Brooklyn Beauties

No Mo' Drama

Tuesday, September 2, 2008, Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Ok so first of all, just to address something: Brooklyn Beauties is DRAMA Free! Or at least we try to be :)
And now on to the real post.

Recently I've realized that so many ladies stay out late on weeknights and weekends and then need to find their own way home, myself included here. Maybe it's the unofficial recession, maybe it's the great late summer/early fall crisp in the air at night or whatever but I am always compelled to take a stroll home if possible instead of waiting for shitty public transportation. I do say shitty because 1. I live off the G and 2. After like 10 pm the buses come once a freaking hour, especially the B43.
So I thought I would put up some tips for the ladies out there who are partying hard and attempting to make it home in one piece! I'm not in any way suggesting I am some kind of authority on safety, but you know a little extra knowledge never hurt anyone.

1. Try not to walk alone. If you can, take a buddy home. Tee Hee, no not like that! If you, say are at your girlfriend's house and she lives, lets say off of Nassau near McGuinness and you want to head back up Manhattan Ave to your place. Try to see if anyone else is heading that way and then the two of you can head home together.

2. Have an IN CASE of EMERGENCY contact in your phone. In case anything should happen to you, even just passing out, a concerned party can take a look in your phone and call the ICE number. Make sure this is a person who will always take your calls and is a super good friend or a boyfriend or a roommate. That way when they get the call they can come help you out. You probably want to run this by the person you put as your emergency contact, just so they know.

3. Have a person you can call on your walk home. Sometimes when I get that chill in the back of my neck, I take my mobile out and make a call. Usually to the person I'm heading to meet. If you're heading home, try to call your roommate or whoever you live with. If you are heading out, try to call the people you are meeting up with. If it's a long walk, call a friend you haven't spoken to in a while, I'm sure we all have one of those. I always feel a little better knowing I have a person on the other line who can hear what I'm doing. You might want to also mention what blocks you are near, in case that person needs to make an emergency phone call, they'll know right where you are at!

4. If you are walking and a person looks a a little shady, head to the other side of the street. Take a a look ahead and behind you when you're alone to keep abreast of your surroundings. If you see a "creeper" head to the other side of the block and maybe they won't be so keen to bug you.

5. Here is a little hint I love. I'm not sure I'm ever fooling anyone, but sometimes when I'm walking alone and I don't want to call anyone but I just want to make sure nobody bothers me on the way, I take my phone out and pretend to get a call. Oh I really go the whole nine with this, I tell the "person" what I just did, what I've been doing all week, my hopes, my dreams...ok not all that lame stuff, but it helps if you think of a friend you would call, tell them what you'd tell them if you really had them on the line.

6. Keep your keys in your hand. Violence is something I've never had to resort to but this does help me in a bind to get a little extra courage. If you're walking and you get creeped out, take out your keys and hold them in your fist. If you need to get violent, you've got a fist full of sharp metal.

7. If you make a habit of walking alone late at night, you should probably invest in some keychain accessories. Not the kind they have at claire's, but a lot of places sell small keychain mace's and pepper sprays that won't hurt anyone to carry on your key ring. Some of them will be disguised as a pen or have a funky case so it doesn't appear to be a weapon. Prices range, looks like most are between $6 and $20.

8. Put the precinct in your cell phone. Not that this will get you a response faster than 911 in an emergency, but if you want to give a call to someone and it's not an urgent call, call up the local precinct. That way they can respond to your location quickly, or answer any questions you might have in a bind. Precinct 94 on Meserole is (718) 383-3879. They respond to a lot of calls in Williamsburg as well. The 90th Precinct is at Union Ave and can be reached at (718) 963-5311.

9. Try not to make a spectacle of yourself! If you know you are going to be walking alone, keep to yourself, look at your surroundings and keep quiet. If you are making a lot of noise, i.e. snazzy new high heels, you will draw attention to yourself. I know that's the reason you bought them, but you want that attention at a bar or a party, not at 2 AM on the street.

10. Make an effort to think and be safe. The mind is a powerful thing. If you think about your surroundings, think about yourself as being safe. Grab those keys and head home. Always be aware of the surrounding area but don't be afraid to walk home! Keep your head out for noise and other people and use your head. If you are heading out for the night make a good call and know the neighborhood. If you think you might feel unsafe heading home, give a call to a taxi. Ask your fellow party or bar-goers for the local taxi number and you won't regret those $10 you spent on getting yourself home safe. I've heard of this drunk driving number where you can call them and they will pick you up and it's cheaper than a cab, but here in the city cabs are probably your best bet.

Well these are just some tips to keep in mind on your way home. Don't keep your ipod loud or on even, if you're not feeling safe. Call a friend and keep your ears out.
Have fun out there ladies and keep safe!

Labels: Boozy Nights, Drama, Ladies, Safety

1 comments

1 Comments:

I especially like the call your imaginary friend suggestion...yay beauties no dramarama!

By karina, at September 2, 2008 6:29 PM