I was an awkward kid attending a private catholic High School and of course a member of the band. At least I was a member of a somewhat respectable (if there is such a thing) portion of the band, the drum corps. During my senior year it was announced that we would be marching in the New York City, St. Patrick’s day parade. We were all flabbergasted. While we could handle the local band and flag competition and the routine football game half time show, this was a REAL performance. The sheer magnitude and enormity of the prospect actually made our rag tag ensemble of performers take our preparation seriously. For weeks on end we drilled, marched, kept cadence and actually played what sounded like actual music. We became quite good. Upon arriving in the Big Apple in our orange school buses we were in awe. I recall the slack-jawed marvel on the faces of everyone in the band. We behaved perfectly for our band director, who was ironically a short red headed jewish bandleader at a Catholic High School. What a sight we were. I recall with great fondness the brisk spring air and the hustle and bustle around the parade. We found our assigned spot and prepared for departure. I recall little of the time leading to the start, but once we left it was magnificent. We were on top of the world and performed like it. I never considered myself very accomplished, but I kept the cadence in between songs in perfect rhythm. My arms were ready to fall off by the end, but the energy and beauty of the city, along with the endless rows of spectators made every bit of it worthwhile. The feeling of the crush of the crowd and the massive height and endless rows of the giant skyscrapers was an image I will never forget. New York City has never presented itself with so much glamour, class and excitement as it did on that St. Patrick’s day long ago. A sea of kelly green spectators and an endless stream of parade participants is perhaps the best way to spend a St. Patricks day in New York City
Posts Tagged ‘parade’
NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Thanksgiving in NYC Pt. II
When Thanksgiving morning rolled around my Mom, and my sons and I were so excited that we were awake and ready to go at 4:30 in the morning! After breakfast, and dressing the boys up in very warm clothes we headed up to meet up with my Dad and husband on the parade route. Watching that parade in person after all of my years as a child wanting to was simply stunning, but what made it truly the best was being there and sharing that moment with my own kids. It is surely a day and a memory that none of us will ever forget. After the parade we went back to the hotel, and when we arrived we had a whole Thanksgiving day feast waiting for us in our room. My Dad went all out to truly make this a family day, and a day we are all so very thankful to be a part of. I personally have been to New York and the City of New York many times since we have friends that moved there, but this Thanksgiving was the Best trip I have ever had to that beautiful city and state!
Thanksgiving in NYC Pt. I
All my life I grew up watching the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day parade on TV with my Mom and Dad. Every year I told my parents how badly I wanted to go to that parade someday. I begged and pleaded but I always heard about how crowded it would be, how much money it would cost, where would we eat turkey dinner, and so on. So, after a few years in a row of hearing the same thing, I gave up on asking for this wonderful Thanksgiving tradition. A few years back, now that I have children of my own, my parents surprised my husband, myself and my kids with a trip to none other than the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day parade! We left two days before Thanksgiving and drove to New York City. Once we arrived, we checked into our hotel and then headed right out to lock down our spot for the big Thanksgiving day parade. Of course it was too cold out to keep our young sons out in the cold over night waiting on the parade, so my husband and my dad took turns out on the street keeping our amazingly awesome spot for the parade.
Don’t Rain on My Parade
It was a few years ago and I was really excited to wake up and attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. The previous night I got together my camera as well as some food and drink and went to sleep early so I would not miss any of the fun. I was anticipating taking the train to the city early in the morning and getting a great spot so I would enjoy the whole experience. I woke up around 2 am and it was raining. It was raining so hard, I did not think it would be a good idea to go. I got dressed anyway in hope that the rain would slow down and I would be able to attend . After I got dressed and bundled up, I went outside and waited hoping that the rain would slow down just enough that I could go. By now it was after 3 am and still raining hard, I realized that there was no hope and it was just going to be any other rainy day. I took all of my belongings and went back inside. I was really sad I missed the parade; I had planned for this and now there was nothing I could do. Since it was Thanksgiving, I decided to just go home and try not to be gloomy. I got inside to my nice cozy place, sat down and just fell asleep still bundled up. When I woke up the parade just started so I got to watch it from inside. It was still slightly raining so in a way it was good I did not go. Instead of ruining my Thanksgiving, I got to sit home with the people I love and we sat down and had family time. Had I have gone to the parade alone, we would not have been together to enjoy the peaceful day dry and indoors all together.
First NYC Thanksgiving Parade
My younger cousin was in his freshman year in high school and his high school band was invited to play in the Thanksgiving Day Parade held in New York. We were all super excited for him, and having grown up across the river from NYC, it had always been a real desire of mine to go and see the Thanksgiving Day Parade in person. Because the band had to be in the city around 4am, we left really early to get there. My father opted to stay home and work on cooking the turkey because there was no way we were going to forgo a turkey on Thanksgiving just because we’d be in the city most of the day! We got in the city very early along with the band, and while they were setting up, we were able to walk around and see the large balloons being inflated and the floats getting ready. It was so incredible! Around 7am, we headed over to grab some breakfast at the Manhattan Diner (super delicious and highly recommended!). Afterward, we made our way about 3 blocks from the starting point (77th Street) of the parade. The sidewalks were already packed at 5am that morning, so finding a spot wasn’t easy and I felt like a sardine during the whole parade. This was probably a good thing considering it had to be about 25 degrees in the city that morning and the body heat was probably the only thing giving me the ability to feel my toes! The parade was awesome and the experience was once in a lifetime. Seeing the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City live and in person is incredible and it has certainly made every other Thanksgiving morning since that much sweeter (and warmer!).
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City
Growing up in New York City, my favorite memory of Thanksgiving is when I went to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade as a 5 or 6 year old with both of my parents. It was probably only a year or two before they split, and this is my only memory of Thanksgiving with all three of us together.
It was a cold, windy day, with the clouds spitting out raindrops, though it never fully rained. I tried standing on the base of a streetlight, but that didn’t get me high enough to see over the woman in front. I ended up kneeling on top of a mailbox, with my dad supporting me from behind. I remember my mom exclaiming and then laughing as her fur hat kept trying to fly off. The only inflatable I specifically remember seeing is Goofy, which is funny, since I never particularly liked him. I can remember him coming down 5th Avenue after clearing the turn from the West Side. Later we took the subway to my grandmother’s house in Queens to eat our traditional turkey there for Thanksgiving. I don’t remember that much about the dinner – typical kid – it was all about the parade!
Since then, I’ve lived my adult life in Ohio and one of my big regrets is not taking my son to see the Macy’s parade in New York City while he was young enough to appreciate it.
A White Christmas Thanksgiving
In 2008 I spent Thanksgiving just with my mother and father. Early morning, we woke up and got seats on the bleachers to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was fairly cold, but it’s always worth it. This is a tradition with my immediate family, and it is always such a joy to watch the parade. We love watching the parade, buying souvenir-like things from the vendors and observing all the families there with little children. The kids are always the most excited and in awe. That afternoon was spent napping, no one was particularly in a cooking mood (from the early morning wake-up, you see) and we knew that we were going to go out to eat anyway, so we felt it was earned and appropriate. We then took the subway to Times Square and got tickets to see WHITE CHRISTMAS on Broadway, which none of us had ever seen. It was a fantastic show! There were lots of families seeing the show, and it really was a treat. My family watches the movie every year for Christmas so the show was just a necessity. Afterward, perhaps around 10:30pm, we had a late dinner at Juniors. Following the wonderful dinner was, of course, Juniors’ cheesecake. A wonderful ending to a wonderful day.
New York Halloween Parade
My favorite Halloween experience in New York City was attending the Village Halloween Parade. It’s an annual parade that takes place in Greenwich Village. The parade itself consists of tons of bands playing an assortment of music, dancers, artistic performers, and hundreds of unique puppets. It reminded me of a Mardi Gras carnival with all the different colors, movement, and sounds.
I dressed as Rainbow Brite, which was by far the least unique costume there. That was part of the experience- taking in all the different crazy costumes. Anyone was able to join the parade, which made it an interactive experience as well. There were so many interesting people there, and everyone was friendly and personable.
The typical New York essence was in full force, with the eclectic parade-goers and onlookers. The most entertaining part of it all was the giant puppets. These creations seemed to come alive, and they had magical personalities to match the mood of the night.
New York on Halloween night is an amazing place to be, if you love action, mystery, and tons of craziness. The parade is a great way to wrap up a New York experience. What better way to end a day in New York than by celebrating the magic and wonder of Halloween night with a group of wild, colorful, lively characters!
Halloween in The City
I had never truly experienced Halloween until I went to New York City to celebrate last year. One of my good friends from college knew someone who lived in Brooklyn, and he invited us to stay with him for the weekend. My friend had decided to dress up as a pirate and I would go as an embodiment of the sin “Envy”. Now, we had both been to NYC many times before, but never crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, and let me tell you, we were a tad bit scared even before the Halloween celebrations began. Pirate’s friend said in passing as we arrived “Oh, by the way, I hope you weren’t planning on wearing blue here because you might get stabbed”. (Luckily her bandana was a safe shade of red). After settling into the apartment and getting ready, we hopped on the subway and crossed back over to Manhattan. We walked around SoHo, stopped for Falafel in the Village, and ended up going into the somewhat eerie “Evolution Nature Store” to get into the Halloween spirit. There they sell craniums, stuffed animals, and butterflies pinned inside glass cases, etc. We ended our night on Manhattan in Greenwich Village where the annual Halloween Parade is held. Unfortunately that night was particularly cold and rainy, but the parade still went on and every onlooker was dressed for the occasion in various creative costumes. Getting back to Brooklyn afterward was rather tricky as the subway system is far from perfect, so if I go back this year I’ll try to find living arrangements on the “right” side of the bridge.