NYC Belongs To Its Youth A creative rebirth once more... by JULIA SHORT
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efore COVID-19 hit the streets of New York City, there was never a single quiet block, never a dull moment; the city truly never slept. The streets were lit up, and not just with the light shining from oncoming cabs, street lights, and billboards, but with people. COVID-19 hit the city early on in the pandemic, and the streets that once never slept turned into desolate blocks without a purpose. New York had almost lost its only form of life. Many people moved out of the city to avoid getting sick, and others moved because they were no longer able to afford rent for their apartments and businesses. New York City was dying. But never fear; ever since May 2021, slowly but surely, life has returned to the streets of the city, back and bigger than ever. 20-somethings staying out until 4am, dancing, drinking, and kissing strangers became the norm once more, with NYC taking the same (but different) form of life. Now, New York belongs to its youth. If you’ve missed out on your last teenage years into your early 20s, the energy going into this year was definitely at an all time high. Now that we’re vaccinated and are most definitely in the hottest years of our lives (c’mon… hot girls get vaccinated), we’re ready to hit the streets of New York in only the sexy-yet-classiest short dresses and low cut shirts.
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graphics by ALI DIMOVA
Walking through the streets of New York at the prime time of 1:30am, the streets are bustling and full of life. Smoking marijuana on street corners, fashion trends at an all time high, and restrictions beginning to lift throughout the year have all truly paved the way for the nightlife to thrive. Clubs and bars are back to what they once were: a plethora of eager youth wanting to find something more than what life has handed them thus far. Not only were the regular nightlife scenes coming back to life, out of the dust came so-called “underground” parties that popped up throughout the city. These parties were designed for those who didn’t want to attend the mainstream parties and events hosted throughout NYC, but rather made for those who wanted something different. Similar to the different types of “normal” people were forced to live post-pandemic. As a member of Gen-Z and the up and coming 20-somethings in New York, losing out on my early 20s is, to put it quite plainly, a DISASTER. Losing more than a year of my young adulthood and basically watching it crumble before me? Not what I would have expected. And this is exactly why this year has shaped up to be the most anticipated for our generation. Not only because of the growing social scene, but a creative rebirth in a city formerly run by the wealthy elite and its older generation.
The growing social scene has been a major change for everyone, and the so-called “Summer of Love” (as stated by the New York Times) went into full effect this year. With restrictions being lifted and everyone starting to be a bit more lax about who they see, making out and hooking up with strangers is 100% a must. Parks, benches, street corners, clubs, bars, and intersections are just a few of the many locations I have seen people making out… and absolutely holding nothing back. Everyone has been depressed and touch-starved due to the universal lack of physical touch in the last year, so much so that everyone wants in on some of the action. Even walks of shame at 9am have made a comeback once again (absolutely NO shame in this). Thinking back on the past year and the hell it gave all of us, we have to remember that after tragedies, there is always a rebirth. The culture shocks that electrified all of us this past year have made me realize that this is how society needs to grow again and get back to what it once was. Even though New York has become a different type of normal once more. As a New York native that is frequently involved in its social scene, seeing the city come back to life in a brand new light has been nothing short of a miracle. Making up for lost time will take a while, but it’s extremely reassuring as we wait for what comes next.
