Lorraine

Lorraine is visiting NY for the second time in her life. During her first visit thirty years ago, she was on a road trip from the Midwest en route to Long Island. At the time, she drove by Harlem and most likely continued her journey without stepping out of the safety of her car. It's unlikely that the Harlem of the 80's was a must see sight for tourists or even for New Yorkers as it boasted some of the most dangerous blocks on the map. In spite of such reputation, Harlem was the capital of Black America and remains one of the richest cultural and artistic neighborhoods in Manhattan. Over the decades, some of those dangerous blocks have become the foundation of fancy properties and home to many lucrative real estate developments in NYC. For someone like Lorraine, who spent 3 days at the Metropolitan during her present visit and who evidently enjoys history and the fine arts, perhaps venturing uptown once again may not seem like such a bad idea. And the next time Lorraine speaks to her best friend back in New Zealand, she may be able to illustrate how thirty years have culturally and socio-economically transformed an American city. I think it is time for me to explore that part of town as well because yes, I am guilty of driving by Harlem and failing to make a stop to appreciate the stark difference between Ralph Ellison's Harlem in the Invisible Man and today's must see destination ... all the while enjoying some of the most celebrated soul food in the country.