Without Them I Can’t Smile

It was 99 degrees. I was sweating buckets just walking to the subway. A nice guy helped me carry my busking gear all the way up the four flights of stairs to the train platform. He told me that he is a musician, too – he plays guitar, and he knows how hard it is,…

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Sneezing, Coughing, Runny Nose

I had severe spring allergy this morning as I was heading into the subway to play. Sneezing, coughing, running nose – the works. I saw Frank playing guitar/singing/whistling on the 59th street platform. Glen Roth, who comes all the way from CT to play in the subway, was playing guitar at the Music Under New…

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Torn Bow Hair and Cut Fingers

Today was the first day this year I didn’t need to wear a sweater when playing in the subway. Can summer be finally here? Calebe Arruda was playing the violin at the Music Under New York spot at the 14th street subway station. He has been playing there for four hours today. Calebe is a…

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Busker Spirit

Carrying my busking equipment up and down stairs is a workout… I was lucky – a gentleman helped me up the first set of stairs and a lady helped me up the second set of stairs going into the subway (which is actually an elevated train here) this morning. At 11:40AM there was nobody at…

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It’s a Bird

It was raining as I made my way to playing in the subway today. At the Music Under New York spot at the Union Square subway station Louis and a friend were playing Andean music. They were there since 8am. It was almost noon, and they said, as they gave the spot over to me,…

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The “Bulldog”

After about 3 months of absence from what used to be my favorite spot to play in the NYC subway, I decided to give the Times Square subway station another try. I didn’t have my hopes high as I expected the new music store that opened right next to the Music Under New York spot…

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Subway Conductors’ Window Habits

As I was setting up to play at the Music Under New York site at the 59th street & Lexington subway station a lady wearing an MTA coat walked by, leading a bicycle. She called out to me “Natalia, you’re all right”. That means she bothered to read the MUNY permit banner which I hang…

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