Pictures of 10.13.02 -- Parents weekend and then a day in New York

On Sunday, I drove the car to parking space #63 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1666 where I parked by this sign ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1667 and then got on the train, though I took pictures of neither the machines nor people selling tickets. When I got off the train, I passed by the large needle ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1668 that commemorates the garment district and observed that getting you name into a sign for $5 is the new New York thing ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1669 especially if you are Ashley, Jessica, Hellen, Alexis or Joser, though I've never met a Hellen or Joser myself. At the north end of Times Square, I saw a Cadillac ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1670 coming out of the billboard across from the Tkts booth ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1671 where the choices seemed to be limited. So, I continued on to Fifth Avenue.
As I approached, there were loud noises and then I saw these gentlemen heating their drums ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1672 so I knew something was about to happen. As the people gathered around ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1673 feather hats seemed to be everywhere ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1674 as the dancers got ready ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1675 and the drummers were enjoying the warmth ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1676 of pre-heated drums. The dancers watched ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1677 as Cuba approached ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1678 with escorts ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1679 and photographers ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1680 while this guy ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1681 had to control the traffic flow. The pride of Cuba ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1682 rode by as the Dominican Republic approached ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1683 to celebrate the Hispanic community ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1684 which allowed me to sneak across the street and on to the Waldorf Astoria ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1685 where Jane was staying. After a picture of the chandelier, ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1686 the friezes, ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1687 and the potted palms ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1688 in the lobby, Jane, Kaylen and Courtney arrived ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1689 but they had to go up to their room to get enough light for the pictures ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1690 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1691 to come out.
Once back on the street, we watched Mexico with its elegant costumes ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1692 pass by as the traffic was held back ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1693 to let the next float appear ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1694 only to be followed by Paraguay ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1695 led by its float. The man with the funny at ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1696 let this person pose with him ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1697 so that I could get a group photo as Bolivia ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1698 got ready to enter the parade. Jane was distracted for a moment by this cell phone flag ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1699 which was perfect except for the girl in the photo who was happy to not pay roaming charges.
Panama was next ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1700 with fancy dancers ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1701 after which Peru ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1702 came and then Puerto Rico ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1703 and their dancers ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1704 while Jane and Kaylen had gone to HMV ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1705 to get some batteries (and probably a little bit of quiet). These groups paraded by ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1706 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1707 while these groups ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1708 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1709 waited to come on to the parade and we tried to find our way away from the noise and tumult.
Even Times Square seemed quieter than the parade as we headed over. We recorded the billboards ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1710 and wished that we could have some cup of noodles ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1711 to warm ourselves. Next we saw an exact replica of Jane's cell phone ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1712 above the police station ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1713 and took this picture of the Gilmore Girls billboard ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1714 for Kaylen. We took the subway from here descending the long escalator ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1715 before debating whether we could take a picture of Jane and Kaylen ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1716 in the subway station. On the other end, we were in Washington Square Park watching the dog run ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1717 even though we didn't stop and read the sign for People and Dogs only. The man in this umbrella stand ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1718 seems to have overcharged us in the shadow of the arch ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1719 and his pretzels ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1720 have too much salt on them. After watching the musicians ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1721 and using the facilities ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1722 while observing the service truck ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1723 that had forgotten to bring paper towels for the last few years.
wonder of wonders, we ran into Gary ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1724 from Dillon basketball games of the 80's and 90's before his legs gave out and he got an honest (well, not totally honest) job on the sidewalks of New York and he said appropriately kind words to Jane about the joys of being my child. Wit Fiorello La Guardia ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1725 to guide us, the trip down town was easy. We took these pictures of T shirts that define grammar ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1726 and good judgment ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1727 before crossing the street to the Fcuk store ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1728 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1729 where they could have used some T shorts from the store across the street. Dom ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1730 was one of our favorite Soho stores as we made our way down to Canal Street and were greeted by this elegant limo ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1731 that must have been carrying someone important.
Once on Canal Street we took pictures of Burger King ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1732 and McDonald's ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1733 in Chinese. This man ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1734 got in our way as I tried to take a picture of the fire hydrants ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1735 of Little Italy as we made our way to Ferrara's ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1736 where the menu ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1737 made Jane ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1738 Kaylen ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1739 and David ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1740 fall into stupors that could only be relieved when Jane's cookies ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1741 and hot chocolate ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1742 arrived along with David's steamed milk ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1743 and Kaylen's eclair. ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1744 David's cannoli took many tries ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1745 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1746 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1747 ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1748 before the light was right ../../../Sabbat/10.12-13.02ParentsWeekendAndNYC//IMG_1749 for this final photo.