New York Transit Museum Throws a Party in a Decommissioned Subway Station

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It may not have been the first time someone threw a party in an old subway station, but surely this was one of the few which were completely legal. Promoting their latest exhibit on Subway Record Covers, Brooklyn’s had it’s own karaoke and live music event in the New York Transit Museum‘s subway station this past Wednesday.

You’d never know some of the singers had such stage fright, as they performed subway-inspired classics to a live band. At least one girl confessed to having overcome her stage fright, perhaps due to the electric feeling of cheering onlookers. It could also have been the refreshments provided by Brooklyn Brewery. As you looked around the room, it was clear the audience was mainly in their 20’s to early 30’s, a group museum staff confessed was normally lacking around the museum. Many at the event said this was their first visit to the museum.

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Hidden in plain sight, it’s not hard to see why many haven’t discovered it. You might have mistaken the Transit Museum for the normal subway, while walking down Borem Place. You wouldn’t be far off. The museum, located a few blocks south of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall, is an active connection to the A line (although not publicly used), and home for part of the MTA’s annual Holiday Nostalgia Train. As you explore a dozen or so vintage subway cars, you’re also exploring the earliest, and perhaps only working section of the fabled 2nd Avenue Subway. Meant to be the first stop in Brooklyn, this line operated as a shuttle to the nearby A and C lines for only 10 years, starting in 1936.

Most at the event expressed excitement in returning for another event. Museum staff told Untapped Cities that they were planning a repeat of their trivia night, and would like to try karaoke again in the future, although this was just a test run. While you wait, you can check out the New York Transit Museum’s most recent exhibit, Album Tracks, featuring subway-inspired albums, from Simon and Garfunkel to the Ramones. A behind-the-scenes video of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” is also on display, filmed in the nearby Hoyt-Schermerhorn Station. “Album Tracks: Subway Record Covers” runs through January 12th, at the MTA’s main Transit Museum location in Brooklyn. To keep up on future events, you can check out the MTA’s Transit Museum site.

Scroll down for more photos of vintage subways and of the Court Street Station:

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Karaoke was perform to live performances by band, The Golden Boyz.

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The Court Street Station would have been the first stop in Brooklyn for the long planned 2nd Avenue Subway line. In the 30’s, this station operated shuttle service to Hoyt-Schermerhorn, where Michael Jackson’s “Bad” music video was filmed. A behind the scenes video of this video is currently playing at the museum.

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Attendees pose for their own album cover on the platform level of the New York Transit Museum. Music fans had photo sessions to create the covert art for their own bands.

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