New Yorkers in Exile

[chunga1]

Macy’s parade includes some new and familiar faces

did i ever mention i marched in this in 1975


NEW YORK — The 84th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade adds two new arrivals to its helium balloon lineup this year — Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Kung Fu Panda.

Along with a star-studded cast of singing celebrities, ranging from Kanye West to India.Arie, this year’s parade will also feature some longtime collaborators, like Les Kule, 51, of Wantagh, who has been clowning around legitimately for 16 years as a trained Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade clown.

"Those who know me say I’m a funny guy — clowning all my life," said Kule, who owns his own software computer company and is the clown captain of the billiard ball crew this year.

"New York is made out to be this tough town, but on Thanksgiving Day, at the parade, there is this great change and people can see us welcoming them," said Kule, who says getting children to smile is what makes it worthwhile.

Kule became a parade volunteer when a friend at Macy’s asked him if he wanted his daughters to ride in Santa’s sleigh. "Who could refuse?" he said.

This year, organizers say more than 3 million people are expected to line Manhattan streets for a close-up look at the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a 60-foot-long and 56-foot-tall balloon, and the parade’s 14 other giant balloons, which include "Toy Story" character Buzz Lightyear, Dr. Seuss’ Horton, Shrek and classic favorites such as Smurf, Snoopy and Spider-Man.

New floats include Dora’s Christmas Carol and the Elves Raise the Roof. Broadway show casts include "American Idiot" and "Elf," plus the Big Apple Circus. In all, 8,000 performers, including 1,600 cheerleaders, 800 clowns and 2,000 volunteers, will be handling and navigating the parade’s floats down the two-mile stretch.

Other entertainers include Jessica Simpson, Arlo Guthrie, Big Time Rush and Gladys Knight.

The best views are along Central Park West on the west side of the street and eager parade fans can watch the balloons being inflated Wednesday between 3 and 10 p.m. from 77th to 81st streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.

The New York Police Department will provide its usual coverage for the parade. Overtime effect on the city will be minimal because Thursday is a day in which police strength is at its highest during the week, said spokesman Paul Browne.

Some showers and temperatures in the low 50s are forecast for Thursday, but high winds, which have plagued past parades, seriously injuring an onlooker on one occasion — are not expected.

Rain or not, the parade launches at 9 a.m. from its traditional 77th Street and Central Park West corner and proceeds south along Central Park West before turning east onto Central Park South to Seventh Avenue. From there, it continues south to 42nd Street, where it will march east to Sixth Avenue and to its historic home base at 34th Street and Herald Square

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/20101124macys_parade_includes_some_new_and_familiar_faces/srvc=home&position=recent