summer has come later than usual to the city, after a rather gloomy June. we’re finally getting nights when you can get away without bringing a jacket or a sweater (and maybe even a scarf, just in case).

it seems somehow fitting that everywhere you go there’s a radio blaring “Billie Jean” or “Beat It.” on the boardwalk at Brighton Beach kids see the lights of Coney Island in the distance and exclaim, “A carnival! We haven’t been to a carnival in a year!—a month!” before settling back on a year.

there are a lot of reasons to hope summer lasts forever.