(Note - On August 14, 2003, there was a big honking blackout up and down the Eastern seabooard. Perhaps you heard about it.)
I was getting ready to leave work early. I had nothing to do and my boss had suggested I might not even need to come in the next day. So I had my bag together, timesheet filled out, and was just checking my email before I left...and then the lights went out. Everyone in the office laughed. It had been a weird, somewhat unproductive week already, what with the email worm that had shut everyone down earlier in the week, plus a fire safety alarm/lecture the day before. That's it, my officemates said. We've had it. We're going home.
Other people with the exact same idea crammed the stairs, but I somehow got out of there without having a complete panic attack. I made it to my bike, and took off downtown where I was supposed to meet a few people for the Ted Leo show at the South Street Seaport.
This was when I realized that it might not just be our building. (Also a subtle clue: no working stoplights.) I took a bunch of pictures all over Midtown East that look exactly like this: a large group of people standing outside wondering what the hell was going on, and when the terrorists were going to attack. (I will spare you these photos. You're welcome.) I saw a couple of people crying. One woman said, "It's just like September 11!" Well, yea, except no one died.
So right around 23rd and 2nd I tried to call some of my friends, and couldn't get through. Looks like Ted Leo wasn't happening. I started laughing. September 11 aside, I generally like anarchy in this city: big rainstorms, snowstorms, and now, a big, fat blackout. I think it brings out the best in people. In this case, if you were ever the dorky crossing guard in grammar school, this was your chance to make a difference.
23rd and 2nd; Union Square
These girls, guiding traffic at 14th and 3rd, looked a bit like they were doing some sort of modern dance.
I can't resist just one more picture of a large, anxious group of people outside an office building - I stopped off in front of the Con Ed building downtown. I know, I'm such a jerk.
Well it's not our fault. Oh wait. Shit. It is.