HOBOKEN — Those who read the Hoboken Reporter in the early 1990s may remember Hoboken beat reporter Andy Newman, who was always a little, well, off-beat. One time, he wrote a restaurant review of McDonald’s, and sat at the table for a half hour before realizing he had to get up and order the food himself. Another time, he wrote a story about taking a ride on a Conrail train through the back of Hudson County. It was all in good fun.
He brought his particular brand of writing to the Jersey Journal briefly, then finally landed at the New York Times, where after slaving away as a part-time reporter for years, they finally gave him a staff job.
He used to live in southwestern Hoboken with a roommate, but now he lives in Park Slope with a wife, kid, dog, the whole nine. And he’s written stories for the Times on things like sleeping in an airport for days until someone actually asked him what the matter was.
In today’s (Sunday’s) New York Times, he has written an article about walking around his Park Slope nabe SEVENTY-FIVE TIMES. That’s right, 75. He decides to do his own version of the New York Marathon. He reports on what he learns.
An excerpt:
On Sunday morning, 40,000 people will run, walk and wheel their way 26.2 miles through New York’s five boroughs in a whirlwind tour of the city at its most festive. My personal marathon, restricted to the long rectangle created by Baltic and Warren Streets and Fourth and Fifth Avenues in Park Slope, Brooklyn, offered something more subtle: a glimpse at a day in the life of my neighborhood.
Why don’t you try this at home in Hudson County, friends? Maybe you’ll find a cool new restaurant or make some new friends. Anyway, if you do this, send us an essay or some photos as we’ll put them in the paper.
Here’s a link in case you want to read Andy’s piece, but when you’re done, why don’t you come on back to www.hudsonreporter.com; and comment below or read the rest of our stories. There are some really talented reporters here who will go to the Times someday like Andy did, or do whatever their heart desires.
WARNING: THE TIMES STORY CONTAINS A GRAPHIC PHOTO OF ANDY NEWMAN’S FEET. DO NOT CLICK UNLESS YOU ARE OVER 35.