Earlier we discussed Green Village being part of the New York in Song Series.
New York in Song
The world’s a nicer place in my beautiful balloon
It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon…
– “Up, Up & Away”, written by Jimmy Webb & recorded by The Fifth Dimension
Snoopy or Pikachu? Charlie Brown or Spongebob Squarepants? Your answers will probably not only reveal how old you are, but also which balloons will excite you the most on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 23). Yes, the annual Macy’s Parade is coming around again in New York City, and there will be a balloon for everyone.
This year will mark the 80th anniversary of this landmark event, which is attended each year by more than 2.5 million New Yorkers and tourists and watched by another 44 million viewers on worldwide telecasts. The first parade was actually held in 1924, but was suspended for three years during World War II, when the event’s famous balloons were instead donated to the war effort because the rubber with which they were made was a rare and critical resource for weapons manufacturing.
The parade covers a 2.5 mile route beginning in the Upper West Side at West 77th Street and Central Park West, continuing past Broadway to the Macy’s Herald Square department store on West 34th Street, and culminating at Seventh Avenue in Midtown West. In addition to the balloons, there are several musical and dance presentations. This year’s parade will include performances by professional dancers, cheerleaders and even an acrobatic jump-roping team! And of course there will be many floats, boasting incredible designs and more than a few celebrities. Of course the biggest star of all – Santa Claus – is always on the last float of the day to remind everyone that Christmas (and Macy’s Christmas shopping!) is also on the way.
But the coolest thing is always the balloons. Kids climb on their parents’ backs to see their favorites, and the adults get caught up in the memory of characters from their own childhoods. And the very coolest thing is not even during the parade itself, but rather the night before. That’s when New Yorkers in the know gather from around 4:00 to around 8:00 p.m. at Central Park West and Columbus Avenue (between West 77th & 81st Streets) to watch as the balloons are inflated, assembled and tested. It is really a sight and sort of the hip alternative to the parade itself.
The long Thanksgiving Weekend is one of the busiest tourist timeframes in New York City, and finding hotels can be impossible. But New York habitat still has some great availabilities. Consider our apartments in the Upper West Side and vacation rentals in Midtown West, as well as bed & breakfasts throughout New York City, and book your accommodation today – up, up and away!
And for more info on the parade, check out Macy’s official event website at http://www1.macys.com/campaign/parade/parade.jsp
We will now read about another part of the New York in Song series, and this one is known as The Ultimate Monster Mash.
