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  4. I toured Manhattan during the coronavirus lockdown. A year later, I retraced my steps and found subtle signs the city may be returning to normal.

I toured Manhattan during the coronavirus lockdown. A year later, I retraced my steps and found subtle signs the city may be returning to normal.

Frank Olito   

I toured Manhattan during the coronavirus lockdown. A year later, I retraced my steps and found subtle signs the city may be returning to normal.
Times Square in 2020 vs. 2021.Frank Olito/ Insider
  • In March 2020, I toured Manhattan's landmarks during the lockdown. I retraced my steps a year later.
  • Now, there are more people passing through Grand Central Terminal and Times Square.
  • I saw signs the city may return to somewhat normal by the summer.

When the coronavirus pandemic started, I toured Manhattan's landmarks and found a completely empty city.

When the coronavirus pandemic started, I toured Manhattan
Grand Central Terminal in March 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

As a born and bred New Yorker, I've come to accept the crowded streets, tourist-packed landmarks, and fast-paced environment of the city. So when I toured the city back in March 2020, it was shocking to see everything so abandoned and desolate. The city came to a halt and remained that way for months.

The first stop on my tour was Grand Central Terminal, and the famous landmark was completely empty of travelers even though it was rush hour.

A year later, I retraced my steps to see just how much the city has changed. I returned to Grand Central Terminal and found a glimmer of what it used to look like.

A year later, I retraced my steps to see just how much the city has changed. I returned to Grand Central Terminal and found a glimmer of what it used to look like.
Grand Central Terminal in March 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Although the terminal isn't as busy as it was before the pandemic, it's a drastic difference from the terminal I had witnessed a year ago. This time, there were more people walking through, buying tickets, waiting for trains, and just enjoying the landmark itself.

In 2020, there were signs in the terminal warning travelers about the dangers of the coronavirus.

In 2020, there were signs in the terminal warning travelers about the dangers of the coronavirus.
Grand Central Terminal in March 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

"Trains will operate at a reduced schedule for essential travel ONLY," the sign reads. "Spread out and stay healthy."

A year later, the screens are inviting New Yorkers to enjoy museums, zoos, and parks this spring.

A year later, the screens are inviting New Yorkers to enjoy museums, zoos, and parks this spring.
Screens in Grand Central Terminal in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

In New York City, 18% of the population has been fully vaccinated so far, so many are looking forward to a possibly different city come late spring and summer. The messaging on the screen was the first sign that something great is on the horizon for the city.

The dining concourse in the basement of Grand Central was completely closed last year.

The dining concourse in the basement of Grand Central was completely closed last year.
The dining hall in Grand Central in 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Typically, the dining concourse is filled with travelers passing time before their trains. In 2020, however, it was completely empty and every food stand was closed.

Now, the dining concourse is slowly coming back to life.

Now, the dining concourse is slowly coming back to life.
The dining hall in Grand Central in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Although you still can't sit in the dining concourse to eat, there are a few stands that are open for breakfast and lunch.

After touring Grand Central last year, I walked through the streets and found them completely empty, too.

After touring Grand Central last year, I walked through the streets and found them completely empty, too.
A street in New York City in 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

There was practically no traffic on the roads and no one was walking the streets, which is very unusual during rush hour in this city.

That same intersection today has traffic and pedestrians again.

That same intersection today has traffic and pedestrians again.
A street in New York City in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

A year later, the streets of New York are alive again with pedestrians and cars.

In fact, the streets are beginning to look like the city I've come to love.

In fact, the streets are beginning to look like the city I
A street in New York City in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Although coronavirus cases in the city are still on the rise, these days, most people aren't scared to walk down the street. Last year, that wasn't the case, but a lot has changed, especially our understanding of the virus.

Located down the street from Grand Central, Bryant Park was another wasteland a year ago.

Located down the street from Grand Central, Bryant Park was another wasteland a year ago.
Bryant Park in 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Bryant Park is typically packed with people on their lunch breaks or decompressing after a long workday. But the empty benches and walkways felt eerie when I toured the park last year.

When I returned a year later, I found workers preparing the park for springtime.

When I returned a year later, I found workers preparing the park for springtime.
Bryant Park in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

In the winter, Bryant Park was transformed into a holiday market with an ice-skating rink and a few local vendors. Now, workers are taking apart the rink and replacing it with an open grass area — another sign the city is slowly returning to normal.

After Bryant Park, I walked to Times Square last year and found it completely empty.

After Bryant Park, I walked to Times Square last year and found it completely empty.
Times Square in 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Typically, most people living in New York City avoid Times Square at all costs because of the massive crowds of tourists. When I walked through the landmark in 2020, my jaw dropped. Not only were there no crowds, but there were barely any people at all.

This was not the Times Square I've known my whole life.

Now, Times Square is slowly coming back to life.

Now, Times Square is slowly coming back to life.
Times Square in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Throughout the last year, more and more people have slowly trickled back into Times Square to take in the lights. Even though tourism is still down in this area of the city, Times Square is starting to lure more people again.

The streets flowing into Times Square were also completely empty last year.

The streets flowing into Times Square were also completely empty last year.
A street in Times Square 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Normally these streets are very busy, but there were no cars driving through Times Square. In fact, most of the streets were empty for as far as I could see.

In 2021, there are more cars and pedestrians filling the streets.

In 2021, there are more cars and pedestrians filling the streets.
A street in Times Square 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

It's starting to look like the city I always knew.

In fact, most of the traffic has returned.

In fact, most of the traffic has returned.
Times Square in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

The famous New York City rush-hour gridlock is back.

At the same time, foot traffic has picked up as well.

At the same time, foot traffic has picked up as well.
Times Square in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

On any given day, pre-pandemic, Times Square had 380,000 tourists. Typically, it was very difficult to walk through Times Square because it was so crowded. You're often bumping shoulders with strangers and getting lost in a crowd.

Although that's not the case today, there are more people in Times Square than last March.

Stores that were closed a year ago now have customers.

Stores that were closed a year ago now have customers.
Times Square 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

A year ago, McDonald's was the only storefront open in Times Square. Today, most of the stores have reopened and some people are waiting to get inside, like at this Disney store.

Last year, the famous red staircase in Times Square was locked, so no one could sit on the steps.

Last year, the famous red staircase in Times Square was locked, so no one could sit on the steps.
The red staircase in 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Cops and security guards stood in front of the stairs to make sure no one climbed them.

Now, there are some people enjoying the tourist attraction again.

Now, there are some people enjoying the tourist attraction again.
Times Square 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

Before the pandemic, it was nearly impossible to get a seat on this staircase because it was always so crowded. Today, the crowd is sparse, but there are a few people enjoying the view of Times Square from the steps.

In March 2020, Broadway shows closed indefinitely.

In March 2020, Broadway shows closed indefinitely.
Broadway theater in 2020.      Frank Olito/ Insider

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Broadway theaters closed at the start of the pandemic and have remained closed.

A year later, the theaters are still closed, but some lights are turned on, signaling a hopeful future for the city.

A year later, the theaters are still closed, but some lights are turned on, signaling a hopeful future for the city.
A Broadway theater in 2021.      Frank Olito/ Insider

The mayor of New York City hopes to reopen Broadway by September 2021, but today, it remains mostly dark.

Much like the theater lights, there are signs all over the city that a return to somewhat normal is near — even though the city still has a long way to go and a lot may happen between now and then.

But the signs are undeniable. Whether it's on the screens in Grand Central Terminal, the renovation of Bryant Park, or the small crowds in Times Square, it's clear New York City is gearing up for the potential end of the pandemic.

As people continue to get vaccinated and follow COVID guidelines, my tour of New York City a year later gave me hope that the end of the pandemic might finally be near.

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