Another interesting day in Newark: PENN STATION

Let's face it.  Newark's Penn Station has its challenges when it comes to being the place of comfort while waiting for NJ Transit trains, buses and light rail.  Homeless individuals line the platform and occupy seats as they lie down across the length of benches.  Patrons hesitate before sitting on the same benches as they ponder whether or not they have been cleaned enough to be sanitary.

Restrooms are a haven for disgusting accidents involving defecation in the middle of the floor, perhaps because of the lack of available stalls or holding bowls for long periods outside.  Homeless men take entire baths in the sinks as passersby attempt to hold their breath and avoid any part of their being touching the urinals.  They simultaneously avoid seeing the nakedness of dirty, scruffy men washing themselves, while braving the uncivilized screams of crazed stall squatters.

A man who does not seem to be the least bit innocent under most circumstances, condemns what he believes to be gay acts happening behind stall doors.  "If there is no toilet paper in the stall and they are in there, they are being gay! Yes they are being gay!"  He asserts his argument with confidence while proclaiming its validity for all in the restroom to hear, including those who might be thinking of participating in such an act.  This might very well be any of the many that form the large amount of patron activity characteristic of evening commutes and initiated through the silent communication of the interested.

What can you say? It's Penn Station.

Photo: Courtesy of City-Data.com

Photo: Courtesy of Photos.nj.com

An Outing at the Other End of the Apple

Hi I partied in Astoria last week at a venue called Cavos. It was quite pleasant.

Economical mixture

It is Thursday December 18, 2008. The weather is cool but the sun is out. I am making my way to Pennsylvania station in Newark, NJ where I will board for work in Manhattan. I pass the Richardson building a project derived from what appeared to have been a school. This project continues it seems, while some businesses, like the newly opened Bojangles has closed its doors. I think to myself, "Maybe this is the economy." or "Is it bad accounting?" Whatever it is , there is definitely a mixture of closings and openings here.

My View

It is Wednesday December 17, 2008. I watch the View, a morning talk show which is all-woman anchored with "different" view points, in the commuter student's lounge on a campus in Newark, NJ. It seemed like yesterday Rosie O'donell was a part of the show. Why did she not work out? Are her values of liberalism too strong or is the View biased "crap" disguising itself as a show incorporating many "voices" and ideals. At first I thought maybe its typical of lesbians to be kind of strong-headed but I do not think that was the reason for O'donnell's on-air argument and her resignation.

My friendly disagreement

It is Tusesday December 16,2008. My friend Beatrice will not talk to me because I called the bouncer and the owner of a local portuguese bar/club "money hungry bigots." She does not know them personally, only shares the owner's nationality. I feel that the owner discriminated based on gender and the amount of money patrons spent in advance. Oh, is that how business works?

Down with Channel 9

It is Monday December 15, 2008. I walk along the downtown area again, and a female reporter with microphone and cameraman, is being screamed at by a man standing on the corner with friends. He loudly curses her, above the roar of music of the vendors set up on the opposite corner of Broad street and Market street.

His City

It is Sunday, the 14th of December, and I have decided to meet with another resident of Newark to get his feelings about our town. Daniel Mendez is a young professional engineer who works in New York and moved to Newark about three years ago. Mendez feels that Newark is closer to where he works in Manhattan than where he used to live in Parsipanny. He feels that from a transportation stand point Newark is just as convenient as other New Jersey towns bordering the Hudson River, but more affordable. Mendez also likes the fact that he is closer to his girlfriend, a "hot British nurse named Beverly" who bartends on the side, and who lives in Elizabeth.

Daniel feels that the night life and its cultural segments, compared to other New Jersey cities are very specific. There is either Latin or Portuguese venues or the regular American , young hip-hop club who caters to big club spenders and VIPs no matter what they wear or carry. (Adego Grill) Of course, he also feels that the night life does not offer what New York offers. However, he says what Newark lacks in resources it makes up in simplicity. What it offers is straight forward and there are not to many factors involved.

Mendez says that he visits the Newark museum, the public libraries, New Jersey Performing Arts Center where he saw The Producers, and the new Prudential Center where he routes for the Devil's hockey team and attends concerts.