Archive for the ‘Transit’ Category

I’ve managed to get avoid yet another Summer Friday on the Long Island Railroad. It’s the period of time starting the Friday before Memorial Day and ending after Labor Day in which Fire Islanders, Hamptonites, and Montaukians take over the normal, usually quiet, commute home. Ask an everyday commuter on the Montauk Line about Summer Fridays and I guarantee they’ll make a face or groan. Certain beachgoers have earned a well-used nickname – citiots, short for idiots from NYC.

You can tell easily tell the beachgoer from the regular commuter. Beachgoers are Teva, Havaianas, polo shirts, and sundress-clad; smell heavily of suntan lotion or preppy cologne; carry Vera Bradley duffel bags and totes; have cell phones glued to their ears; and sometimes bring along a small dog, usually without a leash or crate. Your regular commuter is dressed for work, whether business suit or hard hat; has a monthly pass hanging around his neck; carries a newspaper and cup of coffee or platform beer; and attempts to sleep the entire way home.

There are unspoken rules that the regular commuter follows. If there aren’t enough seats, allow someone to sit down next to you. If someone was on the platform before you, allow them to enter the train first. Speak softly on your cell phone. Don’t bug to the commuter next to you if he’s sleeping. Don’t eat smelly food or wear heavy perfume. For the most part, this ends in a peaceful ride home (at least when there aren’t service delays).

But not on Summer Fridays. Read the rest of this entry »

I feel like one of the people in the Halls Get Through The Season ads that have permeated NYC subway cars. Haven’t been able to get to the doctor or acupuncturist, and would prefer to go to the latter as I don’t want antibiotics. Hopefully I’ll get over what I think is a sinus infection by the time I leave for Taiwan.

Those Halls ads always make me feel uncomfortable. One of the comments on Ads of the World pinpointed it – you feel like you’re going to catch a cold just from looking at them. I’d probably be less bothered had they been painted caricatures, but they’re disturbing digitally warped photos.

I wrote to Daryl Lang today in response to his blog post about rouge subway signs (back story: I was at the DeKalb Avenue station the other day and noticed a black-on-white sign, which Daryl posted here, and Google brought my curiosity to his website), in which I explained the difference between the MTA’s Helvetica font and the once-used Akzidenz-Grotesk (if you’re interested, here’s a great site on Helvetica and the NYC subway). Although the standard signage font nowadays is now Helvetica, there are still bits and pieces of Akzidenz-Grotesk around. I’ve always prefered the latter, as it’s a slightly cheerier font – the diagonal cuts of the c and e remind me of smiley faces. Lame, I know.

But then it got me thinking about which fonts I love and which I truly abhor.  Admit it, you have those two. Read the rest of this entry »

So, Lexcie and I went to go see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway last Friday. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies, and I wanted to see the show before it officially closes in July. A co-worker did tell me there were some difference from the movie – mainly, it was more comedic and there were more songs. Overall, I gave it a seven out of ten stars.

Why not ten, considering it’s one of my favorite movies? Well, precisely that – it was a lot different from the movie. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, I was waiting for my bus at Port Authority Bus Terminal, when I noticed the girl sitting in back of me in the waiting area was reading The Ram. Not only was she reading The Ram, but she happened to be reading the Features section. Not only was she reading the Features section, but she was reading my column. So I stared (I really didn’t mean to) at her, to read any expressions on her face as she read. Conclusion: she was devoid of all emotion while reading. But then again, she was deviod of all emotion while reading the entire paper. It’s neat to see people reading The Ram outside the Fordham setting – it’s also happened on the Long Island Railroad. Little did she know I was sitting right behind her, mwhahaha. Mom asked why I didn’t introduce myself – yeah, let’s freak out a Fordham student who probably isn’t used to such randomness.

Also came across the Coliseum bookstore yesterday while walking from Grand Central Terminal to Port Authority. I’ve always seen the store advertised on the 7 and D trains (due to its subway stop being 42nd Street-Bryant Park), but I’m never in that area, because I dislike Times Square. But I forgot how great Bryant Park is, and now I plan to go down there often, because it’s a great place to just chill out and read. I purchased two great books: Latin for All Occasions, and The Cheap Bastard’s Guide to New York City… ah, they’re such great books for dorks like me. I’d highly suggest you purchase them.