ThayerAvenue.com

Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood. And the way to know that your city has really “made it” is to get a dedicated, ‘luxury’ bus route open from your immediate locale to somewhere more exciting – in this case, New York City.

Beginning May 25, Washington Deluxe will be ferrying people from the corner of Wayne & Dixon to Penn Station in NYC, marking a new chapter in the ongoing “get-the-hell-out-of-town” legacy that is, occasionally, Silver Spring. Word on the street is that they’re safe and reliable, and the riders represent a good cross-section of DC Metro residents. Fare is posted as $20 each way.

You may be asking yourselves: “Why? Why do you want to go to New York when anything one could ever want is right here in this quaint, unincorporated town?” Here are some thoughts.

1. Cuisine. Those who know me know how much I love food, and in NYC, they have restaurants that feature cuisine from all over the world. From Burma to Ethiopia to simple bangers & mash from our former opressors across the pond.

2. A diverse population. Walk through the city streets and hear languages that you can’t even place, much less understand. And that includes whatever the homeless guy with the sign is mumbling.

3. Combative driving. You can hop in a cab almost anywhere and scream through the streets amid aggressive drivers all jam packed in crowded roadways in dire need of getting somewhere. And lots of honking. Or drive yourself and break whatever rules you want.

4. Subway/Public Transport. Now with the great smell of urine! And no bother with the annoyance of broken escalators (translation: stairs): New York manages those inflated expectations by providing good ol’ stationary concrete steps.

5. Highfalutin Shopping. It’s fancy, expensive, and all in one place. And it’s NOT Chevy Chase.

Yes, a bit of irony on this stormy Wednesday. Our little town has much of that, and that’s why we love it so. But I do love going to New York (though it was much better before Giuliani stripped Times Square of its character). It’s always new and the same and different. And the cabs are cheap. (Repeat after me: “I hate Barwood.”)

See you at Wayne & Dixon.

EDIT: Props to Silver Spring Singular, who notes that the Washington Deluxe Web site says the route leaves from the “Silver Springs” metro. Classic.