walking into just by looking at who is on the platform. The area reminded me a lot of Chinatown and the shopping to prove it. Very cheap stores. I felt sometimes like I was in another world and I am only about an hour outside of Manhattan. The next stops which consisted of Bay Parkway, 25th Avenue and Bay 50th Street were consistently the same and then finally I arrived at Coney Island....

2008-08-20T18:54:00.013-04:00

I have been away on vacation for the past week and a half and have taken a break from traveling on the NYC subways. I turned in my Metro card for a bicycle to ride around the beautiful city of Copenhagen. What a time that was but I am not going to get into my vacation. That is not what this blog is about so lets get down to business. I start out on a new subway line, the D line. The D is the 6th Avenue Express and I have already covered the B line and that does a lot of local stops on the same route so the D line shouldn't take me that long to cover. I decided to go out to Brooklyn and cover those stops first. 36th street and 4th Avenue was where I got off first. There is beautiful artwork at this stop called An Underground Movement: Designers, Builders, Riders by Owen Smith done in 1998. The mural depicts the design, construction, and riders of the subway. Two other mosaics above the stairways depict amusement rides at Coney Island framed by the stairway of a Brooklyn brownstone house, and the New York city skyline with Rockettes and a paper tape stock ticker. I spent some time at this stop due to the artwork and then proceeded to 9th Avenue and 39th Street. This stop was an outdoor stop with some old fashioned lanterns which I thought were quite nice to see. Fort Hamilton Parkway was another outdoor station and a very Jewish inhabited area. I caught a Jewish woman on the platform across the way reading a map. I believe the best photos of people are when they are totally unaware that you are taking their pictures. 50th street is next and the remaining stops are all outdoor which didn't bother me a bit because it was a beautiful warm sunny day. I really liked that bright red color of the inside of the station. It looked like it was newly painted. 55th and 62nd street stops were much of the same except 62nd street had some great views because the buildings aren't tall at all in that area of Brooklyn and it was a great platform to stand from and just daydream. 71st Street was the last stop of the day and was pretty much the same feeling as the others but I still got some scenic shots. Until next time....

Police and the Beach

2008-07-29T21:51:00.007-04:00

Today, my pathway led me to Brighton Beach. I only had a few stops to go to before I finished the B train line. It was a beautiful summer day just right for going to the beach. I was definitely excited about this trip. The first stop was Church Avenue and I really thought this stop was quite different then most because it was indoor and outdoor and I loved how the trees would hang above the tracks. Almost makes it feel as if the subway is trekking through the forest. I guess I got a bit excited over these type of stops because in Manhattan you don't have a lot of trees to look at other than Central Park of course. During this stop, a police officer was patrolling the area and came over and asked if I was taking photos for a project. I thought...well here we go I am going to get reprimanded for taking photos in the subway even though I know I am aloud to because I read the rules and regulations of the subway a number of times. But that wasn't the case at all. His duty for the day was patrolling that part of the B line and ended up being my police escort for the remainder of the stops. It was a bit annoying at first because I usually only do this project with Linz and I hate making small talk when I am trying to work. On the plus side I was by myself in unknown territory riding the subway so it was nice to have a cop watching out for me.

The next stop was Newkirk which was a decent station. The inside was renovated and the artwork was a beautiful stain glass window called Transit Skylight, by artist David Wilson, which is made of zinc polycarbonate and installed in 1988 when the station was renovated.

Kings Highway was where I got off next and that stop had some artwork is styled after ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics but with a modern twist: the depictions include the Brooklyn Bridge, a subway car, turnstiles, baby strollers, airplanes, and various buildings. It was interesting to see Egyptian artwork in the subway. Most of what I have been seeing was stained glass, paintings and mosaic type art. This was a nice change from the norm.

The next stop was Sheepshead Bay the next to last stop on the B Line and with some artwork as well. This artwork is a series of mosaics called Postcards From Sheepshead Bay, by DeBorah Goletz installed in 1987. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Last but not least my final destination Brighton Beach. The station was outdoor, no artwork that I could see but my main photos were about the ocean and the beach. It was a hot, sunny day but the breeze off the water made everything delightful. I sunbathed for about an hour because that is about all I could stand. The sun was just beaming down on me and with my fair skin it could mean a lot of trouble. Brighton Beach is mainly of Russian population so I felt like I was in another country and it was a really great feeling. A big reason why I love New York City.

This concludes my trip on the B line and at this point I will be taking a bit of a break due to vacation. I will return to this in late August and hopefully be a bit more consistent then I have been in the past.

2008-07-04T13:56:00.007-04:00

Well my travels today only consist of four stops on the B Line due to a tight schedule. I cover Dekalb Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, 7th Avenue and Prospect Park. Dekalb Avenue possessed glass mosaic art by Stephen T. Johnson called the DeKalb Improvisation. As you will see with the pictures I post the artwork is very bright and beautiful and lights up the whole station. The artwork takes up the whole wall past the turnstiles. The next stop and one of my favorites is Atlantic Avenue. I have been there quite a few times aside from this project and always liked this station. Long Island Rail Road runs out of this station as well so it is a large station. I took some pictures of that area as well. The artwork in this station is a lot of the architecture and this rock sculpture that extends up and down the stairway. The rock sculpture is by George Trakas and is called Sinker (Mined Swell). The type of rock he used is granite. Now onto 7th Avenue which out of all the stations that I covered today this one was a bit boring. Nothing too exciting here. But then onto one of my favorite stations, Prospect Park. This station as you will see is like a station in the middle of the woods or something to that effect. It is outdoors of course and as you exit the station to your left is Prospect Park. I have never been to Prospect Park and believe that it is the Central Park of Brooklyn. I walked in just for a few minutes and caught children playing at the playground. It was nice to see that they didn't have a care in the world and just lived by the moment. Awww to be a kid again :) Anyway, this adventure today has been one of my favorite batches of stops so far.

Yankee Pride on the Uptown B...

2008-06-17T21:57:00.004-04:00

Ok, so this entry is gonna be short and sweet...only 5 stops today on the uptown B Line..First stop, 155th and 8th avenue...not too much here really..just a pretty general station..we were anxious to move onto the next one...

which was a heavy hitter..161st aka Yankee Stadium..a real uniqueness at this station equipped with escalators, glass elevators, the whole shee-bang! The seats on the platform, which are typically wooden benches, were sleek chairs sitting upright against the station wall..this station was of course a very crowded one, with many tourists and Yankee fans in tow!

Next, was 167 and Grand Concourse...also not too much to talk about, very general station with a very amazing view outside..

167th was followed by 170th and 175th, both on the Grand Concourse line..and I must say not too much to report this time around...all stations were very standard, except for the Yankee Stadium stop.

a very quick, but good days full of workk..until next trek..over n outt..linzz

The Bronx

2008-06-17T21:49:00.005-04:00

Today, I explore the last few stops uptown on the B line. This part of the line takes me into the Bronx. I cover Tremont Avenue to Bedford Park Boulevard along the Grand Concourse. I am solo today and at this point it is mid June so I am fearful a the stagnate subway platforms. Luckily it was tolerable and the humidity underground was minimal. Tremont Avenue was typical however, when I was waiting on the platform to board the train to the next stop I spotted a guy doing push-ups while he waiting for the train. It was quite bizarre but then again this in NYC. Gotta love it. The next few stops were quite similar. I did gallivant outside of a few stops and felt a bit uneasy as I did stand out in the Bronx but that difference makes this project all the more exciting. I wish I had more to say about this trip but I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Going It Alone

2008-05-12T15:56:00.006-04:00

Well, we have completed the A and C lines and now it is time to embark on a new adventure...the B line. Today, I go alone due to some scheduling complications. I must say it is a bit different doing the project by myself even though I had all intentions of doing this project on my own anyway it has been nice to have Lindsey along for not only the creative inspiration but also the comeradity. The day was perfect to be underground because it was raining, cold and windy above ground. I covered stops on the B line from 7th Avenue to Grand Street in Manhattan. I am very familiar with all these stops because this is the path I take to go to my jobs so needless to say I couldn't wait to get this segment and terminate the reminder of work. 7th Avenue was really nothing special and so therefore I decided to do more creative photography (as you see) and set my shutter speed in all different ways. When I proceeded to the Rockefeller Center stop I really enjoyed how this subway stop was turned into a mall-like atmosphere with shops and eateries. Paranoia hits me though because a lot of police and MTA personnel are around due to being such a huge tourist area and even though I am aloud to take photos in the subway I perk up suspicion anyway. Luckily no one said a word and I went about my business. The next stop was 42nd Street/Bryant Park. This stop is where I usually get off for work so needless to say I just wanted to take my pictures and move along. 34th Street/Herald Square was also familiar to me but I never noticed the spherical objects above. They are very bizarre and the realization of how millions of people go through that station and never look above to see them. These spherical pieces of art work look as if they are sitting upon a stool looking down at us as we go on with our daily lives of hustle and bustle. If those things could talk I am sure they would have tons of interesting stories. My next stop was Broadway/Lafayette. I passed West 4th due to covering that station on the C Line. As I exited the subway car I noticed an older man playing what looks to be a wooden handmade flute. He is always playing at that stop and to finally capture him through the lens was a great joy to me. This station is quite large in size due to a number of trains coming and going. The next and last stop on my journey was Grand Street station. This is yet another stop I am thoroughly familiar with due to work. It is right in the heart of Chinatown and is always busy. The artwork depicted in the station was a surely old and of subway trains painted in red. It reminded me of a toy train in a child's bedroom. This station definitely needs some renovations. At this point my journey ends and I head back uptown. Next week is the Brooklyn branch of the B Line and I am excited for that because we may be stopping at more beaches! This was quite enjoyable to write my first blog on this project and I am sure there will be some more on the way.

A to the Rockaways...Shuttle to Shores

2008-05-08T20:21:00.006-04:00

So we were on our way..Today on this amazing Monday, we'd be finishing the downtown A Line, all the way out to Rockaway Beach/Shuttle Branch. This meant we would need to take the A Train all the way to Broad Channel in Queens and then transfer to the S or Shuttle to the Rockaway Beach branch stops. We'd only be covering 4 stops, but til we got out to the beach an hour or so had already surpassed.

But WOW! What an amazing day! It was one of those picture perfect, clear blue skies, slight breeze, no humidity days..still not warm enough to strip down into a bikini, but warm enough to go to the beach and imagine being in the ocean. A little chill didn't stop the half dozen or so surfers from hitting the tides though.
Our first stop was Beach 90 - Holland: Thank goodness it was a nice day because all of the station stops would be outdoor. Nothing too special on the platform. We got some footage and then decided to walk and check out the beach. The outlying area was a bit rough. Run down bodegas, strip malls, and coffee shops lined the streets. We got to the beach and how beautiful it was. There were surfers already taking advantage of the hint of summer in the air. To me, it was still too cold to be in the water. We hung out on the beach for a bit. I just couldn't believe there was actually a decent beach besides Coney Island (which isn't even decent!) an hour subway ride away. I was excited.
We were on our way back to the station when I felt I needed a coffee. We stopped at a run down coffee shop called Bagel Stop and lemme tell ya, "Dorthy, we aren't in Kansas anymore." I walked in and to my surprise these peeps were closing at 1pm and they weren't playin! They directed me to the bodeaga down the street where I could refuel.
The next stop was quick..ba-da-bing! Beach 98 - Playland..I decided to lie on the platform edge and get some sun until the train came.
Next we was Beach 105 stop - same shiznit, different stop.
And last, but NOT least, probably my favorite stop since we begun the subway project: Beach 116 - Rockaway Beach:
We walked down the platform and to the exit...there was a cute little diner inside the station. At this point we were hungry, so we decided to stop 4 a bite..
We sat down and ordered a tuna wrap and diet cokes. Christi decided she needed fries. I didn't mind. As we sat there admiring the locals, a nice woman approched us. She asked if we were tourists being that we had camera equipment and ordered a tuna wrap :) Christi said, "Well, yes and no." She explained that we lived in Manhattan, but this was our first time in these parts. The nice woman, whose name was Barbara Hillary, went on to tell us that not only was she a native of these parts, but she was also the first black woman to go to the North Pole..whaaaa????
Christi and I both thought that was an amazing feat. Especially since the woman was 77 years old and fought lung cancer in the midst! Even more inspiring was the fact that she would be going to the South Pole at the end of the year. Now that's living. We got a picture with her and her card with her email and website. It was such a memorable part of the day...You never know who you are gonna meet, whereever you are, on any given day. So random. So inspirational.
After our lunch, we walked toward the beach. It was even nicer than the Beach 90 stop. More built up, more shops, more white sand. I dedided to drop my coat and run freely, poppin cartwheels and getting dirty. Christi took picks of me in action.
I felt so free and alive. Out of the confines of the city. Away from it all, but not that far. I could always go back, but I wasn't ready. I wanted to enjoy the day and this was exactly the way.
After about a half hour of frolicking, we noticed the time, and decided we should start heading back. Upon our departing we came across a memorial built right on the boardwalk dedicated to those who perished in the Flight 587 crash in 2001, right off of Rockaway Beach. It was mainly dedicated to a number of Dominicans, who were the majority killed on the flight.
We walked around for a bit and came to the conclusion, we might be vacationing here for a weekend. No need to go to nearby Jersey beaches, or travel by car or bus, we had a beach, only a subway ride away.
We concluded it was an epic day. So much exploration. So many new discoveries that make New York what it is, amazing and unique.
Our train ride back, we ran into some characters, Tony from Brooklyn and Zack also from Brooklyn..two old cats, both good friends and both happy to be alive and enjoying the beautiful day, just like us :)
Until next ride...over n outtt -Linzz

Inwood always up to no good??

2008-04-27T10:14:00.008-04:00

So on this beautiful Monday morning, it was surely not a day for being underground, but we had work to do, and we were behind on schedule since we missed the past few mondays due to other obligations. Today, we would be completing the Uptown A Line from 175 street to 207 street "aka Inwood."
We had not been Uptown farther than 168th street and of course did not know what the atmosphere would be like. I had heard about crime in Inwood on the news, so I was anticipating it to be a bit crunk, but surprisingly I was mistaken.
Our first stop was 175 street/Fort Washington Avenue/George Washington Bridge. It was a station nicer than most. As we walked outside, amazing views of the GWB embarked on us. There was a lovely glass elevator that travelers could take to the A Train platform below. Overall, I was impressed both inside and outside the station.
Next was 181 street/Fort Washington. This station was even more impressive than the last. Much different than the typical stations we've been exposed to. It was almost an art form with all the old architecture and spacious views. There were pillars, arches, even an outlook terrace. These are not normal features of a typical NYC subway station. It seemed to me these uptown stations were authentic and preserved, or maybe they just haven't been gotten to yet and reformed by man. There was, however a lot of construction going on outside the station, so whether the uniqueness would be destroyed in place of a more modern structure was not clear yet.
Similiar to the 181st stop was 190th street/The Cloisters. This station was similar to 181st street. There were amazing pillars throughout and a long walkway to the exit. There were also amazing train views from the above platform. As we exited the station, we noticed we were high up on a hill and the station was embedded into the side of a mountain. It was not like walking out onto a busy street, but more like walking out of a cave and into a quiet hillside neighborhood. We went and sat in a nice little park not far from the station and watched people enjoying the beautiful day walking their dogs and getting some sun. I liked it up here. It felt very peaceful and away from the bustle of being in the midst of manhattan.
We could have stayed in the park all day, but we had to stay on schedule, so we headed to the next station: Dyckman Street/Broadway. There was nothing too special about this station except for an underpass to the Downtown platform and I also noticed there weren't any benches in station which is a common convenience.
We didn't waste any time here and headed to the last stop, which was Inwood/207 Street. I must say I was a bit nervous because I mostly had heard of Inwood in the news in which some crime was committed. But again, I was impressed. The station was decent and upon our exit we noticed a number of inspirational quotes embedded in the station walls. A huge mural in sparkly silver lettering adorned the walls. It was really what made the station unique to those who took pride in their neighborhood. I felt almost welcome, since I was technically an outsider have never setting foot in the area known as Inwood. We walked outside and I immediately found a nice little cafe, where I could honor my coffee fix. I liked the fact that I was discovering new areas, even though I was only in a small part of them for a short time, I still could say I had been there. I had been to Fort Washington. I had been to Dyckman Street. I had been to Inwood. We ended the day at our favorite Irish pub, Coogan's, which we had discovered some three weeks ago on 168th street. Until next time under the city. - LinZZ

Back to Queens: JFK Airport/Rockaway branch

2008-04-03T10:02:00.005-04:00

Ok so when I found out we'd be stopping at JFK airport on our route today, I hastily logged onto Kayak.com to look at cheap flights to Denmark. Oh how I wish I could just get up and go!!!!! But alas, my dreams became reality and I left the suitcase under the bed for a more planned out vacation :)
Today was one of those shitty day: cloudy, rainy, chilly, basically FUGLY. So it would be a good day to be undergroud, however the stops we would be covering we all outdoor stations, ha, the irony!
So we hopped the train at 10:30am, a half hour earlier than our usual 11am call time due to the length of time it was gonna take to reach our first stop which was the Aqueduct/N. Conduit. Along the way, we came across some bongo players in the train to entertain and wake our asses up. They were a highlight of the gloomy commute and I even got to make a debut drumming along with them.
We finally made it to Aqueduct/N. Conduit. This stop was named for the horseracing track that was seen from a distance. This station was pretty basic. Outdoor platform, then you walk inside, through the turnstile, past the attendant. What was unique to me as we exited the station was that instead of walking out onto a street, there was a freeway. I realized we were way out there.
Next was JFK Airport/Howard Beach. Of course, I have been here before. Very nice, sleek design, Escalators to the air train, lots of travelers going to and fro with there baggage in tow. I was jealous as I have been craving a trip for too long. We didn't stay long as if we had, we might have caught the next flight outta here! We looked outside the glass windows and noticed marshy lands and houses barely standing admist the tracks. Who would want to live in the middle of an airport, let alone a subway track. Rent has to be cheap for those inadequacies and to endure the constant noise.
We noticed we were a bit behind schedule, so lingering was not a thing to do if we wanted to get done on time.
We got back on the train to the next stop: Broad Channel. It took a bit to get here as we had to cross the waterways. Although, it was a crappy day out, the views of the water were so serene and beautiful. It's like all your worries we washed away. We finally reached Broad Channel. As we stepped out side the train, I noticed the platforms we extremely close to one another, meaning that the Manhattan bound platform across the track was not that far from reach. I did not like this.
By this time it was getting colder and misty. We got on the train and headed to the next stop. Gaston, Beach 67...I realized the rest of the stops would be labeled Beach Stops. Beach 60 - Straiton gave me the first signs of beachyness. The smell of salt and sand, even the wind had picked up reminding us the beach was within proximity. We had ocean views, but it was creepy to me as the beach was of course desolate. I tried to look for sand, but saw a lot of growth wondering if this was a beach that was frequently occupied. Of course, my sight was only that through a camera lens and I could only focus so far, so I'm sure this place looks much different in the summer. Right now, it was reminding me of scenes outta Cape Fear.
I started to get really cold realizing I hadn't dressed for the weather. My mentality was reminding me it was April and scarves and gloves were obsolete. I should have second guessed because I was freezing and the trains were taking forever, or so it seemed. The next four stops were all pretty much models of each other except for the last stop: Mott Avenue, which thankfully in my case of the beginning stages of hypothermia, provided us with a train already set for take off. We reached the last stop and hopped the Manhattan bound train across the platform ready to head back into civilization. On our way back we stopped off at JFK and grabbed some slices at a local pizza joint. The pizza was yummy, but not as good as the slices we had out in Queens a few weeks back, but $5 for 2 slices, a coffee, and a soda, I can't complain. We had another great adventure, and even though the weather was a bit of a set-back, it didn't keep us from completing our route. We discovered new places, maybe a potential beach to travel in the summer, JFK of course, and a racetrack. Another Monday full of great wonders and discoveries that seem to be neverending in the great New York wild. till next ride..over n out..-Linzz

"Coming outta Queensbridge"

2008-04-01T22:42:00.004-04:00

So the blog has been MIA for the past few weeks due to a number of things conflicting our sacred Mondays, but we are now back on track. So here is where we left off a few weeks ago..

Well we WEREN'T really coming outta Queens..more like going into Queens.
Today we'd be going out to Queens to complete 7 stops: Grant Avenue to Ozone Park/Lefferts Boulevard. We'd be on the A Express Line, which we soon discovered consisted of 3 branches: 1 branch to JFK/ Far Rockaways, another to Rockaway Beach and a third to Ozone Park/Lefferts Blvd. Yes, I was confused, but this was all useful information. Today we'd cover the stops on the Lefferts Blvd./Ozone Park branch.
Of all my four and a half years in NYC, I have never been to Queens, so this was my chance to finally get there.
Grant Avenue was first and we would still be in Brooklyn. Nothing too out of the ordinary here. Very desolate. We walked out of the station, which was the highlight. Very unique, old New York design. We didn't waste time. Got what we needed and then headed to Queens. Bascially, I can sum up the next 6 stops were all in Queens and all quite similar in structure. All outdoor stops. All overlooking the street below. We ventured to 80th Street - Hudson stop, then 88th Street - Boyd. Both too similar. We decided to walk out of the station at 88th street to the coffee shop on the corner. Amidst out 5 minute walk, we definitely saw some wheelers and dealers. "Oh Dorthy, we aren't in Manhattan anymore!" is the the first thing that came to my head. I didn't feel threatened though like I did in east Brooklyn and plus the outdoor stations made me feel like I had room to move in case I had to run anyway from anyone.
Next stop was Rockaway. Again pretty much the same as the last, except I noticed there was no attendant at this station. makes it much easier for those who want to get a free ride and jump the turnstiles.
104th and 111th street nothing notable here. We did however stop at a local pizza joint off 104th for an authentic slice. And let me tell you, there is no fluff out here. It's bascially, "Wouldya want, done!"
No, Hi, how r u? What can I get for you? Thanks for your business." But the pizza was that good, that they didn't need to sugarcoat anything. I just observe "the way" out here. Everyone I came in contact with, had that way about them. That authentic, "don't fuck with me attitude" that you only find out in these parts. Again, i wasn't threatened, i more or less appreciated it and tried to emulate it.
We finally made our way to Ozone Park/Leffert Blvd. Last stop! DONE. Trains both stationed on either platform, 1 ending, 1 ready to head out for the trekk. We were having fun and what we saw of Queens wasn't half bad. I felt free outside of the usual Manhattan stomping grounds. not sure if I'd ever want to live here, but I'd definitely be back. That you can count on! :)

Day 5: Who woulda thought?? 168 is grreat!

2008-02-25T19:13:00.007-05:00

Today was the last day on the C Line. We were covering the last 7 stops on the uptown bound C local, from 116th street to the final stop, 168th. We were not too familiar with these stops or the area, so we made sure not to dress to impress. We covered any traces of blonde hair and of course put on the camo gear.
First stop was 116th, been here before, and nothing special to report, so we hopped the subbie to 125th. It was a nice, bigger station. Christi was certain there was artwork here, but we didn't find any at first. We trekked up and down the platform and finally found the artwork she had sworn upon. They were enlarged old photographs of Harlem circa 1960 covering the walls, really nostalgic.
We hopped the train to the next stop, 135th street. Again, a fairly larger, descent station. We decided to go outside to check out if the station had any cool decoreum and plus, Christi had to go the bathroom. We walked out of the station and found a cool entranceway to the subway across the street and also a view of City College. Not only that, but a man laying outside the subway on a hill who looked like he was either passed out or dead. That kinda killed the atmosphere and so we walke to find Christi a potty.
After a bite at Subway and a potty break, we went back in and made our way to 145th street. This was a nice and bigger station as well. We went outside and noticed we were in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem. I've heard about this area being not so swell, but we didn't feel threatened in any way. There was a group of old men hanging outside the subway entrance on the steps, just having a laugh and taking in the day. To the other side was a group of old women in their "Sunday hats" handing out religious materials and pamphlets.
155th was next and this station was alright too. We were expecting it to get shady the further and further we traveled uptown, but so far we were surprised. We found here that this was once an abandoned station much like the Ralph Avenue stop in Brooklyn. I noticed on this trip that there were more notable features on the outside of these stations than on the inside. Not so much artwork as the downtown stops portrayed, but the uptown stations had their own sense of uniquesness. We stepped otuside to find incredible views and a nearby park. Uptown is really where it's at.
We didn't spend too long here and made our way to 163rd and Amsterdam. Again, another surprise. The station itself, we didn't find too many novelties. Outside was very unique, as the subway entrance was written in Old English. We found it to be a fairly nice area outside of the station, very quiet and neighborhood-like. We decided to walk to where there looked to be a view of the city. And we got more than a view of Yankee stadium. We walked back onto this cobblestone road and noticed an old coloniel mansion from the 1600's. It was apparently the oldest house in the city and now a tourist attraction consisting of redone period rooms. It was occupied by Tennir family and once a haven for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. We couldn't go in the house as they were doing some sort of construction. As we walked back down the streets it felt like our own private village. We felt like we were on an old fashioned movie set in New Orleans. We were amazed and excited by what we found. I even mentioned that I would live up here. I loved the tranquil feel, and tranquility is often hard to find in NYC.
168th street was the last stop. Hooray! We had completed the C Line! We got off and noticed it was busier than the other stations. I assumed due to the fact that there was a transfer to the 1 line via elevator. Instead of getting our work done in the station, we decided to walk outside and celebrate our accomplishment on completing the C Line and also on the unusally beautiful day. The area was bustling, nice restaurants and shops everywhere. I never thought it would be this nice this far uptown. We stumbled upon an Irish pub that took up most of the block, called Coogan's. We walked in and businessman and well-to-doer's were having lunch. We looked like hoodlums all covered up in our black gear. We grabbed a seat at the bar and over a fitting Irish brunch and mimosa's, toasted the completion of our first subway line. We headed back to the 168th street station to make our way back downtown. We needed to get the 1 train here since we had to run some errands on Broadway. We found out that the only way to get the 1 transfer was via elevator. A bit creepy, especially if you end of being enclosed with any wackos. We got off the elevator and walked onto the 1 platform. It was nothing like the usual platforms throughtout the nyc subway system. I felt like I was in a colonial day train station. Right out of a Christmas Card. There was a bridge you had to walk over connecting the uptown and downtown platforms. It was truly an amazing sight, one of the highlights. We reflected that the project went pretty smoothly thus far, but we still had a long and exciting road ahead. The next line to explore and conquer would be the A Line.

Day 4: Do Tha Rock-a-way..

2008-02-12T20:26:00.006-05:00

So we knew it was gonna be crunkville this time around. We had 8 stops left on the Downtown C Train to complete. Last week was scary enough considering we didn't realize we'd be on the outskirts of Bed-Sty, but this week as we ventured even deeper into Brooklyn, we made sure we were prepared to keep it real. Thank god it was cold as fuck out cuz we needed the excuse to bundle up hardcore..The goal was to look as homeless as possible and so we did. The stripper caps came out and the black-camo came on. I was even gonna get me sum grills, but figured that might pose the opposite and look a bit odd. As we hopped the train, the nerves set in as we approached the first stop of the day:
Utica Avenue - It started out pretty quiet, which was good cuz I wanted to get some shots with the camcorder, and it's not easy when the "locals" are watching your moves. Let's just say nuthin's easy or welcoming in these parts, so we tried to be discrete about having our equipment out. Christi decided to bring her small digital camera because she didn't want to use her Nikon too much and draw attention. Utica was not bad. There was some artwork, which was a surprise. We didn't stick around long. Got what we needed to get and on to the next one.
Ralph Avenue was next. This stop wasn't too exciting except when we walked up the stairs we noticed an area that was caged off. We assumed it was once part of the station was now abandoned. Pretty creepy. It reminded me of the Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video in the abandon gymnasium.
Next was the Rockaway stop. Nothin special here either. Now I'm not sure what these stations look on the outside since Christi and I were very weary of going above ground. It was sketchy enough being in the subway. A part of me wanted to walk outside some of the stations and see what the area was like. I had an idea, but I wanted to see for myself. We agreed that the stations seemed pretty standard and that the same would be outside.
Next stop and my favorite thus far: Broadway Junction. I already knew a portion of this station was outdoors, but I was amazed by the structure and vastness. This stop was really busy with people as there are a number of line transfers here. We walked up the stairs and caught the escalators to reach the JMZ platform which was outside. The artwork was reminiscient of the Franklin Avenue stop where stain glass windows color the walls. Views of the subway cars going in and out of the station were magnificent to me. I felt like a little kid watching the train cars at an amusement park. Even though videotaping IS allowed in the subway, I still felt uneasy with all the people around. But I had to get footage here. There was more artwork on the upper level and a lot of activity and people on the move. I didn't feel unsafe at all. We stood on the outdoor platform for a bit and watched the cars go to and fro. We noticed what looked like railyards from afar. If it wasn't so cold, I would hung out here awhile longer. Christi and I both agreed that Broadway Junction was out favorite station so far.
I can clump the next 3 stops together: Liberty, Van Siclen, and Sheppard Avenues were all too simliar. Baby Blue lettering defines these stops. Again, we didn't venture outside the underground, but we figured we didn't have to. At this point the battery ran out of Christi's digital camera, so she was forced to break out the Nikon. We were almost done and miraculously the experience had been so far so good, so she wasn's as cautious.
We made our way to the last stop: Euclid Avenue. We definitely felt like we were far out and didn't dwell too much here. The lavender station marked the end of the downtown C stops. We were done for the day and almost done with the line. Cold, but accompplished. Nervous, but brave, Nothing crazy happened like I had anticipated. Maybe it was just too damn cold for the crazies or maybe since we didn't even exit the station, we didn't really experience what was above. I still would have liked to, maybe, but I'm glad we stayed focused and finished the job.

Day 3: Keepin It Real n Keepin Alive..

2008-01-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

We weren't prepared for today to say the least. Sure we knew the stops we were covering were all in Brooklyn, but what we were careless to research was WHAT area of Brooklyn these stops were located. The first part of our journey we were still in familiar territory. We planned on covering 8 stops on the C train from High Street to Kingston/Throop. Our first stop of the day was High Street/Brooklyn Bridge. It was an average station. Very similiar to the station before it, Broadway-Nassau. Same circular track structure. Same peeling paint from the dome-shaped ceilings. Escalators and security cameras throughout. There wasn't any significant artwork at this station. I also noticed there weren't any billboards or advertisements adoring the walls. Where ads usually are placed on the station walls, everything was blacked out instead. We also got some footage of a closed stairwell that was chained off and no longer in use. Now if you exit the station, you are in the area of Dumbo, a very prominent part of Brooklyn. We stepped outside the subway and caught an amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Next was Jay Street/Borough Hall: This was a very unique station. Not so much on the platform, but as we exited the turnstile, we found some magnificent architechture reminsicent of past stations. There were escalators that brought you to the outside of the station where old subway pillars adorned each stairwell. This is a very active station due to many other line transfers. As we came off the escalator we were literally on street level. At this point, I needed a bathroom break, so we decided to take a pit stop at a crowded pizza joint across the street. I finally find a bathroom, but it's co-ed and no doors on the stalls. UMM, shall I wait? No, I have to go BAD. So I ask Christi to watch my back. We both agree this bathroom resembles an abandon crackhouse, but at least it's better than subway bathrooms, which are still functioning in some stations.. I'm all better now, and we are off!! We head back to the station. Its old colonial architechiture reminds me of being in the financial district close to City Hall. One of the nicer and unique stations so far.
I did not know what to expect at our next stop: Hoyt Street. I did not think it would be anything too shady since we weren't that deep into Brooklyn yet. Well, I mistaken. We stepped out of the train and onto a very busy platform. From afar we could see a part of the station that was dark and desolate, which we concluded was once a running track, was now abandon. We walked up the stairs and through the turnstile. There were a lot of police monitoring the station even at 11am on a Monday. We walked through a long hallway with walls which resembled a gymnasium. There were little old women sitting on chairs as we passed by selling religious materials. We decided to exit the station to the street above to check out the area. We literally walked out and then right back in again. The feeling at street level was not a good one. We were getting heckled and we weren't even 5 seconds out of the station. I could handle it if there was something outside of the station worth getting footage of, but there was nothing worth sticking around for. So, on our way back down to the platform, we saw at least 5 guys sneak through the emergency exit, which is a crime, and which I have seen performed many times before. What kills me is that with all the police activity, not one of these young men were stopped. I got some last minute video footage and upon taping was stopped by a woman, who addressed herself as the Hoyt station attendant. She asked me if I had authorization to videotape. I say no, but that I did my research on the MTA site and that, in fact, videotaping is allowed. She retaliates, and tells me, "No, it is not." She is wrong, but I did not feel like arguing. We got the footage we needed to get anyway. What was the point. What is funny to me is that this woman was so concerned with our "harmless" videotaping than that of the dozen or so kids bypassing the turnstiles and sneaking through the emergency exit. Oh the irony!
So after that ruckus, we were en route to the Lafayette stop. I am already very familiar with this station and the area. It is known as Fort Greene when you exit the subway. I didn't recall anything significant as far as artwork, but then again I was never looking out for those types of things before this project. I was right. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Same with the next stop: Clinton/Washington.
So we were breezing through! Next was the Franklin stop. This was a neat stop. It was both an above ground and underground station. We walked outside to the outside platform and discovered beautiful stain glass murals adoring the wall. We also had some kids yelling "tourists" at us, which with all our camera equipment, we most certainly did look like tourists. I looked down to the street from above and noticed this wasn't such a great area. I saw run-down bodegas and collapsing buildings. We didn't stick around long because of time constraints. This was a memorable station. 2 more to go!
Nostrand was next. At this point we didn't know what to expect or what area of Brooklyn we were approaching.
Sure, throughout all the subway lines, you'll have your nice station stops and good areas that the train runs through and then you'll have some bad and then you'll have the ugly. We did not even have to exit the subway station to know that we were getting into shakey territory. Just observing the people inside the train cars and on the platform as we rode deeper into Brooklyn, I got the sensation that we weren't very welcome. No one really said anything to us, but they didn't have to. As the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." I felt the long, cold stares being translated into "What are YOU doing here?" Maybe it was paranoia. Maybe I was just blowing it out of the water and no one really gave a damn who we were or what we were doing in "their hood." Or maybe I was dead on in feeling this way because Christi felt the same, and I could see the anxiety coming over her.
We didn't get much footage at the Nostrand stop. It was a little nerve racking. Let's just say we were out of our element here, and we didn't want to draw anymore attention on ourselves than our obvious physical appearance in which we did not fit in. We walked up the stairs and we saw a young man surrounded by 5 police officers. He was being arrested. We were quick about getting through this station.
Last and definitely NOT least was Kingston/Throop. Christi proceded to mention that this station stop marked the edge of Bed-Sty, aka Bedford Styvesant, aka one of the most notorious crime-ridden areas of New York. Proceed with caution! A part of me was nervous and another part excited. This was the "Real Deal Holyfield!" I'm sorry, but Manhattan is NOT New York. Manhattan is a fantasy island. These areas of Brooklyn, now that's real. It's a whole nother dynamic. Poverty, violence, filthy streets and decaying buildings. Survival is top priority, We get off. We look around. We wait for the people to exit the train so we can get footage without being watched or bothered. We find out that to get to the uptown platform, there is no transfer and we must exit the station. Yes, we must go outside on the street. This is a big deal. It's like a fish outta water. You can feel the stares. Why are we here again? This is Brooklyn. This is New York. Usually a white girl in her mid-twenties on her day off would be shopping on 5th avenue or having brunch at an East Village bistro, relishing in the lavish new york afternoon. We are over that. We want an adventure, away from the fluff and false lifestyles we so often are encouraged to live. I'm scared, but brave. I want to walk down the street and feel the realness, the toughness, the struggle. I did for about 2 minutes. I don't want these locals to perceive me as an intruder, when in fact I am, but aren't I allowed to walk the same streets without being ridiculed or labeled "tourist?" After all, we are all human beings here. But after I ponder, that statement is not valid to say the least. Yes, we are all human beings anatomically speaking. We all have struggles, some more life altering than others. I can't begin to understand the lifestyles these people lead in this so-called "dangerous" area of Bed-Sty. Why the violence, why the hate? I can't begin to answer that because I can't begin to know how these people live day by day and 5 minutes outside of station is not going to help me understand. I can be glad I made it out alive. Christi and I are done for the day. We get on the train and head back uptown, back to Manhattan, back to familiar territory. But we aren't finished yet. We have 8 more stops to go until we complete the downtown C Line. Next week when we travel even further into Brooklyn: East New York and Far Rockaway. I'm getting the camo and slingblade ready for this trip!! Til next time..Over n out -L

Day 2: January 21st, MLK Day

2008-01-21T19:13:00.000-05:00

Still on the Downtown C Line: 34 Street to Broadway-Nassau
So, my initial thoughts were that the subways were going to be running on a "holiday/weekend" schedule, which is usually slower and more annoying than usual, but to my surprise, they were running on normal schedule..YAY #1! YAY #2 was my thinking they were going to be crowded since most people were off due to it being a holiday, but I was wrong again. They were pretty quiet, but I think this was due more to the blistering cold weather. And it was horribly cold out. We weren't even above ground and we were feeling the painfully cold air seeping from above. But we put on a few more layers and managed to accomplish what we needed for the day.
Our first stop of the day was a big one, 34th street otherwise known as Pennsylania Station, otherwise known as the house of Madison Square Garden. Due to it's many levels this station has an elevator. Although convenient to some, I, myself, am not a fan of subway elevators. I was in one once and only once and it was gggrrrosss. Just think of being in a subway toilet and you get the idea. We did find some art on the upper level that i had never seen before. It was a mural of circus characters portrayed by the artist Tom Fischel. I wondered why circus animal's in the subway? Then I thought maybe the infamous Barnum & Baileys Circus was held at Madison Square Garden..maybe? We also found the Lost Property Unit is located at 34th Street, I assume the Lost Property Unit is where you come if you've had any items lost or stolen on the subway....YEAHHH I wonder how many people actually have had their things found or turned in for that matter..
Next on our route was 23rd street. Nothing much notable here. A darker, dingier station than most. There were stairs on the platform, which stood out as a unique feature, otherwise nothing spectacular.
The cold was setting in as we made our way to 14th street and 8th avenue stop. This is a pretty large station and I found it to be fairly quiet as compared to the others. I find that the further away from midtown you get at 11am on a Monday, the less people you're gonna find. We did find more art at this station and not wall murals this time. Bronze scultpures of what portrayed Teletubby-looking creatures were scattered throughout the 14th street lair. These cute little creatures playing in the subway seemed almost like little guardian angels. One such creature was even sculpted sitting on a subway bench. I was surprised none of the artwork had been destroyed or vandalized since it wasn't fixed on a wall and was out in solid form..Maybe even the craziest people have an appreciation for art.
After a bit of time at 14th street, we made our way to West 4th Street. I like this station. Mainy because I like the area where this station is located. It;s a nicer station than most. Newsstands are here and is usually a very active station. You'll typically find musicians playing here, but today no such luck, again mostly in part to the bitter coldness. There is not elevators at this station, but even better escalators. I love escalators. Reminds me of the European tube stations. We also came upon an area where icicles had formed on the subway steps. Yes, it was THAT cold.
We took a break and grabbed a coffee at a diner outside the West 4th station. It was exactly what we needed to defrost and rejuvenate. We decided to just finish the C stops in Manhattan and call it a day because when you're up against the cold there is only so much you can take.
So, off to Spring Street. I'm not a big fan of this station. It's in a nice area of Soho, so you would think the station would be nicer, but not so much. At the end of the platform we noticed boxes set up and a person's legs sticking out. We assumed it was a homeless person and got some pics and video footage, but did not get much closer than that. A little creepy I must say. We didn't stick around too long and headed off to Canal Street. A cleaner station than I had anticipated, but nothing really notable here. I did notice that downtown and uptown C trains were both on the same platform.
After Canal comes Chambers. Again, this station was nicer than I thought. I think we were getting it confused with the JMZ Chambers stop, which we haven't hit yet and which is fug. More artwork at this station, which consisted of mosaic eyes throughout the station. Very beautiful, very eerie too. Some blue eyes, some green eyes, some brown eyes circle the station watching your every move. We couldn't seem to find the artist credentials though. We found a nest of birds in a structure atop a stairs. My first signs of life besides the infamous rats in the subway. We also got some great footage standing over the vents of the train coming through down below. It was kinda scary at first standing over the vents and then hearing the rattle of the train coming from down below and imagining yourself falling through onto the tracks.
I managed to exit the station and get some pics of huge skyscrapers being that we were down in the financial district area. I did not want to take the focus away from the subway itself, but these structures were literally right in view from the station. They were breathtaking.
Our last station of the day was Broadway Nassau. This station usually gives me the creeps. It is dark and dingy and you'll usually find more crazies than normal lurking down here. Not too many today, but I'm sure as the day goes on it gets goofy. We did see some nice artwork and what seemed to be an old entrance gate, maybe from a prior station, but is now turned into an art form.
Good day, Nothing too crazy went down. On the way back uptown, we rode in the very front car and I got some cool footage as if I was conducting the train myself. At 59th street as we were standing on the platform, we were approached by a guy that seemed to be either severely disturbed or on a drug of some sort. I mean you always see crazy people, but this guy was out of his mind, We managed to avoid getting in the same car as him, but as the train took off he found us in the next car. I couldn't help but think he was targeting us. Christi and I got off at 110th street and Broadway and as we exited I was looking out for this wackjob hoping he had not gotten off with us. I turned around and found him staring directly at me from the train smiling creepily as if he was telling me "I know where you live." Christi saw it too and with that, put an end to our day in the subs...til next week..over n out, Linz

Day 1 Son!

2008-01-14T20:39:00.000-05:00

Day 1: Monday, January 14th, 2008

So we didn't cover all the stops we had hoped. Our goal was to cover the stops on the C Line from 110th Street Cathedral Parkway to 14th Street and 8th Avenue, over a 3 hour time period. But we had very large and significant stations this trip, so I can't feel like we didn't accomplish a lot, and I didn't want to rush and miss anything. So, Christi and I decided on no time constraints, no deadlines. Whatever we cover from 11am til 2pm is what we cover. Fine by me!

We started at our home turf, 110th street, Cathedral Parkway stop. Nothing too intriguing here since this is the station most familiar to us being located right across the street from our apartment. It is a nicer station and cleaner station than most I must say. There was some nice mosaic artwork portayed on the platform. Overall. not too much activity, especially at 11am on a Monday. This station typically is pretty quiet, except for your occassional stragler or homeless person looking for a dime. Since the 110 Central park West area used to be a big crack dealing area, there still is an element of those souls lingering about.
Next we hit 103rd, 96th, and 86th. Not much notable at any of there stations. All are fairly small and no artwork was recorded.
Next, one of my favorite stations thus far: 81st street, Natural History Museum. This station displays some of the most beautiful and unique artwork the subway has to offer. Different species of animals cover the platform walls. Bright colors and 3-D effects sharpen every image. On the downtown side a sea with fishes of every variety covers the wall . You feel like you're not in a subway at all, but swimming amongst fishes. All uncertainty and fear of the subway diminishes due to the fairytale fishes and brightwinged butterflys overlooking the people waiting patiently for their train to arrive. A calmness ensues and we are kid's again.
After 81st, we head to 72nd street. Not much notable here either. So we move on to 59th Street Columbus Circle. 59th is another large station. The Time Warner Center is located at this stop and is generally a very classy area - outside of the subway. I am surprised 59th is not a nicer, cleaner station, but I realize it is undergoing intense construction. I intend after construction is completed, it will be one of the nicer stations in the city. The NYC Transit Police are also located at this station. They keep felons here whom have commited crimes in or on NYC subways or buses.
Next we hit 50th Street. A nicer, cleaner station than most. Escalator's are functional at this station and the structure reminds me very much of the stations in London and Copenhagen. Very sleek and open. At this station you must exit the platform to get to the uptown side, so on our way back our card's had read "just used" as we re-entered the turntile some 10 minutes later, so the "cheerful" subway attendant had to manually send us through. Miss thang seemed a bit annoyed!
By this time it was almost 1pm and hunger was setting in, so Christi and decided to grab a bite at 42nd Street, Port Authority. I have a strange love for this station. Back in the day, before we lived in New York, Christi and I used to take trips and drive from our house in Pennsylvania and take the bus from New Jersey into Port Authority. It was a very familiar and oddly comforting place for us. We spent late nights and early mornings in the old PA. It brought back a lot of crazy memories. So we got a bite and then decided this would be our last station to cover for the day. We knew this station was largely significant and was going to take a big chunk of time, so we did not want to rush. Naturally, a lot of activity goes on at this stop since Port Authority is a major transportation hub for many tourists not to mention workers coming to and from NYC everyday. We noticed that Port Authority was a heavily patrolled station. Cops at most entrances, even undercovers keeping aware of any suspicious activity. After 9/11 happened, the city's security was severely questioned. This question was put to the test when I attempted to videotape the outside of the Task Force offices. No more than 20 seconds into filming two men immediately stormed out and asked if I was the one videotaping. They must have seen me from cameras inside. I said "yes" and asked if that was OK. Assuming I was a tourist, they let me go with no problem.
We saw lots of artwork, wall murals, shops, newsstands, and most notably musicians trying to bring light and soul to the sometimes dreary days underground. The art was astoundingly beautiful. There were an array of wall murals I had never noticed before because I was too busy getting from point a to b. There was a few characters we came upon. One man just stood admist the commuters as he impersonated bird noises aloud. There was a 3 piece blues band performing on the platform, who were very good indeed. Most notably, a Michael Jackson impersonator drew quite an audience as he did his finest moonwalk to Billie Jean and other MJ hits. I wasn't sure if this guy was really a talented Michael Jackson clone or just a comical nutto tryna make an easy buck off tourists who didn't know better. Both I suppose. Brave for certain.
In life we all want something we can rely upon and in a sense the subway is the heart and soul of nyc, a friend. Other's who don't know it may look at it as creepy, filthy, dingy, a poor man's means of transportation. Where pan handlers swell and drug dealers dwell. Yes, you'll have all this. But isn't that what makes New York so surreal? That an educated white businessman can share a seat with a homeless crackhead and it be just another day on the train. We all are trying to get somewhere, to someone we love, to work, to a show, to a museum, to a part of town we haven't been before, to our homes. We wait and sometimes we wait long and sometimes the waiting turns into frustration, but then we look around and realize we are all in this crazy place together. Til next time under the city...Over n Out :) Linz

Expectations of Monday's Underground in 2008

2008-01-13T19:22:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, Monday, January 14th, 2008, Christi and I begin our much anticipated subway photography excursion. Christi has been pursuing the art of photography for over a year now and has been progressing steadily. She's got the equipment and has the skills to be very successful, so when I agreed to help her, I thought it would be time well spent, not to mention an adventure.
She came to me about this project last October. She had been brainstorming about doing a full-on photography project. Something with a concept, a focus, a direction. She thought why not do a project on the NYC subway system. I mean the subway and the city go hand in hand and is relied upon by millions of New Yorkers each day. It is in some ways fascinating and in others, just plain creepy (well to my parents anyway). I, myself, have had my own run-ins in the subway, most notably last New Year's Eve being mugged at knifepoint by a homeless crackhead. I mean this was even at 9am on a Saturday morning! But you have to get over the fear and realize shit happens. You're living in NYC on the edge of Harlem no less, you're gonna run into the occasional nutbag. Why was I surprised then? Don't they say every New Yorker has either been mugged or has had their life threatened at least once? Well, we as New Yorkers, it's our duty to rise up, to overcome adversity, to survive.
Our goal is to hit all 24 subway lines and it's 484 stops along the way. That is approximately 12 stops every Monday for the whole year. Has it been done? Maybe. Probably. But we really don't know and we really don't care. Cuz if we knew, we probably would care. Christi will be photographing and I will be documenting and that's that.
So, despite how i feel about the NYC subway system, which has not been defined whether I like or do not like them. On one hand they get me to work, allow me not to have a car, and provide entertainment in more ways than one. On the other hand, they can be crowded, late, dirty, and full of crazies. So right now the pros and cons are pretty much even and I remain neutral. Maybe after this project I will have my answer.