Easter Parade 2012, Part 2

The Movie



See my other Easter stories and photo galleries:
Easter Parade 2006
Easter Parade 2007
Easter Parade 2008
Easter Parade 2009

Easter Parade 2012, Part 1

View my photo gallery here. See my other Easter stories and photo galleries:
Easter Parade 2006
Easter Parade 2007
Easter Parade 2008
Easter Parade 2009

Mecca for the Misfits

Daily, there are still participants of Occupy Wall Street in Union Square. At night, you will find the last vestiges in what has become largely a circus with a cast of characters unseen anywhere else. It is the home of those with nothing else to do and nowhere else to go.

At night, political rants, banners, and slogans recede into the darkness. Books sit unsold. Skateboarders skate as usual, navigating around standers and sitters. Girls with wild hair walk barefoot ala Woodstock. Police presence dwindles as the likelihood of serious problems nears zero. Most lack the ambition to stage or organize any significant protest. It is about community and fraternizing. It's fodder for some of the best photo ops of people and some of the wildest juxtapositions in New York City.

It's an inspiration and demonstration that here, polar opposites can coexist and befriend each other. Here, an orthodox Jew sits on the ground and mingles with the young, restless, nihilistic, and disenchanted. A few members of Hare Krishna dance entranced and encourage a handful of onlookers to join them. It's a place where everything is illuminated but nothing is clear.

And it's a Mecca for the Misfits :)

Very Awkward, Part 2

Going Fetal (see Part 1 here)

Everyone assumed that this was a magnanimous marriage proposal. However, what I learned by talking to one of their friends is that these were two NYU students who had been in a relationship and broken up. The boy wanted to rejoin with the girl and decided to surprise her with an extraordinary public proposal to reunite.

Things did not go well. The girl made no eye contact at all with her courter for much of the time and spoke to him very little. She never did accept the rose he held and offered her. He had a microphone which he offered, but she essentially refused to speak. She smiled some and cried some. But mostly she stood stoically or cowered silently. It was an embarrassment for all and, to me, an inappropriate attempt to strong-arm a woman via the pressure of public display and make rejection much more difficult. But she stood her ground. If she does not want him, then good for her. I don't see this kind of persuasion as an effective tactic for the success of a long-term relationship.

A large portion of my accompanying video for today's story was shot by Hellen Osgood. When initially viewing it, I was disappointed that the running commentary by her husband Harvey was audible through most of the footage. However, on reviewing it and listening to what he had to say, I found his insightful thinking to be the best part of the event and much more interesting than watching the courted stonewalling her courter. His commentary was unintentionally very funny, offering much needed comic relief to a rather tragic affair.  Below are some of Harvey's pithy remarks. Please be reminded that at the time he made them, we all thought this was a marriage proposal.

What's she going to do, have a nervous breakdown? Brilliant, brilliant. [sarcastically]

How do you say "no" in Japanese? This is nuts. You don't go through this. You say, "Give me five minutes." You gotta cut it short. How long can she stand there?

She can call a lifeline, can't ya? Can't you ask for help?
He doesn't understand, this is her life, her destiny, right? And they're playing music.

Nice. She's doing the right thing… she's going in the fetal position. That's what I would do under the circumstances, definitely. Go fetal on him. See what he can do about that. He he he he.

Oh nice, if she throws up, do you think he will get the hint? What if she just absolutely throws up, right there? That's considered to be a very passive-aggressive action when someone proposes marriage to you and you throw up.

Is this strictly being done for her benefit and nobody else, like a Bob Dylan concert?

This is heavy-duty stuff.

Don't shoot the piano player. He's just an innocent bystander.


Sadly, this embarrassing affair could have easily been avoided by heeding the age-old admonition which was simply stated and sung by the Beatles in 1964: (money) Can't Buy Me Love. But it sure can buy the Very Awkward :(


More on romance and couples: Big, Big Mistake (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), Happy Valentine's Day, Foolish World of the Fiscally Frivolous, The Perfect Gift, Get a Room, Be My Valentine, PDA, War...and Peace

Very Awkward, Part 1

As any experienced man knows, flowers are the way to a woman's heart. Experts have even done a number of studies corroborating what we knew all along. In my case, I had to relearn this lesson in the most painful way. I hope my lesson helped others avoid the mistake I made.

Yesterday, photographer friend Bill Shatto, always on the lookout for photo-worthy subjects, sent me a text with an image of a massive flower arrangement. When we spoke on the phone, he said that the whole affair might be blog-worthy. Bill is not one inclined to superlatives, and when he makes any kind of recommendation, it typically is a main event. So, reluctant to run out and shoot in the rain, nonetheless, I grabbed my camera and umbrella and made my way to Washington Square Arch.

The scene looked like the type of event requiring a permit. From a distance, I could make out a large truck standing by the arch. Someone was making a monumental statement. When I finally arrived, a small ensemble was playing music under the arch. A baby grand piano had been moved in, along with a full drum set. The centerpiece of the extravaganza was a huge number of roses clustered and arranged into a large heart. A small number of friends were on hand, as were a number of passersby. It appeared that someone was making a marriage proposal.

Coincidentally, on the scene were friends and neighborhood residents Hellen and Harvey Osgood, subjects of a previous story. Hellen had been filming the event, and the impression she had gathered was that things were not going as well as planned. I approached the couple involved, and the facts were somewhat different yet. Tomorrow, I will feature photos of the couple, video of the proposal, and why I believe the best phrase to describe the whole thing to be Very Awkward…

Trayvon Martin

In New York City, it is often difficult to gauge the merit of an issue by those who are most vocal about it. Unfortunately, there are many who will seek any opportunity to rally, protest, demonstrate, or just be part of something. This was the case yesterday in Union Square, where the events surrounding the killing of Trayvon Martin attracted a massive throng.

There were those who came out saddened by the murder of the 17-year-old teenager, civil rights activists inflamed by the details of this case, and those who will attend virtually anything - protests and parades alike. The event saw its fair share of the indigent, insolent, indolent, and indignant, along with others muttering to themselves, screaming inanities, on rants and diatribes, and even verbally hostile to police officers who maintained composure.

However, reading over the details of the Trayvon incident, it not only is a senseless tragedy but also does appear to be an incident which casts light on very serious issues of racism and justice. George Zimmerman, 28, a white Hispanic and crime watch volunteer in a gated community in Sanford, Florida, told police that he shot Trayvon in self-defense after an altercation. Martin was walking home from a convenience store, where he had purchased iced tea and Skittles. Apart from the fact that the boy was unarmed, the protestors are particularly enraged and outraged that Martin's killer, George Zimmerman, is still free and not charged. According to the New York Times:

Florida is among 21 states with a "Stand Your Ground Law," which gives people wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat during a fight. The self-defense law helps explain why a neighborhood watch captain has not been arrested in the shooting death of an unarmed teenager.

The Million Hoodie March for Trayvon Martin was hosted by Occupy Wall Street. Aside from the Trayvon Martin protest, numerous Occupy Wall Street agendas were addressed as well. Union Square was congested and pure pandemonium - massive police presence, vehicular traffic on one of Manhattan's busiest thoroughfares, a major subway station closed, protestors, activists (Reverend Billy was on hand), pamphleteers, skateboarders, shoppers, police cars and emergency vehicles, buses, and chess players, undaunted, as they typically are.

Until justice is served, I am sure that this is not the last outcry to be heard surrounding the tragic death of Trayvon Martin :(

More protests: General Malaise Part 2, Vigil, Eyes on the Signs, Free Laura and Euna, Unemployed, Fall Out Against the War, Picture New York

Keep It Fresh

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the annual event SantaCon, the sight of groups of Santas, large and small, carousing the streets of New York City, is extremely perplexing.

After rereading a story I wrote on December 10, 2007 called Surly Santas, it is apparent that at that time, I, too, was not aware as to the reason why a group of Santas was walking the streets and being naughty. I certainly was perplexed until 2009, when I finally was told about SantaCon and did a story involving New York City's participation in the event.

(read more...)

Hakafot

My contact with Jewish people was quite limited growing up in New England. Moving to New York City changed the equation dramatically. Here, it felt like the city was dominated by Jewish people. Their culture was everywhere - in the food, in the slang with a heavy use of Yiddish, in the professions. I grew to love the tight, familial nature of Jewish people. Nearly all of my best friends have been Jewish.

(read more...)

Simple, But Effective

I imagine you had to be there to appreciate the humor. The same man who swore that there was no reason not to move to Santa Barbara (see Not Going Anywhere here) was known for his pithy aphorisms. Some years ago, he offered one of my favorites.

When fanfare, drama, and over-the-top displays are all around, how do you distinguish yourself? If you have traveled to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, during the Christmas holiday season, you know what I am talking about (see stories here and here; see photo galleries here and here). With fierce pride, ego, and in the one-upmanship style often found among New York City residents, the Christmas displays in Dyker Heights have reached outrageous proportions. You're certainly not going to stand out or even be noticed unless you take a radically different approach. And not everyone has the financial means or the motivation to stage a Disneyesque extravaganza on their front lawn.

(read more...)

Halloween Parade 2011

My fifth year at the annual Village Halloween Parade. A spectacular event. See my previous postings for photos and information about the parade: Halloween Parade 2010, Halloween Parade 2009, Halloween Parade 2008 Part 1 and Part 2, Village Halloween Parade 2007 #1 and #2, Village Parade 2007 Preview, Village Halloween Parade 2006 , Halloween Parade 2006 Preview

General Malaise, Part 2

It's a music festival, political protest, slumber party, social club, and bookstore. A place for the activist, party goer, malcontent, happy hippie, angry man, disenfranchised, frustrated, and defiant. It's Occupy Wall Street. And there, you will find a General Malaise.

Related Posts: General Malaise Part 1, Eyes on the Signs, False Assumptions, Fall Out Against the War

General Malaise, Part 1

I generally avoid "covering" news events - a short blog article rarely does a subject justice. And there are certainly better sources for such topics, as well as news journalists qualified to do the investigatory work.

But Occupy Wall Street has become such a phenomenon that even in the city with all that goes on, the demonstrations, marches, and occupation of Liberty Park is a topic of conversation amongst almost any group of people. I have been asked by virtually everyone I meet whether I have been down to the demonstration area, as well as whether I would write and photograph about this demonstration.

(read more...)

Smile by Fire

On May 15, 2008, I wrote Mesmerized about my childhood fascination with fire. On April 29, 2009, in Little Stuff, I told of my play with bottle rockets as a young adult. In And You Can't Make Me, I recounted my short-lived defiance of my father while playing with matches.

(read more...)

Not Of Them

We live in a time when there is a perception that you can find everything on the Internet. Shopping, dating, socializing, employment, video, film, TV, music, travel arrangements, reviews, activity listings, books, and massive information. Certainly it is one of the most transforming technologies in humankind.

However, from a different perspective, it is only a tool to better the human condition and facilitate those things that humans love to do. Many still do not use the Internet at all, and others feel that it is a crippling, not enabling, technology. Some who hold these beliefs are quite young - not just old curmudgeons, as one might expect.

(read more...)

Just Another Day

In Because It's Not, I wrote of a philosophy that I and many of my peers once shared: that birthdays and holidays really had little meaning because, in fact, they were "just another day." We defended this position and, of course, it can be easily defended on utilitarian grounds.

However, one relationship with a woman changed all that. She was the consummate planner, participant and lover of social gatherings. A discussion once ensued about my view concerning special days carried over from my youth. She made a very simple point. To her, holidays, birthdays and anniversaries were just opportunities to celebrate.

(read more...)

Just Married

I had intended to travel to City Hall on Sunday morning to witness and photograph New York's first day of legal same-sex marriage. However, my reluctance to set out early morning to brave another day of heat and humidity prevented me from doing so.

Late at night, before returning home, I was alerted by a friend that one gay couple that had been married was lingering in Washington Square Park. How fortuitous - part of the event had come to me.

(read more...)

Extra! Extra! Read All About It

I fell asleep at my computer on Friday night. At 1:30 AM, I was awakened with cheering on the streets. I heard someone say something about gay marriage. I flipped open my laptop and hit the bookmark for the New York Times. There it was - live front page news- an all-caps, six-column headline: NEW YORK PASSES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, BECOMING LARGEST STATE TO PASS LAW.

Wow. That really is big news. This late Friday night passing of this law is a watershed event. That evening, there was late night celebration at the Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher Street. On Sunday, the annual Gay Pride parade was held. The timing of the passing of the same-sex marriage law with the annual parade was perfect - the march became a celebration of this historic event for the gay community. Paraders held signs proclaiming "Thanks Governor Cuomo," "Promise Kept," "Marriage Now," "I DO support marriage equality," and "Our Next March Down the Aisle."

An opinion piece from the New York Times says:

New York State has made a powerful and principled choice by giving all couples the right to wed and enjoy the legal rights of marriage. It is a proud moment for New Yorkers, thousands of whom took to the streets on Sunday to celebrate this step forward. But this moment does not erase the bigotry against gays and lesbians enshrined in the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows any state to refuse to recognize another state’s unions.

There are many gay couples who have long term committed relationships. They have, however, had to settle for living in the margins and alcoves of society. I have had family members, employees and friends who were gay, as I am sure many of you have. Most speak of the tremendous stress and pressure of living a lifestyle which requires secrecy and obfuscation. Even in New York City, complete openness about being gay is limited to times and places. You will only on rare occasion see gay couples walking hand in hand. And there still is opposition to gay marriage. Most major religious institutions do not sanction homosexuality.

Same-sex marriage is legally recognized nationwide in 10 countries: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. In the United States, couples can marry in six states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York) and Washington, DC.

The New York State Marriage Equality Act became law on June 24, 2011 and will take effect in 30 days - July 24. The New York law has no residency requirement. New York also recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

There is a business side to this also. According to Bloomberg News:

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to unveil a campaign to sell the most populous U.S. city as a gay-wedding destination after thousands marched to celebrate the state’s legalization of such marriages. The “NYC I Do” campaign “will create millions of dollars in additional economic impact to the city’s $31 billion tourism industry,” Kimberly Spell, a spokeswoman for New York & Company, the city’s marketing office, said yesterday in an email. Bloomberg will unveil more details in coming days, she said.

On Friday night, June 24, 2011, it certainly was Extra! Extra! Read All About It.

Related Posts: They Are a-Changin', No Red Faces, Time Has Come, Buddies, Steal the Show, Pride March, Dyke March, Gay Liberation Monument, Gay Pride Parade

Mermaid Parade 2011, Part 2

This is Part 2 of the 2011 Mermaid Parade. See Part 1 here and my complete gallery of photos here.

Previous Mermaid Parade Posts: Mermaid Parade 2006 P1, Mermaid Parade 2006 P2, Mermaid Parade 2007 Part 1, Mermaid Parade 2007 Part 2, Mermaid Parade 2009, Mermaid Parade 2010

Mermaid Parade 2011, Part 1

This is the 5th year I have attended and photographed the annual Mermaid Parade on the boardwalk by the ocean at Coney Island. It is becoming larger and a little more difficult to negotiate through. This year, I spent my time at the exit area for paraders. An entire city block is closed off and with paraders milling about, it is much easier to mingle with and photograph parade participants. My favorite parade - highly recommended.

Previous Mermaid Parade posts: Mermaid Parade 2006 P1, Mermaid Parade 2006 P2, Mermaid Parade 2007 Part 1, Mermaid Parade 2007 Part 2, Mermaid Parade 2009, Mermaid Parade 2010

Work White Magic

It is Memorial Day weekend, and in New York City that means many things - residents leaving and visitors arriving during what is also Fleet Week, where the streets are abrim with sailors in uniform, particularly in Greenwich Village, which for many is party central. That means lots of sailors looking for fun and lots of civilians looking for Men in Uniform. The allure is obvious and evidence is everywhere.

For those looking for a quick tryst, there are both the streets of New York and now, the Internet, with a new world of options, a virtual smorgasbord.
Grindr, a gay cruising iPhone app, ranks prospects based on proximity.

Some sailors and those desiring them whether male, female, straight or gay, use the Close Encounters section of Craigslist for their brief time on shore leave.

Sexual encounters via Craigslist may be better called personal permutations, because if you are going to meet someone this way, you need to know what you want from a menu of 21 categories: w4m m4m m4w w4w t4m m4t mw4mw mw4w mw4m w4mw m4mw w4ww m4mm mm4m ww4w ww4m mm4w m4ww w4mm t4mw mw4t.

This may look rather daunting until you know the simple code: w- woman, m- man, t-tranny. A pair of letters together means a couple, straight or gay. So, we go from the basic m4w (man for woman) to the more exotic like mw4mw (straight couple for straight couple) or ww4m (lesbian couple for man).

Of course there are also logistics to work out - I was always curious about where sexual encounters with sailors might take place because although I witnessed a number of PDAs (see story here), I am sure these couples would be more than happy to oblige to take their meetings private and Get a Room. Since sailors cannot bring these women back to the ship, the classic line of the one-night stand, Your place or mine? becomes something more like Your place or thine? A hotel would be a pricey option. Some city residents have offered their apartments as a patriotic gesture to these men in service.

I am sure being a sailor is a trying lifestyle. The sexual frustration of men (and women*) at sea has resulted in innumerable troubles and solutions. I was fascinated to learn of Dames de Voyage, which date back to the 17th century. These fornicatory antecedents to the modern day party doll, were made of sewn cloth or old clothes and used by French and Spanish sailors while at sea.

But now we have Craigslist or for those who prefer the more traditional approach, the streets of New York City, where sailors have only to stand and let their uniforms work white magic :)

*Nearly 20% of active-duty members of the Navy are women.

Related Posts: Respect, Fleet Week 2009