Occupying Wall Street and Rockefeller Center

The holiday season is nearing an end. And it's supposed to rain on the New Year's Eve revelers in Times Square tomorrow night, which would be a fitting end to a pretty rotten year. By historical standards, 2018 was a sorry spectacle. As an American, especially, it was a series of never-ending embarrassments with the limbo bar of basic decency lowered and lowered some more with each passing day. But life went on for me this past week as I occupied Wall Street, Rockefeller Center, and other hot spots.

If George Washington were alive today, he'd be turning over in his grave.

Warren Buffett once said, "Wall Street is the only place that people ride in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway."

Thinking of Jerry Mathers...

Rumor has it that next year's tree will be decorated with popcorn strings, scrap-paper garland, and empty Red Bull cans. 

Obviously the handiwork of Lord Marmaduke Ffogg...

With "cheese home frice"...who could ask for anything more?

Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out...

Rest easy...

Glad to see that Max Headroom is still finding work...

An annual tradition in my youth involved a Christmas shopping spree with an aunt. In the shadow of the Empire State Building, it commenced at Macy's at Herald Square and ended at a little Woolworth annex store on 50th Street.

It also included taking a gander at Lord & Taylor's famous Christmas window displays.

Suffice it to say: It's not my or your elderly aunt's Fifth Avenue anymore...not by a long shot. In fact, Fifth Avenue is unrecognizable from that simpler snapshot in time.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.

Nice to see Jeannie in the Big Town...

Beware of people dressed in Disney costumes wanting to have their picture taken with you...

And, too, faux-monks bearing business cards...

Officer, you might want to keep an eye on the aforementioned...

The tree in front of The Tree.

(Photos from the personal collection of Nicholas Nigro)