The black and white version is more graphical than vintage. The anniversary decorations stick out like 3D objects. This kind of visual hook makes us look again to figure it out, which is a sign of an effective photo. For the black and white version, I'd get rid of the plug and the box. They are visual bothers that don't add to the composition in monochrome, IMHO.
And yes, thinking about B&W before capture is important. But there are two pathways. You will, as you keep at it, see scenes that you know would do well in B&W, and can capture them with that end in mind. Still, there are also scenes that you discover as you are doing your basic editing, and it dawns on you that a crop or rendition of an image is worth converting to see what it looks like in monochrome. So always be alert to both: the on-site spotting and intentional capture, and also the discovery of hidden gems!