ULTIME DA MANHATTAN
Elephants In The Midtown Tunnel? The Circus Is In Town
MARCH 19TH, 2003
If you think traffic is a zoo during you rcommute, you should have seen the Midtown Tunnel Tuesday night.
A parade of elephants made its way through the tunnel on the way to Madison Square Garden, for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Circus.
The
midnight elephant procession is an annual tradition.
The 133rd edition of the circus starts Thursday at the Garden and runs through April 13.
Irish Pride Fills City For St. Patrick's Day Parade
MARCH 17TH, 2003
Irish pride took over the city Monday for the 242nd St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue.
The sea of green marchers made its way from 44th Street to 86th Street.
Security was tight, and public drinking prohibited. Police searched backpacks and conducted spot-checks for open alcohol containers.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who marched in the parade, kicked off the St. Patrick's Day festivities with an annual breakfast at Gracie Mansion. Former Mayor Ed Koch and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly were among the dignitaries who attended.
"The most important thing about St. Patrick's Day really isn't to just recognize the great contribution the Irish made, but to use it as a symbol for all the different groups before and afterwards and into the future who come to America and constantly bring new ideas and new vitality and new enthusiasm and willingness to work to make this country great," Bloomberg said. "That's what really differentiates America."
Bloomberg, Governor George Pataki and former Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani also attended mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The parade was a homecoming of sorts for Giuliani, the Italian-American who basked in ovations from Irish-Americans along the way.
"I'm very pleased Giuliani was here today," said parade goer John Tompkinson. [It seemed like he got a warmer reception than Mayor Bloomberg] "Absolutely, and deservedly so. I think so far he's done more for the city than Bloomberg has."
"It feels wonderful and I think it's a mutual love," said Giuliani. "I love New York, and I think the people of New York are very, very generous."
There were no real boos for Bloomberg, but there were those who took issue with some of his ideas, like closing firehouses, banning smoking and
believing a businessman can run the city.