Parade Question for Tomorrow (NYC)

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 9:45pm

So I've never been to the parade as well, I'm not really a parade person, and the pictures usually make it seem like a generally shallow and tacky affair, but I figure I should actually go myself instead of completely writing it off.

Anyway, My question is, if I want to actually have a view without having to show up several hours early to claim a spot, where along the route would be the best place? I figure the further downtown it goes the larger the crowd (given the neighborhoods its passes through as it progresses to the end), so is somewhere near the rally point at the beginning of the route best?

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 9:52pm

I usually head over to Fifth Avenue somewhere between 42nd and 47th St right around the time the parade is scheduled to start (noon) and that usually works. Another area would be between 24th and 32nd St.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 10:01pm

Oh it's definitely shallow and tacky, but it can also be moving, exhilarating, and outrageously fun. I think you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy being there, especially if the weather is nice and the people around you are there to have a good time.

I second the 24th to 32nd street option. The further downtown you go,the more crowded it becomes.

[Luscious]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 11:23pm

I like to hang on 5th Ave around 15-16th streets, and then walk down to the Village for Pride Fest as the parade draws to a close, or whenever I get tired of standing in one place.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 12:02am

I'm glad you're going, Liver, although it's usually more fun if you're with a small group of people, because there are frequent wait while the cops attend to traffic--and those are better in a group because you can gossip.

You can also jump in and out of the groups marching, so if you see a friend, jump in a walk a few blocks with them.

Here's an article from 2005 by a gay political blogger you probably know, Joe.My.God:
Joe.My.God: Watching The Defectives

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 12:06am

Or you can march with Broadway Impact, the marriage equality group started by Gavin Creel and others. They're in the 9th group, if you want to look for them later, or here's the info about where they're starting out from
March with Broadway Impact at NYC Pride!: Fighting for Equality and Remembering Stonewall

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/28/09 at 12:11am

I'm probably gonna have to leave early to get to work.