Huge Crowd at the Reception, but Thin Crowds to Celebrate NYC’s Annual Columbus Day Parade

h. nazan ışık —

9 October 2018—

Monday, Oct 8 was a comfortable day in New York City for a parade, not so hot, not so cold, not very sunny, not rainy. Just a little misty day it was. And, it was the day to celebrate, enjoy the 74^th annual Columbus Day Parade.

Remembering the previous parades, I expected a fun day, with lots of floats, costumes, music, performances, most importantly energy, and huge crowds to watch the parade, on the parade’s route from 43^rd Street up to 72^nd Street on Fifth Avenue.

Some marchers,carrying flags, paraded at the annual Columbus Day Parade in New York on Oct. 8, 2018 (h. nazan ışık /NKENdiKEN)

Well, I was wrong this year. Even on Fifth Avenue and 59^th Street it was a very thin crowd.

Governor Andrew Cuomo (third from L, and Public Advocate Letitia James (in red blouse) marched in the annual Columbus day Parade in New York on October 8, 2018 (h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN)

First Governor Andrew Cuomo marched, with him was Public Advocate Letitia James. It looked like they were more crowded than the spectators.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio chatted to one of the spectators during the annual Columbus Day Parade on Oct.8, 2018 ( h. nazan ışık /NKENdiKEN)

Mayor Bill de Blasio paraded after. He stopped and let someone, who was standing on the almost empty pavement, take a selfie with him.

I must say I was surprised not to see very ‘enthusiastic’ crowd that day.

On Thursday, Oct. 4, Mr. de Blasio and First Lady McCray hosted the Italian Heritage Reception at Gracie Mansion. First Lady came to the platform, delivered her remarks and introduced Mayor de Blasio to guests.

First Lady McCray inroduced Mayor Bill de Blasio, with a kiss, to guests at the Italian Herritage Reseption on Oct. 3, 2018 at Gracie Mansion. (h. nazan ışık /NKENdiKEN)

As always they kissed.

He talked about Italian music, language, food, and said, “The language, how poetic it is, no matter what you say. And the Italian Food…. we won, everyone in this country eat Italian food.”

He was right. It was a very rich reception.

A pizza parlour offered pizza for guests in a temporary oven for the Italian Heritage Reception at Gracie Mansion on Oct. 4, 2018 (h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN)

At the entrance there was a temporary oven for the reception to offer freshly made pizza by a pizza parlour.

One of the food corners at the Italian Heritage Reception at Gracie Mansion on Oct. 4, 2018 (h. nazan ışık /NKENdiKEN)

And, in the tent and garden guests enjoyed bountiful buffets of food set up everywhere. And of course, wine and beer tables as well.

It was crowded, and everyone was talking about ‘being a proud Italian’ at the reception. I thought the parade would be a mirror of it with the overwhelming crowd. But I was wrong!