An astute follower has reported to me an error in the post below. She is correct. The sentence should read this way:

Protests & Celebrations – we attended many, walking for miles sometimes, in good weather and bad; the best was the day Donald Trump’s defeat in 2020 was announced, absolutely the best.

Has been corrected below. Apologies.

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As I work on a new writing project, I have revisited posts from my now-removed blog, AutumnInNewYork, covering the period from early 2018, very soon after we moved there, to late 2020 when we returned to the Washington DC area. I have been reminded of the many extraordinary experiences we had in New York, many of which I posted about, but all of which remain firmly and vividly etched in my memories of that glorious and horrific (the pandemic) time. The list is long. We miss it every day.

Continuum Contemporary/Ballet – seeing them at Bryant Park in the spring of 2018 converted me to a lover of classical ballet.

New York City Ballet & American Ballet Theater- extraordinary in every way

Alvin Ailey – the studio was a few blocks from our apartment; my wife took lessons there; you could, on some lucky days, stop by and look through the gaps in the window covers to watch the lessons, often attended by professionals whose grace and power marked them from the majority of amateurs there for the exercise; it was not uncommon to see a ballerina or male dancer on the street—they had a distinctive way of walking and were obviously in perfect physical condition.

Central Park – a ten-minute walk from our apartment; our salvation during the COVID horror and always uplifting and interesting; no better place for people watching. And for observing the mystery of the Mandarin Duck who left us too soon. And Barry the Barred Owl, may she rest in peace.

High Line – a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side, a lovely place to walk on a sunny day with flowers and other interesting displays.

World Trade Center – the new complex and accompanying memorials to 9/11 are a must-do, along with the Oculus; spectacular views from the top.

Jazz Clubs – New York City remains the epicenter of jazz music and culture in America. Some (Jazz Standard) were killed off by the pandemic, but the Village Vanguard, Dizzy’s Club, Smoke, Birdland, and Blue Note were regular visits for us.

Special Places – Nuyorican Poets Café, the ultimate in basic (folding chairs for the audience; get your own drinks; platform stage with a mike) but we had an amazing experience of slam poetry there one evening, highlighted by L.J. Hamilton who later posted on Facebook about our encounter that night:

The winning point for me was when an elderly White gentleman came up to me afterwards and shook my hand and said “You should be published. You have the most powerful voice and words I’ve ever heard.”

Being that my first piece was on racial profiling, racism, and injustice, and my second piece was on domestic violence, I definitely appreciate him actually acknowledging and appreciating my work.

A sample of Hamilton’s remarkable voice can be heard at https://tinyurl.com/2p9y4aus but buckle up first.

Street Fairs – entire avenues would be shut down to accommodate these massive affairs, often involving elaborate musical/dance performances along with seemingly endless booths of food, clothing, and random stuff.

Parades – Labor Day parade of unions, Macy’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Feast of San Gennaro, Chinese New Year.

Christmas Lights – often freezing with massive crowds, but oh so spectacular displays on department and specialty stores along the avenues.

Protests & Celebrations – we attended many, walking for miles sometimes, in good weather and bad; the best was the day Donald Trump’s defeat in 2020 was announced, absolutely the best.

Zoos & Gardens – Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo

Museums –9/11 Memorial, MOMA (Modern Art), Natural History, Moving Image, Guggenheim, Art, Pierpont Morgan Library, Whitney.

Broadway Shows – all the great ones.

Buildings – many reflective surfaces creating art within the skyscrapers; from our windows, the twin towers of Time Warner Center on one side, the Empire State Building on the other; and the Hudson River and … and ….

Restaurants – many unusual places (Mari Vanna – Eastern European/Russian), Bricco – great family-owned Italian place where the owner kissed all the women goodbye (inexplicably out of business one day); Kalustyan’s (food from dozens of countries), DeGrezia, lovely upscale Italian (killed by the pandemic); Grand Central Oyster Bar; New York hot dogs, Zabar’s (bagels and lox).

Sounds & Weather – rushing, traffic, ambulances, fire engines … always; weather changing every few blocks.

Special Experiences – Late Show w/Stephen Colbert, NBC Studios, NY Philharmonic Orchestra streaming.

New Yorkers – a special breed; but not what you think; impatient but not unhelpful; many instances of kindness shown.

Pandemic – unimaginable that literally thousands of people in the city were dying each day; we lived next door to Mt Sinai West Hospital; ambulances around the clock; death and despair everywhere; evenings participating in shouting out the windows/banging pots/applauding, displays of appreciation and affection for the hospital workers risking and often sacrificing their lives for everyone else; six weeks of lock down. With help, we survived.