Ukrainians gathered in Times Square on March 5 to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to call for a no fly zone over Ukraine to protect civilian lives. Supported by Russians, Georgians, Kazakhs, and others from former Soviet republics, the protesters were universal in attacking Putin personally for the invasion rather than blaming Russians.
Chinatown, New York
The Lunar New Year Parade marking the Year of the Tiger took place again after the suspension in 2021 due to the pandemic. A smaller and more subdued event this year, it was still welcomed as another important step toward a more normal life in New York City. But the Chinatown community is still reeling after the murder of a Chinese American woman by a homeless man and is resisting the construction of a new jail and the addition of new shelters in the neighborhood.
In these years of pandemic and social distancing, wandering in a vast cemetery has become more than ever before a peaceful and contemplative activity. Some come to visit relatives’ graves, some to learn about the historic battle of the American Revolution that took place here, some to visit the graves of famous New Yorkers like Leonard Bernstein or Jean-Michel Basquiat. Others bring binoculars and look for birds, or admire the beautiful trees, or simply walk among the permanent residents of this unique place.
New iPhone, same pandemic. New York City on the second pandemic New Year’s Eve
We are about to end the second year of the pandemic. We started the year with new vaccines, a gradual return to work, and grounds for optimism. As the year unfolded, Covid case rates went down in New York City and there were signs of a new normal, with some of our treasured public rituals and ceremonies taking place again. We were so happy on Thanksgiving, but on the next day we found out about the Omicron variant and we are upended again. As this year of emotional turmoil reaches its conclusion, let us all hope for a better 2022.
December 19: a line of people waiting for two hours to get a Covid test at an urgent care on Broadway.
As the second pandemic year comes to a close, here is a selection of the birds seen in 2021: whether common or rare, they are the pulse of our natural environment and the unwitting repository of our hopes for the future.
May 2021: American Robins have already fledged but are still dependent on their parents for food (2 photos).
The beloved annual tradition returned this year after a suspension in 2019 due to the pandemic. It was a joy to see people enjoying themselves in the streets again.
Inflating the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons on the streets surrounding the American Museum of Natural History is a daylong event that delights both children and adults. Canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, this year it was open to the public again and brought a sense of fun and celebration to a weary city. Proof of vaccination against Covid was required for entry, mask wearing was encouraged, and security was tight.
The 50th running of the New York Marathon brought a return of exhilaration and joy to the streets of New York City and a feeling of hope that, at last, the worst of the pandemic is behind us.
Canceled in 2021, Halloween celebrations are back again in New York City this year. In these scenes on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, you could almost forget the pandemic.
DeborahShapiroPhotos 