Going It Alone

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

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