Category: New York

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For the Birds

Birds are Not on Lockdown. More of them chirping out our City window every day. A couple weeks ago, visiting BroJoe in Westchester, looked up to see a vivid red bird which was singing a beautiful song. Immediately recognized it as a Scarlet Tanager. Hadn’t seen one since a kid, but no confusing it with any other.   ( Photo –  NYTimes )

 

Bird watching is on the rise and in the news. A birder in Central Park had the audacity to ask a woman to leash her dog, and it’s become a national story about racial injustice. As Minneapolis burns.

Watching birds beats watching riots and Covid coverage even when they converge. Don Lemon on CNN last night was outraged that the protesters were not wearing masks and social distancing. Seriously.

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The Caranda

Sat in our parked car getting glorious sun through the roof, safely away from the crowds all over the UWS today.

As mAd Ben calls it our caranda. We even got a socially distanced visit from him!

 

It’s right in front of the brownstone that famously blooms with wisteria each Spring. At least that’s stayed the same. Felt almost human.

 

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Start Spreading Good News

Please! Last night at 7pm the neighborhood erupted as usual with cheering & clanging for the first responders & frontline workers. Then. Old Blue Eyes could be heard belting out his classic New York New York. Uplifting & wonderful. Couldn’t capture it but we heard it loud & clear.

New therapeutic drug on the cusp? Stock market green. We got steaks & potatoes from Fresh Direct! Have a few bottles of wine left. And. Corks on Columbus is re-opening. We’ll take it.

 

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Place Card

Sheltering in place. Day 10?

NY Gov Andrew Cuomo pre-empts The View. Which is fine. He is a leader and should run for President. Joe Dotard should step aside.

NJ Governor is a jerk and cuts into The Young & The Restless. My renewed few days on stationary bike have therefore withered away. Maybe today.

Celeste Ng’s novel has been made into a series on Hulu. It is great. Little Fires Everywhere. Kerry Washington is fabulous as is the whole cast.

Sappy & soppy but a feel-good diversion. American Idol. Where auditions and heart-break are still normal somewhere.   Just Sam!

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Side Effects

Coronavirus asymptomatic City isolation side effects.

Parents appreciate teachers every hour of the day.
Misanthropes actually missing people.
Alternate side parking rules suspended.
No traffic. But. No place to go.
Noisy workmen across the street now sound sweet.
Garbage grinding at dawn’ll be missed if gone.
Walks in Central Park a necessary luxury.
Restaurants’ take-out & delivery vital godsends.
Fresh Direct toilet paper scarcer than steak.
Bridezillas getting arrested for large weddings.
Dogs kinda quarantined with owners.

Some better than others.

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Can’t Cancel Spring

Spring will happen at 11:49. Looking out the window, I spy an empty bus on Central Park West. A group of young people hugging and taking selfiies, oblivious to social distancing. But. They are the only ones on the sidewalk. A random car or cab appears on the vacant street. Kids are crying below as parents work to find a happy activity on our abandoned block. And. We are only in early days. But. Hey. It’s going to be 70 degrees and the blooms are still popping in the Park.

Perfect read for this mindset:
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles.

Perfect painting. They can’t cancel Spring.   David Hockney:

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Bon Hiver

So far a dreary gray warm season. Today clear crisp sunny and cold. Finally feels like winter. Without the snow. Also it’s dreaded Valentine’s Day. Hardly knew it was coming this year. Mike Bloomberg’s ads are so frequent they’ve taken over the airwaves. So. No pajama-gram or teddy bear spots. Yay. And. It’s his birthday. I know. Obsessed.

In other good news. Ray Donovan is resurrected from cancellation to have a finale. Plus. Tiger is playing in his own tournament. Pretty well.

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Magic Mike

Leave your hats on. No tear-off chaps. Mini-Mike has his own magic. Lots and lots of cash. Street smarts. Success in private and public sectors. But. Delusional Democrats who profess to care only about beating Trump are writing, and heckling, and scorning his stop-and-frisk and red-lining history. Okay. Maybe some of his words were untoward.

If Bloomberg doesn’t pass the purity test, who’s left? Sorry guys. If he’s not perfect enough you’ll get 4 more years of Trump.

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Women’s March 2020

Different perspectives. As always. What are they marching about in 2020? Better to be working for Mayor Mike. Or. Somebody who can win. This year snow and bitter wind kept them all away. Only saw an empty CPW with the exception of a bunch of cold cops.

Nancy Pelosi was a little too thrilled about impeaching Trump on Bill Maher’s show. Gloating never a good look. Even if her suit was. Maybe it’s because she’ll soon be Prez if she can get rid of Pence, too.