Tickertape 2012

I had my third opportunity to observe a tickertape parade up the Canyon of Heroes winding its way up Broadway (which is by the way counter to the way cars travel).  The New York Giant Super Bowl heroes (who play in New Jersey) were once again honored for their victory (last time had been 2008, one of the other times I saw the tickertape).  I also saw the Yankees in 2009.  

The crowd was fully assembled along the parade route as early as 8:30am in preparation for the 11am start to the event.  I made the mistake of trying to get some of the early setup shots up near City Hall, the eventual site of the ceremony.  It took me about 15 minutes to travel only one block amongst the blue and white jerseys and turned back to a side street.  Barriers were up since the night before and people began aligning themselves against the obstructions, even in those spots that were back from the street.

Giant Shadows

As the parade came, the battle for prime viewing positions began.  This mob was on the roof of this car (which looked like an unmarked police car, as there was a police sticker in the window).  The roof start denting, and they all ran off.  Realizing that they couldn't see anything from the ground, and the roof was already dented, they all climbed back on.  

Dented Car

I was able to work my way into a building that had a sunken glass lobby.  It was below street level, but they eventually opened up the doors to let people move into a secondary area not far from the street.

Below the Crowd

The people were everywhere, as people waited for the players, as the video from my iPhone shows.

As a photographer, one of the first subjects that caught my eye was a girl hanging on a bus stop sign raising a "we are number one" finger.  

Number One

There heroes began passing, I couldn't really see much but did grab some photos of the players as they passed between bodies as they were elevated.  Here is the obligatory shot of quarterback hero Eli Manning.  Also on the truck is Mayor Bloomberg, the team owner, and the Lombardi Trophy.

Eli the Hero

Then the crowd began to disperse.  The layers upon layers of shredded paper was everywhere.  And, the people were everywhere.  Happy crowds of Giant fans clad in Giants uniforms with not much room to go anywhere, but they slowly started to make their way away.  I focused on the people and went into Street Photographer mode, capturing what I saw.  

Dorothy in Tickertape LandTickertapeThe Party's OverGiving the ThumbSunburnTalk to the HandPizza FanThe Manning Brothers

And, in the end there was only the tickertape and the swirling wind.  I got this video from my iPhone of the wind whirling the paper into the air.

Queen Elizabeth 2

Today was the last day the QE2 cruise ship would ever be in North America. The 40 year old oceanliner is being retired and will survive on as a floating hotel in Dubai. To honor the end of the line(er), a fellow Cunard ship, the Queen Mary 2, joined the old QE2 in New York Harbor and started on a joint trip across the Atlantic. This would be the 806th and final trip and across the Atlantic by the QE2.

I happened to be in a business meeting in a lower Manhattan skyscraper at the time of the engagement of the two ships. I knew that our 37th floor conference room was well positioned to see the event unfold during the 5pm-6pm meeting. I alerted the participants and we would grab peaks out the window as we anticipated the arrival of the ships while we spoke about technology.

First the Queen Mary 2 (above) came into view appearing between the buildings as it approached from the Brooklyn piers. It waited for the QE2 to come down the Hudson for the rendezvous and then head past the Statue of Liberty and out to sea.

While it waited, the Queen Mary 2 spun around in a section of the river that seemingly didn't have room for its size. And, it waited some more. After about 20 minutes, the QE2 appeared between the buildings. Dwarfed in size by the Queen Mary, which a few years ago was temporarily the largest ship in the world, the QE2 pulled up alongside and together they made their way through the approaching darkness and out towards the Verrazano Bridge and to the Atlantic.

Preparing for 9/11

The park at Liberty Plaza is now a gathering ground and showplace for the annual September 11th ceremony. The park is just opposite from the World Trade Center site, and last year's activities for the families were held here. (This year, I think, the pit of the site is a little bit more prepared for visitors and they will be doing some or all of it down there). At any rate, last year, before the ceremonies a team of workers came to work on maintenance of the embedded lights that are part of the park's floor.

I noticed that the workers have returned, which reminded me that we are coming close to another 9/11 anniversary and another ceremony. Last year I emerged from the PATH train while the ceremony was in process and had this direct observation.

Tickertape Parade

A tickertape parade. I always wanted to experience one, but they are not as common as they once were. There are commemorative strips embedded in the sidewalk up Broadway that record each parade. They were rather regular in the '50s, any visiting dignitary seemed to have one. Lately though, it has only been for NY sports champions.

The victory by the Giants in the Super Bowl, quite a feat as they beat the undefeated Patriots, sparked the parade that I had sought. The crowds started assembling 5-6 hours before parade time. The streets were busy with excitement as the anticipation grew.

While, the focus was on the Giants as they went by in the parade trucks, there was a buzz and electricity on the blocks, called "The Canyon of Heroes". Waves of enthusiastic crowd noise circled up and down the avenue. People hung from balconies and looked out of windows, and the floors were littered.

I started taking pictures as people got ready, then as the parade approached I got a perspective from the 39th floor of an office building. Then descending in the midst of the crowd to see what was going on there. The atmosphere was electrifying.