Maybe I’m biased. But, I feel as if creators in the workforce are especially excited about the slow return to “normal” in cities across the USA. Working from home as a creator is hard. You gather ideas from social events, from galleries, from meeting new people, and even from just walking down the street. And, while the world was entirely locked down, NYC creators were confined indoors, attempting to draw inspiration from the four walls of their tiny apartments.
But, no longer. NYC has officially reopened, with, all restrictions set to lift as of July 1st. And, people can’t wait to get back onto the streets. Creators are naturally taking this opportunity to gather inspiration for their work. Here are a few exciting ways that New York City creators are celebrating the city’s revival, something we’ve all been waiting for.
Susanne Batsch
Circus acts, feathers, opera singing, and dancing until sunrise? Yes, please. Essentially, Susanne Batsch’s epic parties are the embodiment of everything we missed so dearly about NYC’s iconic, unparalleled nightlife scene. Rightfully named “New York, New York,” the party series by storied city event producer Batsch is filling the entire month of June with weekly reminders that the NYC party scene is still alive and well.
Humans of New York
The city is back, indeed. And, so is outdoor photography. Brandon Stanton, the iconic face behind the storytelling photography account Humans of New York, is back on the streets with his camera. After a full year of making do with zoomed-in photo sessions and socially distant masked snapshots, Stanton has finally begun gathering his content in the intimate, face-to-face style his followers know and love.
Headhi-NY
Ultimately, it was the heart of the small creators that kept NYC’s arts and culture scene thriving and well throughout the pandemic. Now, they can finally celebrate face to face with loyal patrons as the city reopens. We’ve moved past socially distant purchases–for example, Brooklyn-based coffee shop and art collective Headhi-NY was able to run their first open social event since the pandemic’s start, a photo swap on the streets outside their shop. Events like these remind loyal customers just how special it is to actually gather and shop in person at their favorite local store.
Steven Molina Contreras
These days, there’s nothing more exciting than seeing street and party pics that aren’t pre-pandemic content. And, lucky for us, photographer Steven Molina Contreras took to the streets with his camera this past month. He encapsulates the slow, hopeful reawakening of the city that never sleeps. The series, shot for the Times, was released in honor of the reopening announcement. Contreras’s snaps showcase the myriad of ways in which the NYC community took to the streets as restrictions eased. The pictures are a reminder of the heart and soul that still lives on in the City.
Feature Image from Hari Panicker on Unsplash
