September 15, 2011
It’s hard to believe that summer’s over and we’re halfway into September. I thought I should hit some parks at night while it’s still nice out, so tonight’s destination is Washington Square Park.
And here we are at Penn Station for the downtown train to Washington Square Park.
And after stalking this woman for about three minutes I realize I'm a complete idiot and we're at the wrong train station.
And so it's back to the escalator...
And over about five blocks to the Herald Square Street Station. Okay, we'll be there soon.
And here we are at Washington Square Park and the iconic archway in the middle of the park. Pretty dazzling, huh?
Wooden benches line the perimeter of the park.
And all of the walkways are well lit into the night.
It's nice to see someone reading an actual book as opposed to staring at an iPhone or an iPad. Good for her.
It's a nice night out and there's a lot of people in the park tonight.
There's a circular pond in the center of the park.
Here's some people watching a musician. Let's go take a closer look.
It's a one man band. He's playing a banjo on top of a drum...
With a tambourine attached to his shoe. In the jingle jangle morning I'll come follwing you. (Please note the Cardboard Boxmen Like Creatures in the Mr. Tambourine Man video. Aaaahhh!)
This couple was watching the show a few feet away.
And the band plays on.
And on the other side of the park another troubadour is strumming and singing to a small, late night crowd.
Strumming and singing in the park for donations and applause.
These two were enjoying the music and the nice evening on one of the wooden benches that line the parks interior.
Goodnight everybody, and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: Wikipedia, a view on cities and NY Times.
You Might Also Like: Canary in a Coal Mine, Workin’ in a Coal Mine and The Coal Miner’s Daughter.
Gotta hear me, you can’t please them all, should you try,
They dont care if you live or die.
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Photo From Kate At One More Folded Sunset!
Kate sent in this frightening photo from a stairwell and a discovery of a new mutant form of Cardboard Box Man, he appears to be somewhat nuclear and radioactive now. Run and hide! Aaaahhhh!
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Bonus Linkage From Michael!
MAD reader, Michael sent in this latest update on the crimes of Gumby. It appears he may have just been pranking, so maybe we'll see him soon, fresh out of the witness protection plan. Here's the link: Gumby was jost joking.
21 Comments
Reader Comments (21)
That's what I used to do in my wanderings, I'd go after girls and not know where I ended up. Glad to see that the romantic wanderlust spirit still thrives, sending you in the wrong direction. Good thing about that, you can wander back, start all over and everything is okay once more. The world is a beautiful place, ain't it? ;)
One of the better parks in the city ..... and the place that David Lee Roth got busted for buying pot !
@Mykola Mick Dementiuk: Yes, it is a beautiful place now and again!
@GENE: I agree, I love Washington Square Park. And what cracked me up about David Lee Roth is that he was just buying a nickel bag!
You fools....YOU FOOLS!!!!!! You JOKE about CARDBOARD BOX MAN as if he is a JOKE....well, NOW IT'S TOO LATE! WAAAAAAAAAGH!!
http://youtu.be/HYh9JRplfmo
@Jaws: Oh no, the invasion has begun...aaaahhhhh!
Ah, the park, she is my view when I stay in the City and am flush enough to stay in a room with an actual window. I still remember the Zabar pic-a-nic at the chess tables, the waterless fountain, the multiple sightings of Janeane-Garofalo-no-wait-that's-just-another-NYU-film-student. Man, I miss her on Air America. Hey, wouldn't it be funny if that woman with the book was reading a bio on Steve Jobs?
I love that park,,,and I do remember David Lee Roth getting busted for a nickel bag,,,what a dumb ass. Anyways the music videos today were superb. Frankie Avalon at the end of the video talking with the Byrds, like to eras meeting,,,and yes David Crosby did look a little like Lennon back then. Love that time in music. Cowsills song was a great song, originally called "the Flower Girl", though my favorite from them was "We can Fly", which also would fit in today nicely as that park,,,David Lee,,,,a little afternoon toke,,,and yes we can fly. Is that park closed at night? just wandering where all the sleeping beauties go.
I went to that park the first time I visited NYC back when I was 19. The pond was empty and we sat on the steps to watch performers. Good times!
@MAD: Good PSA for male gawkers/oglers. Border-line stalking in the subway, an unavoidable, unpleasantry of modern urban commuting. Stalking in the park, don't do it unless you like eating knuckle-sandwiches or drinking pepper-spray.
Also INRE to Kate's find: Ahhhhhhh!
Cess? Cess? Tourists, at around 90%, got oregano. Curb Your Enthusiasm” recent shows have been in Manhattan, funny scene whereby Larry buys Viagra from a dealer in WSP so that he can “juice up".
@Biff: "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if that woman with the book was reading a bio on Steve Jobs?" Ha ha ha! You still gots it Bifferoonie! Actually it was a book written by Steve Jobs' little brother, who's a hand model. It's a memoir of growing up in Steve's shadow while being a hand model. The title? "Hand Jobs."
@Al: The park officially closes at 1AM, but it's not fenced off and people still wander around in there, technically I think you can get a ticket for being in there after hours, but I don't think it's enforced that heavily. God help you if you light up a cigarette in there though! And I hear you about that era of music, my favorite too.
@Britta: There's always some kind of entertainment going on in there. Sometimes there's impromptu comedy, although sometimes it's hard to tell!
@csp: Yes, a wandering eye can get you in trouble, just ask Marty Feldman. I can't access that link here at work, it's blocked. Is it Cardboard Man Porn?
@Crazy Eddie: Even though I don't get high anymore, I bought some decent weed in the park a few years ago. I'll have to write that up sometime. I didn't know that "Curb" was filming in Manhattan this season, can't wait to watch it on DVD!
@MAD: Yep, it's a still of a Canadian manipulating a large mechanical device.
nice visit...future visits should be interestin' w/ what like 1900 parks to choose from...me still waitin' for MAD to return to otto's to check off a couple more from the "menu"...would hate to run into that thing that Kate sent in on my cellar steps...guess Gumby will be in "custody" for awhile...ditto Al on the tunes today...in away (to paraphrase Danny) "they're God's way of tellin' you you're gettin' old"...csp's link gave me the old 403...
I've searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees.
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
rr
Wow - Marty Feldman - that takes me back. He filmed a sketch for a comedy show at the end of my street when I was about ten - I don't understand why he came to (possibly) the most boring town in England to do so. I was exiled there from rural eden & hated it.
So Gumby's just a prankster? I kind of liked his criminality better ...
I just have to clarify - this CBM variant was hiding in the attic of MY OWN HOUSE & just emerged!! Eek!
@csp: I'm looking forward to going home and seeing that!
@rr: Yep, plenty of parks to choose from, maybe I'll even try Central Park after dark again, although that last time was pretty creepy, really dark in there at night. And now I'm dying to see the csp link! And that's a great quote tonight, perfect!
@onemorefoldedsunset: I always loved Marty Feldman and was thrilled I had the same first name. Regarding CBM, so I assume you've moved, right?
Hey, you could get to Washington Square Park from Penn Station! A,C, or E to West 4th Street! Come on, you should know better!
Pretty sure I have seen that park in about 100 shows and movies. In a good way though. I like it. And @csp's link is forbidden even on my home computer, must have been good!
@Katrink: I'm terrible with anything to do with directions or subway lines. Thanks for the tip!
@kari: It's forbidden on my home computer too!
Washington Square Park Never Disappoints.
HA HA HA! Hand Jobs! You're whack-a-doodle!
@Melanie: How true, love it there!
@Biff: I'm completely out of whack!