Recent Storm Decimates NYC Umbrella Population
Saturday’s storm appears to have caused severe declines in the population of New York umbrellas. A Sunday morning stroll through a ravaged upper Broadway revealed bones, skin and entire carcasses strewn about the streets.
Stripped clean
Umbrella skin
Callous New Yorker walks past umbrella in distress
Red umbrella seeks solace with bicycles
Trail of tears
Easy for you to laugh, Elmo
Together to the bitter end
Umbrella bones
The dustbin of umbrella history
Red flag surrenders
Despite the obvious dangers of the New York streets, new umbrellas arrive every day, seeking the excitement of big city life.
Young umbrellas await an unknown future
We wish them luck.
Out walking the dog 
April 17, 2011 at 10:06 am
Laugh-out-loud funny. Great images and captions!
This is why I hardly ever carry an umbrella in the city. You’re just risking heartbreak.
April 20, 2011 at 7:44 am
Thanks, Susan. Always happy to make you laugh.
November 12, 2010 at 6:45 am
I’m 13.I’m from Milan and my English is not so good,but I can say your photos about New York’s umbrellas are funny and amusing.I love Esau !
November 12, 2010 at 12:08 pm
How nice! Esau thanks you, as do I.
November 19, 2010 at 10:18 am
thanks! I will continue to visit your blog !!
April 1, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Oh my goodness!
That’s amazing
March 17, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I was in the airport Sunday night, very glad that my destination was *not* New York or any other east coast city.
March 17, 2010 at 1:30 pm
When Tom was in town (your town) he described in detail this tragedy, especially at the corner 88th and Fifth, where he lost his umbrella and then observed from a distance everyone else losing theirs too. Glad spring is on its way…..
March 17, 2010 at 10:20 am
Neat collection of dead umbrella pix. When I was walking around I thought: Is there a garbage can that doesn’t have a disabled umbrella?
March 16, 2010 at 11:42 pm
A trail of blood beneath umbrella bones
So sad.
Have you come across their breeding grounds in your park excursions? With luck their population will spring back to pre-storm levels before the next heavy rain.
March 17, 2010 at 10:30 am
I don’t think they breed or are native to Manhattan. They seem to be an invasive species with a high reproductive rate and a constant supply of adventurous young that find their way into the city. I wonder about their life span, too. A great number don’t survive their first year, but I’ve known others to live for five or more years, sometimes maimed but still functioning. Another interesting feature is their ability to move from one habitat to another, living quietly in foyers, closets and entryways and often going home with complete strangers. A fascinating species!
March 16, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Alas, poor umbrellers! Now it’s time for the parasols to take over, frivolous creatures though they may be.
March 16, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Spring will come and all will be healed. Daddy-O