Local cultural ephemera museum The City Reliquary (370 Metropolitan Ave) is seeking contestants for its 2017 Miss Subways Pageant, happening in September. “In a night of performances spanning the classy, the trashy, the weird, and the whimsical, contestants will demonstrate their love, frustration, and ultimate devotion to their subway line of choice. But only one will take home the transit tiara!”
Via The City Reliquary:
We’re seeking Miss Subways 2017!
On Thursday, September 28 at 7 PM, The City Reliquary Museum will host The 2017 Miss Subways Pageant. You might remember that the Reliquary celebrated NYC’s most maligned line with its 2009 “Miss G Train” competition. How things have changed! The G is now one of the most reliable lines in the system. Clearly, something must be done.
The “Summer of Hell” is upon us. These days straphangers are filled with dread over a stalled train, signal failure, or sick passenger leaving them trapped in a dark, sweltering transit nightmare. Between its deteriorating equipment and the massive crowds cramming into its cars each day, our 112-year-old system, though still a marvel of public transportation, is showing some wear and tear. Governor Cuomo’s “MTA Genius Grant Challenge” suggests we’re on our own in this mess, so it’s time for the people to take matters into their own hands.
With a wink and a nod to the Miss Subways pageants held in NYC between 1941 and 1976, this event is a call to arms for advocates and lovers of the NYC underground. In a night of performances spanning the classy, the trashy, the weird, and the whimsical, contestants will demonstrate their love, frustration, and ultimate devotion to their subway line of choice. But only one will take home the transit tiara!Tickets are on sale for $20-$60 ($17 for Reliquary members). Space is limited, so buy now! Beverages available by suggested donation, with beer courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery. All proceeds with benefit The City Reliquary and the Riders Alliance.
Are YOU this year’s Miss Subways?
Can your talents inspire Governor Cuomo to action? We’re looking for contestants who believe they should be the ambassador for the subway in its time of crisis. Despite the potentially “miss”-leading title, we welcome contestants of all gender identities. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, September 5th at 11:59 PM. We will notify all finalists by Thursday, September 14.
TO ENTER: Send the following to miss-subways@cityreliquary.org:
1) a short essay telling us why you want to be Miss Subways 2017, what your favorite subway line is, and why it inspires/enrages/enchants you;
2) a detailed description of your proposed performance.Show your love for our subterranean system through song, dance, poetry, or any other talent: Rubik’s cube solving, hula hooping, speed knitting, playing the sousaphone…surprise us!;
3) a photo. Feel free to send additional things, such as a song you’ve written, or a story of a memorable subway ride.Finalists are encouraged to let their creativity run wild in their costume choice, be it pageant-perfect ball gowns, hipster vogue, commuter chic, or pizza-rat-inspired haute couture.