The blackout turned the city that never sleeps into the city that sleeps anywhere – on the sidewalks, in skyscraper courtyards, parking lots and lobbies.
Thousands of tourists staying at the Renaissance Hotel on Seventh Avenue and the Marquis Marriott Hotel on West 46th ended up sleeping on sidewalks because emergency generators at both of the Marriott-owned hotels failed.
“It’s been really hard. Kids are crying, there’s no food, and no bathroom,” said Kerry Sobol, 30, a Marquis guest who slept outside on newspapers.
A Marriott spokeswoman said it was “too dangerous” for guests to go in the hotel.
“After Sept. 11, why don’t they have an emergency generator working?” wondered tourist Pete Tell.
The hordes of people, with sheets and pillows from hotel staff, amused many locals, who giggled and took pictures.
“Most of the people laughed at us,” said Linda Dahlberg, 53. “Even the mounted police laughed. ‘You got a nice room with a view,’ they said.”
This being New York, people tried to profit from the temporary street urchins. Brothers Alexander, 20, and Robbie Soofer, 28, didn’t hesitate when they met a man selling $200 mattresses – even though they’ll toss the one they bought when they head home to L.A.
Robbie said he felt “a bit guilty” surrounded by mothers, children and elderly, but added: “You can’t feel bad when you’re sleeping.”
It wasn’t just tourists who had to camp out. With no train service and taxis scarce, many New Yorkers took to the streets. Rockefeller Center security guard David Durant saw sleeping bodies in three-piece suits with briefcases for pillows at 7:30 a.m.
One trapped New Yorker, Norm Stackhouse, loved it.
“It was like the Wild West,” he said. “I walked down the street with a bottle of rum and no one stopped me.”