From my friend Brian Fairbanks, in Manhattan, as Irene was arriving:
My girlfriend and I took a walk a few minutes ago, knowing the storm was starting to strengthen here and we won’t be able to go outside again for a while. There was no one else out. Literally no one. No cabs, no hobos, no cops. The whole of the East Village and Union Square parking spots were taken up by empty ConEd vehicles, for reasons unknown.
The rain came and went and came heavy again. At about 17th Street and 3rd Avenue, we waited for the walk signal even though there were no cars coming. Suddenly, a motorcycle pulls up at the light, pointed west, the same way we’re going. As the light changes, he suddenly veers left instead and almost splashes water in our faces. But he’s grinning.
“FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE!” he yells gleefully, and then roars off.
