Page 11 - Allisons Magazine Issue #95
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organized this ad hoc festival of sorts.
Dubbed the New York City Vintage “ THE MUSEUM
Train Jazz and Swing Platform Festival, RELEASES ABOUT
this one-day event in December (always 300 TICKETS,
on a Sunday afternoon) sees these
subsets converge with the general public THOUGH THE
in joyful celebration. NUMBER VARIES
A BIT EACH YEAR.
The seven-hour shindig features twelve IN 2017, SUBWAY
to fourteen bands playing fifty-minute
sets on the train, a designated station SWING SOLD OUT IN
platform, or both. Bands include UNDER NINE
ensembles that are already well known HOURS, WHICH
to swing dancers, those headed by IS THE FASTEST
frequent side players who want to
present themselves as bandleaders, or TICKETS HAVE EVER
emerging groups eager to get in front SOLD OUT.
of new audiences. Because this is a free © Shaelyn Amaio © Marc Hermann
event, the public is encouraged to tip
generously and the bands are given the
nudge to advocate for themselves. which began in December of 2014. relationship and a really good way for us
Shaelyn Amaio, public programs to bring the community to life.”
This kind of gathering is a big deal producer at the museum, explains, “We
in dense New York City, where large knew there were swing dancers and The Transit Museum is open six days a
collective spaces are few and far between. people in vintage clothing enjoying the week, and it offers a great opportunity
vintage cars, but they didn’t necessarily to tour some of the vintage trains with
Why does Winn willingly take on such a know about the Transit Museum. We fewer crowds around. You can sit on the
giant project? “I’m always happy to help saw it as an opportunity to grow our rattan seats, look up at the ceiling fans,
with events that help musicians earn audience by bringing people into the read the retro advertisements, and pose
a living, but this one is a gift to all of museum and continuing the celebration for memorable Instagram pictures. There
those communities,” she says. of the vintage trains there.” are guided tours of the museum on the
weekend as well.
Winn is equal parts humble about and The train picks up people at a designated
proud of this unofficial event. It’s a true subway station and heads to the Whether it’s a ticket to Subway Swing,
labor of love, garnering her no reward museum, where the musicians play and an official Nostalgia Ride, a visit to the
other than the mirth that comes from the party happens. The museum releases New York Transit Museum, or simply
watching the awed faces of those who about 300 tickets, though the number hopping on a vintage train during the
do not expect a train car full of people varies a bit each year. In 2017, Subway holiday season, anything associated
decked out in vintage garb, elaborate Swing sold out in under nine hours, with the restoration and running of
hairstyles, and a six-piece New Orleans- which is the fastest tickets have ever sold the vintage subway cars is a wonderful
style jazz band to suddenly appear in out. Amaio says, “People come every opportunity to experience history
front of them. single year and call me in October to firsthand—and maybe to dance a bit of
ask when tickets are going on sale. We swing on the side.
The New York Transit Museum took feel so lucky to have that community For more info, visit nytransitmuseum.org/
notice of the success and joy of this of people who want to share that nostalgiarides
musical day and created an official experience and want to come back to
annual event called Subway Swing, the museum. It’s become a really lovely
© Shaelyn Amaio
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