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Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Blow Up Tomorrow Night
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 21, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 21, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Get ready for some helium action! The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons will be blown up tomorrow at 3PM on the Upper West Side. The blow-up is basically all around the American Museum of Natural History - along at 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus. There may be a helium shortage (who knew?), but planners know and have taken that into account. Just be sure to bundle up.
The NY Sun had a great feature on the planning the Macy's team is doing with balloons and floats; their headquarters are at a former Tootsie Roll warehouse in Hoboken! And after unfortunate incidents of balloons falling into street lamps, which then fall into parade watchers, the city has implemented new parade safety rules. Which will come in handy, since Thursday is expected to be very windy. The two sisters who were hit by the falling lamp damaged by the M&M balloon last year will be back this year, getting the VIP treatment from Macy's. The Times-Union had this update:
Stephen Chamberlain said his family decided not to sue because there were no serious injuries. "Accidents happen," said Chamberlain, staff director of state Public Employees Federation. Had the lamp fallen "six inches either way, it would have been a much different story."
Instead, the family teases Sarah gently about her "Harry Potter" forehead scar, asking if it hurts when balloons fly overhead. On Halloween, Sarah and Mary dressed up as M&Ms.
Aw, cute.
And we present this photograph of Kermit the Frog, the Thanksgiving balloon, because he's been pulled (along with Charlie Brown) from the line-up this year. We'll miss you and your orgies, Kermit.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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