I went out to check out the neighborhood this morning around 10:30. Streets are fairly empty except for some joggers, dog-walkers, and people seeking out fodder for Facebook status updates. There are already some windblown branches (this one looks to be featured heavily in Facebook status updates).

There is a McDonald’s, Subway, and Dunkin’ Donuts right around the corner from me — I was surprised to see all of them closed, along with the vast majority of businesses. But Tompkins Square Bagels — where  “Neil Young and rap artists on vinyl pre-1986 are invited to eat for free” — was open. Wisely, it sets customer expectations at the door.

And there was indeed a big crowd inside. Unsurprising; the bagels there are fantastic. Several customers added a bottle or two of water to their purchase.

Virtually everyone is home on a “Sandycation” right now.

I’m curious to see if the bodegas will be open through this evening. They’re still definitely getting business.

Mini-pumpkins are working for right now, but they may need to upgrade to bigger pumpkins when the winds pick up this afternoon.

Many street-level basement entrances are now covered up.

I returned home at 11:30am to hear Mayor Bloomberg giving a press conference on the storm — these conferences have been happening daily since Friday. Some quotes:

• He invited New Yorkers to “hunker in, have a sandwich, and sit back and watch television.”
• Further building the case for staying inside, he added other ideas for things to do this afternoon: “read a good book, talk to each other, catch up on your sleep.”
• “Stay off the beaches — there are some kids out there surfing right now. I know it’s a macho thing to do, but we want you here tomorrow.”