The Big Thaw

The last few days have been like none I have ever noticed in the city. As many of you know, last Sunday we had one of the biggest snowstorms on record, almost 27” of snow were dropped on NYC and I had to shovel a lot of packed ice. This has been swiftly and immediately proceeded by what many are calling Great Thaw ’06.

Like the rest of this year’s winter, the past week has been unseasonably warm and the city has been thawing ever since Tuesday. The, perhaps, most remarkable effect of this warm weather is watching, and feeling, the snow melt off the buildings and make small rainstorms on every street, not to mention the large lakes that fill the places where the sidewalk corners used to be. So far, I have had to clean the salt stains off my shoes three times this week. And getting pelted on the exact middle of your head, or right where you coat exposes the back of your neck, with a big drop of water is not fun. What were what piles of snow on Monday have returned to being cars by today, while the Meter Maids are back in full effect, apparently snow is no longer a valid excuse for leaving your car in the same place for 2 months.

On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to be able to spend an hour or so in Bryant Park typing away on my work laptop and experiencing the weird mix of cool breezes, warm sun and melting conditions. If you go to Manhattan anytime soon, I highly recommend you chill out for a coffee or just a seat in the park. You’ll come for the scenery, which is nice, and you’ll stay for the free wireless internet.


Wisdom of the Day: Everyone needs a lil’ somethan’ somethan’ every now and then.