Thursday, February 26, 2009

Take the "A" Train

Yesterday I took the A Train from the George Washington Bridge Bus Station (175th Street) to Columbus Circle (59th Street). I am an occasional rider on this route.

The direct shot from 125th Street to 59th is among the longest on the NY subway system. It, thereby, gives one time to reflect and observe.

I often reflect on Duke Ellington.

While being the author of the iconic jazz piece, the Duke also spent a lot of time in Harlem. He was, however, from Washington, DC. The school of the arts that bears his name is down the street from my former home. The District of Columbia is very proud of him.

Coincidentally, yesterday the US Mint released a DC state quarter stamped with his likeness. It is the first time that an African American has ever appeared on a US coin.

So much for the reflecting part. Now for my A Train observation.

When I was a kid growing up in Summit, NJ, our mothers bought us blue jeans that were way too long so that we would grow into them. Back then, it also took a year or so to get a pair of jeans faded and beat-up just the way you liked them.

To compensate for the added length, we would carefully roll up the leg bottoms. It became a "look." In the 50's, before bell bottoms, before stone washing, before Guess, EVERYBODY wore blue jeans with the bottoms rolled up, even James Dean.

I currently have several pairs of blue jeans that are too long. Perhaps I am now growing down instead of up. It never occurred to me that I might, 50 years later, again become a fashionista by rolling up the legs, but yesterday I saw the fashion future while riding the A Train and I am now sporting my new urban fashion statement.

A group of boisterous high school kids got on at the 165th Street Station (Washington Heights...home to my idol Manny Rameriz). They were mostly wearing black North Face jackets, sneakers, blue jeans, and Yankee caps with the store seal still on the brim.

One kid had the legs of his jeans rolled up. Poor guy, I thought, but it made me think fondly about my mother and times long gone by.

Then with my head bowed, lost in my iPod, I noticed that the kid next to him, and the kid next to him ALL had their pants rolled up...perfectly. So I figure I'm on to something.

I have since been keeping a close eye out. After my walk across the bridge this afternoon I ran into a pack of Ft. Lee HS kids. Most had on their North Face, sneakers, Yankee caps, and, yup, all donned carefully rolled-up jeans.

My stylish daughter Martha may tell me that this has been going on for years, but I don't think so.

New York is on the cusp of exporting this new urban look to America and the world.

By spring?

Rolled up blue jeans coast to coast!

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