The power went out at about 4:15pm yesterday and didn’t come back on until about 2:30 this afternoon. When it went out nobody knew what was going on. “The Con Ed Building is on fire,” someone said. And we could see billowing black smoke out the window, so we believed it.. and that the immediate area was the extent of the blackout. Then someone put a radio on and we heard it was a larger area. And as we left work we picked up more and more information as we passed people on the street.. everyone willing to share what they knew, for, as we’ve been saying for the past 2 years, WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
Office Workers on the Street, Tribeca, Manhattan
People & Car Traffic Jam at the Intersection of Broadway/Houston, SoHo, Manhattan
While walking to Jess’s in the East Village from work in Tribeca, we haphazardly tried to pick up provisions, not knowing how long the power would be out. Peanut butter, crackers, water, batteries. I tried to make to calls anyone/everyone for about 1 1/2 hours and was only able to connect 2 times – once to my ‘s cell phone voice mail and once to Nick in LA who was like “huh? something happened?” Then my cell battery died and I couldn’t charge it or call anyone. Last night was like a big party. A hot one. I stayed over at Jess’s with her 5 roommates and we drank 7 bottles of cheap wine wine from a liquor store we found open and grilled out and did everything by candlelight along with the rest of the city.
Playing Rummikub by Candlelight, East Village, Manhattan
Partying by Flare Light, Lower East Side, Manhattan
Feeling gross, hot, sweaty, & drunk on the roof deck, the lightless skyline behind us. East Village, Manhattan
After an ice-cold shower this morning, we wandered the streets trying to find shade or a breeze or someone serving any kind of food. Props to Joe’s, who was somehow making pizzas, and thus had a huge line down the street. After grabbing some food, we headed to Hudson River Park thinking that it would be cooler by the water. Around 2:30 we were walking down a path when when we heard a cheer. Looking around, we heard someone yell “The street lights are on!!!!!!” And sure enough, I could make out the “Don’t Walk” light on the West Side Highway. So we headed into the village to see if businesses and my apartment had power. Instantly every restaurant and cafe filled with people wanted to get a cold glass of anything and a cooked meal. Including Drew Barrymore, who was eating at Tattoria Spaghetto, a block from my apartment. Jess was oogling over the pasta when I realized it was Drew, with the pasta on her fork, holding it up to her boyfriend.. whatever his name is.. the drummer from the Strokes. Later on, since we were tired from all the walking of the past 2 days and from just being hot and stressed out, we treated ourselves to pedicures.
Joe’s Pizza, West Village, Manhattan
Cooling off in the sprinklers at Hudson River Park, West Village, Manhattan
After the power came on everyone rushed to the ATMs to try to get their hands on some cash. West Village, Manhattan
My phone is charging now. My internet connection just came back up. Just had dinner with friends from the East Village. Their power was still out. They weren’t sure if it’d be back on by the time they got home even though all the idiot news people are reporting we are 100% all back up and running. Subway still isn’t running but slowly we’re recovering.
More thorough coverage at gothamist.com.
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