An eclectic playlist that embodies the experience of wandering through the streets of New York City in autumn, my favorite time of year in this city we call home.

Autumn in New York City brings with it a sense of clarity. Walking through the city’s neighborhoods, I encounter a cacophony of sounds and smells—spices, leaf piles, hot coffee, stale beer, bad breath and freshly baked bagels. The accents and attitudes of the people around me become more vivid, each area of the city contributing its own distinct character to the tapestry of urban life.

The term “flâneur” evokes a certain detachment, referring to those who, during the second industrial revolution, had the leisure to stroll through Paris’s cobblestone streets, absorbing the latest art and fashion. The poet Charles Baudelaire, an insomniac who roamed Paris at night, found solace and inspiration in these solitary walks, using them as a means to grapple with his anxieties and observations about the world’s direction. The philosopher Walter Benjamin, too, was a flâneur, reflecting on the nature of modernity and the changing cityscape.

In our time, the experience of navigating the city’s streets can feel similarly introspective and revealing. My autumnal walks with our dog Lady Miss Thing takes us through New York City and reminds me of what I love and sometimes hate about this glorious city. These strolls offer a chance to reflect upon the evolving trajectory of our town, and our society. The music playlist I’ve created—featuring The Fantasticks, Nina Simone, George Gershwin, Minnie Riperton, Petula Clark, et al—serves as an eclectic antidote to the tensions of modern life. It’s a reminder of the beauty and romance that can be found in the everyday, offering a soothing counterpoint to the complexities of the present moment. Enjoy your walks in the city.

Contact Sheet Print: Chihuahua, New York by Elliott Erwitt