The City Sleeps: An Empty New York City during a Pandemic

To say that life has changed in the past 2 months would be an epic understatement. As the nation’s largest city and now virus epicenter, the efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus here are most stagnant. As one would imagine, life as a New Yorker has completely been uprooted. Gone is the traffic, restaurants, stores, and pulsating energy. Gone are the commuters, tourists, and community. The city that never sleeps, has been put to sleep. The New Normal: An Empty City.

Brooklyn Bridge: April 5th 2020

At time of writing, my family has entered our 6th week of “Pause” in New York City. City residents must stay home, leaving only for grocery shopping, getting medication, and exercise. Small apartment living spaces makes for a complicated situation, especially with kids. On occasion, I have been leaving my apartment for a walk, alone, as a form of exercise, and to help center myself and clear my mind. Masked and cautious, socially distant is an understatement – I often don’t see even one other person during these walks. I am alone with my city. and my thoughts.

Seeing the city like this was not easy. I often didn’t even believe what I was seeing. It was surreal, and heart breaking.

SoHo NYC: March 26th 2020

The city’s once bustling streets are creepily….empty. Soho was deserted, with shuttered stores and boards nailed across all its windows and doors. A desolate Times Square shining bright for no visitors, while thanking our healthcare workers with billboards. The Oculus, a notoriously busy transportation hub, nearly empty. The Charging Bull stands alone with a mask for protection in Lower Manhattan. A barren Brooklyn Bridge with only a few soles walking across it.

No commuters, no tourists. The city asleep in the wake of the pandemic.

Financial District, NYC: April 12th 2020

These changes and movement restrictions are possibly most felt on the children. Without a backyard or space to roam, it is hard for a child to be kept at home for months at a time. On occasion, we will take our young son on a neighborhood walk (or scoot), to get a small bit of exercise and fresh air. These moments continue to shake me. The contrast of a young energetic child, in an empty apocalyptic city is one will never forget.

Times Square NYC: March 30th 2020

Having lived in the city for over 20 years, I consider myself a New Yorker to the core. I’ve lived through the trying days of 9/11, watched our city go dark during the great blackout, and be washed over with fear and devastation when the hurricane hit Manhattan. I can say with all certainty that New York is STRONG and we will get through this…. the only question now is, when will it end?

Here: A photographic journal of the city that never sleeps… sleeping.

Stay Strong New York. We can’t wait for you to be back.