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8 Million Stories

Tue., July 27, 2004

Despite the rain, I made a half-assed attempt to get some groceries, and it only got worse the further I walked. By W. 88th, it was pissing down that especially nasty variety of summer rain, perfectly cold and vertical. Currents of water were rushing down the street gutters and collecting in pools at crosswalk intersections where you can’t help but step and get your shoes and socks completely sodden. I had reached the point where my undersized umbrella was useless and I couldn’t get any wetter, so I cut down 88th as a scenic route back home and came across that uniquely New York phenomenon that I’m still adjusting to — film crews.

There, between Riverside and West End Ave., was the ubiquitous orange Panavision tractor trailer, vans from the NYPD and ConEd, and, on the sidewalk, a hastily erected tent, the kind they have at outdoor weddings, under which huddled a bunch of glum guys in rain ponchos. Further over, between West End and Broadway, were the catering truck and several production equipment trucks from Haddad’s, “the ‘can-do people’.” It’s amazing how many setups like this you see here daily. It makes me think of all the work, expense and tribulations (like bad weather) that these productions must constantly face, even if they only result in a few fleeting exterior shots or just flat-out shitty product like Maid In Manhattan or You’ve Got Mail. But there’s no doubt it’s a big industry that keeps New Yorkers employed and out of trouble. There’s, for instance, a very tight degree of separation here involving shows like Law & Order — either you’ve been an extra, you know someone who has, or someone you know knows someone who has.

Coincidentally, this morning was my first experience with another quintessential New York experience — an unscheduled subway line closing. My smugness at having left nice and early was quickly smacked down by the crowd at the W. 87th entrance to the 1-9, squinting to hear the MTA employee in the Plexiglas ticket booth explain for probably the hundredth time that the line was not running between there and Times Square because of a police investigation at W. 79th.

Trudging back aboveground revealed clots of disgruntled suits on cell phones explaining why they’d be late, frantic cab-hailers, and extra-large crowds at the bus stops. Keeping my cool, I walked several blocks east to the C train at Central Park West. It was probably more crowded than usual, but it stopped at Penn Station, which was all I cared about. I ended up only 15 minutes late but made the mistake of explaining my delay, which only opened up the “every New Yorker has had it worse than you” truism. So I got to hear grimly entertaining anecdotes about walking through dark underground tunnels when trains had unexpectedly broken down and the usual slew of transportation-related woes from 9/11 and the Blackout of ‘03.

But that’s really the best bit and most essential part about being a New Yorker: your arsenal of tales. Mine needs work, but I’ll give it some time.

Tags: Streets of New York | Comments have been closed.

On August 1, 2004 at 1:01 p.m., Dad wrote:

Based upon your job photo ID, I suspect you could be cast as an extra in Law & Order for the police line-up of neo-Nazis.

On August 4, 2004 at 6:17 p.m., jess wrote:

do you really read these comments? oh, i also deeply dig pj harvey. 'is this desire' is my fave album. i like it's synth appeal.

On August 4, 2004 at 9:36 p.m., Jason wrote:

Similar to Santa, I read all the comments and bestow goodies. My blogging software lets me easily view all new comments, including the "comment spam" that sometimes crops up on older entries (Yes, there's such thing as "comment spam.").

Your "Is This Desire?" comment is crazy-coincidental. I've had that album for years and never got into it. I bought "Uh Huh Her" the week it came out and immediately started listening to ... "Is This Desire?" It is my current favorite PJ album, with "To Bring You My Love" a close second.

I've probably only listened to "Uh Huh Her" through twice and had a lukewarm reception; I figure I need to give it a few years.

My favorite "Desire?" tracks are "Electric Light," "Angelene" and especially "Is This Desire?"

I too am an all-round PJ fan. I have all of her albums and, because I am an insufferable bastard, like to remind people that I even own "Dance Hall At Louse Point."