I often forget that New York is truly an amazing place, but sometimes I have a day where I am reminded why I live here.

A few weeks ago I had an appointment with a new optometrist who was located downtown. When I emerged from the subway, the first thing I saw directly in front of me was the skeletal remains of the north tower. It was a pissy-rain kind of day, foggy and blurred, yet people stood gawking and taking pictures of the ruins.

During my check-up the doctor put drops in my eyes to dilate them. If you haven't had this done let me just tell you it completely sucks. I was unable to see anything that wasn't fifty feet away and I looked like I was tripping my brains out. After I left I was still blind, and since I hadn't had lunch, I ducked into the first McDonald's I smelled. Turns out it was the fancy McDonald's, the one with marble floors, a doorman (who wasn't at his post when i walked in) and a pianist tinkling away on a baby grand piano to entertain the lunchtime patrons as they scarfed down their Big Macs and Large Fries. I got the usual (cheeseburger happy meal with milk instead of soda) and cautiously made my way back to the subway.

After work I went to a WTC benefit with my friend Sara at the Nautica store in Rockefeller Center. We drank free liquor and ate tiny hors d'oeuvres served by roaming, black-clad waiters. The highlight of the benefit was a concert by the Boys' Choir of Harlem. They were absolutely amazing. What voices! What attitude! They blew me away with their self-assured professionalism and novel rendition of "America the Beautiful". After the show we were invited to shop for over priced Nautica clothing, 10% of the profits would go to charity. Of course I didn't buy anything. Shopaholic that I am, I still won't spend $200 on a sweater. ever.

0After wandering around the store for a while, we left and checked out this year's tree, bedecked in red, white and blue lights and topped with a spiky gold star. As we walked past the white wire angels wrapped in twinkling lights, we noticed a knot of people illuminated by a photographer's spotlight, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. As we got closer we realized the center of the crowd consisted of some Saturday Night Live members being preened and picked over by make-up artists and stylists as they waited to have their picture taken. I snapped my own shot, of course, and then we made our way to Fifth Avenue. We passed Atlas and his burden and stood in awe of St. Patrick's Cathedral, which shoot out of the sidewalk like so many upside-down icicles, yearning for heaven.

We made our way toward Central Park and stopped off at The Plaza to use the ladies room. After tipping the attendant, we proceeded to Radio City where I caught the F train home.