Monday, January 11, 2010

No Pants Subway Ride

Yesterday was Improv Everywhere's 9th Annual No Pants Subway Ride!
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Thousands of people came out in the cold to take their pants off and ride the trains with a straight face.
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Sneaking a peak!
Totally caught this girl sneaking a peak ;)
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I would say only in New York but this event happened in 43 cities around the world!

Would you feel comfortable dropping your pants in public?

77 comments:

PatMinNYC said...

Nice set of pics! It was tough for me to adhere to the rule about picture taking as a participant but I was very discreet when on the trains and kept my camera packed away. Posted some pics to Picasa when I got home. A fun day with some co-worker friends who were not at all uncomfortable about dropping their pants ;-)

JustChristine said...

I wish I could have participated this year - I was a part of the 7th No-Pants Subway Ride in NYC. Kept up my story the whole time: "I'm going to my parents' to do laundry. My pants were WAY too dirty to wear in public!" Met a random guy in Union Square who was taking pictures, and trying to see if he could get me to break character but I never did. Gave him my card and a week after the event he e-mailed me the picture he took of me and asked me if I ever made it to my parents' to wash my pants!

Geezees Custom Canvas Art said...

Maybe if it were a little warmer...lol

liz song mandell said...

awesome pics! i soo wished i could've gone in SF. *sigh...* next year. ;) hope you got LOTS of LAUGHS.

Charmalade said...

I'm such a wuss for cringing at these pictures-- how cold those legs must be! And here I am wearing tights under my pants, forget no pants!

Love the photo with the sneaky, sneaky girl. x)

melifaif said...

Nope, couldn't do it! But, I do love to people watch! Hello.

Anonymous said...

Yes! I did it in Chicago and it was so much fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peeOLmPfdq4

Tine said...

Haha! I first read it here (not even 24 minutes ago) and now I see it on dutch television, in the news for kids! (Youth News)

colormekatie said...

so funny!

Erin said...

Maybe after months of working out!

Ilya Chigirev said...

I absolutely would, and did, feel comfortable dropping my pants. Though it does help to be surrounded by a few hundred pantless friends!
Great pictures!

Tessa said...

that is so great!
love the sneak peak pic. rawr!
you photos inspire.

Formerly known as Frau said...

There is no way....and people should thank me for that! I would love to witness just once an improv happening! Happy New Year!

Meg said...

i would absolutely drop my pants for an event like this! there's nothing better than stirring a little fun into people's everyday lives :) i'd have to choose my skivvies carefully though!

Jenni said...

I totally wouldn't feel comfortable doing this but I'd love ot see it live. These photos are awesome! Such a funny thing.

LHadgis said...

I think this is hilarious! If I had legs like most of the women I saw in the youtube video then I definitely would participate! Something to strive for, perhaps?

colormekatie said...

It's so fun to see it live! People's reactions are hilarious =)

Post Grad Hair Cut said...

Probably not! And oh my so cold. I love it though. I love this series. It really shows the fun-loving side of New York.

Unknown said...

Gah!!! I soooooo wanted to go to the one held in Phoenix, AZ! Hopefully someone in Phoenix reads this that has pics and provides a link!

Great job Katie!

Shawn

C'est La Vie said...

That is SO hilarious, I would have loved to be there!

Dodo said...

I would probably joined in, if I got a nice set of underwear that doesn't show off things people shouldn't see xD

steph anne said...

Phoenix, AZ did it and here's the article:
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Global-no-pants-subway-ride/3YpIZCV3C0iE5LSUn37gXA.cspx

Hundewanderer said...

I would totally participate. I missed this in Phoenix. I live NW of the Phx area. A friend of mine caught some no pants day participants on video in their hometown of Portland. Looks like fun to me :o)

Anonymous said...

Hilarious! My friend joined in yesterday but I can't even imagine... it was SO cold!

Stevi said...

HAHAHA! That is so great! Now I have another thing I need to do before I die. I love how that girl was sneaking a peak.

Christie said...

So, Did you do it? ;)
Not sure if I could; maybe!

Anonymous said...

some more from chicago
http://chicagoist.com/2010/01/11/improv_everywheres_no_pants_train_f.php

linnykins said...

I think that it would be awesome if this happened in NZ! I may participatate if I knew that a whole bunch of other people were going to do so, too :)

krissy said...

They did it in Toronto and it made the evening news! I thought it was just a Toronto thing until I read your blog.

Not sure I could do it though. I like to think I could but in the end I'm probably too shy.

Courtney Jane said...

There is something incredibly liberating about public nudity or being publicly taboo.

Although I don't have the guts, I envy those who can do so in confidence.

I did wear a very short pair of shorts last summer in Mexico.

and... I still feel guilty about it.

;)

Jenifer said...

I didn't hear about this until last night on the news... the ONE day we don't take MAX (our light rail system here in Portland, OR). I was laughing so hard when I saw the clips last night. Fantastic! Don't know if I would have participated, but I certainly would have gone as a photographer had I known. I will have to keep an eye out for next year's date. Absolutely BRILLIANT idea! :)

Dori said...

This made the BBC news! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8451565.stm

Sue said...

Not! This would so freak me out, I wouldn't know where to look...or not to.

Sue

Hannah said...

Lol. I don't know if I would do that.

Unknown said...

I could never do it, but I would think it was hilarious if I saw it!

[my word verification is butson--ha ha!]

maryse said...

I would have loved to take photos of the event but as it happened, I was occupied with work. Sadness! Maybe next year!

Improv Everywhere!!! Woooo!

BPremo said...

That's so funny! I don't think I'd feel comfortable, but mainly because of how cold my patooty would be!

Jen said...

Great pics! I know about Improv Everywhere, but I had no idea they did events outside of NYC! I was super surprised to hear my dad come home from work telling me about a bunch of pantsless people in downtown SF, CA!

The Kid In The Front Row said...

You know, I wear no pants on the subway every day of the year, but I get so much hassle from people. Yesterday, I finally felt understood. I wish people were more understanding all year round.

Laraine said...

I did this yesterday in LA! Although we were having 75-degree weather, so it wasn't as intense!

Unknown said...

No I would not. People don't need to be seeing that. lol I know you get alot of comments but thought I would take a shot and see if you might read this. Loving your blog. You are very creative. I am hosting an art giveaway that you might be interested in. Stop by when you have a chance to take a peek.
Blessings
Diane

Ilana said...

I wouldn't have hesitated for a moment, but we don't have subways in Israel :(
I was in my room when my mom called from the living room, saying they were showing people in underwear in NY on the news. So of course I came here to confirm that indeed it was IE.
I love it, and if anyone asked me why I had no pants, I would've said that all the pants I own are too thin for this weather!

Katie said...

i dont think i could keep a straight face... in fact i KNOW i couldn't keep a straight face. i would just want to laugh and give high fives to everyone who was running around pants-less with me!

Kelli said...

This is HILARIOUS!!!

colormekatie said...

@ ScottChrisCoriCassiCali - I couldn't participate because I had to be discreet while photographing. But I did wear super fun undies in honor of the day! ;)

Ivan Chung said...

haha, i saw the news in my local newspaper.... good job....

Ivan Chung said...

by the way.... the newspaper was published in Malaysia...

Alyssa said...

haha thats brilliant!

I dont think I could do it....

Raptor Plateado said...

hey I see on prodigy
http://estilos.prodigy.msn.com/galeria.aspx?cp-documentid=23230090&page=9
on this page is a note of what happened
Congratulations on everything went well! I hope I have been very cold

nancy said...

love it! would definitely do it. though i live in a small village and it might not go over so well. plus we don't have a subway. i don't even think i could hitch a ride with the Mennonites around here without pants on. might be worth a try, though. hmmmmm...

Texasholly said...

uh...no. Fun pics.

3StinkyBoysAndMe said...

my... my... my... I would have loved to been there! Great and fun pics!

kimbirdy said...

We totally did this last year!

see pics here: http://fillyourwell.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-pants-saturday.html

Unfortunately we were not around for it this year. It's so much fun though I can't wait to do it again next year!

Vanessa said...

Hi Katie, you might get this a lot but I still wanted to let you know:
I awarded your blog with the Kreativ Blogger Award on my blog :)

Mariella said...

I wouldn't be able to participate in that... LOL. :)

Anonymous said...

Yikes!

Rachel said...

Those are some great snaps! Caught 'em right when their eyes met the absurdity! I can really read their minds in those precious moments caught on film!

Asmaputri said...

hey! Im from Singapore. There was an article about this in our local paper yesterday!

haha great job you guys!

and love e pics!

:)

Anonymous said...

Today I they definitely talked about this on my hometown radio of Kamloops BC Canada!! They mentioned Improv Everywhere and everything! It gave me a great laugh

becci said...

it looks like such fun!

Anonymous said...

In Berlin, it must be a thong in order to ride for free...my conservative parents got stuck in the middle of that during our trip there (I had to detour to Washington D.C., the hung out in Berlin...with many stories to tell and laugh about.) How fun! :)

Classic Passion said...

I have not seen this in London yet, and dont know if I want to.

thanks for the great pics

wishful nals said...

hahah, i love it!!!

ingrid said...

so funny. But isn't COLD? It's freezing now.

Melinda said...

haha, that woulda freaked me out. LOVE improv everywhere!

LaRee Burch said...

I saw some photos on AP and I immediately thought you would definitely have a post about it! Love your photos. I need to live closer so I can take part in this stuff!

Dani said...

my friend did this, i think in LA. it's funny but i dunno if i could do it myself!

Unknown said...

You probably already know this, but they did a segment on the no pants day on the Bonnie Hunt show! You guys are making quite the impression...so funny!

Kitty Stampede said...

What an excellent photo op. I would love to see this. Not in this weather though...there would be some major shrinkage going on..don't think the men could stand it..hahah.
I don't think I would feel too comfy.

Anonymous said...

No subways where I live in the heartland, but I did hear a brief news report about it on a local radio station - which means it must have hit the AP. Very cool!!

Sarah said...

Im from Perth (in Australia) there was a picture in the paper on monday. no one in my family could believe anyone would go out in the snow and do this.
looks like everyone had a ball, that guy in the third photo looks a tiny bit scared though

mabsmith said...

Ahh, if only we had subways in Florida!

Anonymous said...

Uh. . . no. Me neither. I usually LOVE your art and the improv stunts, but as for this one? I don't think I would even ride the train that day!

Jen of MadeByGirl said...

This is HILARIOUS...Only in NYC...i love my hometown!

Jen Ramos
'Cards & Prints You'll Love...'
www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com

Brianna Terese said...

Haha! Have you guys come to Chicago yet?! (: I'd only do it if I was a part of that movement. I wouldn't dare be the only crazy person without pants on in public! Haha!

Lindsey said...

Never.

So glad this was only the gents.

Blindcopy said...

haha! if this would happen here in dubai they would spend a couple of days&nights in jail, pay a nice fine and would be (at best) thrown out of the country. yip, panties in public are a sensitive issue here. ;) nice pics!