Forget the Turkey: It's the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

So Thanksgiving is finally here (OK, tomorrow): The turkey, the stuffing, the fight with Cousin Bert over which football game to watch. But all that plays second fiddle to the real star--New York’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The big news this year is that the parade route has changed—No longer just on Broadway and Central Park West, the parade will begin at its usual spot—77th street and Central Park West--but will now meander down Central Park South and turn south on Seventh Avenue. From there, it will turn east on 42nd Street, mosey on to the Avenue of the Americas, and proceed down to 34th Street and 7th Avenue.
The parade starts at 9 am, and both parade familiars and those new to it will have to scramble to find the best viewing spots--since the route is new, it’s hard to say where those will be. Our advice: Go early (more than 3 million spectators are expected to show up); have fortitude; bring snacks. (You can call the parade hotline for info at 212 494-4495). What to look for? How about the first new Santa float in almost 50 years? And don’t forget favorites like the Kermit the Frog and Spider Man balloons, as well as countless marching bands, clowns, and celebrity entertainers.
For an insider’s view, try wandering over to the balloon inflation site later today, around 77th Street and Central Park West. But Caveat Balloon Gawker: As the evening wears on, only those with invitations are generally permitted onto the street. You can still get a good view from a little further away, however, and it’s a quintessential New York experience to say you were part of it.

Put Down That Custard Pie Until You've Been Properly Trained

Being a clown takes more than sticking on a funny red nose--at least if you want to be one of the clowns in the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (and, we suspect, elsewhere as well.)
With New York’s most famous parade looming at the end of next week, wanna-be clowns got a crash course this past weekend in, well, clowning around, from the masters themselves—professional clowns from The Big Apple Circus.
The “Clown U” Program (Well, what did you think it would be called?) was held in Macy’s in preparation for the 83rd annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26. During the two-hour workshop, the volunteers learned pratfalls, sight gags, comedic timing, various silly tricks, and clown do’s and don’ts. They report for duty at 6 AM on parade morning, rain or shine—in full clown regalia, of course.
Almost 850 clowns will march next week. They will divide into 25 different groups, ride uptown on the Clown Bus, gather at "Clown Corner,” and get ready to chuckle.
Some of the clown groups? Pirate Prankster Clowns; Malt Shop Clowns; Safari Clowns with Butterfly Kites; Half-Baked Holiday Sweet Clowns; and Silly Seaside Clowns. Really, it doesn’t get any better than that.
All we can say is, that’s a lot of banana peels.
Check back here next week for details on the parade itself…