Congestion

Congestion is the quintessential picture of Manhattan. Elbows to ribs. Purses to chest. Hopscotching to potholes and train vents, around strollers and hand-holders. The melding of tourists, Manhattanites and Manhattan migrants. Their eyes diverted from where they are--ahead, away, in their maps or at their handheld devices--ignoring each other. Ignoring their symbiosis.

The most obvious hub for tourist-native meltdown is Times Square.

But this weekend, that all changed. The city decided to try something new, something that could be indefinite if all goes well. No more cars, no more traffic. Welcome to Times Square: The Pedestrian Mall.

A Memorial Day glimpse from The New York Times

This is an interesting sight, yes. But the larger picture, or perhaps, an aerial view, is even more interesting. Tourists are isolated in this neon mecca. Manhattan migrants are on the outskirts passing out coupons to Broadway shows. Cabs of Manhattanites are beyond the border of cones, racing to get from downtown to uptown. Divisions have been made.

Last Sunday, I wasn't aware of the city commissioner's latest public space project when on my way from Central Park to the theater (note my NY-savvy terminology, as opposed to "watch some play"), all traffic came to a standstill and was diverted in another direction. Seven blocks from the theater, my friend and I hopped out of the cab, already late, and started running in our cute summer matinee outfits, dodging tourists and peddlers and families of five. We avoided eye contact and crosswalk signals. We were on a mission. However, I still managed to take note of marquees announcing Jeremy Irons in "Impressionism" and James Gandolfini in "God of Carnage." I did a quick take at the mile-high flashing Coke billboard. I smelt the roasted nuts coming from the street vendor.

I suppose the symbiosis of New York can also happen to the person.