Priorities are really rather odd in NY at the moment.
All parades beginnning with Saint Patrick's last February and including Gay Pride in June have been canceled. Indeed it doesn't seem as if any parades will be allowed for remainder of year. However mayor is saying the annual Macy's big fireworks do will go on as usual, how does that work?
Needless to say anyone or thing connected with tourism or entertainment are in very bad ways. Many for instance had big plans for this years Gay pride month as it was 50th anniversary of that march. If bars and other venues are still closed (as they likely will), there won't be any money for anyone I shouldn't wonder. Even if places are allowed to open if social distancing rules remain in effect it pretty much will come down to why bother.
Am thinking city will be nearly empty this summer, more than usual. There just isn't any reason to remain or come here for those that have options. People will remain in the country or at the shore. Of course no one will likely be flying here internationally or even perhaps nationwide.
Many restaurants opened this week, and more have plans to do so next. These places could have remained open long as they practiced social distancing/delivery or take out only, but many chose to close last month. Now they are coming back in hopes of making some money instead of nothing I suppose. That plus reality of new normal likely means things won't be going back to way they used to be anytime soon. Guess new motto is a twist on that old British motto "Export or die". Except in this instance it is "take-away or die".
As of interest likely to much of this group (hahaha) laundromats and dry cleaners....
Most largely closed last month for various reasons even if deemed able to continue work as "essential". Places that were open operated with shortened hours. Local laundromat for instance was normally open from 7AM to 9PM M-F with last wash at 730PM. They went to 730AM to 730PM with last wash at 630PM during height of crisis. Don't know about weekend hours but think they remained same which were already shorter than weekday.
Thing is many of these places are staffed and or owned by Asians (mostly Chinese and Korean) and sadly any business in that boat has been given stink eye by many since this crisis broke.
Young lad who is the main attendant along with his various helpers (they take it in turns closing and opening) are all Asians and you want to feel so sorry for what they are going through. They have to work or else....
Any who this laundromat has resorted to leaving both front and back doors open along with running fans to promote air circulation. Thing is on chilly days we had many of the past several weeks it was like standing in a wind tunnel. Passed a few persons one knows from area doing their wash standing outside. Besides social distancing most said they stood outdoors because it was warmer than inside . *LOL*
Walking around have noticed many dry cleaners/laundromats are planning to reopen May 4th or some time next week. How much good it will do them in our area I don't know as many households have long packed up and moved to the country.
From reading local online media many New York inhabitants went out and bought portable washing machines and or are making other arrangements. They are fearful of being in cramped spaces that are most NYC laundromats (in Manhattan anyway, those elsewhere in city often are a bit more spacious), and or simply of having people they don't know or trust doing their wash. It never bothered them before they didn't know where those who did their wash had been, now suddenly it is an issue.
