Summer in the City

Krikor Daglian
June 20, 2002

Another summer in New York City has arrived, and I'm excited. I know a lot of people don't enjoy this season here in the city, but I do. In fact, this year promises to be significantly better than those past cause of a little improvment in the infastructure that has recently come to my attention. I have noticed new venting grates installed in some subway stations-- for example, the 1/2/3 34th street station, near the 34th St. and 7th Ave. exit-- and I can only assume that we're finally getting some air conditioning down there. Anyone who's been here in the summer knows how damn hot it gets down there during July and August (and how anyone rode the trains themselves before AC is beyond me!) Even if it's not AC and just air blowing, it'll make a big difference. I hope.

I've noticed a weird trend lately on the streets of NY -- unicycles. Does anyone else feel like they're seeing an unusual amount of these around? Is this the newest incarnation of the razor scooter fad? Or was the circus convention in town recently?

Finally, I have a prediction: the next big tourist mecca in Manhattan is going to be Sixth Avenue between 18th and 23rd streets. Why? Well, besides already housing such American mall all-stars like Old Navy and Bed Bath and Beyond, the first Manhattan location of Best Buy has opened up near 22nd street. This is all significant, because a traveller to New York likes nothing better than to to all the places they can go to when at home, even if there might be superior examples of the type of store only in this city. And that brings me to the real reason why 6th Ave will soon be stretching the bounds of midwestern tourism (currently only centered around Times Square, with one day down at ground zero): the second New York location of the Olive Garden. Never mind that there are hundreds of good Italian places in this city, and many many excellent ones, the Olive Garden is managing to expand it's foothold here. I guess when you're in a scary place full of strangers such as New York, you want to go somewhere where you are "family", even if you have to wait for an hour and a half to get in. Of course, although I'm making fun of out of towners here for not really exploring this city, it's actually a good thing. Pray that the throngs never discover some of the nicer, cooler, quainter, quieter and authentic neighborhoods in this city. Mark my words, 6th Avenue will soon be mobbed.