An unexpected moment of spontaneous community recently took over Washington Square Park in New York — all thanks to a simple idea by one man. According to the reports by New York Post, it began when a 75‑year‑old performer known as Bob Terry (also going by “Breaking Bob”) distributed flyers inviting passersby to join him for a five‑minute cigarette smoke break at the park. What he initially expected to be a modest gathering ballooned into a massive crowd of roughly 2,500 people. 

Bob is a longtime actor and comedian, and he’s affiliated with the comedy collective Old Jewish Men. In promoting his event, he plastered flyers around the city — each featuring his photo, a map to Washington Square Park, and even a QR code promising a free cigarette to anyone who reserved a spot ahead of time. 

What began as a quirky, somewhat tongue‑in‑cheek invite evolved into something far bigger: a true city‑wide spectacle and a spontaneous moment of communal bonding and shared absurdity. By the designated time, people from all walks of life — students, skaters, office workers, longtime smokers and curious onlookers — gathered in a dense, smoke‑filled circle, all waiting for Bob to light the first cigarette.

As Bob ignited that first cigarette, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic chants of “Bob! Bob! Bob!” He handed out custom lighters, posed for selfies, signed cigarette packs, and in that moment became a sort of unlikely local celebrity. Music played, people cheered — it was almost festival‑like in its absurdity and intimacy. 

Interestingly, even while celebrating this unusual reunion, Bob used the occasion to deliver a message: he encouraged smokers to cut back and urged non‑smokers not to start. Despite being a lifelong smoker who still consumes about half a pack of Marlboro Reds each day, he described this gathering as “a force for good” — a social media attempt to foster connection rather than divisions. 

Media outlets varied slightly in their estimates: some placed the crowd at around 1,500 people, while others reported as many as 2,500. But regardless of the exact figure, the event clearly struck a chord — transforming an everyday habit (a quick smoke break) into a collective, shared moment that resonated widely online and IRL.

What’s perhaps most remarkable is how this arose not from a celebrity stunt or a commercial promotion, but from a simple flyer and one elderly man’s invite. It underscores the unpredictable power of social media and human curiosity — and the way even a mundane act can become symbolic of community, connection, and shared humanity.