There was a water main break last night, at Fifth Avenue and 13th Street - a pipe from 1877 burst. It was causing havoc on the subway system during rush hour, I heard on the radio, affecting B, C, D, E, F, J, M and N trains, but my first thought of course was "Fifth Avenue and 13th? That's where the new
University Center is!" Indeed it is, and scheduled to be festively opened to the world next weekend with performances in its partly subterranean auditorium. By the time I checked it out, mid-afternoon, water was still
pouring down 13th Street. A huge hole gaped from the middle of the intersection. Buildings all around are affected. And come evening nothing much had changed, though the university did send out an
announcement to the effect that damage is extensive but under control, and that all events and classes but those planned for the subterranean level will go on as planned when the new semester begins January 27th.
