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JAMESWAGNER.COM


A SMALL BROADWAY IDYLL, IN THE TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS

I went to the Union Square Greenmarket on Monday.

That isn't news, but this time I decided I was in no hurry to get home.

On the way over, walking along West 21st Street, I passed a place called 'Taj',
with a new pop-up construction the consequence of the demands of the pandemic, a
bar area at the sidewalk curb, but, since it's all wrapped in a characterless
white fabric screen, has no signage whatsoever, and since it was a perfectly
quiet scene at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, it reminded me more of the temporary
morgue recently installed in the West Village, just one mile southwest, than a
high-end lounge and event space.

Sorry.



Once at the market, I immediately headed for what is probably my favorite fish
stand: I found that the P.E. & D.D. Seafood family had already been doing a
brisk business: much of their haul had already been erased from the white board
at the back of the stall. Fortunately I'm flexible when it comes to market fare,
and a surviving entry, "cooked conch" was all I needed for a feast.



Two minutes later I fwas in line at the Eckerton Hill Farm stand (terrific
vegetables), behind, and socially distant from, this sweet couple waiting ahead
of me.



It was a beautiful day, at least so far (more on that below), so after leaving
Union Square, now loaded down with supplies, when I arrived at Madison Square I
sat down on one of the benches in the pedestrian triangle south of 23rd St., to
take in the scene, a very New York scene, but one that had supposedly been
seriously impacted by the ongoing pandemic.

But except for the face masks and the distancing (I occupied the entire 6' bench
while I sat there, and had no challengers), it really didn't look - or sound -
like anything had happened, like anything was happening.



A tiny bird pecked at a discarded pastry crumb near my feet (a moment before it
had been competing for a number of pieces with some 10 of its fellows.



To the right there were people, like myself, hanging out, alone or in groups,
with the glorious Empire State rising in the distance, and, out of my sight, a
striking rhythm produced by a percussion set likely improvised from
unconventional materials. When I left I learned they were plastic buckets and
what appeared to be found sticks.



Across from me was a familiar and reassuring mass, the Flatiron Building, and at
its base, a familiar and reassuring variety of New Yorkers, coming, going, or
just resting.



On my left sat one of our current life support heroes, a food delivery
bicyclist, on a quick break from his duties.



As I sat there in the sun, in reverie, there was a sudden crack of thunder. No
one budged right away, or looked up. I did and I saw nothing but blue sky. I had
no umbrella. Eventually there was some movement among my fellows on the gravel,
and I soon became a part of it.

The downpour began a few minutes later, just after I had crossed 23rd Street.

Some store awnings kept me from really getting wet, and almost as quickly as it
had begun, the rain was almost over.

A few minutes later however, as I approached my building, I saw that the
sidewalks, especially those that displayed special character, were still
enjoying the shower, even as it faded.

When I had returned to the apartment, I checked out the condition of our little
garden, pleased that once again I had been spared the task of watering it
myself.



The rest of the day was, ..more heaven.

July 7, 2020 5:14 PM | Permalink | General, NYC


OUT ALONE


untitled (RO....FAL) 2020

Alone.

January 25, 2020 5:13 PM | Permalink | Food, Image, NYC


SERIAL


untitled (ordered) 2020

This stuff is always humbling.

January 15, 2020 9:25 PM | Permalink | Food, Image, architecture


TREE MAJESTY


untitled (corners) 2019

Patriarch on East 18th Street.

December 19, 2019 2:22 AM | Permalink | Image


IN THE RAIN


untitled (blue coat) 2019

Not dawdling.




December 17, 2019 8:56 PM | Permalink | Image


CLOUD CATCHER


untitled (screening) 2019

When Broadway seems to be floating.

April 10, 2019 5:20 PM | Permalink | Image, NYC


TROMP-L'OEIL STILL-LIFE




September 1, 2018 9:18 PM | Permalink


GREEN?


untitled (lever) 2018

Sometimes a dumpster can add a little something to a very plain street.

July 12, 2018 4:20 PM | Permalink | Image, NYC


BEFORE DAWN


untitled (bedclothes) 2017

When I got up in the middle of the night I found myself captivated by the folds
of my bedsheet and light summer blanket; to me they suggested a wild Böcklin or
Friedrich landscape, only more abstracted (for more detail, turn up the
brightness control on your computer).

June 26, 2018 3:52 PM | Permalink | Culture, Image


GREENMARKET

Some of the greens found at the Greenmarket are surprising.

June 18, 2018 4:01 PM | Permalink | Food, Happy, Image, NYC, architecture
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