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 / / 49th St / 7th Avenue (uptown or downtown side)
This station has
yielded the most celebrity sightings of any station in NYC. I’m not
star-struck as much as I am fascinated with seeing “celluloid”
characters living and breathing, in the subway of all places! Located on the
edge of Times Sq., beneath Broadway and various corporate headquarters to the
stars, I’ve had my share of run-ins. Here’s a list of a few:
First, a toast to the slew of character actors we all know and love, but
unfortunately don’t know by name cause they’re not the leading lady/leading
man type... Let’s see, TV actor Steven Webber gave me the thumbs up
through closing doors. Film actor John Torturo gave me a dollar bill and a
Buddha like bow. Bandleader Max Weinberg from Conan O’Brien gave me $5
and a handshake, lauding me on the virtues of making the subway my stage. I
blurted on the microphone “Hey, it’s Doogie Houser” when I
spied Neil Patrick-Harris walking by. He snarled at me. The stoner dude from
the Dell commercials politely hushed me when I did the same. I serenaded Joan
Osborne off key with her hit “What if God Was One of Us”, much to
her beet red embarrassment as she was boarding the train. That was fun. Got
to chat with some of my musical heroes, sidemen unfortunately the public
doesn’t recognize. Seen my share of stand-up comics, late show
regulars, and Soap stars. My favorite encounter was catching Hal Linden from
Barney Miller fame walking arm in arm with his wife (I presume). The beauty
of the moment was that I subconsciously kicked into the famous bass line theme
to Barney Miller the instant I caught his presence. They walked passed me
with much amusement and glee, but didn’t tip… the cheap bastards.
I like this spot because of the distinct glossy red brick walls,
which give the station a modern and clean presence about it. It’s
“Times Sq.”, but not the Times Sq. zoo that exists on the 42nd
St.
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 Bedford Avenue / North 7th St. (Brooklyn)
This is the most polarized station in my experience. A hub of
genXrs, artists, scenesters -what have you- coming in from perhaps
Brooklyn’s “hippest” neighborhood, Williamsburg. Most
tattoos per capita I’ve ever seen. On one hand, fellow artist types
shell out and support, while on the other, the cynicism that pervades is
ridiculous. Great acoustics. The popularity of this stop makes it worthwhile
venturing. I select my songs carefully when I play here.
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/ Lorimer Street / Metropolitan Avenue (Brooklyn)
When Bedford Ave. is taken, more often than not, I skip over one
more stop into Brooklyn to Lorimer L (inbound). It’s demographically just like
Bedford, although not as busy, but with the added influx of the G line
transfers.
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/ Prince St /
Broadway (uptown side)
In the heart of Soho, this station is buzzing with fashionable
shoppers. A spot I like to claim during the midday because of the constant
flow of trendiness. Midday being a time I experience a lull at most stations,
making my efforts sometimes seem irrelevant. Even with the traffic though,
for reasons I don’t know why, it’s hit or miss. I simply cannot
predict how I’ll do here. Some days I hit the jackpot and sell CDs to
tourists and the like, and meet all kinds of interesting people. Other times
I toil away and come up short in the face of indifference, wondering why I
subject myself to the blitzkrieg of the N and R, and the express Q and W that
barrel through. That said, depending on my mood, I sometimes prefer off the
beaten path stations precisely for the tranquility they provide. Here though, if I can’t count on the
money, I can count on the cuties. This is a great station to gaze at people.
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 / Spring St./ Lafayette St. (uptown)
Wedged between Soho and Little Italy, this station is also
teeming with shoppers and diners. Great on weekends. The biggest drawback is
that it’s by far the noisiest station I’ve ever experienced. The
rails curve in such a way, that when the trains come, their wheels screech
against the metal making people hold their hands in pain against their ears.
If it weren’t for the clientele, I’d avoid this station.
It’s because of Spring St. that I’ve made the jump to wearing
earplugs. I’m happy that I’ve adapted wearing them throughout,
cause Ten years after the fact; I may just be going prematurely deaf. Now at
least I’m taking preventative measures and not fearing the unknown. I
have to admit; it mildly amuses me to hum away while people grimace as the
trains pull in.
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 7th Avenue / 9th Street (inbound)
I kick myself for not discovering the morning rush early on in
my “career”. I guess I feared being obtrusive during what I
thought was the most delicate time of the day; when folks are coping to get
through the morning on the way to work. To my surprise, the response has been
great. To accommodate the concentrated Park Slope population, the platform is
impressively long. I maximize my exposure by setting up on alternate ends.
The acoustics are rich, and because folks are usually quiet and subdued in
the morning, my music resonates unhampered as if I were in a concert hall. As
a result I get heard, and fortunately some folks respond with a $mile. Many
consider my musical approach to be “mellow”, a label I
don’t fully embrace, but one I’m now grateful comes in handy. The
cover of BUSKER and the majority of photos inside the liner notes were shot
at this station.
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 7th Avenue / Flatbush Avenue
15th Street-Prospect Park / Prospect Park West
 / Bergen Street / Flatbush Avenue
/ Carroll Street
/ Smith St
I’ve found most stations in the vicinity of Park Slope to
be lucrative in the morning (7th Ave. Q, 15th St. F etc.).
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47-50 Streets
– Rockefeller Center / 6th Avenue 
Broadway –
Lafayette St. / Houston St (uptown or downtown side)
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50th St /
Broadway 
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