City Lights

I read this morning about Editta Sherman, a 95 year old lady who has lived in a flat above Carnegie Hall for 61 years. She received an eviction notice last week because there are $150 million in renovations planned for the space.

The 'Duchess of Carnegie', as she's known locally, is a professional photographer. All around her apartment, framed photos sit in rows, famous faces who through the years touched her life, the Hall, the world.

Streaming light floods in from all sides. Vogue photo shoots were here. The black and white checkerboard tiles and the spiral staircase have hosted Carl Sandberg, Yul Brenner, Eva Gabor, Tyrone Power, Salvador Dali and Paul Newman. Editta's five children and 25 grandchildren, too.

The City of New York has already relocated some of the 48 tenants after the courts said they had to go. I don't know, though: they haven't come up against a near-centurion who still jumps rope to stay in shape. It will be interesting to see if the courts can place a value on a living piece of history. My money's on her.