"On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us and you'll find that you're in the rotogravure." Easter Parade

Fancy threads

Anybody got a light?

Great tophat

Hey I know that bunny getting her picture snapped.





Happy Easter. Today I wandered with family in tow to the "Easter Parade" on 5th Avenue. This is not a traditional parade....but rather a display of people mingling wearing crazy hats and beautiful finery. It is a wonderful gathering of all sorts of folks. This spectacle dates back to the mid-1800s when the social uppities would leave their respective Easter Church services and parade up and down 5th Avenue showing off their gorgeous threads.

"In your Easter bonnet,
with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady
in the Easter parade!" - Irving Berlin

This extravaganza now is fantastic. The headgear is unbelievable and offers a true glimpse at the eccentric and creative brains that roam this little island. The crowd encompasses all walks of life from adorable families decked out in garb from years past to dazzling drag queens showing off the finest in feathers and rhinestones.

Street entertainers often gather a crowd but everyone has really made the journey to see the Easter bonnets. Today was a cold and early Easter calendar wise. Regardless the crowds were thick and the spirit merry. The lines for Mass at the famed St. Patrick's Cathedral were blocks long.

There were bonnets in the shape of the Empire State Building made of Metrocards and painted poodles being pushed in carriages. There were elaborate Easter baskets worn a top the head. Some hats were so large they required a wingman to hold them up from behind. This crowd does not disappoint. Cameras snapped rapidly at it all. People happily stop, pose and chat while celebrating the beauty of the day. Some of my personal favorites were the 80something dame in her bathing suit holding a sign for peace, a blissful sleeping toddler in a chicken costume and the lovely man wearing dice on his head and a fabulous pair of red patent heels at the end of his long gams.

Two dramatically different parades within in six days.

Here's to the people that come out and make the city great. Cheers!