MTA Bus Driver Leads Passengers In Song (Video)

The broken coin box seen when boarding the crosstown bus—which means everyone rides for free—was the first sign this ride was going to be a better bus ride than normal.

The good feeling riding for free inspires, with a bus full of others who are beneficiaries, must be contagious because the bus driver started playing trivia over the intercom. Playfully prodding, he requested: "Give me ten body parts that only have three letters." A woman sitting nearby quickly rolled off three: "Eye, leg, lip." Someone near the front shouted out: "toe!" and the count got to eight pretty quickly. The last two came as well, but not so easily.

And the bus driver wasn't done entertaining the crowd. As you can hear in the video below, after he told a joke that was preempted by a passenger, he then led the bus in song, singing happy birthday to a birthday girl.

Offering some words of advice, the bus driver continued: "Lets look alive people, we only live once. Tomorrow's not promised." Afterward, as an elderly man disembarked, he told the driver: "You're the best bus driver I ever had." Listen in below:

UPDATED: Mystery Of Prominent Decade Old Jewel Banner Solved

Though Jewel's This Way was released in 2001, that's not going to stop Best Buy (or Staples?) on a window in Staples at 86th and Lexington Avenue from continuing to market the album as if it was just released yesterday. If you missed purchasing the album the first time it came out, or any other time in the last ten years, you can order it on BestBuy.com for $7.99.

UPDATE: Glenn Feinberg, Program Director, LIVE @ Best Buy, sends word via email:

Taking Recess

» Follow NYC The Blog on Facebook and Twitter. Photo credit: Paolo Mastrangelo/NYC The Blog

Noisy Source Of Noise Keeps Upper East Sider Awake

According to at least one Upper East Side resident, "an incinerator or some other form of cooling system or machinery" is noisily operating from 10pm until the next morning somewhere in the vicinity of the 90s near Lexington Avenue.  The machine, it is alleged, starts and stops over and over again, every four minutes. (Click photo for larger view).

The resident has posted simple signs around the neighborhood asking others if they can identify the source, and encouraging people to call 311 if they are also kept awake by the noise. This seems like a democratic way of dealing with the situation. Though concerns about noise pollution in a metropolis might be easy to snicker at, the detrimental health effects that result are well documented. As a result, you can probably safely assume noise pollution plays a part in the amplified, aggressive or unpredictable behavior of many individuals.

Lexington Ave Chemists Closed; Starbucks Will Replace

Following an unfortunate economic trend of neighborhood pharmacies closing while chain outlets expand at an exceptional rate, another neighborhood pharmacy has closed its doors. Lexington Avenue Chemists at 1491 Lexington Ave at 96th Street, in the Carnegie Hill section of the Upper East Side, is closed, papered up and ready for a new tenant.

When the pharmacy closed is not clear; they were open last year, though that doesn't narrow it down much. The internet was no help, the phone number is disconnected, and a couple passersby asked weren't sure either. One thing is for sure; Starbucks will open a branch there in September.

The Original Papaya King On E. 86th Street Closed For One Month

Yesterday afternoon, a construction crew began building a temporary wall outside the exterior of New York City's first Papaya King location on the corner of 86th Street and 3rd Avenue. Workers on site expect the place to remain closed for the whole month of July while they renovate. It is "...a mid-summer break to polish up the crown jewels," the King explained on their website.

» Follow NYC The Blog on Facebook and Twitter. Photo credit: Paolo Mastrangelo/NYC The Blog

Piss And Sh*t Wars Continue: Upper East Side Resident Prepares Air Assault

This hand drawn sign was spotted on the demure and reserved Upper East Side; 89th Street between 3rd and Lexington Avenues to be exact. If you can't make it out, it says: "War On Dog Poop. It Will Be Returned Air Mail."

You have been forewarned, residents of East 89th Street. Don't let little Sparky poop on these flower beds, lest you become the victim of an BM bomb campaign from the 89th Street Fecal Matter Air Defense Forces. NYC The Blog, by the way, is a proud supporter of our friends in the Air Force.

From Soho to Murray Hill and up to the UES, the tremendous amount of fecal matter and urine from New Yorker's beloved pets being discharged daily onto public streets has even inspired the work of normally staid sketch artists. The conflict seems to be growing. Is dog poop the new cigarette smoking?

» Follow NYC The Blog on Facebook and Twitter. Photo credit: Paolo Mastrangelo/NYC The Blog

2nd Ave Subway Constructs Vertical Conveyor To Transport Earthen

You've seen photos of the Tunnel Boring Machine and incredible photos of the tunnels being dug underneath 2nd Ave on the Upper East Side.

Well how are they going to get rid of all that dirt and earth? Have you seen the photos of the vertical conveyor they are building to remove the dig? You have now...just check out how big one section of the rubber belt is...

The Bugaboo Stroller of Tree Beds on Upper East Side

Tree bed on 3rd Ave btw 93rd and 94th
Upper East Siders enjoy their accoutrements well made, big, and built to last. They want the trees to have long and healthy lives, so their dogs can continue to piss and shit all over them for generations to come. They laugh at your dirt covered tree beds.