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Posts Tagged ‘street performers’

• Spring Celebrity Sightings (Sorta)

Posted in Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall, tagged , , , , , , , on April 8, 2013 | 7 Comments »

It finally feels like spring! The temperature hovering around 70°, flowers in bloom, and leaves popping out on trees. Everyone in NYC wants to be outside today. Even high-profile celebrities.

bigbirdandelmo

Ok fine, celebrity impersonators. On a walk in Central Park and these fellas just kept popping up in where ever I went! They made me smile. Almost as much as seeing the Easter Bunny skating at Rockefeller Center.

elmo&bigbird

It’s a New York cliché: step outside and you’ll see something new. Nothing is ever ordinary in this city. Extraordinary is our routine. Days like today make me want to proudly wear an I ♥ NY shirt. But, cringing at the thought of being thought a tourist, I’m too vain to do it!
And that’s enough computer time- I’m off to enjoy this lovely day! Hope you do the same!

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• Ballerinas Take to the New York City Streets

Posted in Picture Post, tagged , , , , , on January 17, 2012 | 14 Comments »

I have mentioned many times before the simple pleasure of a stroll in New York City.

There’s the people watching, the fresh air, the chance of meeting a handsome stranger. There’s also the chance you’ll see something quite out of the ordinary. Something you’d never see anywhere else.

I was walking through Columbus Circle the other day when I happened upon this unbelievable sight:

A couple doing very intricate ballet on the street.

They sashayed all over the circle, sometimes on pointe, doing twirls, even lifts:

Even the most jaded New Yorker had to turn his head (it didn’t hurt that the ballerina was gorgeous).

I was convinced it was some kind of street performance. It’s the recession! Ballet dancers are forced to take to the street!. However, when they finished, they just ran off. Swiftly departed without even a bow and certainly no putting out a hat. That, and a snippet of conversation I overheard from them, makes me believe they were simple rehearsing for a performance. Instead of renting a huge rehearsal space, they chose to take it to the streets. And why not? They would never have made any one’s day in the confines of a rehearsal space, but out under the sunshine they did just that.

Random Street Ballet Couple, thank you for making my day. I doubt I was alone in that. New York City streets, thank you for always being fabulous.

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• Return from Bumblefuck

Posted in I <3 NY, tagged , , , on September 29, 2010 | 2 Comments »

When you live in New York City, you might forget a world exists outside the five burrows. I can go for months without leaving the city and not even think about it. While I did miss it over the summer, it was really nice to get away. See what life is like outside this crazy bubble.

I never thought I would have to transition back to living in NYC, but I did. For the first couple days all city sounds were magnified, I didn’t jay-walk, and I kept accidentally smiling at people on the street.

A week in, I was back in the throws of New York, almost like I’d never left it.

And then I found myself walking through Central Park when I heard strains of very familiar music. I was having trouble placing it, and then I saw the musician:

photo credit: Dan D

Perhaps you can’t tell from the photo, but this is a street musician, in Central Park, dressed up in Renaissance balladeer attire. And he was singing Renaissance songs. I just can’t leave Bumblefuck behind! It keeps following me! And I must say, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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• Man on the Street

Posted in Relationships & Dating, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 4, 2010 | 4 Comments »

This is the story of the time I picked up a guy on a New York City street. It doesn’t just happen on TV.

On December 31st 2009 I lost my Unlimited Monthly Metro Card. I’m sure I was not alone in my plight, I’d even hazard a guess that more people lose their Metro Cards on New Year’s Eve than any other night of the year. For most people, you suck it up and buy a new one, start the year fresh. For me this carelessness changed my life.

The card was due to expire on January 5th, so the loss was rather small considering the monthly scale. But considering 6 days and $2.25 a pop fare, I decided to see how far I could get avoiding the subway. Pretty far, I’ve discovered. I haven’t bought an Unlimited Metro Card since.

And so I’ve been walking to and from work everyday. Well, every day it doesn’t snow. I love starting the day this way- fresh air, sunshine (if I’m lucky), and people watching. It’s wonderful to be in control of my commute, picking up the pace when I’m late rather than pacing in frustration when a subway is delayed. I enjoy seeing familiar faces on the streets, people who do the same walk as me every day. Shop keepers rolling up security doors, setting out produce in the morning. High schoolers traveling in packs, often comical in their naiveté and the fact that I know I was much the same and just as annoying during that phase. Dog walkers and the hideous, absurd winter get-ups they inflict upon their animals. The dad walking his two little girls  (ages 6 and 9 maybe) to school everyday, his back laden with Hannah Montana backpacks, his hands grasping little pink mitten-ed hands  makes me think of my daddy and our elementary school walks.

The walk home occurs less frequently and is generally less “savored”. Getting home is a goal that drives me more than getting to work and thus I’m less prone to distraction. Plus it’s often dark- harder to see things. It takes something bigger than dog sweaters and a colorful fruit display to get my attention.

The other day I was walking home from a rehearsal. It was about 9PM and I was lost in my own thoughts when I blinked and noticed the man walking two paces in front of me. Can you measure a person’s attractiveness from their back? I can’t. Sometimes I think I can and wind disappointed. That’s not what brought my eyes to staring at this guy. It was the banjo he had strapped on his back.

Now I live right by Lincoln Center and work in the Theatre District; Julliard students lugging around upright bases and pit orchestra players with trombone cases strapped to their backs are a common sight. But a banjo? Who plays the banjo and then walks up 9th Ave with the naked instrument slung over his shoulder like a messenger bag? I was driven to find out, more so than I was driven to get home.

My (annoying but I’m making progress to change it) proclivity of waiting for people for people to come to me gets trumped when I have something  very specific to come to with said person. With Banjo Guy I have just that. I need answers to all questions this banjo brings to mind.

I sidled up next to him,“So I have to ask, do you carry the banjo around just to look cool or do you actually play it?” (I’ll leave it to you to decide whether that’s a better line than my Trader Joe’s check out line line.)
He looks at the person assaulting him on the street (me), our eyes meet (me to myself: now lookie there he is cute! that’s lucky. Possibly a hipster, definitely from Brooklyn, the banjo indicates clear musical tendencies…), and he smiles at me (dimples!! ahhh!).
“You think it makes me look cool?”
I am so in. That’s not a Uh, why are you talking to me? Not a Fuck off, rando. Not even a Oh you think you’re clever? Nice try. It’s a genuine Ok, I accept your random offer of conversation, it’s welcome rather than weird. Sweet.

hipsterrelativity1

I would later learn he had a fixie bike in addition to the banjo. Along with many ironic t-shirts and leather jackets. And hipster glasses that he occasionally wore. On top of it all, he denied being a hipster, thus making him the perfect cliche. [image credit: dustinland.com]

Our conversation begins in the west 40s- I’m walking to the 60s (home), he’s looking for a bar to get a drink. Where in Hell’s Kitchen, he could have found a bar at pretty much any point during our 20 block walk. But he doesn’t, he walks with me all the way up the street. My burning questions answered: He dabbles in being a street musician (omg! me too! Christmas caroling for ever!) when he’s not tailoring men’s suits (omg you’re not an actor? I extra ♥ you!). Yep, he lives in Brooklyn (told ya!!!) Seems nice, a little bit off sense of humor, but I might like it.

I’m the one who ends the walk – needing to make the necessary veer left to get home.  Before I make said veer, Banjo Guy asks for my phone number. Striking up a conversation on the street? Total success. Not only that, he actually used the number to call me and make a date. Which actually happened last night. No blog worthy story from it (I’m spoiled. My first two first dates in NY were good stories. I now think all first dates should all be that way and this is far from reality) but it was a good date.

Yes, I had fun. Maybe I like him. No, didn’t bring his banjo along.

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• Christmas Time in the City

Posted in Holidays & Celebrations, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 1, 2009 | 3 Comments »

After enduring a month of unsettlingly pre-mature cheer, it’s finally allowed to be Christmas.

October 18: I walked into Duane Reade and gasped at the Christmas isle all set up and ready to go. Why do companies think this it the way to go?

xmastreecranesNovember 3rd: I was cold and went into Starbucks for a hot cocoa. (It’s impossible to avoid Starbucks in NYC, they are literally on ever corner- fortunate because they are essentially the New Yorker’s Public Restroom, internet hot spot, and place to take cover from inclement weather. Often I go into a Starbucks, do any of those aforementioned, and purchase nothing. They’re the man. But when I have a chocolate hankering that needs quenching, I purchase the Kid’s Hot Cocoa. Usually they don’t question my kid-less-ness, it is the perfect size, and the cheapest thing on the menu.) They were playing Christmas music. My poor barista, searching for some shred of logic, actually said this to me: “Tell me, does Christmas music this early make you want to buy things?” No. It makes me want to die. Or at least boycott places that play it. Want me to write to someone?

November 7th: A gigantic Christmas tree assaults me in the plaza outside work. It already looks a bit bedraggled as they set it up, woe to what it will look like when it’s actually near Christmas.

The morning after Halloween most every retail window I passed had magically changed over night to obtrusive HOLIDAY!! GIFTS!! I walked into Banana Republic and immediately turned around and walked out when high volume Christmas music bombarded my ears. This was on a 63 degree day. I can’t handle “Let it snow!” in warm sunny weather. Not on the east coast. I turned around, got an ice cream cone and ate it while strolling through the color changing leaves of Central Park.

Why aren’t consumers allowed to have Fall any more? Thanksgiving is completely forgotten, and I’m still mourning the loss of summer when Christmas assaults us. Yes, I feel assaulted. It’s horrible. I can’t appreciate the pretty lights, snow flakes, decorations- nothing. If they pop up before Thanksgiving all I can think is STOP MOVING SO FAST! I’M NOT READY FOR THIS YET!

Has it always been like this? I remember that post-Halloween was always Christmas-y because that was when we started learning the music in chorus, but I have no recollection of the rest of the world reflecting the season as well. Have they pushed “The Holiday Season” as early as possible this year in a hope to increase spending? Also, is this a New York phenomenon or were you graced with Santa hats and wrapping paper before you even put on your Halloween costume?

xmaslitup

Fortunately, I am only a Scrooge before actual Christmas time (and given that, “Scrooge” isn’t even really an appropriate term- ah well). The morning after Thanksgiving I embraced the cheer. I was finally able to see the charm in the bedraggled Christmas tree outside my work, even. Yes, I spent “Black Friday” (don’t get me started on that consumer ridiculousness) working. Really I spent all Thanksgiving weekend working. Which was less than fun. But when I wasn’t working, I was Christmas caroling! See, I wasn’t kidding when I said I embraced the cheer. Embraced it and spread it. I went out with my roommates for maybe 4 hours and we ended up with over $250 in our hat. I suppose that makes me a professional cheer-spreader? Christmas caroling is so fun, it’s nice to have fun AND make money for a change!

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• Working the Streets

Posted in Survival Jobs, tagged , , , , , , on August 16, 2008 | 5 Comments »

I got a day job.Here is my office:

Here are others who occupy the building:

The most famous. He's sold out though (not that I blame him)- he now has Viacom (literally) all over his ass.

The most famous. He’s sold out (not that I blame him) and now (literally) has Viacom all over his ass.

The [deflated/aged] Naked Cowgirl. Not only knocking off the Naked Cowboy but also knocking off a previous Naked Cowgirl. Girl should not be running around in skivies but hell, power to her.

The [deflated/aged] Naked Cowgirl. Not only knocking off the Naked Cowboy but also knocking off a previous Naked Cowgirl. Girl should not be running around in skivies but hell, power to her.

Lady Liberty. She (he? who knows?) is scary cause you can't see her (his? see my point?) face!

Lady Liberty. She (he? who knows?) is scary cause you can’t see her (his? see my point?) face!

Spiderman. Yep, he's dressed up like Spiderman and runs around posing for picture. Again, not a big fan cause you can't see his (but you can tell that) face.

Spiderman. Yep, he runs around posing for pictures. Again, scary cause you can’t see his (though you can tell that) face.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I am working the streets. Oh God, we always joked the only thing a theatre BA would qualify you to do was suck cock and that “Become a whore.” was a fun answer to “So what are you going to do after graduation?” but we never actually thought you’d do it! What has the Big Apple done to you!?Unbunch your panties. I have not plummeted from the Prudy Judy side of the spectrum to the lowest ring of the Slutty Butty side (although events from the previous weekend make for speculation ummm… that’s another story!) No, I am not a nooner hooker. No, I am not running around dressed up as Giselle posing for pictures with tourists. Although that is not a bad idea….I’d be awesome at pretending to be a princess and totally fulfill childhood fantasies to boot.Can't you see me?

So what the hell am I doing? I am working for “the man” (and that’s the biggest hint I can give) of the theatre world. Doing publicity for Broadway shows. That’s what I tell people, especially if I’m trying to sound like I have a fancy grown up job. “Publicity for Broadway”- sounds like a career,  right? Ha. This “publicity” = me standing on a street corner, wearing a blue visor and t-shirt, looking like a camp counselor (Just an observation: fewer people wear visors than ponchos these days, they aren’t even favored by tourists) passing out fans. The fan is the brilliant summer alternative to the pamphlet. It’s a piece of paper attached to a popsicle stick- that makes it a fan and thus a souvenir. A free souvenir. That makes people want them. And they don’t just get shoved in a pocket like a pamphlet. People wave them around, literally all over town. I’ve seen them up in Central Park, in Chinatown, it’s crazy. Crazy, brilliant advertising. So I stand there, hand these out to people “Is it free? Really?? AWESOME!”, answer stupid tourist questions, smile a lot, people watch like it’s my job, and get paid $18/hr. Compared to what I’d be making as a prostitute, that’s nothing. But it’s pretty sweet for the amount (really lack there of) of effort I put out.

My actually like my coworkers. I was a little apprehensive at first because they are very musical theater- jazz hands, fan kicks, and all. It was a bit much for me on first reaction. But now it’s simmered down. We all share a tiny room stuffed with boxes of fans- close as hell quarters- and I don’t as of yet have urges to kill any of them. I don’t even flinch when they call me sweetie/baby/darling 20 times a day. I somehow find it endearing. Though I’m not spouting pet names out to all my casual acquaintances, I can see it happening in the future and I have to ask myself- is that risk worth the $18/hr? Only cause we’re in a recession.My coworkers know more about the theatre world than I do, which is a cool and rather unusual experience for me. For the most part they’re older than me, too. Which I greatly prefer. I don’t feel like I’m wasting my life yet, it’s just not prime. It’s also awesome because most of them are working actors. One just finished filming a network-ABC-tv show. One just quit to go on tour with Cats. Several have been in Off Broadway shows. My supervisor was up for the part of Simba in The Lion King until he befell an awful throat disease (he’s bitter and amusing). It’s great to be around working actors. And here we all are working for the theatre man in menial labor tasks. I’ve got a bright future: I always wanted to see the lights of Broadway. Now that’s my job. Perhaps this gig is the closest I’ll get. Time’ll tell.

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