Happy Birthday 'Merica!

I'm a bit partial to boating and beaching on July 4th, so I vowed to make this year's birthday celebration a success. In my last post, I mentioned how the City comes out of hiding for day events, and this holiday was no exception (especially since it was a free vacation day in the middle of the week).

As you know, I live in a building with a spectacular view of the Hudson River from our rooftop terrace.  The NYC fireworks shows really take place around the Island's circumference, so no matter where you are, you can easily see a light show. This year, we invited a great group of our friends over to watch the fireworks.

Most of my friends tease me for the amount of dinner parties I like to throw (but never once have any of them who've attended complained). In good Southern fashion, this event was no different-- by gawd we were gonna have a dinner party too.

When we went up to the rooftop to stake out a spot (three hours in advance) all seating had already been taken. I refused to let this deter our celebration, so if there wasn't furniture for us to sit on, we were just going to move our own up. Literally: four chairs, coffee table bench (equals three seats) and our kitchen table. Quite frankly, once of the best decisions we've made in awhile.

We had a great time! The food was great: pigs in a blanket, caprese salad, potato salad, dips, flat bread pizzas and an American flag cake-- needless to say, all our neighbors' guests wish it were us that invited them to watch the fireworks.

The show did not disappoint. I always feel like a kid when I watch fireworks, and can't get the stupid grin off my face. I did notice, though, that dozens of boats staked out a spot on the Hudson River, right below the firework show. Hmmm, maybe I'll just step it up a notch next year and rent a boat?

To be continued....

I Wear my Rainbow Glasses

I recently attended my first parade in NYC—and what better parade to attend than the most colorful of all: 2012 Gay Pride Parade.

I cannot begin to tell you how much fun this event was, and much more moving than I had initially expected. Warm weather brings New Yorkers out of the wood works (concrete works?), but a parade brings them in swarms.

Case-in-point was the fact that it took my friends and I ten blocks to find a space in which we could actually see over the crowd. Specifically, I shamelessly broke the law and crawled up scaffolding in my mini dress just so that I could see everything happening.

Of course the overall parade is a sight to see. From the performers to the supporters, the entire event really represents how far the LGBT community has come over the decades. More importantly, it represents how far society, as a whole, has come.

I was amazed to see some of the various organizations that walked in the parade to support the gay community. The NYPD and FDNY joined in the festivities, synagogues and local businesses. Bystanders held signs that read in support of family and friends.

 

Best of all was the LGBT community. No one cared who or what you were, but the community just wanted to celebrate pride with everyone and have fun. I was doused in glitter from performers and danced on sidewalks with strangers.

If you’re ever in the City for the parade, it is a must-attend event. It restores the faith that sometimes the mass can come together in support of others, and learn to look beyond our differences, and simply have PRIDE in who we are.