A brightly-colored Pikachu and Felix the Cat were just two of the giant inflatable balloons slowly coming to life on the Upper West Side Wednesday afternoon as thousands of New Yorkers and tourists lined the streets for hours to watch their favorite figures emerge in larger-than-life reality.
It was part of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade preparation. And while most onlookers were thrilled, not everyone was happy with how the event has been handled in recent years.
“To me it’s awful because it destroys my business,” said Unee Woo, who has owned Rose Wine & Liquor on the corner of Columbus Avenue near 81st Street for 30 years. She’s upset about the steel barricades set up in front of her store and six other businesses along Columbus Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets to restrict exiting spectators from heading back into the inflation area. “They [NYPD] block off the street and people cannot get to my store.”
Police officers only allowed residents of apartments on 81st Street facing the museum to enter. When one unidentified passerby said he wanted to go to Woo’s store, the officers told him it was closed.
Before the police started directing crowd flow with the barricades five years ago, the balloon inflation wasn’t so disruptive, said Woo, 70, who lives in Riverdale. Now, she estimated she loses half of her business for the day.
She said she has raised the issue this year with local NYPD officers to no avail.
“The NYPD aren’t going to pay my rent, so why should I lose business,” she said.
Woo then gestured to a man entering the store, introducing him as Nick Bazas, 59, the owner of Q Florist, the business next to the liquor store. Bazas estimated that he loses at least 80 percent of his business when the balloons are inflated.
“Streets are blocked off, and I can’t make my deliveries” he said, “It kills me.”
For the spectators, it was a different story. Kelly Carrera came with her four children and three friends from Long Island to see the inflation and the parade.
“It’s better than going to school,” said the 41-year-old photographer from Commack, Long Island with a laugh. A veteran parade watcher, she said it’s easy for her to make the short commute into the city to see the festivities, which hold a special place in her heart.
“There’s nothing like it anywhere else,” she said. “I can’t believe it’s been 90 years. It’s really defined a lot of people’s holidays.”
While Carrera’s favorite balloon is Scrat from the popular Ice Age films, the children disagreed – with her and with each other – as they shouted out their top picks: Snoopy, SpongeBob and Dough Boy.
Scrat was also a favorite of 16-year old Jamie Wallace from Brainerd, Minnesota. Giggling, she said she’s seen the movies multiple times and loves the character. “I’ve always seen it on TV, so it’s very cool to see it in person,” said the high school student while looking at the semi-inflated Scrat balloon.
A hum of excitement arose from the crowd as they got their first glimpse of Ronald McDonald, Charlie Brown, Thomas the Tank Engine and other balloons. One boy grabbed his father’s hand and dragged him to the first display, trying to work out which character it was before his father explained that it was Felix the Cat. The click of cameras capturing the moment was constant.
“It’s a tradition to see balloons for Thanksgiving every year,” said Shannon Guthrie, 30, from Long Island. Guthrie, who rescues marine mammals for a living, has attended the event for the past six years.
“If you don’t see the balloons, it’s not Thanksgiving,” she said.
Watching the balloons had long been a tradition for Tracy Longenbach from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. But this was the first time she and her husband Steve did so in person. She was most excited to see their favorite balloon, Felix the Cat, up close and personal.
“My wife loves this parade,” said Steve Longenbach, 56. “She watches it every year on TV, so this year we wanted to watch it live.”
Christian Llanos was also a first-timer – at the balloon inflation and in New York. A 28-year-old business owner from Mexico, Llanos said he came to the city because he likes the cold weather – and the Charlie Brown balloon.
“Thanksgiving is an important date in America,” he said. “This is a good way to celebrate it, sharing with others.”
