The Effortless Beauty of (Barely Making) the Train Ride
a.k.a. Desk Note 01
Allow me to introduce to you what will hopefully become a series of notes/journals/musings…from the desk of ECF. In an effort to practice writing & editorial work, I’ve given in to the temptations of creating a substack AND I’M SO EXCITED!
A 15-year-old me started and gave up on three different blog ideas over a decade ago. But now, at 26, my creativity flows with interests in travel, streetscapes, cities & croissants. I’m an urban planning graduate student, identical twin, and Saggitarius, based in New York City. So, let’s pretend I’m editing a city/travel/culture magazine and see what happens. Enjoy!
Recently I took a train from New York to Boston to visit my maman/mum/mom for Mother’s Day weekend. I hadn’t been on a train ride since September 2020 (a trip full of empty seats in every car). My rustiness showed as I almost missed the train. I knew I was cutting it close when midway through packing I checked my phone to realize my train ticket was for an hour earlier departure than I had thought. I tossed my phone down in a panic and finished packing my toiletries & tote bag and ran out the door. “Drive as fast as you can,” I instructed the Uber driver, who rushed down the Westside Highway. I arrived at Moynihan Train Hall at 10:02am, knowing well that the train was scheduled to depart at 10:00am. Much to my surprise, and to many designers’ credits, I easily navigated through the newly renovated train hall at Penn Station to find my gate. They were doing last call for all passengers. I stepped on board, and we were on our way. At that moment, on the outside at least, dare I say that I appeared as an effortless traveler to my fellow passengers (perhaps my biggest accomplishment in life?) Internally, I thought, “I will never **** that arrival up again!”
The ride itself was a calming change of pace along the New England coastline. Monica Ainley DLV’s MonReview and Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation kept me company for the ride. Taking a train as opposed to flying got me thinking of ways to design better transit corridors and rethink rail yards for the modern age of travel. The urban planner in me will keep ruminating on this and I’ll share more soon.
In short, the next time you’re presented with the option of flying, driving, or riding a train to your destination…definitely take the train, just triple-check your ticket time when you pack your bags.
MORNING, NOON, NIGHT – inspired by the title of one of my favorite coffee table books, each of my desk notes will end with something interesting for you to see, do, read, and/or wear as told through the lens of a day’s journey from sunrise to sunset.
MORNING – fuel up at Tatte in Boston. You’re likely to be a few steps away from one when you wake up in Boston; Tatte has locations across the city. Grab an (iced) coffee, indulge in the cinnamon pecan rose, or go for the shakshuka served in a fresh Jerusalem bagel.
NOON – toss on a denim shirt (my favorite is from Billy Reid) with shorts, roll up the sleeves and go for a sunny midday walk outdoors.
NIGHT – gather your friends, family, and mother to celebrate…after all, it is Mother’s Day weekend in the States.
Talk soon,
Ethan