You'd think that by now I'd have gone to the Pride Parade in NYC, but I just haven't been up to the crowds and insanity. Especially since my experiences in the Houston Pride Parade always involved riding in the float for St. Stephens. :) My favorite memories from that are about two of the old ladies of the church, both named Betty ("the Betties"), for whom there were always specially arranged lawn chairs on the float. They would sit in their chairs and ride in style. Every year, one of them would say something to me like, "I just can't understand why anyone has a problem with these nice boys." So cute. :)

I hear you on the crowds thing. I'm usually NOT, in any way, interested in spending time in crowds. I'm making an exception.

Hee! I love that story. The Betties. There is hope for us yet, damnit. (And I can't tell you how excited I am to hear about attitudes amongst the under-25 crowd. I have real, tangible hope for equal rights within my lifetime.) One thing that startled me at last year's parade was the high percentage of floats that come from religious organizations. It isn't my cup of tea but I'm glad to see that there is a diverse spiritual community in Houston that doesn't have its head firmly entrenched in its ass.

If you don't end up with Samhain plans again this year, I plan to go to the NYC Halloween Parade again this year. immlass and mcroft weren't keen on the idea of coming into the city on Halloween and jalabert was teaching a class that evening last year but I had a blast all by myself. You're welcome to join me, if you want. :) It isn't exactly a Pride Parade but it's a hell of a lot of fun.

I think the Halloween parade scares me more than the Pride one. It's one thing to mingle amongst the city's LGBT crowd. But the Halloween one brings out all the freaks. :)

But we'll see how young at heart I'm feeling by then. (Though the chances of having Samhain plans are high, since our coven normally does something together on the major holidays.)

Maybe I'm the naive out of towner who just doesn't know any better but I found the NYC Halloween parade to be invigorating and in no way intimidating. I had a blast taking pics of the amazing costumes and then I stopped in a local restaurant after the parade for a late dinner. The guy at the table next to me started a conversation and once I explained I was a tourist and my love of history, we had a great time talking about Manhattan. He was an architect so I learned a lot about the history of Manhattan buildings that I didn't know. I had a fabulous time.

Also? I found the costumed kids walking around with their parents during the day to be charming. *shrug* I fell in love with Halloween in the City last year. :)

I figured you'd probably have other plans that day - I know it's an important one - but thought I'd throw it out there just in case.

It is entirely possible that my opinion of the Halloween parade is shaded by the fact that my only experience with it was trying to get into my favorite veggie diner (at the corner of 6th and 14th, though it's closed now) shortly after the parade, and NOT being able to get a table, and finding the streets filled with trash and drunk people. Maybe if I'd had the joy of the parade before being confronted with its detritus, I'd be less cranky. :)

If you do end up coming, let me know. And if I don't have plans for Samhain, I'll totally go with you. I'll try anything once. :) And, as always, you've got a place to stay if you need one.

You know, that would be an excellent reason to have a poor image of the parade. I did notice a staggering amount of trash in the streets after the parade but they'd cleaned up a bunch of it by the time I'd finished dinner. I get very cranky when I can't go and do whatever it is I intended.

There's no question but that I'll be back in NYC. I have tickets to the Nov. 2-4 Stargate con again (I have front row center and if I renew the tickets while at the con I get a guarantee of my seat again). I don't know exactly when I'll be arriving/leaving but I generally try to tack on at least a week to the trip for going to museums and visiting with friends. I should post about that soon and start e-mailing everyone.

I especially should coordinate with you. If it's a good time for you, I will take you up on the offer a place to crash for a little while. I know you went to the Cloisters recently but if you're up for a return, I didn't get to it last year and I really want to put that on my schedule. Of course, I'll be drooling over the Met's new Greek galleries, as well. :D I think it's time to suck up my annoyance with Funny Brown People Dioramas and visit the Natural History Museum, too, because I've been told by enough people that the unfortunate bits aside, it's an excellent museum.

I was pondering a sidetrip to Mystic Seaport because I've never been to Connecticut and it seems as if it would be fun. Or, in the other direction, there's Pennsylvania. I've wanted to tour Philadelphia since I sang along with Elton back in 1976. Then again? There is the bucolic and happy rural New Jersey; I had a grand time poking around its historical cemeteries. *sigh* So much to see and do and so little vacation time. :(

I really need to remember to win a lottery so that I can devote myself to traveling.

In reference to trips to the Met and the Cloisters: No no, don't throw me into that briar patch! :) And I've never been to the Natural History Museum. Or rather I've been, but didn't get past the lobby because it was a weekend summer day, and the lines were OUTRAGEOUS, so we took the impatient, whining children and left for a walk in Central Park. I'd love to do that, too.

If my work situation is what I hope it is by then, I'll be free, or at least have a rearrangeable schedule, during the week. And whether I'm free for what you're doing or not, I've got a spare set of keys, and you are welcome to the place to crash.

*GRIN* Yay! Another museum junkie. :)

My preferred plan is to spend the weekend in NJ, visit with NJ friends on Monday since museums are closed then, travel to the city on Tuesday, enjoy a day in Central Park/Manhattan, and spend the weekdays visiting the museums. If I stay through the next weekend then that would also be a good time to visit friends who have to work regular jobs or do anything that doesn't involve museums given the crowds.

However, all things are negotiable and I might come the week before the con (I want to be there for Halloween) and have it be the culmination of my trip rather than the kick-off. Also? It depends on everyone's schedules. If I can see more people by shifting my trip, I will.

I hope you have a great time at Pride and if you get the chance take some pics. :D

Thank you! I'll definitely be taking photos again this year. I had a great time last year despite the heat and it's so rare to get together in a huge group where everyone is happy and there for the point of spreading the love.

I've fallen in love with the Houston Pride Parade and with the NYC Halloween Parade. I'm looking forward to both.

*wonders what Pride celebrations will be like in SoCal*

*remembers psychotic introversion, and therefore will never find out what Pride celebrations will be like in SoCal*

:)

Yanno, I completely understand your PoV. I hate crowds, I hate parades, and I even mostly hate people. Well, not exactly, but I don't like spending too long around them.

What I like about Pride Parades are:
1. Everyone there is like-minded. It's not often I get to be in a majority.
2. It isn't really social. You're around people, yes, but everyone's watching the action. It's like television but outside.
3. I make myself get out and go because it's a cause that I believe in passionately and I've been feeling under attack by the right-wing nutjobs around this state and this nation. I'm all for pushing back and telling them their hate isn't welcome.
4. OK, there's also the added benefit of not everyone's entirely dressed. ;)

I betcha WeHo has a bitchin' Pride celebration.