I do love New York. But thanks to Covid, I hadn’t been to visit it for two years. Last week I had my first big post-Covid adventure and went to my high school reunion in the city.
New York is in a constant state of crumbling and rising, disintegrating and reemerging. Like the rest of the world, I suppose. It’s just that in New York, it’s more obvious.
What did I feel about the city after two-plus years? I love the Upper West Side, but there are parts of it that are messier than ever: trash bags ripped open and spread all over the sidewalk, dog feces, a once productive community garden destroyed and turned into a mattress dump, a rat. In some places, I had a sense of New York saying, “OK, I give up!”
In the midst of all that, though, are the mothers leaving the projects holding the hands of their small children to get them safely to school, babies watching pigeons and laughing, workers going to work whether they feel like it or not. And right up against the trash and disintegration is the pristine haven of Central Park, where people from every walk of life are enjoying nature and enjoying being with other people from every walk of life who are enjoying nature. And dog lovers are throwing balls for happy, well-cared-for dogs.
Note the endurance of a small business below — a liquor store, no less — and its playful effort to grab your attention. Note the adaptability of Covid-era restaurants, almost every one of which has an air-circulating shed that looks ratty by day and magical after dark.
I wake in the night to the racket of something or other on Upper Broadway and roll over with a smile on my face. It’s the Lullaby of Broadway.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Great photos! Looks like a very fun trip. I really like the look of the restaurant patio. We’re waiting for daffodils here; next week?
I was skeptical about those restaurant sheds until I saw one wall opened and the whole thing lit up.
Looks so cute and inviting!
Lovely post, especially photos, of your post-Covid train trip 😊
It was definitely time for a change of scene. Covid was making me feel like a hamster in a cage.
Yes. It is. It’s good that you went on the train trip.
What a joy to see your pictures of NYC. It has been many years since we were last there. In fact it was the week that Al Gore lost the election to George W Bush. The whole city was depressed!
Penn station looks wonderful. Thank you.
It’s a high-energy place. You should visit again. Different kinds of canyons, but still impressive!
A city of extremes. I love it, too.
One can’t ignore the dark side, but I choose to focus on the aspects that make me happy.
Every place has its dark side, even rural communities.
❤️
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Do you love New York?