This weekend, people flocked to bars on East Ninth Street in the East Village for an impromptu block party that resembled Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
With bars now serving drinks to go, part of the “new normal” people have been referencing since the start of Covid-19 now includes being able to drink on the streets, police not doing anything but asking partiers to move to the sidewalk when nine pm rolled around.
Now that phase one of reopening has commenced, the vice grip of fear Covid-19 had on the city seems almost a thing of the past, at least for the people on East Ninth street over the weekend. Hardly anyone wore a mask, and some even went as far as to harass reporters who were there covering the reopening for wearing one.
People gather outside of Miss Lily’s in the East Village. Photo by Thomas Hengge
A person on a bike make their way through the crowd on East Ninth Street. Photo by Thomas Hengge
People gather and drink outside Bua in the East Village. Photo by Thomas Hengge
Police arrive to break up the gathering on East Ninth Street. Photo by Thomas Hengge
A police officer talks with a person at the gathering on East Ninth Street. Photo by Thomas Hengge
People make way for a bus to pass through the crowd on East Ninth Street. Photo by Thomas Hengge
