"Smile! It Won't Mess Up Your Hair!"

New York...The city of endless entertainment. Every corner, every train and every deserted subway platform holds the most interesting characters by any stretch of the imagination. I've seen the most talented classical guitar player of my life, a ten piece trumpet group, a man strapped with three different middle eastern instruments and a Rastafarian who plucks a pre-recorded amplified guitar who grunts over the beat. Have you ever seen the old hunchback guy at the Times Square subway who plays the keyboard while dolls dance in front of him? Amazing.

Train entertainment is by far the best way to see a mix of what this metropolis has to offer. From soul groups harmonizing to three piece guitars singing Mexican folk songs and groups of eight year old hip hop dancers who swing themselves around poles. I'm consistently impressed and dumbfounded at what I will see next.

However, last night may have trumped any entertainment I'll ever see in New York City. I was riding home from work later than usual, well after the rush had died down. Somewhere after Grand Central a man got on the train shouting, "Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen! I'm going to sing you a little soul." He commenced banging his cane to the beat of, "Under the Boardwalk" and walked through the aisle singing every single harmony this song includes. It was downright terrible, but I couldn't look away. He was just so happy.

Afterwards he held his hat open for tips and shouted, "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And enjoy your night in New York City, where all the girls are pretty and all have jobs!" A girl reached her hand out with change and he said, "Thank you. You can smile, it won't mess up your hair!"

Probably the happiest and wittiest homeless man who ever existed in New York City. And way better than the weird old guy who plays the lap steel.