I do not exaggerate when I tell you that I am in love with NYC's Grand Central Station. I've always been a country boy, having grown up a mere 10 steps from a farm. As a kid, I'd wake up, go outside to buy taho and be welcomed by farmers bringing their carabaos and goats to graze. In the afternoon, as the sun began to set, the carabaos and the farmers would be making their way home with us kids trying to ride the animals' backs. Anyway, nostalgia seems to have thrown me off track.
As I was saying, I love GC for many reasons, which I'm about to share with you - whether you like it or not.
1. If you like people-watching as much as I do, then Grand Central is the place for you. And by people-watching, I don't mean the stalkerish behavior, where you follow people around in a creepy manner until you are slapped with a restraining order. But if you're into that sort of thing, then GC is also the place for you. But for the kind of people-watching in which you appreciate the uniqueness and diversity of humans from the safe distance recommended by law and propriety, you can just sit around the station and watch a slew of people pass you by. Young, old, pretty, not-so-pretty, tourists, locals, cute, annoying, emo, cheerful, dark-brooding, colorful, you name it - GC's got it.
This should come as no surprise, since GC is one of the busiest stations in the country, if not the world. It has several subway and metro north trains going through it. It's also close to all sorts of tourist destinations, such as 5th Avenue and Times Squire. Fun fact: Grand Central itself is a major tourist destination. It's actually 6th on the most visited tourist sites according to Travel+Leisure Magazine.
I've spent many hours sitting on one of the pretty staircases just looking at people, imagining the many different lives that these people live. Wait, that doesn't sound creepy at all right? Please don't call the cops. I don't know how it is for others, but for me, watching people reenergizes me and gives me hope. This may just be the tiny writer in me that tends to romanticize the most banal of things. But that is for another entry.
2. It's old, like, really, really old. If you're into history, then you've come to the right place. Grand Central is just brimming with it. In fact, it turns 100 years old this year. Now, I'm not very good at remembering facts, so you'll just have to visit the on going exhibit about the history of the station. What I will say though is that management has done a great job at preserving the historical elements and ambience of the terminal. I adore the fact that some of the staff still wear uniforms that look similar to those worn in the early 1900s. I get excited everytime they scream "All Aboard!" before the train starts to move.
3. It's pretty. A photographer would never run out of angles to shoot in this terminal. It's just pretty all around. The great thing about the GC is that the city has managed to preserve its old-world feel. The arches you have to go through as you run to your gate, because you woke up late and slept through your alarm, are magnificent. The high ceilings and tall windows in the main platform will overwhelm you. Look up and you will see the constellations in the ceiling. The building's exterior is just as magnificent, with statues and sculptures lined around the roof and columns.
4. There's more to it than trains! Other than train rides, the Grand Central also offers a variety of things to do and places to visit. Below the main concourse is a food court that serves a variety of Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, Indian and American food. They even have Magnolia in there! There's also a supermarket that offers unique and organic delicacies. Shops for everything you need - clothes, supplements, notebooks, cards - can also be found inside.
All photos Copyright © 2013, The EverywhereMan
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