This weekend my mom and I went out to dinner in Nolita. It was a gorgeous summer night, not too hot, not too cold. We shared the tastiest feast of fresh fish at one of our favorite restaurants Seamore’s, which always feels like a mini vacation from the city.
Walking back we chatted about how alive the city felt. People were out and about. Everyone was eating, drinking, laughing, and simply enjoying themselves. NYC usually feels a bit quieter in the summer with people going elsewhere, but on Friday it felt anything but quiet. After the past year, it felt so good to see the city so full of energy.
So, is NYC back to normal?
The truth is I don’t think NYC will ever be back to the way it was before. There has been so much loss and trauma this past year. People lost loved ones. Businesses had to close forever. So many people left and decided not to come back. Those of us that stayed heard the constant sirens. I’d feel this indescribable sense of anxiety and fear just opening the front door to my apartment. Last spring I’d literally gasp when I’d leave my building and the streets were absolutely silent and empty — something I had never experienced living here for over a decade.
But now things definitely feel different than they did even a few months ago:
I’m back teaching in studio.
While some fitness studios have been open since March (or kind of fake open since before that….) I personally didn’t feel comfortable teaching in person until I was fully vaccinated. I’ve now been back teaching in studio for about a month. For me, teaching IRL again feels like I’m back to my old life again after a year of only teaching here and there.
(Most) of my friends came back to NYC.
A lot of my friends had left the city last spring to ride out the pandemic in the suburbs with their parents or significant others. The majority of my friends came back but I’m also at that age where a lot of my friends were already starting to think about leaving the city for more space in the suburbs. That part is a bit bittersweet as I think the pandemic made some of my friends want to leave the city a few years earlier than maybe they would have planned otherwise.
But I’m so happy to have most of my people back. This introvert is getting used to socializing again 😂
I’m excited outdoor dining is here to stay.
I still prefer outdoor dining to indoors right now and I’m thrilled outdoor dining is here to stay for now — especially now that it’s summer. Some restaurants have seriously created gorgeous outdoor setups.
I’m excited for Broadway to come back in the fall.
I am going to ugly cry SO HARD the first time I’m back in a theater to see a Broadway show. Seeing theater is such a big part of my life in NYC and one of my favorite things about living here. I think once Broadway is back open, I’ll really feel like part of my old life is back.
Most COVID related restrictions have been lifted
From what I gather, individual businesses can set their own rules about whether or not they still require people to wear masks and if they are reducing capacity. Otherwise all restrictions have been lifted. Vaccinated people can be mask-free everywhere unless otherwise noted.
I’d say most people in NYC are still wearing masks indoors though, myself included. I’ll workout and teach without it now, but for the time being will probably still to wearing masks when grocery shopping and what not.
In many ways NYC feels more energized than ever.
We’ve all been through a lot this year. I think because of that the city now feels more energized than ever as we all come out of our cocoon and get back to doing things and socializing. There’s this buzz of excitement in the city because of it.
