Sanitation Fascination

The world has gone crazy over gelled hand sanitizers, sanitizing wipes and new cleaning practices. Any sort of anti-microbial product has been sold out of stores for a couple weeks now. Whereas before, a grocery store would only wipe down the conveyor belt if something like meat juice leaked on it, now, the cashier wipes it down after every 2 or 3 customers.

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Party’s Over: “Chip Strip” and Allentown both abandoned on a Friday night

In Buffalo, New York, the bars close at 4:00am. On weekends, the busiest time of the night is usually from midnight until closing. I took some photos in two neighborhoods during what would normally be their busiest time of the week.

These pictures were taken a few days after all bars and restaurants were mandated to be “carryout only.” Two days after these pictures, Andrew Cuomo’s broader “no traveling” edict would go into effect.

Chippewa Street. March 21 at 12:30 A.M.

Chippewa Street is lined with night clubs and bars. Friday night is usually teeming with activity.

Allentown bar district March 21. 2:30-3:00 A.M.

  • Allen Street, looking towards Elmwood, near Nietzsche’s and Allen Street Hardware.
  • The intersection of Elmwood Ave and Allen Street. At this time of night, this intersection is usually jammed with cars and drunken pedestrians.
  • The intersection of Elmwood Ave and Allen Street. At this time of night, this intersection is usually jammed with cars and drunken pedestrians.
  • The very end of Allen Street, near Days Park, on a Friday evening.

Bank Run!

March 20, 2020

Alright so that post title is a little sensationalist, sort of like coronavirus headlines.

The M&T Bank in Springville would only let 2 customers inside at one time. Everyone else had to wait outside, or use the drive-through window.

The following week, the bank was closed to the public, though you could make an appointment if you really needed to talk to someone.

I wanted to take out some cash…just in case, and they were out of $50 and $100 denomination bills.

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Saint Patrick’s Day, Part 2

It seems that people in real life are less concerned about the virus than those in the media or in online discussion forums. As of now, it’s pretty common for people in public online forums to harangue anyone expressing a divergent view from the official narrative. The official narrative being that it’s imperative to stay away from people unless absolutely necessary.

This lady at the Country Fair gas station in Springville, NY was a bright spot in my day.

Cashier working at the main gas station in Springville, NY on March 17, 2020.

School’s Out!

By March 16th, most schools in the state had been canceled until at least April 20th.

Here are some photos of Springville – Griffis high school on the afternoon of Monday, March 16. It would normally be a school day.

  • Two youngsters in the school’s empty parking lot.
  • Doors were locked. Nobody inside.
Collection of school pictures. In normal times, this would have been a school day like any other.

Bars and restaurants closed.

On March 16th at 8:00 P.M., Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all restaurants and bars closed. This was before the more generalized lockdown on March 22.

Here are a few patrons enjoying the last few freedom beers they’ll be allowed to drink for a while, hours before the restaurant ban goes into effect.

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Saint Patrick’s Day – then and now

Buffalo is world famous for its long winters and brutal snowstorms. The weather typically starts to moderate in early March, and all those people who have spent the winter indoors, with quick trips outside to shovel snow, are itching for an excuse to blow off steam with a big party. This, combined with the city’s large Irish population, means that Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17th is one of the largest events and parties of the year.

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