Last week's Smart Car sighting on West 120th Street kicked up a few conspiracy theories on Curbed. Some are guessing I have sold out to the real estate industrial complex. One aspiring sleuth writes:

Hey - aren't those dead leaves on the sidewalk and street? In July? Was this picture really taken "this Thursday?" And why are there no other parked cars anywhere in sight (or pedestrians on the sidewalk)? And such a beautiful background of brownstowns with flowers in planters. This picture was so professionally orchestrated, they whited out the license plate number. Its shows a scene so peaceful, so tranquil, so gentrified. And at the same place where there was a shooting rampage over Memorial Day Weekend.

The whole picture looks kinda like a picture that I would take if I was trying to sell real estate in Harlem in a down market. Then I would plant it in some local blog with some faux ironic comment about Harlem being fully gentrified.

With compliments like this, maybe I should reconsider my profession.

Actually, the people living on 120th should be the ones feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. The whole set up process involved me seeing the car, thinking it was funny, taking a photo, and continuing on. Flowers, sidewalk upkeep and the general tranquility is all the work of Harlem residents.

Almost as much energy went into the above photo taken Sunday, also on 120th Street in front of Marcus Garvey Park. You will note it includes:
-Other cars on the street
-Pedestrians
-Visible license plate
-Flowers in the park