The Faux Shaux

My original idea was to record a time-elapse on the bus.  I thought it make for a nice scene – the ebb and flow of urban life, viewed from the back seat of a New York City bus.  Intervalometers cost about $200, but there is a cheap solution.  Using a graphing calculator with a digital camera through the camera’s remote shutter jack (there’s an instructable), one can achieve comparable results.  Unfortunately, I could not locate my TI-83, and the ’85 I borrowed used different syntax (missing the “send” function).

Ironically, the bus was rather empty.  Probably because it was New Year’s Eve day.  People scurried around, took care of last minute details before an endless night of city-wide debauchery were to commence.  The subway was not calm like the buses.  The locals seemed contemplative and tired – presumably due to an unspoken consensus of a most stressful holiday season.  Not the tourists though; they smiled wide and laughed together in their foreign tongue or hometown accent, deciphering pocket guides against station placards.

I usually sit in the middle of the bus, by the rear doors, so as to leave the front seats for the elderly but still maintain a good view and ease of exit.  I felt it most appropriate to sit in the back, to maintain view of both the bus occupants and the neighborhood.  Maybe I was in a contemplative mood.  Talking to the bus goers would have been better time invested.  They were few, quiet as well.  I’m pretty sure that public transport was a more socially engaged environment pre-Walkman era.  Or maybe most of them wear their headphones at half volume also – melding overheard conversation with their chosen soundtrack to the anthropomorphic island.  As the bus rumbled up Sixth Avenue, I took a swig of lukewarm latte, gazing upon the hustle and bustle of erratic shopping.

The bus route soon became a literal “memory lane.”  The inactivity inside the bus drew my thoughts to the familiar streets of New York and my memories preserved within them.  Instead of discourse on racial or class differences, I found that a New York City Tour of my most personal memories along the M5 Bus Route might make for a new discussion.

Houston & Broadway

Angelika Theatre – My parents used to bring me for art house, but my childhood bragging rights was seeing Ren & Stimpy’s “Fire Dogs” long before it was part of a televised series.

Houston & Laguardia

Silver Spurs – Where I picked up the brunch I shared with Eddie Kramer during a three day recording workshop.  He’s responsible for most of the Hendrix and Zeppelin albums, but he has a way with the piano, wow.  I have that picture on my old cell phone.

6th Ave & Bleeker

Red Square – This thimble of a park was location for my close friend Tara’s student film.  It involved me and a robot with wanderlust.

6th Ave & 3rd

(No Longer) PSNY – Now replaced by adult novelty stores, PSNY was my favorite skate shop as a kid, and frankly my favorite place in the city for a few years.

6th Ave & 8th

Coconuts – my friend George and I decided to shoplift Christmas presents, starting at Urban Outfitters, but were soon caught due to RFID in the pocket.  They took our polaroids and made him buy three copies of the CD.

This is also the intersection that my father recalls “was so happenin’ you had to walk in the street – Wednesday nights were the night over here.”

6th Ave & 10th

Jefferson Market Library – Another fatherly anecdote was attached to this library of how it used to be a women’s detention center.

6th Ave & 12

St. Vincent’s Hospital – Before I knew about quick result tests, I took my first HIV test at this hospital.  I waited a week for the results, and I’ll never forget the commute felt like walking the green mile.  It certainly scared me safe.

6th Ave & 14

Moscot Opticians – A warm memory of picking out my girlfriend’s frames with her.  I liked the black and she liked the tortoise.  She bought them both since the exchange rate was so good.  Afterward Philip Seymour Hoffman made an appearance at the Starbucks across the street.

6th Ave & 18

Department Stores – Waiting for my freshman year roommates, some poor lady slipped and face-planted on the subway grate.  They are bear- traps in the rain.

6th Ave & 21

Avalon – This church-turned-nightclub that used to be called “Limelight,” where DJ Keoki made a name.  An acquaintance was part of that scene.  He told me of after parties in the beautiful, white building across the street, apparently they owned a whole floor.  I also heard since then that he was mauled by a dog and needed skin grafted to his face.

6th Ave & 27

Kung-Fu Supply – I had a date with a girl from Montclair.  I just got off work, had about half an hour and no change of clothing.  I bought the t-shirt at this shop and made it on time.  Sitting on a balcony, we drank red wine with the setting sun, watching the city in transition from natural light to the twinkling of apartment lights flicking on.  We kissed but never spoke again.

6th Ave & 29th

Art Directors Club – While passing by a design show, I tried to get in, but it was guest-list only.  As I walk away, I hear someone call my name.  My friend & colleague was tech directing the show.  I ran into Tristan, who I’d met through craigslist, but this is where I first saw his Machine Drawings.  There was also a giant sphere made of screens and correlating cameras on opposite sides the shape.  This design show led me to ITP.

My memories continue up through the entire trip, the stories become less interesting passed 96th street, since the variety lacks.  I also thought that ADC would be a nice place to change direction.  In lieu of listing every pertinent memory, I’ve modified the M5 Bus Map to show the route and density of memories.  I have also included data on where I’ve lived and studied, as well as some of the places I’ve freelanced.

Looking at the past through a bus window

I’ve also included a photograph of a new memory – when I reached the end of the line at the GW Bridge, it began to snow.  I tried to decide on an interesting route to walk.  Admiring the snow, I walked West, toward the arms of the bridge, and took the attached pictures to capture the solace I found in those moments.