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Brooklyn Holidays & Parades NYC
September 2024 / Brooklyn Holidays & Parades NYC / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.
This section is dedicated to the Neighborhoods in the borough of Brooklyn NYC.
Page Guide
How to Make the Most of This Section
1. The reports at the top of this section will contain the current seasonal parades, large cultural celebrations and things to do over the holiday weekends in Brooklyn. Also see the restaurants section.
2. As things change through the year, the reports that follow the current parades, large cultural celebrations and things to do over the holiday weekends, will either reflect reporting of current events, or relevant events reported on in the past.
3. The rest of this section will contain parades and cultural festival related reports done previously, which over time we'll organize by holidays.
4. The Brooklyn BLVD website provides visitors with current news and a history of what has happened in Brooklyn neighborhoods, generally based on events, issues, locales and sometimes personages. Use the BOOKMARK button at the top of your browser window, to facilitate your weekly visit to find out what's happening in Brooklyn.
Thanks for visiting and come back for our weekly & semi-weekly updates.
CLICK here to view our Brooklyn Holidays & Parades NYC section.
Brooklyn Holiday Events & Things To Do - Brooklyn NYC
Brooklyn Holiday Events & Things To Do NYC
Brooklyn Holiday Things To Do - Christmas Tree Lightings, Brooklyn Hanukkah Menorah Lightings & Kwanzaa Holiday Candle Lightings
December 20, 2024 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / NYC Shopping / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
Be sure to visit our Brooklyn Holiday Markets page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.
For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.
How The Brooklyn Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized
NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.
These holiday events in Brooklyn are organized as follows:
1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF BROOKLYN
2. BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)
Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.
3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.
4. Note BROOKLYN HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted at the bottom of this page, along with links to other boroughs.
Brooklyn Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background
The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.
Community holiday events have been on the rise in Brooklyn since the start of the 21st century. While some date back many years, even prior to the start of the 21st century, many are relatively new.
Enjoying a community get together around the holidays is a good way to share in other people's cultures and strengthen the human bonds that transcend cultural variation. Or conversely, an opportunity to share your cultural upbringing with others.
Each of the Brooklyn holiday events is a bit different, as some are organized by community groups, local government officials and others by business organizations. Oftentimes one can find artisanal products that are made in NYC or NYS for sale, but we've dedicated a special section to announcing Brooklyn Holiday Markets & Shopping - Brooklyn NYC.
Brooklyn Holiday Events & Things To Do Getting Underway
The Brooklyn holiday events get underway shortly after Halloween, with some coming opening up about the time of Thanksgiving. The Brooklyn holiday events are located in or near the following Brooklyn neighborhoods - Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Prospect Park, Park Slope, Sunset Park, Bayridge, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Dyker Heights. Many either include the serving of some beverage like hot chocolate and generally snacks like cookies - or are near food vendors and restaurants.
Click here to read our report about Brooklyn Holiday Events / Holiday Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC.
Brooklyn Parades NYC - Schedule of Parades and Cultural Festivals in Brooklyn NYC
Calendar of Brooklyn Parades NYC 2025
Schedule of Parades and Cultural Festivals in Brooklyn NYC
April 25, 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / Brooklyn Parades NYC / Brooklyn BLVD / Updated Weekly
This report provides a schedule of the parades held in Brooklyn each year.
We update parades and festival events as we approach the event date. Asterisked events have NOT been updated to 2025. Pay attention to the dates / year.
The parades include the Brooklyn Three Kings Day Parade in January, the Chinese New Year celebration in February, the Brooklyn St. Patrick's Day Parades in March, the Brooklyn Greek Orthodox Holy Friday / Easter procession in April, the Dance Africa Festival, Norweigan Parade and the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade in May, the Greek parade, the Mermaid Parade, the Pride Parade and the Brooklyn Dominican Independence Day Parade in June, the Giglio Festival and City of Water Day in July, the BRIC Festival, Pakistani Parade and Feast of Santa Rosalia in August, the West Indian American Day Parade, Oktoberfest, the Great Irish Fair and the Greek Fair in September, the Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade and Halloween in October, and the Brooklyn Veterans Day Parade in November. And actually quite a bit more - scroll down to see for yourself.
We have also included a number of the larger cultural festivals here as well.
At the end of this report there are links to the parades and festivals in the other four boroughs of NYC.
CLICK here to view our report on Brooklyn Parades NYC - Parades and Cultural Festivals in Brooklyn NYC.
Brooklyn July 4th Fireworks in BK NYC
Brooklyn 4th of July Fireworks 2024 BK NYC
Best Viewing Locations / Places to Watch Brooklyn July 4th Fireworks NYC
4th of July Holiday Fireworks at Prospect Park, Coney Island, Fort Hamilton, Macy's in Manhattan & 4th of July Fireworks Jones Beach
Updated July 3, 2024 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / July 4th Holiday in Brooklyn / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
NYC Weather 4th of July Week as of 7.3.2024. The temperature highs will be in the mid 80's all week, while the temperature lows will start the week in the mid 60's, gradually rising to the mid 70's by Friday. Winds will be about 5 mph all week, except on Wednesday when they kick up to about 10 mph. The humidity will be a comfortable 40% - 60% on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, rising to 65% - 75% on Thursday and Friday.
There's a 40% chance of about a quarter inch of rain between the hours of 5 - 9 pm, dropping to 30% at that time, and staying there through most of Friday. No rain is currently forecast until late Thursday night [11 pm] and Friday, until late Friday evening.
NYC Weather Update for the Week Ahead as of 6.23.24 for the Fireworks Days [Wednesday, Thursday & Friday]. The temperature highs will be in the low 90's on Wednesday, descending to the mid 80's on Thursday, and down to the high 70's on Friday. The temperture lows will fall from the low 70's on Wednesday to the mid 60's on Thursday and Friday. The winds will range from 5 - 10 mph on all three days, descending from the high to the low of that range in tandem with the temperatures. The humidity will also fall from a high of about 80% on Wednesday, to 60% on Thursday, and then begin swinging back up on Friday to 80%, again. There's a 60% chance of about a half inch of rain on Wednesday, after 6 pm, but otherwise dry for these three fireworks days.
Air Quality. Last year [2023] we experienced some unhealthy air conditions stemming from the Canadian forest fires, caused by climate change, which is caused by carbon emissions from gas guzzling autos, power plants & other carbon powered and emitting machinery. To stay abreast of the air quality in NYC copy and paste this link into your browswer bar - https://www.airnow.gov.
All of these fireworks displays are FREE except the one at Fort Hamilton near Bay Ridge [$5].
Macy's July 4th Fireworks along the Hudson River Might be Viewable from Northwest Brooklyn Hotel Rooftops & Coney Island 4th of July Fireworks for South Brooklyners
The Macy's 4th of July fireworks will be shown along the Hudson River this year. They have been shown along the East River since 2014, and they were shown along the Hudson from 2009 - 2013. Mayor de Blasio had lobbied to have the fireworks return to the East River while he was Mayor. The Grucci Brothers will be doing the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC, which they've been doing for decades, and possibly since the inception of the event.
The following page contains between a half dozen and dozen different 4th of July fireworks celebrations in the five boroughs of NYC, including best viewing locations in Brooklyn for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks along the Hudson River, Coney Island fireworks and the Fort Hamilton fireworks in Bay Ridge.
- Click here for a report about the 4th of July Fireworks in Brooklyn on the East River and at Coney Island BK NYC & surrounding areas, including times and locations for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in Brooklyn NYC, the Coney Island July 4th fireworks 2024, the 4th of July fireworks and celebration at Fort Hamilton, and the July 4th fireworks display at Jones Beach on Long Island.
Brooklyn Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in BK NYC
Brooklyn Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in BK NYC
There are Two Easters Observed - 1) West European Christians & 2) East European Orthodox
April 23, 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods NYC / Brooklyn Things To Do Events NYC / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.
Very Brief Introduction to Christian Easter Traditions
Christians observe Good Friday, which is when the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross. On the Sunday following Good Friday, Christians celebrate the Biblical account of Jesus rising from the dead, which is Easter.
Emperor Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306. In 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, wherein Christianity split into two different sects - Roman Catholic Christians [primarily in Western Europe] and Orthodox Christians [primarily in Eastern Europe]. The traditions have much in common, but one of the differences is in how they calculate the time of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The Western European Christians [Protestants and Catholics] use the Gregorian Calendar to calculate when to celebrate Good Friday and Easter. The Gregorian calendar was created in the 16th century and made the official calendar by Pope Gregory. Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar, which was made law in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar. The primary difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is that the Gregorian calendar uses Leap Year [this year is one of them] to adjust the calendar for the 1/4 extra day per year, that to our rotation around the sun requires. Thus the calendar differences, and how the date of Easter is calculated, is why the Orthodox and Roman Catholic / Protestant Christian Easters oftentimes occur on different dates.
This year [2025] the celebrations of the two traditions are celebrated the same week, whereas in 2024 the celebrations were separated by five weeks. So both the traditional Western European Christian and the Eastern Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter the same week.
Next Up - The History of the Easter Bunny & Related Traditions
- CLICK here to view our report on Easter events, Easter egg hunts and Easter brunches in Brooklyn NYC. We start off with a brief history of the Easter Bunny and the origin of related traditions.
St Patricks Day Parades in Brooklyn NYC
St Pats Day Parades in Brooklyn NYC
This is a Look at the Upcoming St Patricks Day Parades in Brooklyn, Including Photos of those We've Covered Over the Years with Links to a Page Containing Photos and Descriptions of Some of the Best Irish Pubs in the Brooklyn Borough
March 8, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather. Coming with the Friday / Weekend post.
The photo at right was taken at the St Pats for All Parade in Sunnyside Queens. This St Pat's Parade was created to allow LGBTQ folks to march in a St Patricks Day parade at a time when all of the other St Patrick's Day Parades banned LGBTQ from marching in the Irish parades. As of March 1, 2024 there's only one St. Patrick's Day parade that continues to discriminate against people whose gender isn't totally traditional / binary.
Brooklyn has Several St Pat's Day Parades
Parades, Pubs and Restaurants in Brooklyn NYC. Brooklyn has a couple of St. Patrick's Day parades, which we've covered. We've included our reports of Queens St. Patricks Day Parades to provide you with further details of the experience of attending. We've also included an article summary leading into our report about some of the best or oldest Irish pubs and restaurants in Brooklyn. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and we will continue refining this report as we learn more about the Irish pubs and restaurants in Brooklyn.
How this page is organized. We've organized this page by Brooklyn St Patrick's Day parade dates. The parades span the month, and even though ... the official feast date for St. Patrick is March 17th, the date of the Manhattan St. Patrick's Day parade is March 16, 2024 because as a tradition they don't march on Sundays, which in the Catholic religion is the Lord's Day. The Manhattan St Patrick's Day parade is the largest in NYC.
The LGBTQ Parade Participation Issue Appears to be Abating. In 2000 the St Pats for All parade was first launched in Sunnyside, Queens to protest the banning of gays from marching in the Manhattan St Pats Day Parade. In 2014 / 2015 the Manhattan Parade opened up its participation rules to allow gays to march. In 2020 the Throgs Neck parade in the Bronx opened up its participation to gays. At present only the Staten Island parade continues to ban LGBTQ community members from participating in the parade as openly gay people. The Staten Island ban continues in 2024 by the traditional parade organizers, but they now have competition as a new LGBTQ friendly parade will be marching on March 17, 2024.
- CLICK here to view our report on the St Patricks Day Parades scheduled in all Brooklyn NYC.
Brooklyn Presidents Day Weekend Things To Do - Brooklyn Events Brooklyn NYC
Presidents Day Weekend Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC
Things To Do in Brooklyn over the Presidents Day Weekend
February 14, 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods NYC / Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
WHAT FOLLOWS IS GENERALLY STILL RELEVANT, BUT LAST UPDATED IN 2023.
NYC Weather. The temperature highs Friday, Saturday and Sunday will range from the high 40's to the low 50's, before rising on Monday into the high 50's. The temperature lows will fall to 30 on Friday, rising to 35 on Saturday, to 45 on Sunday, before descending into the high 30's on Monday. No precipitation is forecast. It's going to be a fairly windy weekend, with the winds at 20 mph Friday, falling to 5 - 10 mph on Saturday and Sunday, and then rising again to about 10 mph on Monday. The humidity will be 50% - 60% on Friday, falling to 40% - 50% on Saturday, rising to 50% - 70% on Sunday, before falling back to about 50% on Monday. Click for Brooklyn Weekend Weather.
THIS WAS THE EARLY FORECAST ON 2.1.23
NYC Weather Presidents Day Weekend. Be aware that this forcast is a full three weeks out and subject to significant change by the time the weekend arrives. But that said, as of this post 1/31/23 the temperature highs will be in the mid 40's, and the temperature lows will be in the around 30 degrees. Precipitation. There isn't any rain forecast for the Presidents Day Weekend, as of this post. Winds. Generally they're 5 - 10 mph. Humidity. It's been a very warm and dry winter and it's expected to continue. As of this post humidity is expected around 50%.
The photo at right depicts George Washington in an annual reenactment of the Battle of Brooklyn, also known as the Battle of Long Island, which was one of the first American Revolutionary War battles. Washington lost the battle, but managed to keep his army intact, winning enough battles to stay in the game long enough to wear down the British monarchy and ultimately win the war. The reenactment occurs yearly in August at Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Presidents Day is a federal holiday when all local, state and federal government offices are closed, which generally includes public schools - unless the district uses the holiday to make up a snow day, which is highly unlikely this year since there hasn't been any measureable snow.
Presidents Day is a time to reflect on the performance of our current presidents and legislators, to see how they stack up versus their historical peers. And in that reflection it's worth asking ourselves what we've done to contribute or detract from the national conversation.
Brief History of Presidents Day Holiday in NYC
A day commemorating Lincoln's birthday was first passed in Buffalo, New York in the early 1870's. Presidents Day originated as Washington's Birthday which was a holiday narrowly prescribed for federal government offices in Washington, D.C. in 1879. The holiday was dedicated to honoring the memory of the first American president, George Washington who was born on February 22, 1732.
In 1885 the holiday was expanded to include all federal government offices around the nation. In 1951 there was a push to create a Presidents Day holiday [vs a George Washington's birthday holiday] to include President Lincoln whose birthday is February 12, 1809 and was also celebrated by localities, but it didn't pass.
In 1971 the holiday was moved off of George Washington's birth date to being the third Monday in February. Thus while it never falls upon Washington's birthday 2/22, the official name of the holiday remains Washington's Birthday. But today, most folks refer to it as Presidents Day and to recognize the presidents who honored the U.S. Constitution and served the interests of the American people.
Brooklyn Martin Luther King Day Weekend Things To Do - Brooklyn NYC
Martin Luther King Weekend Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC
Things To Do in Brooklyn over the MLK Day Weekend
January 17, 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods NYC / Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
NYC Weather as of 1.17.2025. Sunrise 7.16 am. Sunset 4.56 pm. We're getting 25 more minutes of sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter solstice in late December.
This weekend we could get 1/10th inch of rain concentrated between 1 and 4 pm Saturday or none at all. And on Sunday there's an 80% - 90% chance we'll get two or more inches of snow between 1 pm and 9 pm. Monday is cloudy, but no precipitation is expected.
The temperature highs will be in the mid 40's Friday, the low 40's Saturday, falling to the mid 30's on Sunday and then to the mid teens on Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low 30's on Friday and Saturday, falling to the high teens on Sunday and dropping to about 10 on Monday. Most of next week will range from the high single digits up to 30 by next Friday, so enjoy the weekend, as it will be followed by a cold week. The winds will be 5 - 12 mph all weekend, at the lower end on Friday and Saturday, and at the higher end on Sunday and Monday. The humidity will rise from between 50% - 60% Friday, up to between 70% to 80% on Sunday, and again dropping to 50% to 60% on Monday.
Brief History of Martin Luther King Holiday in NYC
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading voice for African Americans' non-violent civil rights movement beginning in the mid 1950's through to his assassination in 1968. In 1983, the third Monday of every year was set aside to honor Martin Luther King for his service to the nation. The third Monday was chosen, as it was the nearest Monday to the anniversary of King's birthday, which was January 15, 1929.
Martin Luther King Day has grown to take on an even larger meaning, as it is oftentimes referred to as a day on, versus a day off. Organizations around the city and nation have used the day to call people into action to address the needs of the community through volunteering and service.
As Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday, it's worth keeping in mind that many / most federal offices will be closed, along with a number of businesses.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in Brooklyn NYC
√ Sunday and Monday January 19 & 20, 2025 from 10 am - 5 pm - MLK Commemorations - at the Brooklyn's Children's Museum at 145 Brooklyn Avenue in Crown Heights Historic District. They're hosting events celebrating the life the Martin Luther King with a full day of various activities including arts collage, crafts puppets, games, storytelling and service. For details see - https://www.brooklynkids.org
√ Monday, January 20, 2025 beginning at 10.30 am [to 4 pm] the 39th Annual Celebration of MLK's life - at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 30 Lafayette Street in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. There will be musical performances, speeches by renowned scholars and civil rights activists, a film screening and more in the BAM Peter J. Sharp Building and the Howard Gilman Opera House. Free, but tickets will be distributed on first come / first serve basis in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House lobby. For details see - https://www.bam.org
√ Monday, January 20, 2025 from 12 noon to 4 pm - an afternoon of Nature and Animal related events - in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The Prospect Park Alliance is hosting the events at the Prospect Park Audubon Center [near the Boathouse which is accessible via the southeast side of the park from Ocean Avenue at Lincoln Road] where there will be outdoor nature activities, an animal encounter and a wilderness walk. For details see - https://www.prospectpark.org.
√ Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 12.30 to 2 pm - Honoring MLK & the Movement of the People - at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture at 269 4th Avenue in Park Slope [different from their office address at 53 Prospect Park West]. In prior events they have also included music, although there was no mention of music this year. Free. For details and to rsvp see - https://bsec.org/events/honoring-mlk/ or see info at FB - https://www.facebook.com/EthicalCultureBrooklyn/ or their website at - https://bsec.org/
√ Monday, January 19, 2025 from 9 am to 12 noon & from 1 to 4 pm - Designer Textile Recycling - at Fabscrap at 140 58th Street at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Bldg B - 5H-4, in Sunset Park. Sift through bins of designer swatches and samples to identify those that can be reused. For details see - https://fabscrap.org and click into the volunteer link. Free.
√ This weekend between January 18 - 20, 2025 - Make Your Own Day of Civic Action. There are multiple opportunities to help with food distribution through non-profit panties throughout many neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Here is one notable suggestion - https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/ny-brooklyn
Moxie Williamsburg is at 353 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn.
The Crown Hill Theatre at 750 Nostrand Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Click here for Brooklyn things to do on Martin Luther King Day weekend.
Brooklyn Thanksgiving Day Restaurants & Gourmet Specialty Food Shops & Grocery Stores
Thanksgiving Day Gourmet Food & Grocery Stores, Community Dinners & Restaurants In Brooklyn
Thanksgiving Day Grocery Stores, Gourmet Food Shopping, Community Dinners & Restaurants in or near the Dumbo, Williamsburg, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Greenpoint, Bushwick, Greenwood Heights, Gowanus, Downtown Brooklyn, Sunset Park, Bayridge, Marine Park, Coney Island Neighborhoods of Brooklyn
UPDATING October 15, 2024 vs 11.2.2022 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / Brooklyn Restaurants / Brooklyn Events & Things To Do / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
Thanksgiving Day History - Thanksgiving Food Shops, Dinners & Restaurants in Brooklyn
The origins of Thanksgiving Day in the United States began with one of America’s first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600’s]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the ‘old country’. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620.
The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land
Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their thanks to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.
Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America. There's some dispute to this account, which we'll address in a future post, near Thanksgiving Day.
We've identified a number of Brooklyn shops, community dinners and restaurants open for dining on Thanksgiving Day in Brooklyn. Enjoy.
Thanksgiving - America's Communal Holiday
The Pilgrims Legacy: Love, Sharing & Community Empowerment
November 22, 2022 / NYC Neighborhoods / Thanksgiving Holidays in NYC / Gotham Buzz NYC / 152.
A couple of years ago, I happened upon a childhood book of fables and fairytales that I had saved since I was a first grader. I was young enough to still like fairytales and old enough to be learning and loving to read.
The book, A Gateway to Storyland, by Platt & Munk Co, was given to me around the holidays, and the book still gives me a warm, loved feeling when I periodically open it to browse through the fairytales and fables containing little nuggets of age old wisdom about how to conduct onesself [see photo at right / the book is still in print]. I read it numerous times immediately upon receiving it, as the illustrations fed my imagination, and lessons embedded in the words resonated with timeless sagacity.
Unselfish Parental Love Manifested by Empowering Progeny
Love comes in many forms, but the purest form is unselfish love. The love of truly giving something with no thought of anything in return. That love is oftentimes given intergenerationally - from grandparents to parents to children.
Perhaps the greatest gifts are those that cost us nothing but our time. Like the gift of teaching someone something that they will be able to put to good use throughout their lives. Parents do this all the time, when they help their children develop skills, and impart some knowledge and learning ... just as my parents did many years ago, by giving me a well illustrated fairytale book to encourage my interest in reading, while sharing the time tested insights of the ages, handed down through storytelling.
I. A Brief Thanksgiving History
The Pilgrims Shared Communal Resources to Actualize a Dream
At Thanksgiving time we commemorate one of America's first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims.
The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600's]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the 'old country'. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620. Think of it. It took about a month and a half to travel a distance we can now traverse in about five hours.
The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land
Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their gratitude to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.
Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America ... or did it?
- CLICK here for the rest of the story about Thanksgiving Day sentiments in NYC.
Things To Do Brooklyn Memorial Day Weekend - Brooklyn Events Memorial Day BK NYC
Memorial Day Weekend Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC
Things To Do in Brooklyn over the Memorial Day Weekend 2024
Updated May 23, 2024 from 5/21/24 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods NYC / Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
This is a report containing things to do in Brooklyn over the Memorial Day Weekend, including Memorial Day Parades in Brooklyn with links to the other boroughs of NYC.
NYC Weather Forecast as of 5.23.24. The temperature highs will fall from the mid 80's on Friday to about 70 on Monday, The temperature lows will be in the low to mid 60's all four days of the long weekend. No rain is in the forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but on Monday there's about an inch of rain expected, but when and how much has been changing, so stay tuned. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then kicking up to 10 - 15 mph on Monday. The humidity increases from 45% - 55% on Friday, to 45% - 75% on Saturday, and then continuing to rise to 70 - 80% on Sunday and 80% - 90% on Monday. Three out of four days isn't bad, and the last day, Memorial Day, is still a bit of a wild card.
The things to do in Brooklyn on Memorial Day Weekend include art exhibitions, theater, live music, comedy, dance, shopping, outdoor activities such as soccer, kyaking, baseball, parades, street fairs, museums and dining in the Dumbo, Williamsburg, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Greenpoint, Bushwick, Greenwood Heights, Gowanus, Downtown Brooklyn, Sunset Park, Bayridge, Marine Park, Coney Island neighborhoods of Brooklyn NYC.
Be sure to check our Memorial Day Weekend things to do, which we post on the front page on Friday afternoon leading into the Memorial Day Weekend in Brooklyn NYC.
Brief History of the Memorial Day Holiday in Brooklyn
Memorial Day first started out as Decoration Day in Waterloo, New York on May 30, 1866 - a year after the Civil War - to honor those who fought in it. In the 1880's the day came to be known as Memorial Day.
According to a May 25, 2012 report in Time Magazine, ten states - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee also officially observe some version of a Confederate Memorial Day, sometime between late April and early June [in Texas it's in January]. It's been reported that unofficially most of the former Confederate states still commemorate it, but not without some controversy as to the former Confederate diaspora it's to honor their ancestors, while to the former diaspora of the slaves it seems a remnant of these states racist past.
About ten percent of the nation travels more than 50 miles over the weekend. Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day which is held on November 11th of each year. Veterans Day began by honoring those who fought in World War I which ended on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Both honor those who served in the U.S. Military. Veterans Day coincides with a similar holiday in Europe for the same reason, which is called Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.
- Click here for Brooklyn things to do on Memorial Day weekend.
Brooklyn July 4th Fireworks in BK NYC
Brooklyn 4th of July Fireworks 2024 BK NYC
Best Viewing Locations / Places to Watch Brooklyn July 4th Fireworks NYC
4th of July Holiday Fireworks at Prospect Park, Coney Island, Fort Hamilton, Macy's in Manhattan & 4th of July Fireworks Jones Beach
Updated July 3, 2024 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / July 4th Holiday in Brooklyn / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
NYC Weather 4th of July Week as of 7.3.2024. The temperature highs will be in the mid 80's all week, while the temperature lows will start the week in the mid 60's, gradually rising to the mid 70's by Friday. Winds will be about 5 mph all week, except on Wednesday when they kick up to about 10 mph. The humidity will be a comfortable 40% - 60% on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, rising to 65% - 75% on Thursday and Friday.
There's a 40% chance of about a quarter inch of rain between the hours of 5 - 9 pm, dropping to 30% at that time, and staying there through most of Friday. No rain is currently forecast until late Thursday night [11 pm] and Friday, until late Friday evening.
NYC Weather Update for the Week Ahead as of 6.23.24 for the Fireworks Days [Wednesday, Thursday & Friday]. The temperature highs will be in the low 90's on Wednesday, descending to the mid 80's on Thursday, and down to the high 70's on Friday. The temperture lows will fall from the low 70's on Wednesday to the mid 60's on Thursday and Friday. The winds will range from 5 - 10 mph on all three days, descending from the high to the low of that range in tandem with the temperatures. The humidity will also fall from a high of about 80% on Wednesday, to 60% on Thursday, and then begin swinging back up on Friday to 80%, again. There's a 60% chance of about a half inch of rain on Wednesday, after 6 pm, but otherwise dry for these three fireworks days.
Air Quality. Last year [2023] we experienced some unhealthy air conditions stemming from the Canadian forest fires, caused by climate change, which is caused by carbon emissions from gas guzzling autos, power plants & other carbon powered and emitting machinery. To stay abreast of the air quality in NYC copy and paste this link into your browswer bar - https://www.airnow.gov.
All of these fireworks displays are FREE except the one at Fort Hamilton near Bay Ridge [$5].
Macy's July 4th Fireworks along the Hudson River Might be Viewable from Northwest Brooklyn Hotel Rooftops & Coney Island 4th of July Fireworks for South Brooklyners
The Macy's 4th of July fireworks will be shown along the Hudson River this year. They have been shown along the East River since 2014, and they were shown along the Hudson from 2009 - 2013. Mayor de Blasio had lobbied to have the fireworks return to the East River while he was Mayor. The Grucci Brothers will be doing the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC, which they've been doing for decades, and possibly since the inception of the event.
The following page contains between a half dozen and dozen different 4th of July fireworks celebrations in the five boroughs of NYC, including best viewing locations in Brooklyn for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks along the Hudson River, Coney Island fireworks and the Fort Hamilton fireworks in Bay Ridge.
- Click here for a report about the 4th of July Fireworks in Brooklyn on the East River and at Coney Island BK NYC & surrounding areas, including times and locations for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in Brooklyn NYC, the Coney Island July 4th fireworks 2024, the 4th of July fireworks and celebration at Fort Hamilton, and the July 4th fireworks display at Jones Beach on Long Island.
Things To Do Brooklyn Labor Day Weekend - Brooklyn Events NYC
Labor Day Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Things To Do in Brooklyn Over The Labor Day Weekend
August 27, 2024 / Things To Do NYC / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
NYC Weather Last Year [2023]. The temperature highs will be around 80 on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 90 on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low 60's on Friday, the high 60's on Saturday and about 70 on Sunday and Monday. The winds will be 4 - 8 mph on Friday and Saturday, falling to 3 - 6 mph on Sunday and Monday. The humidity will range from around 50% to 65% on Friday and Saturday, rising to 55% to 70% on Sunday and Monday. Sunrise is approximately 6.23 am and sunset in 7.29 pm as of Friday 9/1/23.
In the photo at right you can see a street fair held in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn.
WORK IN PROGRESS 8.27.24 SOME OF THE INFO BELOW NEEDS UPDATING, SO WATCH DATES.
ALSO SEE FRONT PAGE FOR THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN BROOKLYN.
Special Events on Labor Day Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
One of the biggest events of the Labor Day Weekend in Brooklyn is the West Indian American Day Parade and Carnival. While there are events related to the parade going on all weekend, the parade begins at 11 am on Monday along the Eastern Parkway departing from Schenectady Avenue and marching down to Grand Army Plaza near the Brooklyn Museum. From 10 am - 6 pm you'll also find food stalls and shopping along the parade route along Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Labor Day Events in Brooklyn
This weekend you can go bicycling in Brooklyn, play soccer & other games in Brooklyn parks, go shopping Brooklyn, attend Brooklyn parades, watch theater, visit the Brooklyn art museums, and eat out at one of the Brooklyn restaurants.
And it's all happening right here in our favorite borough - Brooklyn. So take your time to sort through the days and locations and start planning your weekend. Click here to obtain information about things to do Labor Day Weekend in Brooklyn. This events calendar is updated monthly with dozens of different Brooklyn fun cultural events.
Brooklyn Public & Private Parks
Brooklyn has one of number of public parks, of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Brooklyn Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.
NYC Golfing in Brooklyn
Brooklyn has two golf courses and both of them are open this weekend. There's the Dyker Beach Golf Course in the Dyker Heights neighborhood in the southern end of Brooklyn, and there's the Marine Park Golf Course in the Marine Park neighborhood with is at the southeastern end of Brooklyn.
Click here for details about Brooklyn golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.
- CLICK here for things to do in Brooklyn Labor Day Weekend.
The West Indian American Day Parade in Brooklyn NYC
The West Indian American Day Parade(s) in Brooklyn NYC
A Deeper Dive into the Cultural Origins of the Carnival & Some Particulars About the Celebrations in Brooklyn
September 1, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / Brooklyn Parades & Festivals / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.
Be sure to view our Brooklyn Parades page for time, date & parade router information on J'ouvert and the West Indian American Day Parade 2024 in NYC.
On a sultry Labor Day Monday morning, I set out for the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Crown Heights. The former, covers some of the area in Brooklyn known as Little Caribbean and it was to be the ending point for the Jouvert parade, which serves as the warm up for the larger West Indian American Day Parade.
Be advised that I was not aware of this distinction - two parades by the same group on the same day - until I had arrived and started making inquiries about when and where the actions was.
The Jouvert puportedly started at 11 am inside Prospect Park either at the entrance to the Kids Zoo [still not certain about this, but I'm getting closer to being precise] on Flatbush Avenue or based on a map I saw on the NYPD website, the Jouvert started at Grand Army Plaza, at the north end of Prospect Park. I'll be following up on this, and make the changes here when I get them.
The photo above right was taken at the West Indian American Day Parade in Brooklyn on Labor Day. Many different island cultures celebrate the carnival in unison. The flag in the lower right corner of the photo is Jamaican.
The Jouvert then marched east along Empire Boulevard before turning south on Nostrand Avenue and terminating at Winthrop. I arrived a bit before noon, at Empire Blvd and Nostrand, where the Jouvert Parade had already passed. The Jouvert Parade involves participants adorning themselves with paint and powder, sometimes sharing it with others in a style that reminded me of the Indian Holi celebration.
Speaking of Indians, the West Indies got their name after Columbus discovered them for the Spanish throne. They were called the West Indies, in order to differentiate them from the East Indies, with which the Portuguese had opened up trading routes in the 15th century just prior to Columbus's discovery. The East Indies comprises the islands that lie south of India, the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea and north and west of Australia.
CLICK here to read the rest of our report about the West Indian American Day Parade in Brooklyn over the Labor Day Weekend.
Brooklyn Columbus Day Things To Do - Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade & Events BK NYC
Columbus Day Weekend in Brooklyn NYC
Things To Do in Brooklyn Over The Columbus Day Weekend
October 13, 2024 / Things To Do NYC / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
NYC Weather Forecast as of 10.11.24. Today - Sunrise 7.03 am & Sunset at 6.20 pm. There's a 50% chance of a small amount [less than 1/5th inch] of rain Sunday night after 9 pm & ending Monday mid morning. Temperature highs will be in the low 70's through Sunday, descending to the low 60's on Monday. Temperature lows will be in the mid to high 50's through Sunday, descending into the mid 40's on Monday. It's going to be a windy weekend, with winds of 11 to 16 mph through Sunday, rising to 17 to 19 on Monday. The humidity will be 40% - 50% Friday and Saturday, rising to 60% - 70% on Sunday, before falling back to 50% - 60% on Monday. Generally a good weather three day holiday weekend. Enjoy.
This report contains a listing of some of the things to do in Brooklyn over the Columbus Day Weekend including art museums, theaters, live music / comedy / dance venues, sporting & social events, and restaurants for Brooklyn NYC.
Columbus Day Events in Brooklyn
This weekend you can go bicycling in Brooklyn, play soccer & other games in Brooklyn parks, go shopping in Brooklyn, attend Brooklyn parades, watch theater, visit the Brooklyn art museums, and eat out at one of the Brooklyn restaurants. And it's all happening right here in Brooklyn. So take your time to sort through the days and locations and start planning your weekend.
Click here to obtain information about things to do Columbus Day Weekend in Brooklyn. This events calendar is updated monthly with dozens of different Brooklyn fun cultural events.
See our weekend post on the Friday of Columbus Day Weekend with things to do in Brooklyn NYC including the Columbus Day Parade on the front page of this site. The weekend post will include all sorts of other events and activities not necessarily related to Columbus Day.
Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade
For over 40 years there's been a Brooklyn Columbus Day parade organized by FIAO Brooklyn.
Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 11.15 am to 6 pm - Annual Columbus Day Parade & Festival. The event starts with a 11.15 am Mass at St. Athanasius Church at Bay Parkway & [2154] 61st Street in Bensonhurst. The parade begins at 1 pm at 61st Street and 18th Avenue [aka Cristoforo Columbo Blvd] and ends at 18th and Benson Avenues where a street fair / festival runs along Benson Avenue between 18th Avenue and 19th Street [near the Il Centro Community Center] following the parade until early evening. Brooklyn street fairs in Bensonhurst. Parades in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of BK. For details see - https://fiaobrooklyn.org
Brooklyn Public & Private Parks & Public Indoor Swimming Pools
Brooklyn has one of number of public parks of which a few include swimming facilities. Click here for a listing of the Brooklyn Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history. This is coming at a later date.
NYC public indoor swimming pools are open [unconfirmed].
NYC Golfing in Brooklyn & Queens
Brooklyn has two golf courses and both of them are open this weekend. There's the Dyker Beach Golf Course in Dyker Heights in the southern end of Brooklyn and there's the Marine Park Golf Course in the Marine Park neighborhood with is at the southeastern end of Brooklyn.
Click here for details about Brooklyn golf courses including maps and links to the operators' websites. The links are coming at a later date.
Queens has two golf courses and Staten Island has three golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. Click here for details about Queens Golf Courses including maps and links to the operators' websites.
- CLICK here for things to do in Brooklyn Columbus Day Weekend.
Memorial Day With Chief Joseph
A Conversation in First Calvary Cemetery in Queens
May 30, 2022 / Woodside & Maspeth Neighborhoods / Queens Culture / Queens Fiction / Queens Buzz.
On Memorial Day, I decided to make a trip to the First Calvary Cemetery to visit the graves of those who gave their lives defending this nation because the founding charters promise all [wo]men the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They fought for a noble cause I thought as I made my way, on a beautiful day, to the Calvary cemetery in Queens.
The First Calvary cemetery opened in the late 1840’s [circa 1847 – 1848] and was located only a short ferry ride away from Manhattan, up Newtown Creek. A couple more cemeteries were opened as the 19th century wore on, as most of Queens was still rural farmlands and woodlands. Many of the burials of the first century of operation were of Catholic Irish, Italian and Polish immigrants - many of which were children who died because of poor living conditions and medical care. Many soldiers had been buried here as well, many of whom were from the Civil War era.
As I was viewing a collection of the tombstones, reflecting on the lives sacrificed in the war over slavery, as well as the more recent wars that pulled nearly the entire planet into battle, a figure in the distance caught my attention. They appeared to be making their way in my direction, in this lonely empty section of the cemetery. I pulled out of my musings, and began to focus on this emerging presence as they made their way up the hill.
As they came closer, I could see that it was an old man, of medium height, with long black and grey hair and a weathered, leathery, tan skin. He was wearing an old brown work shirt and khaki trousers and beaten leather shoes. No, they were mocassins.
I'm not sure why I thought of this, but his countenance resembled that of a legendary American Indian: Chief Joseph. Chief Joseph was a tribal leader of the Nez Perce tribe in the Wallowa Valley in northeast Oregon. Chief Joseph was born in 1840, only years before this cemetery was founded. He had actually visited New York City in 1897, to march alongside Buffalo Bill in a Wild West Parade.
The man slowly raised his right arm, palm open and fingers standing straight up like the Boy Scout salute, and in a deep full voice he said,
“How.”
I stood a bit at attention, as I returned the greeting.
“Hi. How are you today?”
He spoke again, this time in a language I did not understand.
“Mumba goycha tay.”
I looked at him and shook my head back and forth indicating that I did not understand what he’d just said.
Click here to read the rest of our Memorial Day fiction in Calvary Cemetery in Queens.
Have a Good Memorial Day Weekend / Q*
May 24, 2019 / Things To Do NYC / NYC Neighborhoods / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
In the photo at right, a New York City veteran pays his respects to those who went before him. These brave men made the supreme sacrifice to preserve democracies - governments by the people, for the people, operating under rule of law in lieu of being subject to the capricious whims of reckless rulers.
That struggle for truth and justice continues to this day. But the battles are being fought on our own soil between - those who appear hellbent on destroying our Constitutional democratic institutions using mass deception and outright lies - versus those who are fighting to preserve them.
Thomas Jefferson said that "Eternal vigiliance is the price of democracy" and that "Those who believe a people can be ignorant and free - believe in something that never was and never will be."
The Founding Fathers of our nation designed our system of government so that it includes checks and balances within our governance system. These checks and balances are designed to thwart rule by commands, and to empower the governed by institutionalizing a system of law based on due process, which guarantees all people their inalienable human rights, including liberty and justice for all.
But any system on the planet can be hacked, if the hackers are given enough time. And rights, like property, can be lost or stolen - if the rights or property holder doesn't pay attention and take appropriate action when required.
Thus, we live in a time when American democratic institutions appear to be not just under siege - but in actual jeopardy - and the ultimate outcome of this continuous struggle remains unclear. So while remembering those who went before us, who fought to bravely to preserve the blessings we all enjoy, honor them by paying attention to what's going on in our own government. To do this you need to be sure you're getting the truth - all the facts - about the pols and the issues, which these days can only be done by using multiple information sources controlled by different people.
Right now mega-billionaire Rupert Murdoch controls Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, the NY Post, Barron's, Market Watch, National Geographic and this year he became the largest shareholder in Disney / ABC. It's useful to think of these media outlets, which represent about half of America's news, as being controlled by one man. And do your duty to your country, and your fellow Americans, by seeking out non-Murdoch information sources to fill in the omissions, correct the distortions and offset the amplified lies told by others that are broadcast and printed by the Murdoch-controlled information sources. It's been documented innumerable times, that Murdoch's information sources distort or corrupt the news.
Murdoch's dominant or monopolistic control of the national media in Australia and Britain appears to have turned these two nations into banana republics. For example Australia has gone through five Prime Ministers in about five years [including one former Murdoch employee who appears to have given Murdoch's company a nearly $900 million tax gift paid for by the Australian public]. And it seems that because of Murdoch's relentless push for Brexit [Murdoch is said to prefer operating in Britain as a separate nation because he can tell British Prime Ministers what to do], Britain is on its way to thrashing through three Prime Ministers in three years. One of the leading candidates for British Prime Minister, Michael Gove, is also a former Murdoch employee.
Others see the Russian or Chinese nations as the greatest threat to America, perhaps because Rupert Murdoch's grabbing for monopolistic control of our media, is stateless and more insidious. It's possible that Rupert Murdoch's self serving use of his media outlets represents an even more dangerous, hostile stateless intelligence service to our nation, than Murdoch's former fellow Australian countryman, Julian Assage, Founder of WikiLeaks, could ever even imagine.
I've documented Murdoch's history of propaganda profiteering, which he appears to have been doing in Australia, Britain and America for decades, in a multi-part series posted on this website about Rupert Murdoch and the Rise of the Propaganda Press - including Fox Fake News.
The Road Ahead 2019
A Few Axioms To Keep In Mind Throughout The New Year
December 31, 2018 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / Staten Island Neighborhoods / Holidays / Brooklyn BLVD NYC & Staten Buzz NYC.
For all of us, tomorrow starts the beginning of the new year.
I usedto make new years resolutions that generally lasted a few days or few weeks. Over time I've given that up and have focused on a few guiding principles that I work toward throughout the year, every year.
1. The first guidepost is to keep things as simple as possible by letting things go, so you can change and evolve who you are. Over time it's important to learn to let go of the past which includes letting many of the people, projects and things - once so meaningful and relevant - to fade away with time. This process involves discarding much of what one collects, in order to open up space in your life to make room for new possibilities.
2. The second guidepost is to take care of the vessel that carries one's being - meaning take care of your body because it's the only one you'll ever get, and it has to last an entire lifetime. This means consuming the foods that will enable the body to function properly and ward off disease, while recognizing that satisfying the mind is important too, as it's a part of the body. There are three elements to this guideline.
a _ Try to maximize consumption of natural foods while managing / minimalizing consumption of the delicious processed foods that come in packages. Read package container nutrition labels which indicate the amount of fat, sugar, sodium andcholesterol consumed per serving. You can manage the balance of natural and processed foods depending on what's going on in life, meaning leaning toward natural foods to take care of the body, and leaning toward tasty processed foods to treat your mind.
b _ Reduce consumption of toxins by first paying attention to the quantities consumed of them, and then by substituting the toxins with healthier choices. For example dilute a soft drink with seltzer water [cuts sugar], or swap in a lemonade for a beer [cuts alcohol], or swap in pretzels for potato chips [cuts salt and fat]. Over the years these little substitutions can add up to some fair measure of weight loss or stability, and can aid in maintaining generally good health. But it's also important not to deprive oneself, too much, of some of the simple pleasures in life that keep one going - experience tells us not to be too draconian, or you can expect a subconscious rebellion, and then your program doesn't work.
c _ The third element of this guidepost is to try to walk and bike whenever possible. It's a good way to kill two birds with one stone, as it enables getting somewhere, while also getting some exercise. And be sure to carve out enough time each night, for a proper rest.
3. The third guidepost is to try to move your life in the direction of your interests. This will likely take a great many years, as well as needing to make a good number of economic and other lifestyle trade offs. But if successful, you can then spend most of your time doing the things that totally engage you. It's said that "when someone is doing something they truly love, they'll never have to work another day in their life."
4. The fourth guidepost is to keep on learning, because "luck is when preparation meets opportunity". So the more you learn, and the more experience you get, the better prepared you'll be ... come what may.
May your new year be filled with promise and possibilities. Best wishes for a happy and successful 2019.
A Navy Yard Brooklyn Halloween Party
The 733 Collective Steps Out into Limelight at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
October 29, 2018 / Brooklyn Navy Yard & Brooklyn Neighborhoods / Brooklyn Halloween Parties / Fact N' Fiction / Brooklyn BLVD.
It was a dark and stormy night. And all around the campfire. There were Briggins tall and Briggins small. Luigi said the Captain, Tell us a tale. So Luigi began ...
It was a dark and stormy night ... as I made my way west on Flushing Avenue along the southern perimeter of the Williamsburg neighborhood on my way to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The dark wet streets were largely empty of pedestrian traffic, except for a few Hasidic Jews, one of whom gave me directions. I encountered construction along Flushing Avenue, just west of the BQE, but all in all it was smooth journey.
I arrived at the 77 Building and passed through the building security, taking the elevator to the 15th floor. The building had recently been completed, and the 15th floor had not yet been rented out. So the organizers of the party, many architects by profession, obtained an option to use the space for Halloween Weekend night.
The space was massive. It was literally thousands of square feet, with very high ceilings [likely 18 feet] and floor-to-ceiling windows on all walls. The location was also pretty remarkable as it is just across Flushing Avenue from the Brooklyn Coffee Company, less than a half mile north of Fort Greene Park, and less than a mile from Downtown Brooklyn / Cadman Plaza Park. And, of course, the Brooklyn Navy Yard is located along the East River, but not yet a regular NYC Ferry stop [they've done special pick ups like during the Clinton / Sanders debate of April 2016].
Coming off the elevator I had no idea what to expect. As I entered the party there were two reception desks - one staffed by folks working with the organizers of the event, the 733 Collective. And the other staffed by a Laughing Rabbit representing the Twisted Toy Factory. Given the party name - I decided to go with the rabbit.
As I approached the rabbit's desk Grace Jones emerged, taking a spot alongside the twisted toy figure. She was accompanied by an Asian Athena, who had a hand in bringing the crafty long eared mammal to life. They gave me my press credentials without saying a word. Rabbits may laugh, but they don't talk a lot.
I headed into the building, passing one of the toy stores along the way. There were several large platforms of figures mounted on the large boards, which I'll come back to a bit later in this report. I was on a mission - to find Hannibal ... not Lektor, but one of the founders of the 733 Collective with whom I had arranged my visit.
Like so many highly paid workers these days, he wasn't working, but rather talking things up with his pals. I asked him if he could spare a few moments of his break time to chat. He didn't seem to mind.
I'll have the rest of this hopefully tomorrow = Tuesday, 10/30/18.
Brooklyn Holidays & Parades NYC - Related Info
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Brooklyn Holiday Events & Things To Do - Brooklyn NYC
Brooklyn Holiday Events & Things To Do NYC
Brooklyn Holiday Things To Do - Christmas Tree Lightings, Brooklyn Hanukkah Menorah Lightings & Kwanzaa Holiday Candle Lightings
December 20, 2024 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / NYC Shopping / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.
Be sure to visit our Brooklyn Holiday Markets page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.
For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.
How The Brooklyn Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized
NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.
These holiday events in Brooklyn are organized as follows:
1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF BROOKLYN
2. BY DATE - (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)
Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.
3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.
4. Note BROOKLYN HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted at the bottom of this page, along with links to other boroughs.
Brooklyn Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background
The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.
Community holiday events have been on the rise in Brooklyn since the start of the 21st century. While some date back many years, even prior to the start of the 21st century, many are relatively new.
Enjoying a community get together around the holidays is a good way to share in other people's cultures and strengthen the human bonds that transcend cultural variation. Or conversely, an opportunity to share your cultural upbringing with others.
Each of the Brooklyn holiday events is a bit different, as some are organized by community groups, local government officials and others by business organizations. Oftentimes one can find artisanal products that are made in NYC or NYS for sale, but we've dedicated a special section to announcing Brooklyn Holiday Markets & Shopping - Brooklyn NYC.
Brooklyn Holiday Events & Things To Do Getting Underway
The Brooklyn holiday events get underway shortly after Halloween, with some coming opening up about the time of Thanksgiving. The Brooklyn holiday events are located in or near the following Brooklyn neighborhoods - Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Prospect Park, Park Slope, Sunset Park, Bayridge, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Dyker Heights. Many either include the serving of some beverage like hot chocolate and generally snacks like cookies - or are near food vendors and restaurants.
Click here to read our report about Brooklyn Holiday Events / Holiday Things To Do in Brooklyn NYC.
