By Robert Beck
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a whole lot different in real life than it is on the flat screen. The live experience is much better. For one thing, you won’t believe how big those marching bands are. They go from horizon to horizon. The music sends a thrill through you. And the balloons—well, there’s nothin’ like it. The cheerful atmosphere is irresistible.
For some, attending the parade is a friends-and-family tradition. One group that shows up every year along Central Park near 66th Street brings large garbage bags filled with confetti. They have so much that after throwing it and throwing it, a pile forms in front of them, and they just scoop it back up and throw it again.
One time, a few people wearing expensive clothes and looking very anchorperson came wandering down 66th like maybe they heard the music and emerged from ABC to see what all the fuss was about. The crowd behind the barriers on the other side of Central Park West saw them and started waving and cheering. One of the manicured media folks — a gentleman wearing a black cashmere coat, Velasca shoes, and black leather gloves — couldn’t resist the adulation, and when there was a gap in the parade, he walked across the street to greet his admirers. It was the perfect setup.
He just reached the other side and was extending his hand when an explosion of confetti engulfed him. And another. And another. Pow, pow, pow, in short order. When the cloud settled, he stood with his hands at his sides, blinking in surprise, covered with white paper bits, head and shoulders, in every seam and fold, nearly up to his knees. It’s hard to execute a graceful withdrawal from that. I’m sure he was finding the stuff in pockets and cuffs weeks later.
He wasn’t the only one to get a face full. They nailed anybody who got close enough. Balloon wranglers, politicos, and musicians (I’m sure the Purdue Marching Band tuba guy dumped some out of his instrument on the bus ride home). No one in range was spared.
If you live near the route, you can’t help but be amazed at the coordinated effort by the city, not just to get things ready but to clean up and put them back in working order. Right behind Santa’s sleigh comes an army of people and trucks sweeping the street and swinging the lights and traffic signals back into place. Next thing you know, the parade route looks like nothing happened. One big swirl of cars, people, bicycles, horns, and sirens. And not a speck of confetti.
Mother-in-Law’s Note: Before Robert Beck wrote West Side Canvas, his essays and paintings were featured in Weekend Column. Read Robert Beck’s earlier columns here and here.
See more of Robert Beck’s work and his UWS studio by visiting www.robertbeck.net And let Robert know if you have a connection to an archetypal UWS place or event that would make a good West Side Canvas subject. Thank you!
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Great painting. Almost like being there, but lasts longer.
Another beautiful painting Robert! Love your work!
When my son was young (10 yrs old) we would go to the Macys parade and bring an aluminum ladder (its light to carry) and were able to see above the 10 people thick line up.
Nice article and lovely painting but I have 1 correction for the article. The spelling of the marching band school is wrong. The college is Purdue University, not Perdue, which is a purveyor of poultry. As an alum of the university and the band and a vegan as well, I felt the need to point out the mistake.
As well you should. My apologies. A marching band of chickens is something else entirely.
In my younger days my mother had friends living on CPW and we’d come up from the Village for the parade. There would be brucnh for the adults and all kinds of 1940’s kid-food for the little ones as we lined the windows to ooh and ahh at the parade. A wonderful outing it was.
Even Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade won’t lift many hunger-induced heavy spirits that day. But for the rest of us …
Oh pass me the holiday turkey, peas / and the delicious stuffing flanked / by buttered potatoes with gravy / since I’ve said grace with plenty ease / for the good food received I’ve thanked / my Maker who’s found me worthy. // It seems that unlike the many of those / in the unlucky Third World nation / I’ve been found by God deserving / to not have to endure the awful woes / and the stomach wrenching starvation / suffered by them with no dinner serving. // So please hand me the succulent corn / the cranberry sauce, fresh baked bread / since for my grub I’ve praised the Lord / yet I need not hear about those born / whose meal I’ve been granted instead / as they receive / naught of the grand hoard.
Fantastic painting with a very unusual angle on this marvelous parade. I love the gobs of confetti people. Early days of this parade they would cut loose the big balloons and let them fly into the atmosphere. Can you imagine? Thank you as always for this most interesting take on the parade.
Happy Turkey! Your Biggest Fan!
Not me…. i’ll be back in May. I’ll be enjoying spring and summer in Queenstown, New Zealand tomorrow.
Happy whatever at least they don’t have leaflets on their light poles !
LOL !!!!