Living in coronavirusworld 166: It would look something like this

 9/12

Hope for Harlem

I look out on Saturday modeming to see that First Corinthian Baptist has filled the entire block with tabes and bags. Filled with school supplies of all kinds. Food, both prepared and groceries. Household products of all kind, It’s a daylong project called “Hope for Harlem.” That’s what FCBC does. They make hope concrete and consistent. All the time. That’s what being the urban church in the global city is all about. 

125th Street kiosk

Little Afrrica

Loving the open air street festival  that 125th is, especially oh Saturdays. Vendors of all kinds. “Black Lives Matter” merch ubiquitous.  The African  women vendors with favors and African foods line 116th, the heart of Little Africa.

The streets are blocked off as part of the city’s “open streets” program. We meet where we had planned on 116 and Fredrick Douglass. But every restaurant has its own DJ and competing sounds are blasting into  the street. We get our food at the Jamaican seafood place and retreat to the north end of  Morningside Park. Sharing food. And conversation. “ I miss the quiet” she says. I do too. The sound of birds in Central Park…

9/13

Play an “oldie,” ‘Just as I am” in a Sunday morning service led by Dion that focuses on forgiveness. Great that Amberley, who used to visit from Toronto, now joins us regularly on ZOOM.

Our family gathers for its weekly visit. We’re talking about the northwest, social unrest, armed groups, some shooting. Fire fed orange skies. City streets filled with smoke, Populations evacuated. My oldest son in Berlin says, ‘I don’t know if there is a God. But if there was, and that God wanted to get our attention, I think it would look a lot like this…”  My friends in Portland living in the midst of apocalypse. 

Gov. David Patterson

At Bar 9, I do my set with no “unforced errors.” Even without my harmony singer. She shows a little later. We see someone who looks like Fred Armisen from Saturday Night Live. Which would  not be a surprise since SNLfolks hang out here. My friend remembers how Armisen played former New York  Governor David Patterson on the show. She asks the host if that is indeed Fred Armisen, "No", he says , "that’s they Governor.” So we had David Patterson as Fred Armisen as David Patterson. 

Dan Smith will teach you guitar

The Governor heard it through the Grapevine 

The Governor is there as special guest of living legend Dan Smith.  Mr. Smith is a quintessential New York City story. Over 20 years his self made flyers with his face and “Dan Smith Will Teach You Guitar”. Have been seen in delis, bodegas, laundromats. Kiosks. He has made his way into the city’s collector consciousness. Tonight Bar 9 is celebrating (unofficially) Dan Smith Night. Free t-shirts for performers! The Governor tells how he found the flyer and his wife insisted he call.  Dan Smith changed my life, says the Governor.  Then we get to hear the Governor back up Dan on “Stand by Me” and take the lead on “I heard it through the grapevine.’ I love New York City.  Even in coronavirusworld.