(The following story by Kelly-Jane Cotter appeared on the Asbury Park Press website on November 21.)
NEW BALLOONS: The class of 2008 includes Abby Cadabby of “Sesame Street,” Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob Squarepants, of the eponymous Nickelodeon series; the Energizer Bunny, mascot of the brand of batteries; the Japanese cartoon character Pikachu, fast-food icon Ronald McDonald, animated monster Shrek, Snoopy of “Peanuts,” this time as a World War I Flying Ace; and a balloon intriguingly described as “Super Cute Kitty.”
POP CULTURE SNAPSHOT: One of the many cool things about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is that it serves as a snapshot of contemporary pop culture. This is most apparent in the selection of featured performers. Miley Cyrus, Trace Adkins and The Clique Girlz are among the of-the-moment acts who will perform on floats. Perennials such as Kermit the Frog and the cast of “Sesame Street,” Broadway star Kristen Chenoweth, James Taylor, Andy Williams and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus will participate.
Ten marching bands and lots of clowns will add rhythm and zip to the proceedings.
The parade begins at 77th Street and Central Park West, proceeds to Columbus Circle, turns onto Broadway, turns West onto 34th Street, goes past Herald Square and finishes at Seventh Avenue.
Macy’s recommends the following as the best viewing locations:
Central Park West, on the West side, from 70th Street to Columbus Circle; or on the East side from 70th to 65th streets.
Columbus Circle, on the West side.
Broadway, between 58th and 38th streets.
34th Street, on the South side, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue.
GETTING THERE: Take the easy way, go by subway! Take NJ Transit trains to Penn Station, near Herald Square, or buses to Port Authority/42nd Street. Elude the crowds by hopping on the 1, 2 or 3 train to 72nd Street at Broadway, or the 1 train to 50th Street. Subway fare is $2.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT into the city on Thanksgiving morning, consider a visit on Inflation Eve. All the big balloons will be inflated and tethered for up-close viewing along Central Park West on Wednesday, Nov. 26. This used to be a tradition known only to locals, but in the past 10 years or so, Inflation Eve has become a widespread attraction unto itself. For traffic control, therefore, the only entrance to the viewing area will be at 79th Street and Columbus Circle. Viewing begins at 3 p.m. and ends promptly at 10 p.m.
THIS YEAR, , MACY’S HERALD SQUARE PAYS TRIBUTE TO “MIRACLE ON 34th STREET,” the 1947 movie that cemented Macy’s image as the store with “the good heart.”
The Brooklyn-based troupe Puppetworks presents “Miracle On 34th Street . . . At Macy’s,” a musical puppet show with seven new songs. Admission to the 30-minute show is $5. The show will be presented from Friday, Nov. 28, to Wednesday, Dec. 24. Show times are 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30, 2:15, 3:15, 4:15 and 5:15 p.m. There is an additional show at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The puppet show will be staged in a new area this year, on the 8th floor, near the express elevators.
For details or reservations for groups of 10 or more, call (212) 494-1917.
“Santaland” also is located on the eighth floor. Visits with Santa Claus take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Nov. 28 to Dec. 24. Weekend hours will be finalized later this month. For info, call (212) 695-4400, press six (“special events”), then press two (“annual events”), then press three (“Santaland and Puppet Theatre”). Visits with Santa are free; photos with Santa and related products are available for purchase.
BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER: Smaller balloons, which Macy’s terms “Novelty Balloons,” also populate the parade, bobbing about the sidelines like grace notes to the humongous inflatables. You’ll recognize the Macy’s star balloons, and the retro “Cloe the Holiday Clown” and “Harold the Fireman.” There will be candy canes, elves, poinsettias and pumpkins, along with a Keith Haring “Heart” balloon and some flying fish.
Floats this year include the “Big Apple,” sponsored by The Daily News; Walt Disney Pictures’ “Bolt,” “Bridge to the Future,” sponsored by Amerada Hess Corp.; “Build-A-Bear Workshop,” “Care Bears,” “Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends,” “Greendog,” “Jolly Polly Pirate Ship,” “M&M’s on Broadway,” “Marion-Carol Show Boat,” “Music Bigger Than Life,” sponsored by Gibson Guitars; “New York Tin Toy,” sponsored by the History Channel; “Oneida Nation,” “Pep Rally,” “Princess Academy,” “Rhino Mountain,” sponsored by Ekko; “Santaland Express,” “123 Sesame Street,” “Smurfs,” “Snoopy’s Dog House,” “Spirit of America,” sponsored by the United States Postal Service; “Sunshine Theme,” sponsored by Jimmy Dean; “Thanksgiving Harvest,” sponsored by Ocean Spray; “Tokyo Style,” “Tom Turkey” and “Winter Wonderland.”