6:45pm

I criss-crossed the Manhattan “light zone” this afternoon, walking through Chelsea, Midtown, and Times Square. Nary a Halloween costume to be seen. The annual Halloween parade has been canceled. Not sure if the big Halloween party at Webster Hall is still happening tonight… as that’s smack dab in the dark zone. Their Halloween guy survived the storm, although he no longer has the glowing red eyes.

4:45pm

Walked up to 56th and 7th, as close as I can get to the famous collapsed crane. The next block is barricaded. Lots of craning necks as people walk by, everyone snapping a pic.

-“This reminds me of 9/11.”

-“I’m sort of *discreetly* letting *some* people I know that they can come take showers at my place.”

-“Well if I would have known,then yes, I would have gone ahead and bought that hot water heater.. “

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Taken today around noon – local utility (Con Ed) employees huddled and scrutinizing something. The north pavilion of Union Square Park appears to be an ongoing meeting spot for them and local police.

Union Square Park took quite a beating from Sandy. Took this photo this morning.

10:30am

Here on the light side, everything seems normal. Long line of people by the empire state building, as there is every day. It's turning into a nice, sunny (but chilly) day. The main reminder of sandy here is the groups of refugees from the dark side, seeking outlets. Every starbucks I've walked by today is in pandemonium, with lines going out the door. People are plugging in everywhere – the drugstore I'm standing next to now, for example – more people are in line for the two outlets here than at the register.

It’s an interesting experience, walking into the dark zone here in the evening. I was around Madison and 30th last night when I noticed how dark it was. The only lights are mobile — headlights on cars, and bobbing flashlights and cellphones on people. The striking thing in that area is the fact that the buildings are tall and they’re totally dark. It’s like walking through a forest, particularly on side streets, where headlight beams play off the walls of buildings like they do with tall trees at night.

6pm

At the restaurant I'm in, a young hipster family is seated next to me. Their daughter, probably 4, is wandering to nearby tables, doing a dancing and singing routine. I told the dad "your daughter is quite the performer!" and he smiled and rolled his eyes.

Reminds me of my youngest sister — of the four of us kids, she was the most extroverted. We were at a restaurant in Seattle in 1997 and I remember how she (age 6) walked through the tables, playing her small casio keyboard for the nearby diners.

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5:45pm – I was fretting this afternoon about the rapidly-draining batteries of my ipad and phone — and how seemingly all available public outlets here in the city are occupied — when a wise soul reminded me that I can read books (on paper), rather than gaze into the digital glow. So I went out in search of candles (I’m still up where there’s power at moment).

8 stores later, with candles depleted and people sitting on the floor next to outlets, and I found the last candles in Manhattan — the ones no one wants. “Cranberry dessert” scented candles. I look forward to these candles kindling the holiday spirit within me.

Wandered through Korea town.. Power is on here and restaurants are open! So I’m parked at one for now.

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4pm – I've seen a couple impromptu charging stations, where people are gathered around an outlet, connecting several devices to an extension cord. Saw a group of folks doing this on the street on 42nd, using a rare external wall outlet, and just saw a group of students doing the same thing in a cafe on 47th. I'm looking for an outlet myself but it's becoming clear it may be a while before I find one.

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