Spring Awaking in New York City

I’ve always wanted to come to New York at least once to experience all the things you see in a movie, imagining King Kong scaling the Empire State Building, Spiderman swinging between towers and Kevin in Home Alone 2, running around at the Rockefeller Center or the ladies from Sex and the City having their drinks at one of these lavish bars. It seems like every American movie would have its tension build, and on the climax of it, have something explode over the sky of New York. The greatest love stories, the biggest disasters, the most devastating battles, it would all happen here, as if there was no other city or center in the world to focus on but the Big Apple.

I recon, every Hollywood blockbuster would feature at least one or two scenes of New York City. According to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, on average more than 300 movies and TV shows are produced here annually. Next to Los Angeles, the city is one of the biggest hosts of the entertainment industry in the US. Meaning, every other day a film is being shot in New York, with Manhattan probably bagging in ⅔ of all jobs. New York seems to be the hub of the world, where anything - may it be fictional or real, could happen.

So, when I first set foot on Manhattan, it was to no surprise that every corner or building seams so familiar. But of course, seeing all this in real, gives it another dimension. My expectations were not let down when I first visited New York in Spring 2014. Being a city of superlatives, anything is much faster, larger and taller than you've ever imagined. The vibe and the energy were bustling. It is by far one of the busiest, craziest and most exciting cities on earth that offers endless possibilities, making your jaw drop numerous times. But for those who are not used to big cities and crowds, it can be all a bit overwhelming. I won’t paint everything pink for you. In fact, not all tales and corners of New York are as bling and shiny as they seem. And there are more dark sides of this city than you might ever know.

The biggest drama it was facing was not the attack on 9/11, but probably Covid-19, that began to spread last year and has kept the city in suspense since then. New York was hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Much has changed over the course of it. The city became a dreadful Corona hotspot that regularly made it into the news headlines with record-breaking numbers of infected people, emergency and death cases. The city that was once filled with life, went through one of its most horrendous episodes, with people in lockdown and others fleeing the city, leaving it in silence, empty and sad. The future was gloomy, as the great movie star New York was losing the magical spark, when lights were fading into the unknown. Having experienced this vibrant hub before, it was hard to see its struggles and the devastating state caused by the virus.

A fleet of New York's iconic yellow taxis

One year after the outbreak of the pandemic, the city – like many others, is still fighting for its survival. But this time a fresh wind is blowing over New York, gently awaken it from its long and deep sleep. With enormous financial power and a speed other cities and countries can only dream of, a new vaccination and testing campaign was soon rolled out by the new government after the main election in 2020. According to the latest data from New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the vaccine coverage of the total population in New York City shows 29% that are fully vaccinated and 45% that already received at least one dose (updated 16th April 2021). People can have their PCR tests in various test centres and pop up test stations throughout the city for free, anytime and anywhere.

Harry Winston Jeweler on 5th Avenue, New York

It is with this remarkable speed and effort, which makes me believe, that the city will soon celebrate its comeback. Additionally, the New York government has started a program to support artists with outdoor performances to revive the cities cultural life. Warm spring temperatures allow outdoor concerts to pop up behind shopping windows, parks and along the banks of the Hudson River. Restaurants that were forced to close their doors last year and long turned into takeaway eateries, are now slowly reopening their services to the public - at first for outdoor dining and pick-up delivery. It seems spring has breath new life into the city, sparking hope for a happy ending.

Street art on Ralph Lauren Shop, Manhattan

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