"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom it was the age of foolishness ..... In short, the period was so far like the present...."
So begins Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities, about London and Paris. Yet, there is a tale of two cities in New York alone.
Moving to SoHo we were astounded by the lifestyle around us. Architectural elegance from the late 1800s infuses our neighborhood, and the ground floors glow with art galleries, retail stores, and luxury brands. We can walk to dozens of restaurants; from white table cloth to comfort bistros to Halal food carts. We are connected to world-class museums, theaters, parks, and transportation hubs though subway stations a few blocks of us.
On the Upper East and West Sides, in Greenwich Village, and in the new condo towers being built all over the city live families with old New York money, the nouveau riche Wall Street traders and corporate executives, and international elites with their ill-gotten gains.
If you want to get into the weeds, check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/nyregion/stream-of-foreign-wealth-flows-to-time-warner-condos.html
However, our walks in all five boroughs, through commercial districts and residential neighborhoods, we've seen the other tale of the city. In the Bronx, not far from where we walked, murders are common, and a policeman I spoke with described the crack addition and gangs that brought dangers to everyone in that area. Robin felt particularly uneasy as a white blond chick from California. However, growing up in the 'hood, I was struck by families shopping, friends conversing on the street in their own patois, and children playing. They were economic prisoners trapped in a neighborhood where I'm sure they felt equally unsafe after dark.
And one doesn't need to go to the Bronx to see this other economic tale. Along the streets of our SoHo neighborhood homeless people shelter in doorways wrapped in old rags under plastic garbage bags. On garbage pick-up day old Chinese men and women, with worry-worn faces, scavenge the recyclables for plastic bottles or cans; their elderly bodies bent under the weight of sacks hanging from long poles - like a third world country. And others sleep in the corner of subway cars to get out of the cold, with their possessions stacked around them, or politely apologize for interrupting our ride with their plea for a little financial assistance.
Besides the tale of income inequality in New York, there is also the tale of two social interactions. From our first week here we've been impressed with how friendly and helpful New Yorkers are. On the west coast there's a style of friendliness: "oh, let's do lunch", and they are never heard from again. Or after an invite to your home there's no RSVP or commitment to show up - "sorry we got busy". New Yorkers are polite, but refreshingly straight talkers. And if you're on the street looking confused, a complete stranger will approach to help you with directions, oblivious to race, income, and gender. More than elsewhere we experience, "excuse me", salesclerk smiles, doors held open, and general courtesy like offering seats on the subway, which are a balm to the intensity of a crowded city.
However, Robin recently discovered a different social interaction in the working world. Robin has an office in WeWorks, a co-officing environment occupied primarily by millennial entrepreneurs. The collegial atmosphere she's used to in her previous companies are replaced by suspicion and evasiveness by those trying to get ahead - as many are in New York. On free booze Thursdays that WeWorks sponsors in Seattle the youngin's all hang out together in the common area and share war stories and swap strategies. In her office on West Broadway, New York they grab their drinks and head back to their one room office alone. While we don't have direct experience with Wall Street or financial offices we can only imagine the dog eat dog world of business there.
Age of Wisdom
Well, at least not denial, and some progress on Climate Change
Age of Foolishness
So begins Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities, about London and Paris. Yet, there is a tale of two cities in New York alone.
Moving to SoHo we were astounded by the lifestyle around us. Architectural elegance from the late 1800s infuses our neighborhood, and the ground floors glow with art galleries, retail stores, and luxury brands. We can walk to dozens of restaurants; from white table cloth to comfort bistros to Halal food carts. We are connected to world-class museums, theaters, parks, and transportation hubs though subway stations a few blocks of us.
Saks Fifth Ave Christmas Display Window
Bergdorf Goodman's Jewelry Display near the Plaza Hotel
On the Upper East and West Sides, in Greenwich Village, and in the new condo towers being built all over the city live families with old New York money, the nouveau riche Wall Street traders and corporate executives, and international elites with their ill-gotten gains.
If you want to get into the weeds, check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/nyregion/stream-of-foreign-wealth-flows-to-time-warner-condos.html
Residential Tower by Frank Gehry in Fi Di
New Residential Tower in SoHo
Tallest Residential in NYC at Central Park
Upper Unit sold for $60m to Saudi Prince - as a shell
We seldom see the ultra-wealthy as they swiftly move from doorman protected entries into black limos that whisk them away. But we see the shadows of their existence: the dog walkers and the immigrant nannies.
Dog Walkers in Central Park
Immigrant Nanny in Central Park
And one doesn't need to go to the Bronx to see this other economic tale. Along the streets of our SoHo neighborhood homeless people shelter in doorways wrapped in old rags under plastic garbage bags. On garbage pick-up day old Chinese men and women, with worry-worn faces, scavenge the recyclables for plastic bottles or cans; their elderly bodies bent under the weight of sacks hanging from long poles - like a third world country. And others sleep in the corner of subway cars to get out of the cold, with their possessions stacked around them, or politely apologize for interrupting our ride with their plea for a little financial assistance.
Homeless riding subway
Doorway in SoHo
Besides the tale of income inequality in New York, there is also the tale of two social interactions. From our first week here we've been impressed with how friendly and helpful New Yorkers are. On the west coast there's a style of friendliness: "oh, let's do lunch", and they are never heard from again. Or after an invite to your home there's no RSVP or commitment to show up - "sorry we got busy". New Yorkers are polite, but refreshingly straight talkers. And if you're on the street looking confused, a complete stranger will approach to help you with directions, oblivious to race, income, and gender. More than elsewhere we experience, "excuse me", salesclerk smiles, doors held open, and general courtesy like offering seats on the subway, which are a balm to the intensity of a crowded city.
However, Robin recently discovered a different social interaction in the working world. Robin has an office in WeWorks, a co-officing environment occupied primarily by millennial entrepreneurs. The collegial atmosphere she's used to in her previous companies are replaced by suspicion and evasiveness by those trying to get ahead - as many are in New York. On free booze Thursdays that WeWorks sponsors in Seattle the youngin's all hang out together in the common area and share war stories and swap strategies. In her office on West Broadway, New York they grab their drinks and head back to their one room office alone. While we don't have direct experience with Wall Street or financial offices we can only imagine the dog eat dog world of business there.
Cute photo with Santa! Hope you're having a lovely last couple weeks. I like Gehry! We saw a cool building of his in Minneapolis and I'm pretty sure I sent it. He reminds me of Gaudi, but more angular. I'm interested in anyone who has a new idea or way of expressing his/her creativity -- even if not exactly to my liking.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the New Yorkers in Robin's WeWorks taking their drinks back to the cubicles. That's just weird! I'd be inclined to go after them and say directly, "Hey, Dude, I'd like to meet you and chat during this "Happy Hour!' I wonder what they would do? Would they say, "Buzz off; Get lost; I like my singularity?"
Evan organizes similar events for his company and others in same space. The biggest problem there is... the other groups are more than happy to imbibe -- but contribute little and don't clean up! Evan has become quite direct in handing this.
I liked the Age of Wisdom/Age of Foolishness pics. So appropriate. I actually know someone who "likes Trump because he's not politically correct!" Needless to say, I correct her.
Lots of disparities in big city life (and even smaller town life) all over the world. The photos document the reality we all see. Just finished a nonfiction book, Behind the Beautiful Forevers--Life and Death in a Mumbai Under City. Whew! The homeless anywhere in America are better off. You'd like this book. Reportage that reads like a novel.
Sad to see suffering anywhere. The Bible says (quoted from your Bible-thumping sister!) "The Poor will always be with us." I have no doubt about that, no matter what we do. Still, good to try, which is an Evanston specialty!
Live it up these last few days in NYC. I'll look for you in the crowds at Times Square, if you get there. Guess you didn't get to experience "winter," as you'd hoped! It was almost 60ยบ here yesterday. Today sunny and more normal thirties. No snow. A full moon expected on Christmas night -- first since 1977, I read. Go out and look for the fat man and his sleigh, crossing in front of it. Merry Christmas to all!