April 3, 2008
Take A Walk Around Times Square
Take a walk around Times Square
With a pistol in my suitcase
And my eyes on the TV.
So, before I left on this grand adventure, I was e-mailing with Liz from Mom-101 and told her how my worry wart of a mother was freaking out about me coming to New York City.
My mom was so convinced that NYC is very dangerous and that I would get mugged. Or raped. Or murdered. OR KIDNAPPED. I remember how afraid I was to go anywhere on my bike as a kid. My mother would shriek, “Don’t go alone! You might get kidnapped!” As I was leaving for the airport she yelled, “Don’t use the subway! You might get kidnapped!”
Liz was very reassuring, saying that it was like daylight at night down there in the subway tunnels and that if she hadn’t been kidnapped in a lifetime of living in NYC, then I was probably fine.
Well, I did it, folks. Last night I used the subway from W. 72nd Street and I managed to get to Times Square in one piece. I’m so proud of myself. I didn’t even freak out. Okay. Maybe a little.
I walked less than a block from my hotel to the 72nd St. pavilion and bought a single ride ticket. I got on a train car that had plenty of other women on it, so I knew it must be somewhat safe. It was crammed in this little car, I had to stand by the doors and held onto the railing as tight as possible, and I didn’t make eye contact with anyone. But then I thought that might looks suspicious, they might know I was from out of town, so I started making eye contact with everyone — which probably only made me look creepy. Or maybe it was the smiling.
I have to tell you, I’m a smiler. I smile at everyone. I don’t know if it’s my Midwestern, friendly neighbor upbringing or the fact that I just like to be polite, but I smile at strangers all the time. I can’t help it. Sometimes I don’t even know I’m doing it! And New Yorkers? They don’t smile back. They just look at you as if to say, “What the fuck are you so damn happy about?”
So as I’m standing on the subway, smiling and making eye contact, the other passengers are probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me. So then I got a scowl on my face. That ought to make me a pseudo-New Yorker right?
Anyway, I got off at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, right in the heart of Times Square. The lights. The sights. So much action. So. many. people. It was amazing. Surprisingly, I felt totally safe. (I didn’t even need to carry a pistol.) This may be because of the many police officers on every corner, too.
I got to the Paramount hotel and met up with Liz, Laura, Maria and Mir, and met some really awesome bloggers from Roosevelt Island who highly recommend I take the tram and tour the neighborhood. I just might do that.
After a few hours of socializing I was feeling pretty tired. I took a cab back to my hotel and checked e-mails, posted at BlogHer, and finally went to bed.
Can you believe it? I took the freakin’ subway!
Times Square
I wonder, does he get paid to stand there in all that make-up? I’d hate to get that all over my clothes!
Posted by Dana @ 7:40 am • Travel Mama, Uncategorized
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April 3rd, 2008 at 9:06 am, Jess Says:
Congrats on your first successful subway trip! In a day or two you’ll feel like an old pro.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:16 pm, Theresa Chenn Says:
Hey Dana! It was great meeting you! (this is theresa, the Roosevelt Islander:)I am glad that you made it around here in NYC without even an attempted kidnapping. How brave of you to even go-it-alone on these fine subways of ours. You are a trooper. Great blog!
April 6th, 2008 at 5:34 pm, Lisa Says:
Hi Dana -
I live in Oklahoma, orginally from California but I have been here for 12 years. My husband and I are visiting New York in June, 2008 for the first time. I have to say I am a little scared. A few people here told me to take the subway. They said it was no big deal and that people were nice and would help you. We will be staying in Times Square and want to do all the touristy things. Visit the Empire State Buidling, see the Statue of Liberty, etc. I am nervous because I have heard so many bad things about NY.
We have a 9 year old son and an 11 year old daugther. They are staying here with grandma. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you so much in advance.
Lisa in Ada, OK.