From Purple Rain to purple train? Watch the closing doves.
17
In post-Revolutionary New York (we're talking about the real Revolution, Bernie, 1776-1779), "King Street'' was renamed ''Pine Street,'' ''Great Queen Street'' became Pearl Street. What many New Yorkers mistakenly believe to be a monarch-named 'King Street' in the West Village, actually was named after 'Rufus King.' So it would only be fitting for ''Prince Street'' to be named after the Purple One.
11
Very interesting!
But now just for the sake of historical accuracy, the Revolutionary War (Bunker Hill, remember?) began in 1775. The Declaration of Independence was in 1776.
But now just for the sake of historical accuracy, the Revolutionary War (Bunker Hill, remember?) began in 1775. The Declaration of Independence was in 1776.
4
Hostilities didn't end until 1781, and there wasn't a peace treaty and full British evacuation until 1783.
4
Treaty of Paris, 1783, signed on Rue Jacob in Paris, by one B. Franklin, if I recall correctly. If not, I shall soon know.
I remember a conductor on the #6 train announcing "I am the uptown #6 train the next stop will be..." and then go on to list all of the points of interest at each stop. Miss that guy.
6
Many years ago there was the double R that went out to Queens. Even though I was traveling in the wrong direction, all was well when the conductor announced "This is the RR, Rock & Roll to Astoria."
13
That list of adjacent stations reminds me of how, for some years, there were Chinese characters added to the signs at the Canal. St. station.
Now, they seem to no longer be there.
I wonder if their disappearance had something to do with political correctness. Like, maybe somebody felt that it came across as patronizing toward the Chinese community and that its purpose was primarily as a "decoration" for the benefit of tourists.
I would assume that those characters said "Canal Street" or "Chinatown" and were there simply for the benefit of Chinese-speaking passengers who could not yet read English.
Now, they seem to no longer be there.
I wonder if their disappearance had something to do with political correctness. Like, maybe somebody felt that it came across as patronizing toward the Chinese community and that its purpose was primarily as a "decoration" for the benefit of tourists.
I would assume that those characters said "Canal Street" or "Chinatown" and were there simply for the benefit of Chinese-speaking passengers who could not yet read English.
7
Take another look - the Chinese characters are still there, and in fact were were restored in the early 2000's on both sets of BMT platforms (the separate sets for trains going to Brooklyn via the tunnel or bridge). According to the Wikipedia entry the characters are "China" and "Town." Added in the renovation are additional characters that say "money" and "luck."
4
All those Chinese names for the streets are transliterations, instead of translations, of the English name, and most of them are in Cantonese or Shanghainese instead of Mandarin due to the demographics of early Chinese immigrants.
It would be useless to a newcomer to know that "Canal" means "運河" (pronounced "Yun Her"). However, if you speak Cantonese, then its current Chinese name, "堅尼" (pronounced "Kan Nei"), sounds just like "Canal". The interesting thing is that this doesn't help people from other provinces at all. For example, in Mandarin, it's pronounced "Jan Ni". Good luck finding Canal with that.
Chinatown is an exception. Its Chinese name means "China Town" and doesn't sound like "Chinatown" in any dialect....
It would be useless to a newcomer to know that "Canal" means "運河" (pronounced "Yun Her"). However, if you speak Cantonese, then its current Chinese name, "堅尼" (pronounced "Kan Nei"), sounds just like "Canal". The interesting thing is that this doesn't help people from other provinces at all. For example, in Mandarin, it's pronounced "Jan Ni". Good luck finding Canal with that.
Chinatown is an exception. Its Chinese name means "China Town" and doesn't sound like "Chinatown" in any dialect....
3
I wish times were flush enough that Prince's symbol might be added at a mosaic. Would David Koch fund that? Or is he confined to Lincoln Center and 5th Avenue?
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
24
I love this idea!
3