“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a damned shame that a field as potentially dynamic and vital as journalism should be overrun with dullards, bums, and hacks, hag-ridden with myopia, apathy, and complacence, and generally stuck in a bog of stagnant mediocrity.”

— Hunter Thompson

Keeping in mind that most of what you read by journalists online or in newspapers these days is an alternate reality — whether from conspiracy-theory-addled conservatives or hypocritical liberals fleeing to the Hamptons. So here are some photos of the real current state of affairs in SoHo. The hotels have reopened, although several like The James are under different names and ownership. The Hampton Inn is now SoHo 54 on Watts Street and offers rooms with nothing — even WiFi and water costs extra. The restaurants and bars are serving again and the traffic is back with a vengeance. So here’s a look see so you can make up your own mind whether or not to visit.