Results tagged “4thofjuly”

Tonight, the HudsonRiver will be the scene for this year's Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. Six barges are set up in the water between 24th and 50th Streets— at approximately 9 p.m., 45,000 shells will explode 1000 feet into the air and some will even skim the water. The best viewing spots along the Hudson (on the NYC side) are anywhere below 59th Street along 12th Avenue—but there are specific access points on 11th Avenue: 24th Street, 26th-30th Streets, 34th Street, 40th-44th Streets, 47th-52nd Streets, and 54th-57th Streets. There is very limited viewing north of 59th Street on the West Side; overall, patience is key! Here's street closure info and subway and bus travel tips from the MTA. And you can share your fireworks photographs with us by tagging them "gothamist" on Flickr or emailing us at tips(at)gothamist(dot)com .

       

With all this rain it may not seem very much like summer out there lately, but hopefully by the 4th will be all sunshine and fireworks. Here are some old images of New York City on Independence Day, courtesy of LIFE's photo archive. Man, people really packed on to those beaches!

       

Yesterday the top dogs of competitive eating faced off at the scales. Reigning champ Joey Chestnut and six-time winner Takeru Kobayashi were weighed in prior to their annual July 4th Nathan't Hot Dog showdown tomorrow. Chestnut, 25, came in at 218 lbs, to his 31-year-old competitor's 132 lbs. The two have faced off four times, with each taking home the belt twice, so this year will be a tie-breaker. Chestnut currently holds the world record, with his 2007 performance of eating 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes

       

Earlier today the north end of Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint was shut down for a 4th of July parade! Allegedly the scene was being shot for a new Jennifer Aniston movie called Bounty Hunter (Miss Heather has pics of the parade preparation). They'll be filming tomorrow (from Freeman to Ash Street) as well, and there are promises of explosions, chases and even Bette Midler! Sadly though, even Hollywood won't be able to bring the 4th Fireworks to the East River this year.

After serving tours in the Middle East, it was a Brooklyn backyard barbecue that proved deadly for Sergeant Kidson George. The 26-year-old man was gunned down on the porch of a Crown Heights home where he was celebrating the 4th of July with his girlfriend and others. George was shot twice in the chest by his girlfriend's former boyfriend, sending children screaming and dashing for cover.

          

"spectacular" by i'mjustsayin on flickr

Who better to celebrate the rich tapestry and diversity of America than the Muppets? They can be seen above performing a rousing rendition of 'Stars and Stripes Forever' in their own inimitable style. If one is watching the fireworks this evening, we suggest using this video as a simulcast audio addition.

New Yorkers have an additional reason to celebrate the 4th of July: The date also marks the emancipation of slaves and abolition of slavery in New York in 1827. Though the state legislature passed prior laws with the goal of gradually emancipating slaves, they were open to abuse. In 1817, the legislature decreed that slavery in New York State and the City was forbidden as of Independence Day, 1827. According to The Encyclopedia of New York, the practice was not completely banished until 1841, when non-residents were forbidden from holding slaves for more than nine months. (The New York Historical Society ran an exhibit on slavery in New York in 2005.)