The pause of flowers from bloom to rot fills the empty space between raindrops as they unspool in fountains.  Humans and animals caught as statues mid-action become eternal like the paving stones, moving as slowly as trees.

Flatiron Building behind Maya Lin’s “Ghost Forest,” a tree installation about the effects of climate change, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 28 April 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Tulips from bulb to bloom, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Thursday, 15 April 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Bobbi Dumas, buddhist and Kung Fu practitioner, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 28 April 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

White doves flying in the sky next to The Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 5 May 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Falun Dafa (a new religious movement) practitioners performing the fifth meditation exercise, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 4 May 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Squirrel eating a grape, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 28 April 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Tulips blooming, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 28 April 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Coins that were tossed into the Madison Square Fountain, New York City, NY, Thursday, 15 April 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Woman sitting on a park bench, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 4 May 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

A 17-year-old blind mixed-breed dog, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 5 May 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

Tulips rot, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 4 May 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

The Empire State Building in magenta lights in celebration of teacher appreciation week, Madison Square Park, New York City, NY, Wednesday, 5 May 2021, Photo by Tamar Baruch

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A man smiles and squints to the shining sun on the corner of Astor Pl and 3rd Avenue, New York, April 20, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

A sparrow is out as the weather begins to warm. Astor Place, New York, April 7, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

People stop to look at books from Chris Santana’s book stand on the corner of Astor Place and 3rd Avenue, April 20, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

A woman carrying balloons rides Citi Bike. Saint Marks Place, New York, April 24, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

A person looks over Patti Smith’s LP, Horses, Saint Marks Place, New York, April 24, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

A regular on this corner, Chris, reads Hell’s Angel by Ralph Barger. Astor Pl, New York, April 20, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

Trees begin to bloom on the northwest corner of Astor Pl and 3rd Avenue, April 6, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

Skaters on the corner of Astor Place on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

An unmasked biker stops at a red light to speak to the bus driver. Astor Pl, New York, April 19, 2021. Photo by Quincy Walter

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The One World Trade Center is visible in the distance from Washington Square Park during a clear, bright day. Sunday, March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

Chalk artists decorate the ground in Washington Square Park on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

Members of a live band in Washington Square Park stop to chat and smile. Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

Skateboarders congregate in the fountain at Washington Square Park on the first warm day of the year. March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

A person takes a phone call while sitting on the edge of the fountain in Washington Square Park. March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

Two young people sit on the edge of the fountain in Washington Square Park and watch the skateboarders on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

Many people brought their bikes out to Washington Square Park for the sunny, warm weather on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

Birds fly overhead of Washington Square Park on a warm, sunny day. March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

A person lounges in the sun in Washington Square Park on March 9, 2021. The high was 64 degrees. Photo by Tori Luecking

Dogs and humans alike came out to enjoy the unusually sunny day on March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

A person sits with shoes off, enjoying the warm weather in Washington Square Park on March 9, 2021. Photo by Tori Luecking

The post Early spring lifts New Yorkers’ spirits appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

People gather on picnic blankets for a sunny afternoon on the main lawn in Prospect Park. March 9, 2021. Photo by Norah Hogan

A trio plays music for passers-by in front of a baseball field in Prospect Park. March 9, 2021. Photo by Norah Hogan

A neon t-ball bat sits beside a disposal medical mask in the dirt in Prospect Park. March 9, 2021. Photo by Norah Hogan

A child sits on a park bench next to her discarded jacket. March, 9, 2021. Photo by Norah Hogan

Two runners leave Prospect Park. March 9, 2021. Photo by Norah Hogan

A child and a masked adult sit on a tree in Prospect Park. March 9, 2021. Photo by Norah Hogan

Yellow flowers wrapped in colorful string hang as part of a memorial  in Prospect Park. March 9, 2021. Photo by Norah Hogan

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With spring having approached earlier than expected, Union Square park has been flooded with lots of people taking extended breaks from work and school.

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The Bowling Green Farmers Market is a warm place to be on the first day of spring.

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Soaring temperatures on the first day of Spring made the famous Wollman ice rink in Central Park look like a swimming pool. But that didn’t prevent a few eager visitors from lacing up their skates and taking a few laps – even if it meant getting wet.

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Sweet-toothed New Yorkers celebrated the first day of spring with free macacrons at select bakeries.

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A vanilla ice cream cone double-dipped in fudge and smothered in peanuts made its way from the Mister Softee truck in the East Village to the reaching hands of Ava Castillo, 4, who was held up to the counter by her mother Josephine, 32. Ava’s eyes lit up as she buried her face into the cone, instantly staining her rosy-colored face with remnants of melted chocolate.

“Last winter, I know for a fact I wasn’t buying this little one a cone the first week of March,” said the Park Slope, Brooklyn mom, as she wiped Ava’s face now sprinkled with peanuts stuck to the corners of her mouth. “Ice cream trucks or food carts in general were hard to find because there was no business, but now they’re all over the place.”

Most of New York City’s food trucks have experienced a surge in customers due to the unusually warm winter weather this year, with temperatures skirting the 40s over the past few months and no major snowstorms hitting the Northeast. Food trucks were hit hard with dangerous blizzards back in 2011 and 2010 that forced hundreds of vendors to close until early spring.

But some, like Belgium-born Wafels and Dinges, parked in Columbus Circle, took out their shovels and continued business.

“Last winter was a hard time because we had a big snowstorm and not many people came out, but we made sure we did so customers knew we were there and that built our reputation,” said employee Azamat Alanazaron of Borough Park, Brooklyn. “Our customers are important to us and we want to make them happy. We know waffles do just that during any type of weather.”

Alanazaron added that thanks to social media like Twitter and Facebook, they were able to update foodies on their location before trekking out into the storm.

Like Belgian-inspired Wafels and Dinges, Little Cupcake Lover, a small dessert cart located on Lafayette Street in the East Village, suffered a loss in profits the past few winters that forced them to close its ovens until early spring. This year, however, the cart has served nearly 200 customers daily, a major increase from last year.

“There was so much snow in 2010, we had to close until spring because there was no business, no one was out,” said employee Bahy Elsayed of the two-year-old baking business. “This winter was good, we tried to work Monday through Friday and the temperature was between 30 to 40 degrees, which is good for this time of year.”

Mobile bakery Sweetery NYC, which travels around the city serving treats like muffins and scones in addition to hot and cold beverages, was also in business last winter. But president and co-founder Grant Di Mille said business was slow since “people don’t want to go out.” During slow winter months, Sweetery relies on a catering business with clients including Food Network and the Weather Channel.

Sweetery NYC customer Ellen Dobrin of Gramercy, said she noticed more food trucks out this winter and attributed it to the warmer weather.

“It’s definitely still chilly out, but nothing like it was the past few years,” Dobrin said. “Temperatures were in the single digits and this year we barely reached the ‘teens, so that definitely had a positive effect on all the food trucks that are popping up more and more each day.”

Mediterranean food vendor The Chabah, also in the neighborhood, said bad weather does not affect their business. Serving classic favorites like falafel platters and chicken gyros to more than 100 hungry customers daily, Chabah said rain or shine, they try their best to make it to their location on the corner of 66th Street and Broadway.

“We have to work, no matter what,” he said. “We have regular customers that rely on us and we value their business. We don’t want to lose them because we decided not to open on a snowy day.”

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