Back story: My girlfriend and I recently moved to NYC and started a blog to keep our family and friends up to date and maybe even give people ideas for cheap things to do in NYC.

 

I live a couple blocks from Herald Square so I headed down to the parade to take some pics... I ended up behind the police barricades where they take apart the balloons and floats!

 

     

 

See more at the link below! Now with witty commentary!

 

 

http://bigapplesmallwallet.blogspot.com/2009/11/macys-thanksgiving-day-massacre.html

Haha!!  That was great. 

This year all the mystique and history of the Macy's parade was gone. Because of the pedestrian malls now on Broadway, the parade--after 82 years--could no longer proceed down its traditional path from Columbus Circle, instead detouring down Central Park South to 7th Avenue, then further east down 42nd St. to 6th Ave, and then back west down 34th St. to Macy's. This is sacrilege!

I tuned in right when those carebears were dancing to Carly Simon. That was some weird shit right there, so I turned it off.

 

Love it. A unique take on what I find to be a typically boring/cheesy tradition. I'm gonna have to start checking your blog regularly.

LOL!

Love it. A unique take on what I find to be a typically boring/cheesy tradition. I'm gonna have to start checking your blog regularly.

 

Thanks! Picture heavy posts like this one may not be super common but I'm sure they'll happen from time to time

This year all the mystique and history of the Macy's parade was gone. Because of the pedestrian malls now on Broadway, the parade--after 82 years--could no longer proceed down its traditional path from Columbus Circle, instead detouring down Central Park South to 7th Avenue, then further east down 42nd St. to 6th Ave, and then back west down 34th St. to Macy's. This is sacrilege!

 

WHAT!?!  They didn't go down Broadway!?!  When did it become unfeasible to walk a parade through a pedestrian plaza?  It's not like they installed a parquet floor through Times Square that would get ruined by floats or anything...  Someone should be fired.

This year all the mystique and history of the Macy's parade was gone. Because of the pedestrian malls now on Broadway, the parade--after 82 years--could no longer proceed down its traditional path from Columbus Circle, instead detouring down Central Park South to 7th Avenue, then further east down 42nd St. to 6th Ave, and then back west down 34th St. to Macy's. This is sacrilege!

 

WHAT!?!  They didn't go down Broadway!?!  When did it become unfeasible to walk a parade through a pedestrian plaza?  It's not like they installed a parquet floor through Times Square that would get ruined by floats or anything...  Someone should be fired.

you're right, it didn't make any sense to me either. As far as I can tell all the "obstacles" normally on the pedestrian malls--chairs, planters, tables--are easily removable temporarily in case the space is needed for something like a parade. There might be some curbing that should be easily avoided by a parade participant (unless they're drunk--I think that's happened in past Macy's parades :drunk:). Probably the biggest protests came from people who worked in buildings along Broadway overlooking the route, who for years would hold parties on Thanksgiving for friends and family members--not that I feel particularly sorry for them! (Like David Letterman)

This year all the mystique and history of the Macy's parade was gone. Because of the pedestrian malls now on Broadway, the parade--after 82 years--could no longer proceed down its traditional path from Columbus Circle, instead detouring down Central Park South to 7th Avenue, then further east down 42nd St. to 6th Ave, and then back west down 34th St. to Macy's. This is sacrilege!

 

WHAT!?!  They didn't go down Broadway!?!  When did it become unfeasible to walk a parade through a pedestrian plaza?  It's not like they installed a parquet floor through Times Square that would get ruined by floats or anything...  Someone should be fired.

you're right, it didn't make any sense to me either. As far as I can tell all the "obstacles" normally on the the pedestrian malls--chairs, planters, tables--are easily removable in case the space is needed for something like a parade. There might be some curbing that should be easily avoided by a parade participant (unless they're drunk--I think that's happened in past Macy's parades--lol). Though probably the biggest protests came from people who worked in buildings along Broadway overlooking the route who for years would hold parties on Thanksgiving for friends and family members--not that I feel particularly sorry for them! (Like Letterman, who I believe complained about it on his show)

^sorry for the double message, I screwed up. Must have been the drinking reference...

MY EYES!!!!!!

You should have gone to the balloon blow up.  That is the best part of the parade.

no, the floats in times square are by far the best part of the parade. its really outrageously surreal. so what do they do? they take it away. now who knows if we will ever see the route go thru there again? waah.

You should have gone to the balloon blow up. That is the best part of the parade.

 

I found out about it too late. Next year I'll be there