Saturday, April 14, 2012

NYC - New Day, New Joys

The first sound I heard this Saturday morning in Manhattan was neither sirens nor the steady hum of traffic that fills weekdays, but the distinctive sound of hooves clopping on the street below. It was slightly surreal, that simple sound, echoing alone, where there is typically a cacophonous symphony of competing noises.

The juxtaposition of (1) steel and concrete soaring improbably into the sky with (2) the simplest forms of transportation is astonishing. In one block there are the hastening feet of pedestrians, the daredevil antics of bicycle messengers, the roving pedicabs and the horse-drawn carriages.

Vying with them for space are, of course, the ubiquitous yellow cabs, the limos, police cars, fire engines, delivery trucks, local news vans and assorted other mechanized vehicles. While there are certainly many personal vehicles in operation, they are few in comparison to those sent into the streets by companies and government agencies. And, of course, below the streets the subways are moving people through the city. It’s level upon level of people in motion, however they achieve it.

From the sounds of the morning and the hurry-scurry of the streets, I entered the dark and magical realm of the Broadway stage this afternoon to enjoy “Clybourne Park.” I love the theatre and found this performance really well done. It’s no wonder this is a Pulitzer Prize winner. It is artfully written, well cast and staged and, ultimately, both entertaining and thought-provoking. There is a richness in the plotting and dialogue that would draw me back to see it again as I’m sure I missed nuances and would find it worthwhile a second or, perhaps, third time. The Tony Awards await.

The day is beautiful here and New Yorkers are out in full force to experience the pleasure of sunny skies and a warm, but near perfect temperature. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk to and from the theatre, sharing the sidewalks with mobs of other theatre-goers, as well as the ever-present tourists visiting Times Square. Though less chaotically noisy on a Saturday, the city was crowded this afternoon with people freed from weekday work mode roaming outside.

It was a perfect day for Central Park, but that will be another day, weather willing. I look forward to wandering through the green space there and enjoying the fruits of Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision. The Conservancy takes good care of Central Park now and this is the time of year when it draws New Yorkers into their own big “back yard.”

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