New York City

Having spent most of my life in Chicago, I’m fascinated by New York City with its 24-hour rhythms and thousands of stories and all the amazing music that came from here. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the people in NY are just friendly and friendlier. Sure there’s some on the hustle, but all kinds of others like the cab drivers and the clerks and the door men and the strangers have been so kind—there’s something here. It’s like a we’re in this together and there’s a what’s-your-story and glad-you’re-here kind of vibe. I don’t know. Maybe I’m naive, or maybe lucky or both—but the experience keeps happening over and over. So I’m going with it.

And today, on this walk, I rolled up 7th Avenue through the Garment District—known as the center for fashion, but I was taken by this sculpture—a portrait of where/how art gets done—the man with the sewing machine. My mother had one, my sisters, my brother—they all could make these work. I love the do-it-yourself notion of having a sewing machine.

And of course, earlier in the walk I strolled by the Richard Rodgers theatre where Hamilton is still running. Richard Rodgers who gave us Do Re Mi and Oh What A Beautiful Morning, with his pal Mr. Hammerstein. I like walking down his street and imagining him, imagining songs. Thanks for listening!