On my way home just maybe a week ago, after a very eventful day, I finally decided to approach one of my favorite subway musicians. You mean you don’t have one? I don’t find it odd at all to have a favorite subway/street performer. In fact, I think they’re an essential part of what makes New York City so special, at least to me. Talented folks (well most of ‘em anyway) stopping at nothing to follow their dreams, and settling to perform out in the streets or in the subterranean world of New York City commuters. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.

I approached my guy when I saw him sitting on a bench that night. He wasn’t performing, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to chat him up at bit. I was at the 42nd Street station to get on the Uptown C, which is where I usually hear him singing at the top of his lungs. Most nights he performs, I would close my eyes to hear him sing. Sometimes, I would even picture him singing at my wedding. This is probably the only part of my wedding I’ve ever envisioned so clearly by the way.

He always makes me smile. He has some sort of a raspy voice, and I think he’s missing a few teeth, but all that adds to his uniqueness. I’m not sure if it was because I was with my old roommate, or if it was because I was still excited about meeting Emeline Michel just a few hours before, I walked up right to him and told him how fantastic I thought he was. I lift my hand to shake his, but he lifted mine to kiss it instead. Have you ever had your hand kissed by a guy with missing teeth? Actually the experience wasn’t so bad, but it was definitely different.

I asked him his name, and he looked up and replied, “they call me ‘Singin’ Dragon’!” That made the experience even more phenomenal because all the way home I kept repeating the words, “they call me Singin’ Dragon!” You see, he didn’t just say the words, they had a certain rhythm that accompanied them. Almost like a little song. So simple, so sweet, so him.

Ladies and gentlemen, Singin’ Dragon is amazing. I even found a video of him on YouTube. See for yourself.

Singin’ Dragon inspired me to come up with a name for myself. I settled for Hula Hoopin’ Tiger because I love to hula hoop, and  according to my old roommate, Anna, I was born the year of the Tiger. Obviously, I am in no way, shape, or form as talented at hula hooping as Singin’ Dragon is at singing, but it’s still pretty fun to come up with a name. Here are some hula hooping shots of me:

I challenge YOU to come up with a similar name for yourself! It has to be the combination of something you enjoy doing and an animal or legendary creature for whatever reason that you choose. It’ll be fun! Go!