From the New York Times website

A moment of zen via the New York Times as we await the arrival of a large, but not particularly ferocious  hurricane. Good sense dictates that immediately vulnerable coastal areas be evacuated. Beaches in the city and on Long Island for sure. But Battery Park City, the East Village projects, and the high rises on the Williamsburg waterfront? All are located in the red zone A on the map above. (I’m presently in the small white area at lower right.) As with all storms in the city–nor’easters and the like–best not to walk around outside when there are high winds. I’ll be hunkered  down in my apartment until the show (nature and media) is over.

Update:

First signs of approaching storm in New York at 10pm–thunder and lightening. Reports of extensive flooding on the back end of the storm from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A very different geographical configuration here, and a weaker storm, we can only wait and see how much water gets pushed into the harbor and the Long Island Sound to the north. Friends of mine just bought a house on the beach in Connecticut right in the expected path of the storm.

Update:

Things are winding down with some gusts of wind  from the backside of the storm. Some flooding in low lying areas including stretches of the FDR drive along the East River in Manhattan. There are trees down all over. For those close to the beaches, or with homes in flood prone areas, the storm was no joke. But to the majority of us in the city, it was just another windy rainy day.