‘The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs’

When I got to the ‘Music Under New York’ spot at Times Square Juan Castillo was playing the mandolin there. He is a very dedicated and gifted musician who plays classical music as well as popular tunes on the mandolin. As I waited for him to finish I noticed Lydia from ‘Arts For Transit’ (the…

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Learning About People From Their Garbage

I haven’t played at the Music Under New York spot at 59th street & Lexington for so long! When I got to the spot there were 3 guys singing ‘Great Pretender’ with a keyboard on the other platform across the tracks. I called out to them and appologized because I was about to encroach on…

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Buskers discuss European tour

On my way to my busking spot today a Hispanic guitar player/singer got on the train. He recognized who I was and struck up a conversation with me. He asked if I was working today so I told him I was on my way to 14th street. He told me he will be working (singing…

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Playing Musical Saw Up on a Tree at Halloween

The subway train was not working properly today. I had to actually take a train that was going in the opposite direction in order to catch a train to Times Square! So, I got to the Music Under New York (MUNY) spot at Times Square later than I usually do. The Agua Clara band that…

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The Flower-Lady ‘Pulled a Borat’

Juan was playing mandolin when I got to the Music Under New York (MUNY) spot at Times Square today. I was surprised to see him playing all by himself – usually he has other people playing with him. He told me he couldn’t sleep last night, and so finally at 6am he said to himself…

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You can’t stay sad for long in New York City

Today I found out that my 14 year old cousin had a nervous break-down. She is hospitalized in the children’s psychiatric ward. She was a totally normal kid – I didn’t know stuff like this could happen to a kid. She is crying and yelling non-stop, saying she wants to die. Her body is shaking,…

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120 Jobs That Won’t Chain You to Your Desk

The Princeton Review has a new book out, titled 120 Jobs That Won’t Chain You to Your Desk. I just bought the book, and it was an amazing experience for me – I went to ‘Barnes & Nobles’ bookstore, bought the book and set there to check out the ’street performer’ chapter. It felt so…

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A strange man danced in front of me

As I got to the Music Under New York(MUNY) spot at Times Square I saw the instruments and equipment of Agua Clara, the Andean music band, but not the musicians… Only Gabriel, who played percussion for them this morning, was there… All the band members were…gathered around a Marines display a few feet away! Every…

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Applause from the NYPD

A strange sighting happened today at the Union Square subway station: As I was playing, an older guy with a white beard, wearing a white shirt, big glasses and a ball cap hat sat on the bench. Then he came to take my card and joined my playing in singing (I was playing a piece…

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Where have all the freaks gone

As I got to the spot Agua Clara, the Andean group, was playing, but without their drummer. Usually they have a drum-set, but today they had a different guy on two conga drums instead. It was very nice, a melow, warm sound. I noticed a guy waiting for the spot. As I approached him to…

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