I was watching Hellboy recently when I realized something. In the below scene (which takes place in the fictitious Palmer St subway stop), Hellboy is almost hit by a train going full speed through a stop without stopping. I have NEVER seen this happen. In lots of stations, there are two tracks: the express track, which is not accessible by the platform you are on, or the local track.
I have seen trains go through without stopping. This happens if there is something wrong and the train is out of service. In this case, the train will most likely honk the horn and will go through the station slowly usually with a “Not in Service” displayed where the train # is. Another occasion is late at night and again, the train goes through honking the horn and slower.
I will continue to report and de-bunk falsehoods portrayed in movies. Please feel free to comment or ask if something you’ve seen on TV or in a movie is true.
One of the selling points of New York for me was that I would be able to attend movie screenings. I remember being in high school reading my Entertainment Weekly and there would be an ad for preview screenings. (Always in the big cities of course.) I remember thinking that it would be SO COOL to be able to go to those. I also remember thinking that if they would only show them in St Louis or Kansas City, I would drive the 4 or 5 hours just to go.
What is especially great is when you get to see a movie that is actually really good. Tonight I got to see Saint John of Las Vegas directed by first time writer/director Hue Rhodes.
It’s winter, it’s cold. Before moving here, dressing for the cold weather consisted of a coat, scarf and gloves. I went from my apartment to the car, from the car to my destination. Sure I had to warm up the car, but basically, I was only outside for a MAXIMUM of 5 minutes. My longest walk was if I had to park far from the door at Walmart. Oh have things changed.
Today I left the house wearing 4 layers. Long sleeve t-shirt, sweater, sweatshirt hoodie and wool coat. Going to the subway would have meant walking a block, but today I was going to a neighborhood movie theater, so I walked 2 avenues and 8 streets. (Avenues are typically longer blocks that streets, that’s why the distinction is made.) That’s 20 minutes of walking in the cold and wind.
I gotta say, I highly recommend the hoodie over the hat. It’s not attractive, but it’s a hell of a lot warmer and more convenient.
Even though I really need to bundle up, I’d much rather this than having to wake up early, warm up the car and scrap the windows. Or, as you may have had to do, try to de-frost the car to even get IN to it.
It has taken me over a year, but I’ve FINALLY found a grocery store I like. It’s either a 15 minute walk or 5 minute bus right if I time it right.
Now that I really think about it, grocery shopping here is not all that different from before. Besides walking rather than driving, I’m pretty much doing the same thing now. It’s funny, I would never buy more groceries than I could carry in one trip from the car to my apartment because I lived on the second floor. I didn’t want to go up the massive stairs more than once. Seems incredibly lazy now compared to what I do on a daily basis.
I really do miss self-checkout though. I’ve used it a few times at Pathmark (when I’ve dared to go), but it does not carry the same ease of use.
As for general household shopping, I used to shop at Target. Unfortunately, the Target here is both super busy and super unkept. I either go to Duane Reade (drugstore), Rite Aid or I’ve started shopping at drugstore.com. $49 or more you get free shipping. I just wait until I have that much and have it shipped to my work. Packages to my apartment can be tricky. There is a nice lady in the building who will take packages for people, but I hate doing that to her.
Sunday, November 2nd, the NYC Marathon took place. The runners ran up 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. I live on 3rd Avenue.
I was checking facebook when I realized that the race had begun. I turned on the TV to see the male front runner at the cross streets of 61st Street & 4th Avenue. I then dressed quickly and went to the end of the block to take pictures.
I know this is all about how New York City is NOT scary, but I’m sharing this anyway.
I can’t remember how I first reacted to the rats. I think I thought it was cool actually. Anyway, I was waiting for the train tonight and had one scamper near me and took a little video of it.
