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Friday, September 5, 2008

The Latest Urban Adventure

Bystanders
Photo by myself, around Broadway and 57th Street.

A concert kicking off the NFL season halted traffic around Columbus Circle Thursday afternoon. Roads were blocked off and crowds watched a raised stage and giant lcd screen.

Keith Urban, performed, among others. The concert was broadcast on television.

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I walked through crowds today as the NFL concert started. It was mild mayhem.

The city became a live studio audience, and streets were shut down. The police were everywhere. A coworker said she was stuck in a cab, racking up a $20 fare.

New York never struck me as a football kind of town, but I guess since the Giants won the Superbowl last year, a celebration was in order.

The footage in Columbus Circle must have been amazing, with the view of the Park and the Time Warner building, a looming glass tower by the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

Thursday's concert reminds me of the All Star Parade that took place earlier this summer near Bryant Park for baseball fans. Thousands of New Yorkers encountered barricaded streets during lunchtime, me among them.

With all the shut-downs and Bloomberg's plans for pedestrian lanes, I'm wondering whether New York will become a completely pedestrian city? It seems we're headed that way.

Related posts: Mass Mentality, On a Public Mugging, Or A Gimmick Gone Wrong, A View From the Streets and On The Superbowl and Fancy Living

9 comments:

Fashion Schlub said...

A couple years ago I met a friend in the city for birthday lunch, right around this time, and, uknowingly, got stuck in the traffic of setting up the stage for street Jon Bon Jovi concert. Since it was my birthday, and I had the day off, I contemplated finding a place to park the car and staying to watch (Surprise! Happy Birthday!), but...I pooped out and just went home. I always sorta wished I'd stayed.

Regretfully Yours,
Bettye <- The Birthday Girl

Mom Knows Everything said...

Keith Urban....COOL! Walking is a great exercise and where I live we have to make time for it because you can only get anywhere with car. Have a great weekend Kitty! :o)

Profile Not Available said...

I am not getting started on traffic. : ) I live in a small town, but I can't believe how much it reminds me of NYC at 5:00.

I love this photo. All of the expressions - they run the gamut, but I wonder most about the woman in the middle. Wish I knew what she was thinking or what her next expression is going to be!

dianasfaria.com said...

the girls in this photo are great, I don't know, there is just something about them that you captured perfectly.
How great would that be if NYC was just a pedestrian city. I can see the quality of life improving immensely for its residents, and there'd be more bicycles too!

Lady Di Tn said...

Kitty
I love to people watch and this is a great photo. Peace

Ken Mac said...

Great photo! Neo Dine Arbus. Keith Urban..not!

Anonymous said...

Great urban shot

Daryl said...

A city with less traffic would be wonderful ...

:-Daryl

Ming the Merciless said...

Was the formerly Mrs. Tom Cruise there?