Dominican Devils

I'm not sure exactly what these two characters are dressed up as, but they sure look like devils to me. I found this unlikely pair standing on the corner of 56th Street and 6th Avenue on my way to lunch at the MoMA this afternoon. Halloween is still months away so unfortunately they didn't have any candy for me. Though I do especially like the Tropicana Orange Juice bottle.

I later found out they were part of the the 28th Annual Dominican Day Parade where New York's Dominican community comes out to celebrate their heritage with dancers, musicians and bold costumes on 6th Avenue in Midtown. There's always something going on in NYC. I don't even have to barely step outside the front door to find something unique and interesting. I suppose this is why I pay so much to live here. Enjoy the photos. Buy an Andy Warhol book.

Before, During and After the Parade

The Dominican Day Parade was this past Sunday afternoon. It was loud! I've never seen people make so much noise. Drums and blasting loudspeakers and people screaming all afternoon long. It was near impossible to get anything done because of the racket since I was inside on a very cloudy and overcast Sunday. The parade goers were lucky that the rain held off all day and it didn't, let's say ... rain on their parade. I probably should have gone out to witness the craziness, but I just couldn't bring myself to go out into the mayhem. Evidence of the mess is clearly apparent from these photographs. The streets were a mess of paper and flyers, but an hour or so after the parade the street sweepers came by and you could practically eat off of 6th Avenue (well, not really, but you know what I mean).

I did go out later after the parade and get an ice cream cone on 55th Street. There is a combo Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins on that block. You have to hear the theme song on the Baskin-Robbins website. It's outrageous "Ice Cream and Cake" That was good and a great summer treat. I was shocked at the price of a cone -- $4.99 was the price for two scoops in a sugar cone with jimmies. Does anyone even call them jimmies any more? I guess people call them chocolate sprinkles, but they have other variations as well. I've never even heard them called "hundreds and thousands" before. Have you?