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Posted: Thursday, 02 July 2009 6:04PM
July 4th Fireworks Move to the Hudson
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NEW YORK (AP) -- The recession may have dimmed Fourth of July fireworks in many cities, but New York is expanding the nation's biggest display from a new vantage point _ the Hudson River.
VIEW: Pictures of the fireworks barges from our own Chopper 880
The celebration is moving back to Manhattan's West Side for the first time since the 9/11 terror attacks. New Jersey waterfront restaurants are selling out and one of Manhattan's busiest highways is shutting down on the West Side.
But for businesses on Manhattan's East Side, which benefited each July Fourth since 2002, it'll be no celebration.
At the Water Club restaurant on the East River, dinner reservations were still available for the Fourth; in past years, tables were booked weeks ahead.
``This was the prime spot for all those years: The view was great and the restaurant and parking lot was packed full,'' said owner Michael O'Keeffe, adding that he's ``disappointed. It won't be the carnival we had before.''
Also losing their viewing spots are the South Street Seaport and the Brooklyn waterfront.
But New Jersey is getting ready for a crush, even with roads alongside the river closed to general traffic because of public safety concerns.
In Hoboken, N.J. _ Frank Sinatra's hometown and this year's best view, against the Manhattan skyline _ many restaurants have been booked for more than a month.
``It's very exciting. This is the prime spot!'' said Kerriann Sweeten, manager of the 3 Forty Grill on Sinatra Drive _ booked solid with a wait list. ``We're expecting more people than on any holiday. They say it'll be complete gridlock around here.''
Hoboken will face the heart of the barge lineup in the Hudson.
Starting at 9:20 p.m. Saturday more than 22 tons of fiery color will explode for a mile and a half over the river from six barges spanning 25 city blocks.
``We're a country of survivors and fighters, and we try to make things work,'' said Gary Souza, whose family-owned, California-based company is staging the Macy's-produced spectacle.
In Manhattan, the West Side Highway will be closed to traffic starting in the early evening, open to pedestrians for viewing the fireworks shooting from the six barges docked in the Hudson between West 23rd and West 59th streets.
Other prime locations are the Empire State Building, where tickets are going at $125.
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum at West 46th Street _ a retired World War II aircraft carrier _ will host the live NBC broadcast of the fireworks, with a show on its decks starting at 9 p.m. (EST), featuring the cast of Broadway's ``West Side Story'' and other stars.
Guests invited aboard the Intrepid for the event include the Dutch ambassador to the Unites States and a delegation from Holland. This year's Fourth feast also marks the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage up this ``American River'' _ the theme of the 2009 celebration.
In the spirit of can-do New York, the showstopper fireworks have a symbolic aim, says Robin Hall, executive producer of the 2009 Macy's Fireworks Spectacular.
``I want people to know that everybody is going to be fine, and that we're optimistic about the future.''
This year's show uses bigger shells that fly higher _ as much as 1,000 feet in the air, ``so more people can see the fireworks.''
A shell with explosive inside shoots up in the air like a launching rocket. ``Inside, the stuff is arranged pretty much what it'll look like in the sky _ a star, a bursting circle, in all colors _ emeralds, citrus colors, jewel-like colors. A lot more than red, white and blue.''
The fireworks used this year in NY are manufactured around the world, from China, Australia, Japan and Italy to Spain, Portugal and the United States.
The fireworks are the culmination of several days of festivities.
On Thursday, Macy's executives planned to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange to kick off the 33rd Macy's feast on the Fourth.
The gesture is apt. Officials of a company whose profits have slipped but still beat analysts' expectations will watch fireworks going off from the balcony of the stock exchange, which just marked its best quarter in years even as the economic crisis continues.
On Saturday morning, as part of New York's Fourth of July plans, the crown of the Statue of Liberty will open to the public for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001.
Another iconic New York event linked to the Fourth is Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. On Saturday afternoon, Nathan's will add an odd twist: an elephant competing with humans to down the dogs.
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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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