Hello Friday + Bye Bye 2021

When I think about the BEST of 2021, three things immediately come to mind:

• Community, and that includes my friends, my neighbors, my hospitality peeps (#2, 3, 4 below).
• Magical moments, e.g., birthday dinner at Peasant and Holiday Party at Ludlow House. Those nights were special because we were all together and the hospitality pros went above and beyond to create the magic. I’ll remember those nights forever.
• My passion for New York City. I talk about it on the video and how today’s post is a love letter to the city that I adore – and that I feel, loves me back.(#5)

When it comes to the WORST of 2021, I’m like a broken record: crime, homelessness, etc., etc., etc.

And finally, even if you do nothing else on this blog, make sure you scroll down to THE WRAP and check out the Year In Review Video. It’s fun. I’m not entirely sure who it came from – I think it was Apple. Their algorithms placed some of you in it – and it’s very nicely done!

BEST OF 2021 IN 5 PHOTOS

1. [best]: Vaxxed & Boosted. Yay!

• Such a relief! Being vaxxed gave us permission to mix and mingle and return to some degree of normalcy.
• Omicron has put the kibosh on a lot of year-end celebrations but none of my vaccinated friends have, to date, come down with anything serious enough to require hospitalization.
• The most radical change I made to stay healthy in 2021 is the 2-drink rule which I adhere to 90% of the time. Big shout-out to Miley Cyrus for getting it on my radar (and to Joe Rogan for having her on his podcast and talking about it).

2022 PREDICTION: Those of us who are pro-vaccine will be lining up to get jabbed with the new US Army-created single vaccine that protects against all COVID & SARS variants. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research has been working on it since early 2020. It’s in final testing stage now.

2. [BEST]: My friendship circle has survived the pandemic!

• What would we do without friends? They’ve always been integral to my happiness but over the last two years, they’ve become even more vital. 2021 also proved that IRL is 1000 times better than zoom life.
• Lots of memorable get-togethers but my birthday celebration and the return of the Holiday Party were magical. And made exponentially better by Cara Forgione at Peasant and Panos Kourakos and the great staff at Ludlow House.
• And to all the friends who are missing from this photo collage, I LOVE YOU ALL.

2022 PREDICTION: LOTS of travel to reunite with far-flung friends and family, and to meet (often for the first time) work colleagues. I am especially excited about traveling again with Nat Geo (which I have not done since February 2020!). I always meet the most fascinating people, be it fellow travelers or Nat Geo experts and staff. I KNOW my network of friends (my “tribe”) will be vastly expanded by this time next year!

3. [best]: RESTAURANTS (and Ludlow House) made life 1000 times better

1. I have zero desire to cook or entertain at home anymore. I only want to eat at restaurants (and wouldn’t mind living in a boutique hotel either). I just love the conviviality and warm welcome I get at all of my favorite spots.
2. My 3 favorite restaurants in NYC, in case you’re wondering: Peasant, Peak, and Ludlow House. However, I patronize many more because I like trying new places. PLUS, I consider it my civic duty to support local businesses (and to tip big).
3. This year I’ve also created new traditions, ALL hosted at restaurants, as noted in #2 above.

2022 PREDICTION: Restaurant meals will clearly continue to get more expensive which doesn’t help the cause. But, after being stuck at home for much of the last 18 months, those that can, will double down on eating out (I know I will!). Another mini-prediction: the outdoor dining huts, in places like NYC, will go bye-bye. This December, I’ve seen far fewer restaurants utilizing their outdoor seating set-ups.

4. [best]: my neighborhood! Is it sketchy? YES! but also vibrant and ‘happening’

So grateful to live in this community

• Where I live is decidedly UNFANCY (a walk-up in a self-managed co-op, I’m in charge of garbage), but we each have a fire escape which has been a lifesaver during the pandemic. Over the last 2 years it’s been helpful not only in making new friends (on neighboring fire escapes) but it gives me much needed intelligence on any nearby crime scenes (and there have been quite a few).
• The friendships in this community are solid. Since the pandemic, more of us (especially those on clean-up patrol) keep an eye out for each other and are protective of each other’s buildings.
• Big shout-out to the owners of Off-Soho Suites (the independently-owned hotel across the street). They got the ball rolling when they started to hose down their side of the street every morning. It inspired me to start picking up the trash on my side of the block. Freeman’s Restaurant and the hardware store on the corner also started to pitch in and clean up every day. It has not gone unnoticed which I appreciate. It also makes you feel empowered. The city might be having problems keeping streets clean but with very little effort we have maintained a fairly spotless block.

2022 PREDICTION: With a new mayor as of January 1st (Eric Adams), all of us who have been doing the heavy lifting in our neighborhoods, are hoping the city will step up and do their part to once again give us a well-run, civil city. Fingers crossed.

5. [best]: NYC: a diamond in the rough (pandemic and all)

And to fully understand my love affair with the city, you need to see at least 6 photos (one collage will simply not do).

#1 I LOVE OUTDOORSY NEW YORK

#2: I LOVE CREATIVE, ARTSY NEW YORK

#3: I LOVE PERFORMANCE NEW YORK

#5 I LOVE STYLISH NEW YORK

AND FINALLY, WHAT I LOVE MOST IS ‘NEVER A DULL MOMENT’ NY (EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC)

• NYC makes me feel alive in a way few other cities do. It’s creative, ever-changing, and despite its problems (see WORST below), its energy sustains me.
• I can’t imagine ever leaving this city (best retirement community in the world according to my friend, Bruce Bromley).
• BUT, as I’ve noted previously, the city has gotten much younger since the pandemic. And those young newcomers have provided an infusion of fresh energy.

2022 PREDICTION: NYC is back (it never went away if truth be told). BUT it needs help and hopefully, the new mayor will be true to his word and run this metropolis like the world-class city it is. I’m also very excited about what’s happening across the city, e.g, midtown around Rockefeller Center. That area, has gotten a major boost with new restaurants and stores. My neighborhood, likewise, is booming with new apartment buildings and new restaurants. Chinatown is also in the midst of a major comeback with a new young generation of chefs. I’m very optimistic about the next four years under Eric Adams. DO NOT DISAPPOINT ME, MR. MAYOR.

WORST OF 2021

1. [worst]: CRIME IS out of control

We’re living in a pro-crime environment, all around the country — and I don’t like it.

• DA’s in most major cities seem to think their job is to NOT charge anybody with any crimes, no matter how egregious. In NYC, somebody can push you onto the subway tracks, get arrested, have a rap sheet a mile long, and be back out on the streets by the end of the day. IT’S CRAZY!
• Bail reform and Defund the Police activists have put a lot of sketchy laws on the books, ALL pro-criminal and anti-victim. None of this is keeping us safer – not on our streets, not in our stores, and not in our homes. Criminals, on the other hand, can’t believe their good fortune. Crime has never been a better – or easier – business to be in.
• Leaders in our most “progressive” cities appear to be walking back some of their “laissez-faire” attitudes about crime and justice reform, e.g., London Breed in SF and Lori Lightfoot in Chicago. In NYC, Eric Adams won the mayorship based on his campaign of law-and-order after 8-years of “soft on crime” Bill de Blasio.
• In the meantime, look for private security services and gun sales to go through the roof.

“This morning I sold six shotguns in about an hour to people that say, ‘I want a home defense shotgun.’ Everyone has a general sense of constant fear, which is very sad. We’re used to this being like Mayberry.”

Russell Stuart, Owner, Beverly Hills Guns (a “concierge service” by appointment only Gun Store)
Source: LA Magazine

2. [worst]: HOMELESSNESS: a nationwide problem

I’ve written about this numerous times.

• “Affordable” housing is not the solution when mental illness and drugs are so rampant.
• The situation reminds me of South America’s favelas and shantytowns which I wrote about in March 2020. Here’s the link – it’s #3.
• Unless some drastic measures are taken, this is likely to be America’s future:

In Brazil, 20% of the population live in shantytowns (favelas). 25% of Rio’s 6.3MM total population live in favelas, i.e., approximately 1.6MM.

In Buenos Aires over 700,000 live in favelas and that number has gone up dramatically since the Venezuelan refugee crisis began.

Cartegana has more than a thousand favela neighborhoods. Rocinha is the largest with between 70,000 -100,000 residents.

Note: Currently, one in seven people worldwide live in favelas or shantytowns. By some estimates, this number will rise to one in four people by the year 2030.

So don’t be surprised if we start seeing favelas in North America as the homeless situation gets worse. In Buenos Aires, one of the biggest favela neighborhoods (Villa 31) abuts the Retiro railway station. The poor first started squatting on the land back in the 1930’s, building their shantytowns with materials they’d gathered from the streets and elsewhere. This is now permanent housing in Buenos Aires and is about to be made an official barrio. I have no doubt that in North America, within the next decade, we will start seeing homeless encampments moved from streets to favelas on city/state-owned land as politicians and city leaders realize that building “affordable” housing in the middle of San Francisco or New York City is a fool’s errand.

3. [worst]: unruly/churlish behavior

How much more unhinged can we get?

• Airlines are bearing the brunt of it – generally related to mask wearing (and passengers being over-served at the airport bar). As of November 2nd, the FAA is investigating 5X more unruly passenger cases in 2021 than 2020.
• Brawls at restaurants (both fine dining and fast food) are now everyday occurrences.
• Fights at malls between large groups of teens (often accompanied by looting) are also increasingly problematic. This November and December, fights – often with over 100 teens – have been reported at malls around the country, e.g., Providence Place, Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Southpoint mall in Durham NC, Stockton CA, Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, South Shore Plaza in Boston, and dozens more.

What is it going to take to get people to CHILL OUT and behave in a civil manner?

4. [worst]: Cancel Culture: the new inquisition?

SO OVER THIS!! And so happy that Chappelle stood his ground and refused to cave to the Woke Mob.

5. [worst]: TRAVEL in limbo

I’VE GIVEN UP EXPECTING TRIPS TO HAPPEN AS PLANNED:

• That said, I am booked on 3 trips in 2022 but after two-years of stop-and-start travel planning, I’m taking it in stride and not getting super excited until I am asked for the final payments (and even then, who knows?).
• However, I am looking forward to getting on that Nat Geo plane and heading to Africa. But the trip I am most thrilled by is the one to the Faroe Islands. Looks fantastic, other-worldly, will be the NEXT HOT SPOT for adventurous travelers. But it’s on a small ship – so who knows what the future holds on that one.
• Nat Geo will be making final decisions on the Africa trip by mid-February. Fingers crossed.

And that’s a wrap. Not only for today, but for THe year!!

But I do want to share this final video that just popped up on my iPhotos. Did everyone get this? It’s a really cool lookback at 2021 and is compiled using Apple’s algorithms (most of which I totally agree with – except for the paint can (really??).

And with that, my friends, I wish you all a happy, healthy, prosperous year filled with friends, family, exciting adventures and new experiences, growth and productivity, and many, many good times. I will be back in your in-box on January 7, 2022.