“You just missed the party boat!” he called out from his car parked at the end of the loading dock.

I had just voted in the NYC Mayoral primaries in Red Hook and decided to go watch the sun set on the harbor. After a disappointing view from the pier, I steered my bike down what looked like a loading dock, with hopes that it would reveal something new.

As I creeped my wheels through the cobblestone and concrete pancake street, I followed the intense bright light above, shining from the 9/11 memorial.

I wasn’t hopeful, as the end of the road looked just like a few downed power lines and a dumpster. A sketchy looking street surrounded by shipping containers and the Snapple distributor.

But right before I reached the end of the road, the shipping containers came to an end and the entire city of New York revealed itself to my right.

The lights from the 9/11 memorial shot into space. They were so bright, and go so high. I like to think that they can be seen from the moon.

Completely floored, I just stood there for a few minutes, taking it all in. I think this is the best view of lower Manhattan that I’ve found so far.

After a while, I turned to head back home. As I started biking, I heard, “You just missed the party boat!”

There had been a car sitting behind me the entire time and I hadn’t noticed. I’d been too mesmerized by the city lights.

“The Queen Mary just went by, filled with people all having a great time.” a thick Jamaican accent shouted from the dark car.

I slowly crept my bike towards the car, and I asked how long he’d been sitting there. “A few hours.” he replied.

The man told me that he comes out here every day, smokes a little bit and just sits and watches the city. He sees all people coming to this spot. Mostly for photo shoots. “Jews, Hispanics, Belizeans, everyone comes here for the view. Me, I just sit and watch.”

“Then I’ll see you here soon.” I responded.