Results tagged “fireworks”

                     

Last night, the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks headed to the Hudson River. There were colorful displays, including smiley faces, cubes, Saturn shells and star dust, set off from six barges. Here are some photographs of the show—while folks along the East River were disappointed the show wasn't there this year, they could still see a bit of the pyrotechnics.

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 .

On Friday, Mayor Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Kelly and Fire Commissioner Scoppetta reminded the public that consumer fireworks are illegal and dangerous (watch the ones over the Hudson instead!) and urged them to call 311 to report fireworks. Bloomberg said, "This should be a time to celebrate. Something we look back on with nothing but good memories. How would you feel if one of your family members or friends was really badly injured or worse? The other thing is, how would you like to be arrested?" Staten Island is getting much of the attention, with the cops and fire department busting people who return from buying fireworks in Pennsylvania. S.I. Borough Commander Chief Stephen Paragallo told NY1, "The type of residences in the other boroughs, excluding Staten Island, generally play into not having these large shows, block party-type shows. Not to say they don't happen in the other boroughs, but not to the degree they happen here." Flashback: The 2007 fireworks fracas, which resulted in 19 arrests on Staten Island.

Tomorrow night is the 33rd annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. As we all know, the fireworks will take place over the Hudson River this year, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the river's exploration by Henry Hudson. Expect a dazzling display of 45,000 shells (which will explode a rate of more than 1,500 per minute) from six barges, which is the most barges that Macy's has ever used. Fireworks designer Gary Souza told the Post that the Hudson "gives us a broader area to launch the fireworks from and makes the show that much more spectacular. It's one of the biggest and best shows we've ever put together."

With the Macy's July 4 fireworks extravaganza on the Hudson River this year (to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage down the Hudson River), crowds will be lining up on both the New York and New Jersey sides of the river to catch a glimpse of the display. And while NY is used to the security and preparations required, NJ towns aren't: The NY Times reports, "The new location has left town officials in Hoboken, Weehawken, North Bergen and other waterfront communities confronting something they do not often have to deal with — the 100,000 or more spectators they expect to descend on the Hudson’s west bank." Local police and fire departments have warned about grilling regulations and some apartment buildings limited tenants' guests or said only tenants with ID will be allowed in (forget those parties!). There are also driving restrictions in Jersey City plus a zero-tolerance policy—"Open containers, public urination, public nuisance and destruction of property are all subject to a $1,000 fine per infraction," according to Hoboken Now, thanks to the rowdy St. Patrick's Parade behavior (which probably means having sex in public is "public nuisance" and pooping in the hallway is "destruction of property").

It's all happening, the Queensboro Bridge is being celebrated for making it to 100! Last night some folks were treated to a fireworks show around 9 p.m. (pictured), which closed out yesterday's festivities (though there are many more to come).

It's Queensboro Bridge celebration time! The East River crossing between Manhattan and Queens turns 100 today, and there have been a number of events today, which will be capped off by some Fireworks by Grucci at 9:15 p.m. According to the Centennial Events page, they will be set off "from the tip of Roosevelt Island" and will be "viewable from the FDR Drive Promenade and Pavilion Park in Manhattan; Roosevelt Island, in Queens at Gantry Park, and Water Taxi Park and the Greenpoint and Williamsburg waterfront in Brooklyn." There are more events this week and might we remind you of Nick Carraway's declaration in The Great Gatsby, when he and Jay Gatsby head into the city over the bridge, "The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world."

As if Macy's could move the 4th of July fireworks from the East to the Hudson River and not hear about it from Brooklyn. Council Member David Yassky issued the following statement yesterday regarding the huge dis to the borough: “The annual Fourth of July fireworks show on the East River and over the internationally-recognized Brooklyn Bridge is one of our City’s greatest spectacles. Moving the show to New Jersey would negatively impact thousands of tourists and residents who come to Manhattan and Brooklyn to enjoy the show, and the countless local business that stand to benefit from the event. I urge Macy’s to split the show so that Brooklyn residents are not robbed of this important tradition and influx of economic activity during this moment of economic uncertainty.” The Brooklyn Paper seconds that emotion today with a number of quotes from disappointed residents, including Marty Markowitz himself, who reminds the retailer that the borough is also linked to Henry Hudson's journeys. The paper notes that "the change will hinder views from the Columbia Street Waterfront District all the way to Greenpoint — and inland to Fort Greene, Park Slope and beyond."

You just purchased a condo in Williamsburg with a sick rooftop terrace overlooking the East River, but don't send out that 4th of July firework-watching party Evite to your friends just yet: They're being moved to the Hudson River this year. Macy's sure loves change.

The Monday night strange noise puzzling Staten Islanders has been cleared up by the police: Fireworks, the police tell the Staten Island Advance. The Advance spoke to witnesses who said it was a "professional 'Macy's-style' aerial explosive launched from somewhere near Richmond"—guess it wasn't on a scale where the police clashed with residents. A resident said it could have been fireworks, "but it sounded like a lot more than that." And a sanitation worker pointed out, "The only people that saw it say it was fireworks, but still no one wants to believe it."

Nothing says "Close Jones Beach Down" like 100 unexploded fireworks washing ashore. While Nassau County's arson and bomb squad didn't believe the wet fireworks would pose immediate harm, authorities were concerned about what would happen when they dried out. Police suspect fireworks may have been backups for the company that produces the Jones Beach fireworks show. The beach was closed at 12:30 p.m. and Newsday reports the entire park was shut down a few hours later, making it a disappointing but safer afternoon for many families.

While the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular was definitely spectacular (see the photos), the show's organizers moved the displays further south, closer to the Williamsburg Bridge, in order for more of the NYC skyline to be seen in the TV broadcast. Not only did NBC broadcast from Brooklyn, but NBC also added a chyron (graphic) noting that the fireworks were taking place near at least seven times during the half-hour show.

          

"spectacular" by i'mjustsayin on flickr

The annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks extravaganza is the tremendous display that everyone looks forward to. With over 35,000 shells (which means an average of 1,100 shells per minute during the program), it's the largest fireworks display in America.

Tonight, the skyline over the Brooklyn Bridge was lit up with fireworks to celebrate the iconic crossing's 125th birthday. Festivities for the bridge include: the Telectroscope which bridges NYC and London; new pedestrian entrance signage; lectures, readings and guided tours; a film series; and the Tour de Brooklyn on Sunday. More details after the jump:

The 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge will be observed this month with a five day celebration from May 22nd through May 26th, Mayor Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz announced earlier this week. Completed in 1883, the bridge opened with a “People’s Day” celebration; for a penny toll the general public was permitted to traverse its span. (A few days later, on Memorial Day, 12 pedestrians were trampled to death when the crowd believed the bridge was collapsing and panicked.)