New York City, August 7, 2012

★★ Harmless and unmemorable. A scrim of high clouds reduced the sky to an undifferentiated white, like a stage lighting rig preset for generic daytime. A neutral warmth prevailed — summer was exhausted, but no replacement was handy. People seemed to be out of ideas about what to wear. The only moment of interest came when the sun edged below the sheet of clouds, illuminating it in undulating bands, champagne and pewter, on the way to an ordinary night.