Today is Columbus Day, and since it's a federal, state and local holiday, there are many closings. Public schools and public offices are closed. There is no mail delivery, but the James Farley Post Office at Eighth Avenue and West 33rd Street is open. There's no garbage or recycling pick up or street cleaning. On the other side, the stock market is open, the MTA is running service on a weekday schedule, and many people are expected to work today.
The Columbus Day Parade will start at 11:30 a.m. on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street, walking up Fifth to 79th Street—it has 35,000 marchers and over 100 bands, floats and contingents.
There are a few statues of Christopher Columbus around the city—the one at Columbus Circle is well known. But the Columbus statue in front of the NY State Court Building was actually left in storage from 1869 till 1934 when it was found in a Central Park maintenance shed.
Photograph by lily_bart on Flickr
