FRICTION NYC

[MP3]: Brian Eno  ”Golden Hours”

Actually, not quite, but close. Manhattanhenge is a biannual phenomenon when the sun sets with the centerline of every Manhattan cross street creating a dramatic backdrop against the iron, glass, steel, and stone faced buildings that line the city streets. Since the entire island (and grid) is rotated 30-degrees from geographic north, the sun aligns with the grid on May 28th and July 12th (mark your calendars).

Last week as I crawled out from the dark underground and made my way up to the surface streets there were about 20 minutes of golden light left in the New York City sky. I quickly hailed a cab and started to make my way down 7th Avenue. I was digging around my bag and then a glimmer of light caught my eye so I popped my head up to see the sun slipping into the Hudson River. I was awestruck as block by block went by filled with the melting sun’s orange rays. It was one of the most surreal and tranquil feelings I’ve had in quite a while, in one of the busiest places on the planet.

Just before getting in the cab, I was listening to Brian Eno’s Another Green World and coincidentally, Eno’s “Golden Hours” would have been perfect listening for the landscape that was set before me. Like the scenery, the song is saturated with ambience from John Cale’s viola work. It also gives the same sort of tranquility and calming feeling - almost suspending you in time and place as the world whirls by at an ever increasing pace. Beautiful.

Above pic via michaeldillingham