No Pants, No Problem...err, sort of

What manhole did I fall into that I totally missed the memo on this one?  For that matter, where were all of YOU when this took place?  What a sight it would have been to behold first hand.  For those of you, like me, who were in the dark about this, let me clue you in.  A New York-based group named Improv Everywhere came into being in August 2001 with the sole purpose of creating and causing “scenes of chaos and joy in public places.”  These flash mobs and pseudo-flash mobs range in theme, from a hand bell choir spontaneously assisting a Salvation Army volunteer to a human mirror created on a subway train using pairs of identical twins dressed alike and sitting across from each other in the same car.  But what you may remember them most for is their Frozen Grand Central extravaganza (one I’ve enjoyed watching several times on YouTube).

Despite my marginal awareness of the group, what I completely missed the memo on was their now ten years and running No Pants Subway Ride experiment.  The movement has gone global yet I’ve been totally unawares until today and quite bummed (pun intended) that I missed the spectacle that took place in Chicago and some 50 other cities on January 9, 2011.



What makes the display all the more fascinating is that it takes place in the dead of winter!  A Chicagoan of some 12 odd years, I’m still not accustomed to winter weather.  In fact, I’m often rather cranky when the temps get below 60, let alone when they drop below 30.  So, for me, this whole concept of stripping down to ones skivvies in the middle of January inspires mad amounts of respect for those brave souls who took part, especially considering they’re doing it on public transit where you can never be certain what was just in the seat you’re now sitting in.  I’m definitely staying informed for next year’s event – though I probably won’t be participating (unless I come across some mighty warm, topnotch, alpaca wool, thigh-high leg warmers...)

What about you - Did you witness or participate in this year’s No Pants Subway Ride?  Would you consider it next year? What do you think of the whole idea?