Episode 37

Episode 37 Neighborhood Poetics

Thanks for Hitting Play and then listening to Hit Play. This episode: Brooklyn Bridge, Fort Tryon Park, Herbert Von King Park!

Some of the plays in this episode may contain sensitive topics. For more specific content warnings, check out the timecodes below.

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1:36 - Metaphors are my love language, so I love my daily bike ride by Michael John Improta

5:15 [CW: racist murder, hanging] - A Brief History of Fort Tryon Park * by Kyra Sims

6:34 - Joy Space by Anooj Bhandari

* If you'd like to contribute to the GoFundMe to support the family of Dominique Alexander, go to gofundme.com/f/justicefordomo

Our logo was designed by Shelton Lindsay

Our sound is designed by Anthony Sertel Dean

Hit Play is produced by Anthony Sertel Dean, Julia Melfi, and Léah Miller

Take Care!

Transcript

Episode 37 Neighborhood Poetics

Show Intro

Electronic instrumental music plays underneath.

Julia: 37: Neighborhood Poetics. I’m Julia Melfi—a New York Neo-Futurist. While our on-going, ever-changing, late-night show, The Infinite Wrench, is on hold for the foreseeable future, we wanted a place to keep making art for you. So we made this podcast.

If you’re already a fan of The New York Neo-Futurists, or any of our sibling companies, hi! We can’t wait to do anything indoors with you. If this is totally new to you—welcome to it!

We play by four rules: We are who we are, we’re doing what we’re doing, we are where we are, and the time is now. Simply put: we tell stories, and those stories are our own. Everything that you hear is actually happening.

Outdoor noise

So if we tell you we're pruning some plants after they got a little too hot in the heat wave this past weekend, then we are really pruning our plants that got a little too hot in the heat wave this past weekend. Like me right now.

Just a heads up that some of the plays in this episode may contain sensitive topics. For more specific content warnings, check the timecodes in the show notes.

Julia: And now, Anooj will Run the Numbers!

Anooj: Thanks Julia! I’m Anooj, a New York Neo-Futurist.

In this episode we’re bringing you 3 plays. The first is by Michael John Improta. The second by Kyra Sims. And the last is by me--Anooj Bhandari.

That brings us to 145 audio experiments on Hit Play. Enjoy!

Music winds down.

Play 1: Metaphors are my love language (1:36)

Michael: Metaphors are my love language, so I love my daily bike ride. GO!

Michael: I haven’t fucked with the MTA since early March.

I know that it’s safer now.

I know it gets cleaned, and that many of you feel totally fine riding it.

Not me.

And for that reason I bought a bike.

Outdoor noises of a bike ride with gentle music underscore

I commute just under 8 miles to work 5 times a week.

My favorite part of the commute is the bridge crossing.

I turn right onto the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade from Tillary street, and I prepare myself mentally for the climb.

The first part is simple, it's a straightaway, with some trees on my right.

I usually get myself to a good moderate speed here. Something that can get my heart rate moving, but not exhaust me.

And then there’s a brief curve to the left and a small downhill before the main climb up the bridge. If I can get to a fast enough speed on a higher gear going downhill then the momentum will carry me through a good portion of the harder uphill part. So I pedal as hard as I can on the highest gear. And when I have used up that momentum I’m probably a third of the way through the climb.

So I lower the gear and I focus on rhythmically putting one pedal stroke in front of the other. I have never stopped on the uphill before. But I have wanted to every time. Instead I focus on the rhythm. I focus on just continuously moving forward. And I let the burn hit my thighs. I know that soon they will be rewarded for their effort. As long as I don’t stop pedaling, as long as I keep moving forward. I will make it.

Before I know it, I am about 2/3 of the way up the hill. This is where the concrete becomes wooden planks, and the incline becomes less severe. As an alternative the wooden planks offer a seriously bumpy ride. It's a slightly different kind of challenge. I get used to this new texture quickly. And this part of the ride goes by in no time. So I make it to the first tower, and I cross under and through to the straight section of the bridge that spans the river.

Once I start across I look down, through the wooden planks you can see the water sparkle. Flashes of waves shining sun back up at me. And off to the left The Statue of Liberty stands as triumphant as I feel. One more glance at the water as I think of the beauty of crossing bridges by bike. I’m only halfway across the bridge now, but what follows is my reward for pushing myself through the first half.

I cross the second tower and begin my descent. My speed increases, and the wind resistance blows my clothing, and hair, and sometimes pulls a tear from my eye. There is one yellow speed bump you have to be careful of. It sits there waiting to catch you not paying attention so it can buck you from the saddle. But past that, the planks become concrete again and the ride speeds down smoothly towards Manhattan. I have crossed the bridge again.

Music and bike sounds stop.

At least normally that's what happens. But sometimes, like today, you make it halfway across and then you get a flat in your rear tire forcing you to take the subway for the first time in like forever

MTA closing doors beep

So that you can get to work on time… Hmm. Whatever. I still dont fuck with the MTA.

Play 2: A Brief History of Fort Tryon Park (5:15)

Kyra: A Brief History of Fort Tryon Park. A Poem By Me. GO!

Sound of birds chirping and outside noises

Fort Tryon Park, at the top of the Heights

Is verdant, and filled with impeccable sights

And evidence of geological might