Let It Snow

New York magazine devoted its year-end double issue to "Reasons to Love New York." Although lately I'm more likely to be contemplating reasons to leave New York, after this cold, snowy, slushy weekend, I'd like to add my own accolade to their extensive list: New Yorkers are extremely hearty people. Either that, or their apartments are so small that they'd sooner face frost bit and hypothermia

As a snowstorm engulfed the city on Saturday, I was certain that that evening's Winter Solstice contra dance would be sparsely attended, if not canceled altogether. But the basement auditorium at the Church of the Village was as packed with people as it would be on any other ordinary night. And we weren't the only ones. The Good Stuff diner on 14th was doing a steady stream of business earlier in the evening, and the subway to Brooklyn was packed as we headed home. (Still, if I'd known how windy it would be or how much snow I'd have to climb over to get home that night, or that I'd have to walk in the street to get to my apartment building, I probably wouldn't have been so bold as to venture out for the evening. Above is what happened when I tried to take a photo.)

The next day I thought anyone longing to see part one of the Signature Theatre's excellent production of Horton Foote's The Orphans' Home Cycle would have ample seating opportunities at the 2 pm matinee. But not only was every seat filled, a few people were even stuck sitting off to the side, on the steps for nearly three hours.

This weekend was enough to put me in the holiday spirit. How many more reasons could one need to love New York?