During these days of the pandemic, unusual scenes of food being prepared, served and savored behind plastic are fairly common in many cities across the USA and the world. The “new normal”. For how long? No one knows…However, beginning Valentine’s Day, eating establishments in NYC will be allowed to serve indoors at 25% capacity. These past few months, while walking along the streets, I’ve been fascinated by how creative restaurant owners have been to survive. Without picks ups and deliveries and the use of a sidewalk or even the street to serve, they wouldn’t be able to survive as so many door signs show. Thousands have closed and may never return. And, those that can serve outdoors, give us the luxury to get out of our own little kitchens and eating spaces.

The outdoors has always been my “destination point”. It’s one of the reasons I headed to the Berkshires in the mid-70’s. As a young woman, I had been warned not to stroll in Central Park. In Lenox, MA, I brought a little bit of the city north. I opened one of the first art galleries and an outdoor café/restaurant, also as a pioneer. When it came to enjoying more of the outdoors, I became a landscape designer. Now, back in NYC for a few months, I wander the streets and explore. I’ve also been struck by how people gravitate, no, thrive on getting out in the open. Of course, we’ve been having cabin fever for months. What else is there to do, most ask. And it’s safe. 95% of people I see on the street wear masks. Only those jogging in a park might shed theirs—and why bother keeping it on with much space and air all around?

Aside from photographing plastic shields and constructions that allow for the exchange of food, I’ve been focusing on people walking their dogs, pushing strollers, chatting on a bench, feeding birds and even, the other day here on Riverside Park, fishing. (The guy told me he just picked it up as a hobby.) Thanks to this white winter, there’s also cross-country skiing, sledding, throwing snowballs, building snowmen, the list goes on.

Some really—to my mind anyway, do brave the elements. Even on brutally cold, gray days one sees people eating quiche or Miso soup on sidewalk tables with barely any extra cover or heat. And then we have those who choose to bike on paths through the snow or even paddle board in 30 degree weather on the Hudson River.