So we know that Colin Huggins plays his piano in public, but how does he bring his busking instrument of choice to his location for the day? Check out the journey he takes with his 650-pound baby grand, from a self storage space to Washington Square Park: more ›

Two subway musicians have filed a lawsuit against the city, accusing an NYPD officer of threatening them when they tried to legally busk, and then insulting them online. But what's really provocative about the lawsuit is that Heth Weinstein and Jed Weinstein are convinced that the cop, identified as Officer Isaac Valdez, also left a series of extremely racist, homophobic comments on various YouTube pages. Heth and Jed say Valdez's belligerent fixation with them began when they tried to perform in the subway under Grand Central Terminal using a "permit" issued by the MTA's Arts for Transit program. They allege that these repeated clashes with Valdez led to the discovery of a shockingly bigoted side to Officer Valdez. more ›

Cheaper than a night at the Met, and less smelly (and intoxicated) than the Elmos of Times Square, buskers in the subway break the banality of our subterranean commute. They also can make a decent amount of cash. "Come holiday time, I can make up to $400 a day," subway drummer Jakeh Thomas tells the Post. "It's the season for giving." Thomas, who is 18, used to work at a carpet store. "They were paying me $10 an hour. But I'm making $10 every fifteen minutes out here." Maybe the president should consider supporting one of the MTA's many "shovel-ready" projects? more ›

Times Squares' costumed entrepreneurs are officially free to ply their trade without fear of retribution. According to the Daily News, the NYPD has stopped the policy of ticketing the Elmos, Hello Kitties, Buzz Lightyears and Spidermen who take pictures with kiddies for tips. The entertainers are allowed to receive tips, but not charge for pictures taken with them in costume. According Girish Dani, who dresses up as Spiderman, Elmo still gets a bad rap: "A few Elmos chase people for tips…I heard one or two Elmos drink whiskey, and this could be an issue." Ah, but Sesame Street is the type of place that drives a monster to drink. more ›

Reason #1, 2, 3 and 4 why you shouldn't ignore buskers: they may turn out to be Bruce Springsteen. The Boss was dropping off his son Evan at Boston College this week when he and wife Patti Scialfa decided to say hi to David Gonzalez, who busks in the Public Gardens regularly. Springsteen then borrowed his guitar and put on a little show for passersby...although at least one woman was in too much of a rush to notice (at the :20 mark). Watch below: more ›

Need a feel-good moment for your Friday? How about this video from NYC the Blog, showing the self-proclaimed "World's Happiest Boy" playing piano in the subway system. The blog notes that Jason Cordero, a Queens resident, can usually be found in Herald or Times Square (he's also been spotted with a grand piano, above ground.) And yes, his father keeps watch nearby. more ›

Someone has put together a nice miniseries called Playing For Pocket Change, which focuses on the "often overlooked and ignored" street performers and musicians of New York City. The latest introduces us to Don Witter Jr., who talks about his new found fondness for Lady Gaga, amongst other things). more ›

Coffee and doughnut purveyor Dunkin' Donuts has a new marketing campaign playing out on the city sidewalks. The company has hired a dozen street musicians at $20/hour to help pitch their "Breakfast NOT Brokefast" campaign... but is their message really undermining authentic buskers around town? The NY Post says their message can be broken down as such: "For the spare change you toss a street musician, you could be buying their breakfast fare." The hired hands even have signs propped up against their guitar cases reading: "Sure you want to throw that change in here?" DD's CEO told the paper they're "trying to reinforce the value proposition that money you would normally throw away to a musician you could use to get a cup of coffee or a doughnut." Yes, instead of throwing our spare change to talented musicians toiling for hours underground, let's all put it towards a nice 400 calorie cream-filled, glazed and sprinkled breakfast treat. more ›

Yesterday the Times Square Alliance held their Best of the Buskers auditions right at the crossroads of the world. The open call brought in musicians, dancers, magicians, performance artists and yes, even the Xylopholks. The alliance is aiming to bring the best performers together for their ongoing “Grate Performances - Best of the Buskers,” series, providing free entertainment to tourists and local passerby alike. Many of the performers have been legally, and illegally, busking for years. 49-year-old electric violinist Lorenzo Laroc told The Daily News, "I'm trying to bring my work above ground. It's time for me to come into the light and let everyone experience my unique sound." He's been playing the subways for two decades. more ›

"The most important band in the planet" could be slumming it in the subways this week. The Spinner reports that Oasis, in order to totally unnecessarily promote their Terminal 5 show on Friday, will have musicians from MTA's Music Under New York program "covering nothing but new Oasis songs in various locations." Not only could you hear nothing but Oasis all day underground this Friday, but the band's label is saying "that one of the Gallagher brothers may even be making a surprise appearance with one of the acts." But remember, they're only playing new tunes, so don't go requesting "Wonderwall." more ›