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by Venditto (writer), April 14, 2008

Best. Subway Station. Ever.

People talk about the Guggenheim Museum and Lincoln Center as examples of New York City's cultural offerings, but those of us in the know, know where to go when we want to experience true artistry.  Deep in the bowels of the Earth, buried underneath the corner of 6th Avenue and 34th Street, lies an underground lair of awesomosity humbly disguised as a subway station.  

It's true that to the casual observer this sweet subterranean space is but a mere stop for subway trains, but trust me there's a world of culture brewing down there just waiting to be soaked up- and it's all FREE!

It's a fact that the city's subway system as a whole is a hip hip scene, but the Herald Square station is bonkers!  I'd like to share with you some of the wonders I've personally experienced there recently:

• ABBA's greatest hits performed on a pan flute by a woman who looked eerily like Lo Pan from the cinematic classic Big Trouble in Little China.  

First off, the pan flute is a hauntingly sweet instrument all by itself, but when it's playing the timeless classics of Sweeden's rockinest band the effect is nothing short of transcendent.  I was so transfixed by the melodious tones of Dancing Queen that I stood there, listened to the whole song and then continued to stand there as she banged out Fernando.  Then, she went into Waterloo and I lost my shit like a teenage girl at a Hannah Montana concert.  The most embarrassing thing is I was completely sober at the time.

• Midget Michael Jackson!

This is a dude with whom I want to party.  I don't know his name, I don't care, what I do know is that this guy stands three apples high, wears black leather covered in chains, a geri curled wig, dons a white glove and becomes Michael Jackson.  He has a boom box that's bigger than him and he plays Billie Jean over and over again.  

I've seen him several times and all he plays is Billie Jean.  The best thing is, he doesn't sing, he doesn't dance he just does a bizarre half- assed moonwalk and grab his crotch a lot.  As a bonus you can do a google image search for midget Michael Jackson and see what this madman looks like.  Check it out, you'll thank me.

• REACH New York, An Urban Musical Instrument

This is a supersweet interactive sculpture on two subway platforms across the track from each other on the N,R line.  On each of the platforms hanging from the ceiling is a green, rectangular box about six feet long.  There are eight photo sensors in each box.  

People can walk up to either box, reach up their hand and put it in front of a photosensor.  When they do, a light goes on and a sound comes out of the box on the opposite platform.  Some of the sounds are a marimba, rainfall, a flute and birds twittering.  I've spent a lot of time composing music on that platform with strangers of all ages.  It is a TON of fun.

Those are just three of the wonders I've discovered underground.  I urge all of you out there to discover your own subway surprises and share them.  It sure beats the hell out of a bus ride.

Read more articles on: new york , music , china

Venditto is a writer for BrooWaha. For more information, visit the author's website.