The summer of 2020 in New York City was a socially and politically charged one. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, as small businesses were forced to close and many were left unemployed, issues of police brutality, racial inequality, and political unrest became emotionally pervasive across the country. As outdoor restrictions eased with the warm weather, New Yorkers took to the streets to dine, socialize, exercise, and make their voices heard, creating a tale of two cities: one that was empty and docile in ways that had never been seen before and another that was communally kinetic in ways that only a pandemic and social unrest could compel. Though stark in contrast, both experiences showed the humanity of New York in many ways. It was a hot summer, both literally and figuratively. These are some snapshots of that time.