More, More, More

Six months have passed since my last visit to NYC, and my beloved LES is almost unrecognizable.

New hotels seem to have been erected overnight, including the gorgeous PUBLIC.

Frameworks for new residential towers have turned every street into a construction zone.

The traffic cones and around the close noise of drills will subside,

but these modern glass and chrome structures will permanently dwarf the early 19th century architecture that gives the neighborhood so much of it's charm.

The Lauren Greenfield show at the recently opened ICP on Bowery addresses  

the influence of affluence in our culture.

Our drive to want more is creating a society of extremes.

I see this pattern, the loss of the middle, in class, politics, wealth and beauty. 

Our economy has healed from the 2008 crash, but what have we learned?

On the lower east side, lines around the block for limited edition sneakers are common place.

Millennials are paying more than my monthly car lease on hip kicks.

A morning coffee and juice sets me back $20.
Just for beverages.

Who can afford to live in this Emerald City that seduces with its shiny objects,

and walls painted for insta-moments?