This was a walk down memory lane for me! I was actually born in Astoria General Hospital. My family moved shortly thereafter and I grew up in Jamaica, Queens. I was very familiar with fire escapes in apartment buildings- they were a part of the scenery for me, even though I grew up in a single family house. Many of my friends lived in apartment buildings. I remember the smells from the various factories in our area- some not as nice as bread though. My family moved to Florida after I graduated HS, and I put the city life behind me. Some of my friends feel sorry for me, for growing up in the city, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Another thing I forgot to add: I loved reading the word "stoop" - I think only a New Yorker gets that term. When I was younger after dinner all the women used to "hang out on the stoop" after dinner. I guess it's the NY version of a front porch! 😁
wow great article--it brings back memories--of fire escapes both in NY and Chicago.
I remember that 2006 power outage (I was in the bronx & not so badly affected). Incidentally I was in a couple music videos shot in Silvercup, but I got to NY too late to remember its bakery days.
I would guess that the power lines bursting into flames (!) might have something to do with the incredibly heavy load they get now compared to when they were installed. Streaming in particular uses vast amounts of electricity. In Maine, the poles became too fragile to hold the heavier and heavier power lines even though they are regularly replaced when they start getting whittled (I mean that literally, they get skinnier and skinnier).
I lived in Brooklyn for four years then on Avenue B in the East Village off and on while continuing to work in NYC to make money. (Typesetters were not in big demand in Maine.) What I miss most about NYC is actual diversity (not wokey Maine diversity which reminds me of All in the Family: white, lily-white, off-white), FOOD -- if those hole in the wall restaurants are still able to exist -- and accessible culture. And what did I learn in NYC? How to stand up for myself, especially at work!
What do I miss? Two homeless guys pushing shopping carts with returnables meet each other on the street and BOW to each other.
The best thing like that that has ever happened to me in Maine is a man who sang opera to me and my foster daughter in the Italian grocery in Portland. Otherwise too many people are really boring!
Thanks for the vivid descriptions. Where I lived in Pittsburgh, the smell every day all day was from Iron City Beer, so it all depended if you loved or hated the smell of brewing beer. I do not miss that it was as hot and humid at night when you were trying to sleep as it was during the day.
Good point on the overloaded power grid, which is across the whole country, and we're going to add electric cars with no upgrades? Let alone the power plants are still totally unprotected from an Electromagnetic Pulse, (EMP), attack. Nuclear weapon doesn't need to hit a city. Just detonate above and everything electronic is fried! Would have cost a few billion years ago to harden all the plants. Never done.
Thanks, David...and yeah, I'll take aroma over beer smell any day of the week. As for your second paragraph, well...I really wish I had something useful or a counterpoint to share.
Wow, I can smell the bread now (even though I'm supposed to eat gluten-free.) In downtown Buffalo, we smell Cheerios. No joke, they really are making Cheerios there and it smells like cake.
Reading this blog, I was conflicted. I felt a sense of envy on the one hand, as NYC could be such a fun and exciting place to be. But on the other hand, I thought of the v passports, the 5G towers, and the tyranny imposed on people over there.
If I tried to sleep on a fire escape, I'd probably fall off, lol...
Funny how you wrote also about a new normal. Maybe we do need to go back to nature and wean ourselves off of the Powers that Shouldn't Be, become independent of this system. But gosh, that's so hard to do! I've been talking about it with other people now for 2 1/2 years but it just stops with our talking about it...
Meri, I love this reaction...every word of it. I appreciate how you zeroed in on how paradoxical life is. And how important the small moments and pleasures are. Thank you.
I was in NYC from Nashville to play the Bitter End during that heat wave. I stayed with a friend in the Village who had AC. I have never appreciated AC and an air mattress more. I remember this experience all the time but to see the date and remember the details just now was fun.
All my senses were engaged while reading this moving essay., ⚡️(+ruminations on Power, escapes, zombies...💜’d it)!
Thanks for making me smile ear to ear!
Power lines bursting into flame! Wow! I know we Americans take America for granted, but over- complexity makes for fragility, methinks.
You said it! Watching that happen is humbling to say the least.
This was a walk down memory lane for me! I was actually born in Astoria General Hospital. My family moved shortly thereafter and I grew up in Jamaica, Queens. I was very familiar with fire escapes in apartment buildings- they were a part of the scenery for me, even though I grew up in a single family house. Many of my friends lived in apartment buildings. I remember the smells from the various factories in our area- some not as nice as bread though. My family moved to Florida after I graduated HS, and I put the city life behind me. Some of my friends feel sorry for me, for growing up in the city, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Awww...thanks so much for such a heartfelt reply! I really appreciate it, Genevieve. 🙂
Another thing I forgot to add: I loved reading the word "stoop" - I think only a New Yorker gets that term. When I was younger after dinner all the women used to "hang out on the stoop" after dinner. I guess it's the NY version of a front porch! 😁
🙂
wow great article--it brings back memories--of fire escapes both in NY and Chicago.
I remember that 2006 power outage (I was in the bronx & not so badly affected). Incidentally I was in a couple music videos shot in Silvercup, but I got to NY too late to remember its bakery days.
Thanks, Lorie...I'm thrilled by reactions like yours to this article!
I would guess that the power lines bursting into flames (!) might have something to do with the incredibly heavy load they get now compared to when they were installed. Streaming in particular uses vast amounts of electricity. In Maine, the poles became too fragile to hold the heavier and heavier power lines even though they are regularly replaced when they start getting whittled (I mean that literally, they get skinnier and skinnier).
I lived in Brooklyn for four years then on Avenue B in the East Village off and on while continuing to work in NYC to make money. (Typesetters were not in big demand in Maine.) What I miss most about NYC is actual diversity (not wokey Maine diversity which reminds me of All in the Family: white, lily-white, off-white), FOOD -- if those hole in the wall restaurants are still able to exist -- and accessible culture. And what did I learn in NYC? How to stand up for myself, especially at work!
Wow...but I will add: Con Ed spent all summer in my neighborhood updating the cables and all has been well in the 16 years since this incident.
And yes, to the literal diversity of NYC.
What do I miss? Two homeless guys pushing shopping carts with returnables meet each other on the street and BOW to each other.
The best thing like that that has ever happened to me in Maine is a man who sang opera to me and my foster daughter in the Italian grocery in Portland. Otherwise too many people are really boring!
Thanks for the vivid descriptions. Where I lived in Pittsburgh, the smell every day all day was from Iron City Beer, so it all depended if you loved or hated the smell of brewing beer. I do not miss that it was as hot and humid at night when you were trying to sleep as it was during the day.
Good point on the overloaded power grid, which is across the whole country, and we're going to add electric cars with no upgrades? Let alone the power plants are still totally unprotected from an Electromagnetic Pulse, (EMP), attack. Nuclear weapon doesn't need to hit a city. Just detonate above and everything electronic is fried! Would have cost a few billion years ago to harden all the plants. Never done.
Thanks, David...and yeah, I'll take aroma over beer smell any day of the week. As for your second paragraph, well...I really wish I had something useful or a counterpoint to share.
All good. Just pointing out how precarious and fragile our "civilized" life is.
Oh, I hear you. What I meant is that I wish that I could point to reasons why your statements were false. Unfortunately, you're dead on.
Wow, I can smell the bread now (even though I'm supposed to eat gluten-free.) In downtown Buffalo, we smell Cheerios. No joke, they really are making Cheerios there and it smells like cake.
Reading this blog, I was conflicted. I felt a sense of envy on the one hand, as NYC could be such a fun and exciting place to be. But on the other hand, I thought of the v passports, the 5G towers, and the tyranny imposed on people over there.
If I tried to sleep on a fire escape, I'd probably fall off, lol...
Funny how you wrote also about a new normal. Maybe we do need to go back to nature and wean ourselves off of the Powers that Shouldn't Be, become independent of this system. But gosh, that's so hard to do! I've been talking about it with other people now for 2 1/2 years but it just stops with our talking about it...
Meri, I love this reaction...every word of it. I appreciate how you zeroed in on how paradoxical life is. And how important the small moments and pleasures are. Thank you.
Thank you!
I was in NYC from Nashville to play the Bitter End during that heat wave. I stayed with a friend in the Village who had AC. I have never appreciated AC and an air mattress more. I remember this experience all the time but to see the date and remember the details just now was fun.
Thanks so much for sharing, Amy. I concur, it's fun to learn how such events impact each of us.
Makes the world feel cozy-small.