By Lawrence Braverman
After I left TJ’s Friday night, around 6:15, I heard a big explosion just as I got to 72 and Broadway. It was extremely crowded on the street as always at that time.
Looking right (east) to Central Park, a huge fireworks show was just commencing; everybody stopped, taking out their phones. I was transfixed: right above the show the moon, almost full, looked on in as if in appreciative benevolence at the rocketing series of explosions in color and form; BOOM… CRACK! BOOM, said the the already-dark evening sky. Was it in honor of the NYC Marathon this coming weekend? Many spontaneously said they thought so.
It occurred to me that everybody is depressed and distraught these days over events coming at us all with machine gun rapidity; those lucky enough to see this show seemed to drink it in as if it were life-giving water suddenly revealed in our bone-dry desert, with joyous perhaps childlike appreciation… I’d no inkling of the depth of my need, but really did need to experience this (I haven’t seen fireworks for years ) and when it was over, we all clapped long and loud and immediately went our separate ways, perhaps a little lighter; I know I was.
— LAWRENCE BRAVERMAN, no pictures as I don’t have a cell phone — and glad of it as I didn’t frame and click this event, instead fully gave myself over to the experience.
“— LAWRENCE BRAVERMAN, no pictures as I don’t have a cell phone — and glad of it as I didn’t frame and click this event, instead fully gave myself over to the experience.” LOVE THIS.
I fear for his safety without a mobile phone these days: if he were to have a medical emergency, our emergency services now depend on it. Be safe, Larry!
Disruptive. Obviously loud for anyone living in the area.
Should never have been approved by the City.
It’s something the Marathon only started doing within the last dozen years. It’s presumptuous and arrogant for the Marathon to assume it can explode things outside people’s windows.
I agree. It seemed to go on way longer than necessary. Sure, whatever, set off a few fireworks but keep it to five minutes or less. Last night it was so much longer and louder.
It was 10 minutes. I looked at my clock.
It can’t happen, if the Marathon wants to remain on the good side of residents of the West 60s and 70s.
So what? 10 minutes is nothing. Especially at 6:15 in the evening. It’s wonderful, beautiful fireworks display. I hear worse most nights.
Totally agree!
Jay, if you didn’t like it last night you will really be put out on New Year’s Eve. I, for one, ran to my terrace to watch the fireworks. I will agree that it was a surprise but for me it was a joyous one.
It was a fireworks display! There have been fireworks for decades during many events including when the Philharmonic plays in Central Park. It’s beautiful and festive. It is hardly disruptive and an explosion IMHO. So be it. To each his own.
If private companies wanna come in and blow up fireworks in our neighborhood youd think the least that they could do would be to let the local residents know somehow ahead of time. I was here for September 11 I don’t need any more explosions or fireworks personally. But I get it some people like fireworks. Maybe we can do lasers and an Av install from here on? Doubtful I know. How about just flyer the neighborhood the night before? We were freaked out
I too was spooked by what sounded like a prolonged explosion (as was my cat). Let’s find out who was responsible for it and press their PR folks to do a widespread news alert before launching another,
A few years ago — BC (Before Covid) — I came out of the 81st St subway at Central Park West just as the fireworks started. The wide streets allowed a great view of the pyrotechnics over the park. When they ended, I commented to someone else who had watched, “Finally, something connected to the Marathon that I enjoy” and she agreed enthusiastically.
I’m going to put this in my calendar for next year.
Lovely essay, Lawrence Braverman. Thank you.
For a city where people are getting shot left and right and where wanton violence erupts anywhere and everywhere daily, I found it insulting and insensitive to have enormous and loud bomb like sounds going off late at night. It was almost as if they turned up the volume on purpose precisely BECAUSE of all the violence.
I thought something exploded, or it was a sonic boom. I HATED IT. The obsession with fireworks by some in this city is just another sign of this city going down the drain.
Why on earth???
I have a cellphone but never take videos of things like this. I also love to experience ephemeral events with my eyes and not through a screen. Besides, the video will capture what an event actually feels like, you’ll probably never actually watch it, and no one really is interested to see it. Sure, people will say “oh wow, that’s amazing” when you show them the video but will be very glad when you put your phone away. And if you post it on social media, people will essentially think “who cares? another video of fireworks”.
Meant to say that the video will NOT capture what an event actually feels like.
I was taking a nap when they set these off the other night, and woke up seriously wondering if we were under attack! Everyone out my window was calmly carrying on, so it took me a while to figure out that it was just fireworks. Scared me but happy so many got to enjoy them!
I’m familiar with this feeling. I usually encounter it at 5 o’clock in the morning when Freshdirect folks start slamming their truck lift gates on the asphalt.
From our apt: https://youtu.be/Ng2DXpXXD_U
David,
I heard the fireworks but have no view from my apt. so thanks for sharing the great video. The fireworks were beautiful. I don’t know why anyone was surprised by the noise as this happens every year as part of the opening ceremonies for the marathon. It’s a tradition and most people know about it by now.
Anyway, I appreciate seeing the video.
Susan
Fran it was 6:30pm…’late at night’? 🤣
The early hour was part of the problem. It was still light out, and fireworks are usually not set off until well after dark (9:00 pm or later). So for those of us (and I suspect we are not few) who do not make a priority of internalizing the Marathon’s schedule, “fireworks” was not a likely answer to the question of “What are those explosions, over and over?” 9/11 again? The Russians doing something belligerent since the Ukraine invasion didn’t seem to be working out for them?
Who knew? No one had, and no one could get, any information. The consensus among doormen in the area was that one of those heavy metal plates had slipped across one of the many construction sites and cars driving over it kept making the loud clanging sound. Not a great answer, but what else was there?
I’m glad all those people got to run around New York City on Sunday, and that many others got to cheer them on doing so. I just wish someone had told the rest of us on Friday that we were not under attack.
Sunset was 6:14. It was dark at 6:30. Next!
The NYC Marathon represents some of the best our city has to offer in terms of spectacle and hospitality. We have folks participating from all corners of the globe. However, most of the runners are just average New Yorkers of all ages and colors who have been training for months for the privilege to run across our bridges and streets. The celebration is for them! The response to the few minutes of fireworks feels very petty and mean spirited. On the heels of some very dark times these past few years, this is a nice event we can all be proud of and celebrate.
I definitely could’ve lived without it. Why Friday night 36 hours before the race? why at all?
It was the finale at Opening Ceremonies with runners from many countries parading through, it was on TV.
Friday is the opening ceremony with the parade of Nations at the finish line in Central Park. This is not new. There are over 50,000 runners this year. Currently in various neighborhoods all over the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and the UES the streets are lined with spectators sharing their neighborhood streets and cheering on total strangers. This is a big event for the city.
Yes, fireworks are nice. But for those of us without views, it was actually pretty terrifying for a few minutes. There was no notification on Notify NYC or anywhere else that I could find that had made it clear this was happening (although, yes, there have been fireworks associated with the Marathon in the past). I was on Broadway at 69th and it sounded like bombs going off over and over. I have never heard fireworks like this before – ever. I was in a ground-level store and the windows/walls were shaking and the sound was reverberating through the entire neighborhood. Next time please just tell us to expect this?
Going back to the dawn of this nation and beyond, fireworks have been a celebratory aspect of many if not most cultures.
“Legend has it that Captain John Smith set off the first fireworks display in the American colonies in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. He and other settlers used the fireworks to celebrate special events. Fireworks were used in the very first 4th of July celebration in 1776.”
Daily the sound of gunfire rents the air in our City asunder, and the sad spectacle of first responders lining our streets to honor fallen comrades seems too often an almost daily occurrence; the vast numbers of those events after 9/11 is still seared in memory’s core & ever will be; even now the mournful sound of bagpipes starts that visual loop to running yet again in my mind.
Isn’t it right and fitting in a time of numberless tragedies reported on at all hours by the media that cascade furiously one after the other, or even simultaneously into our lives, isn’t the concept of celebration necessary, & a precious & joyful corrective to that cascade?
Larry, all we’re asking for is some advanced notice. I pray, is that too much to ask for?
Nope; one of the distinguishing features of this event touched upon above was its surprise, it’s sudden thus almost magical appearance, which I loved in the moment.
But not everyone is me or reacts as I do, so absolutely you should be informed in a timely manner; people plan & react better to events when they know what exactly is headed their way, and when.
You’ll get no argument from me on that.
The fireworks were fine. I think a lot of people were surprised because they had not been well publicized, they were not listed on the New York City fireworks page and calls to the 24th Precinct revealed that whoever was answering the phone, didn’t know what the explosions were either. They were looking into it.
NYC marathon is amazing . I’m be very proud that my city hosts such an event.
Fireworks are great to celebrate such events. However it was very unexpected and too loud. As a 9/11 survivor I was scared at first, then saw a reflection in the windows of the nearby building. My children got scared too at first.
I wish all fireworks are announced beforehand going forward. Otherwise what is supposed to be celebratory can become scary. In addition, it would give us the info about the occasion.
Just a short notice, that’s all we need.
The essay/article is lovely btw.
Yes, better announcements in future. Would be helpful if local police precincts were informing public too.
Otherwise a joyous occasion.
Although I appreciate that people were uplifted by this, fireworks are very disruptive to Central Park’s wildlife. We are in a great bird migration. These horribly loud displays are so unnecessary.
They were pure magic! I ran outside to see them over the Museum of Natural History. It was such a beautiful surprise. So sorry to hear it scared some. I do recall this being part of the Marathon, so the sounds made sense to me.
They were absolutely awful. I too thought it was an attack – I’m signed up to NotifyNYC and did not receive notice that they were coming. My dogs were so afraid they pulled to go home and almost broke their harnesses. I can only hope local birds and wildlife were not impacted. Had I known in advance I might have tried partner with professionals to measure the pollution they caused, that all those marathoners had to breath in. There’s no place for fireworks in NYC.
Reading this, I am discovering what the horrible explosions were that I heard the other night. I thought they might be gas explosions. I didn’t know they were fireworks. I deduced that as they continued and continued and continued. I couldn’t see them — I am way west on 85th St. I don’t think I’s necessary to celebrate the Marathon in this manner. While it it a special event for the city, it is also a huge inconvenience. Fireworks don’t abate that.