Archive for December, 2008
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
The Conductor, the Cop, and the Kid Riding Alone
A 10-year-old riding the Long Island Railroad all by himself Christmas Day met up with a concerned conductor and, eventually, a policeman.
The kid happened to be Izzy Skenazy, whose mother enjoys writing newspaper columns (and even books) about how her son rides trains by himself.
You’ll recall that his mother, Lenore Skenazy, wrote a column last […]
1 Comment » - Posted in LIRR by TJ
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
Reluctant Return to Riding
Gingerly, I climbed back on the bike this morning after a six-day break from the day-to-day grind. A fierce wind blew our recycleable garbage around the lawn. The stiff gears of the bike made an awkward clicking noise as I headed out the driveway. Or maybe it was my knees.
That gale got up in my […]
No Comments » - Posted in Extreme Trains, Fare Hike by TJ
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
The Inevitable ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ Parody
Twas the night before Christmas, When all through the train
Metro-North riders were shaking off sleet, snow and rain
Their coats were slung on the racks high above
Their laptops placed right up there with love
The riders pecked at their phones and Blackberries
Shooting inane texts to every Tom, Dick and Harrys.
“Tickets please!” yelled the conductor as he […]
No Comments » - Posted in Metro North by TJ
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
High Marks For Iron Horse
Ten years since turning the old Pleasantville station house into the Iron Horse Grill, the eatery still excels, says the New York Times.
A decade before, writes M. H. Reed in “A Place That Still Has the Whistles and Bells,” Philip McGrath leased the charming old station house in Pleasantville, scrubbed down the thick river stone […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Iron Horse Grill, Priusville by TJ
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Larchmont Troubadour Puts Metro-North on Album Cover
Westchester singer-songwriter Michael Nappi features a Metro-North train on the cover of his new CD, “Here We Go Again.”
Nappi is described by the Journal News as a cross between James Taylor and John Mayer, who actually rank #s 1,334 and 4,398, respectively, in terms of my favorite artists.
Nappi’s big radio song is called 7:26. The […]
No Comments » - Posted in Larchmont, Metro North, Michael Nappi by TJ
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Word of the Week Holiday Edition: MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS: \MAHRRCH uvv the PENG\ gwinz noun: The late-night stagger of drunken commuters, clad in tuxedoes and cocktail dresses, through Grand Central after holiday parties in December.
Usage: Once December rolls around, I like to grab a seat at Michael Jordan’s, order a beer, and watch the March of the Penguins as the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Word of the Week by TJ
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
The Weather Outside is Frightful
Yes, it was cold this morning.
Very freakin’ cold.
Thanks to the black ice, the gray ice, and the old-school silver ice, I left the bike in the garage this morning and set out on foot.
I try to allow myself 15 minutes on a typical walking day, and hoped to give myself a few minutes extra today […]
No Comments » - Posted in Hummerville, Little Miss C by TJ
Friday, December 19th, 2008
The Limping Conductor and the LIRR Disability Scam
I was on the 6:33 heading toward Hummerville last night. Our ticket-taker had the typical Metro-North conductor’s Irish-by-way-of-Brooklyn mug. He also had a pronounced limp–the sort of lurching gait associated with some sort of fairly serious ailment. I don’t know exactly what the ailment is–polio, perhaps?–but you see someone walking in this manner–one knee pointing […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Edward Koerber, Helena Williams, Hummerville, LIRR Scandal by TJ
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
The Man Behind ‘Mileposts’
Admit it. You see Mileposts, the Metro-North news rag you find on your seat each month, and you leaf through it. You check to see how your train line stacked up the previous month against the other two. You pump your fist gently if yours has won, and shake your head at the thought of […]
No Comments » - Posted in Mileposts by TJ
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
Obama Rides the Rails
While VP-elect Joe Biden famously schleps into the Beltway via Amtrak each day, his boss Barack will get a taste for the train to Washington next month. Continuing a long tradition of new presidents, the New York Times reports that President-Elect Obama will hope a special charter train in Philly, pick up Biden in Wilmington, […]