Most of the time, we go to parks to hang out, have fun, relax, watch people, and mind our own business in the company of others. I, however, went to Bryant Park back in May on a research assignment for Macaulay Seminar 2: Peopling of New York. I spent a good three hours on a Friday afternoon observing park-goers (in the least creepy way as possible) and interviewing random visitors.
This is the final outcome: Bryant Park. My group and I worked extremely hard on this project and I am very proud of it. So please check it out and while you’re on my class’ website, feel free to look at my fellow classmates’ work.
Instead of talking about what I learned and such, I am going to talk about my experience in researching. And a crazy experience it was!
I arrived at the park at around 2PM and entered by the pétanque courts. So, I decided to start here. I stood around the courts, observing and trying to build up my confidence to talk to one of the players. (I don’t normally go up and talk to strangers. I’m not very outgoing or much of a conversation starter, especially when I’m alone. So sometimes, I need a little push.) I walked around the court until some friendly man made eye contact with me. (That was the push.) I asked him if I could interview him for my class project and he redirected me to the man who knows best: Mr. Yngve Bilsted, former president of La Boule New Yorkaise. He looked intimidating at a glance, but upon speaking to him, he proved to be an absolutely delightful and kind sir. It was a pleasure to learn a bit of his past and about the sport. I stuck around for a while longer and interviewed 
several other men playing petanque. Most of the them either immigrated from or lived in France at one point or another.
I moved on towards the fountain and reached the Chess & Backgammon area. There, I talked to a man from Iran (who I think was scared that I might delve too deep into his past from some suspicious reason…). I also learned a lot about the history of this section of the park from the staff member working there. (An observation: I found all of the Bryant Park staff members that I talked to to be very friendly and knowledgeable.) Most of the people who come to this section play backgammon although this area was originally created for chess.
Next to the Chess area was the Southwest Porch, a hangout and dining area. A very cute one. The decor is quaint and mountainside-like, with Adirondack chairs and a large swing bench.
After this, I headed over to the new Games Tables. The talked to the staff member working there. She was very enthusiastic about this new addition. There were games like Apples to Apples (which I love to play, with the right people of course), Scrabble, Bananagrams, Jenga, and Mancala. I met two students from Berkley College here. They came to study, but instead decided by coincidence to stop by the games tables for the first time and play some mancala. They asked me to join, but I declined. Mancala…I haven’t played that game in ages. I chatted with them. Witty fellows.
Soon afterwards, I headed over to Le Carrousel and the adjacent Children’s Reading Room. Gosh, I wish I was small enough to ride the carousel. I was lurking around, looking for research data when lo and behold, I saw the most adorable father and daughter reading a book together. I asked them if I could take a picture for my website. The dad was all up for it, but the girl really did not want to. Sad :( So unfortunately, I had to find someone else to take pictures of. I looked around and approached a mother and her son also reading. She agreed to some photos. She even tidied up her son to look presentable. How cute. The boy at first refused to continue reading because I was there. So my first photo is of him pouting. But after two seconds, he completely forgot why he was acting that way and eagerly read along and even stuck out his tongue while reading. Absolutely adorable!
Following my interview with the mother, I walked down the allée and enjoyed the stroll underneath the shady trees. I looked at the statues and headed towards the cafés. Along the way, I passed by some people sitting by the tables stretched along the allée. I decided to glance at a sign about the history of the park. But in doing so, the man sitting in front of it, looking at his cell phone, had to shift over. I apologized and decided, what the heck! Why don’t I interview him as well? I haven’t interviewed people just sitting around the park. He turned out to be a friendly tourist from Phoenix. The first tourist I encountered in the park!
I strolled by the café (happy hour!) and took in some of the gorgeous views of the buildings surrounding the Great Lawn. It was all really fabulous. Then, I moved on to the Reading Room section of the park. There is a great selection of books,
magazines, and newspapers here – for a small kiosk library. I read about the history of this section and it is fascinating. I talked to the staff member and he told me that tourists are always taking pictures here, with him in them. He and his colleague sometimes joke about how many pictures they pop up in.
Lastly, I reached my final destination: the ping pong tables. I had made a full circle (or rectangle) around the park. This last stop was also the location of my craziest encounter. As you may know, interviewing strangers is likely to cause some unexpected and ridiculous events. I took tons of pictures, interviewed the staff member (who recognized me when I interviewed his co-worker at the games table – he was there when I approached her – but I did not realize that he was the same guy until he pointed that out), and then decided to talk to two men not playing who seemed to know the people who frequent the tables. One of them was very friendly. He joked around a lot, but answered basically all my questions. His friend, however, was upset at my questioning, throwing the occasional swear word. He thought I was working for the FBI or something. But the friendly man kept his friend in check, telling him to behave in front of a lady, etc etc. After I finished interviewing him, he left. Then, his friend proceeded to give me a lecture. He questioned my motives and harangued me about the real important things of life. However, he had to play his turn of ping pong so he told me to stay so that he could continue the conversation after his match. I told him I had to go, but he was persistent in detaining me. So, I decided to stay and hear him out. After all, I was still in a very public area and I did not want to act rudely. When he came back, he again asked me why I was interviewing people. I told him school. And he used some foul language to say ‘forget about school.’ (I’m paraphrasing.) He told me I need to look out for myself. Interviewing people is dangerous. If your teacher wants the information he (the man mistook my professor for a male) should do it himself. School is not worth it. You should get a job. What is a diploma good for? I have tons of degrees. Who needs to graduate? Do you need help looking for a job? I can help. Do you need money? Let me know. Here, I have some if you need. (He even reached for his pocket and offered me cash. I refused, of course.) I’m from Sri Lanka. I was in the navy. I know. I know. The real question is not why do you go to the park. It’s where do people go after the park closes. Where do the homeless people go? What do the poor people do? You scared off my friend. He thinks you work for the police. I told him, you gotta go now before the find out. Take your phone and leave. Hurry. Who cares about school? You need a job. Let me give you my number. Call me if you need help.
No. I really have to go. But thank you. Sorry. I have to go.
And then I left.
What a way to put myself in an uncomfortable predicament.
