The Labor Day Carnival Celebration 2014 thread.

whatchuwant

I live on the parkway- my apartment faces the street. It is a life of 'join 'em or leave' Labor Day weekend. For 15 years, I had an open house party and invited all my friends to celebrate. It was one of my favorite days. 

Now that the luster has dissipated (thanks to being that much older now)- it's turned into something different. We avoid it, must move the car (and cannot bring it back until Tuesday at 6am- it used to be you put your car back Monday night after 9pm), and after having Lil' Whatchuwant, we leave for the weekend so he can nap and sleep at night (bedroom faces the museum). 

We got a hard time Monday night (9pm) trying to get on our block simply to unload the car. Cops stood there, jaws slack, looking at one another trying to decide. I had to explain 3 times we were 'just loading, not parking.' They finally relented- informed us we would get towed if we parked. I said I understood and we were allowed to pass through.

It is ABSOLUTELY an inconvenience if you don't want to participate and even if you do.  

It can be frustrating, but we are in a position where we can leave town easily and stay with family. We are extremely fortunate and grateful for that and realize we're an exception.

My neighbor in 9 months preggo. They tried to go to a hotel for the weekend, but everything was booked. They returned home and hunkered down for the weekend and prayed she didn't go into labor.  

whynot_31

Apparently...

Brooklyn cops were ordered to ignore blatantly illegal liquor sales inside three junkyards that were turned into open-air nightclubs — drawing thousands of rowdy revelers who vomited and urinated in the streets during the Labor Day weekend, The Post has learned.

http://nypost.com/2014/09/01/cops-ordered-to-ignore-illegal-liquor-sales-at-junkyard-parties/

Apparently... "De Blasio ordered NYPD to back off illegal bash"

http://nypost.com/2014/09/03/de-blasio-gave-nypd-order-to-back-off-drunken-booze-fests/

Let's see where this goes.  Doesn't seem like the Post is giving this one up.

The Post seems to consistently believe that hands of law enforcement are being tied, and that the city will descend into anarchy as a result. So I take their reporting with a grain of salt.

mike dunlap

I live on the parkway- my apartment faces the street. It is a life of 'join 'em or leave' Labor Day weekend. For 15 years, I had an open house party and invited all my friends to celebrate. It was one of my favorite days. 

Now that the luster has dissipated (thanks to being that much older now)- it's turned into something different. We avoid it, must move the car (and cannot bring it back until Tuesday at 6am- it used to be you put your car back Monday night after 9pm), and after having Lil' Whatchuwant, we leave for the weekend so he can nap and sleep at night (bedroom faces the museum). 

We got a hard time Monday night (9pm) trying to get on our block simply to unload the car. Cops stood there, jaws slack, looking at one another trying to decide. I had to explain 3 times we were 'just loading, not parking.' They finally relented- informed us we would get towed if we parked. I said I understood and we were allowed to pass through.

It is ABSOLUTELY an inconvenience if you don't want to participate and even if you do.  

It can be frustrating, but we are in a position where we can leave town easily and stay with family. We are extremely fortunate and grateful for that and realize we're an exception.

My neighbor in 9 months preggo. They tried to go to a hotel for the weekend, but everything was booked. They returned home and hunkered down for the weekend and prayed she didn't go into labor.  

Sorry to hear it's become such an inconvenience.  I'm on the ground floor, Union @ Franklin, not far from you.  My kids had a blast and slept well, as did I despite the street party that went late right outside my window.  I also watched cars parked on our block after the parade easily drive out onto Franklin and off towards Empire with no problems (arguably even easier than on other days as no cars were coming over EP on Franklin). 

southeast

I also watched cars parked on our block after the parade easily drive out onto Franklin and off towards Empire with no problems (arguably even easier than on other days as no cars were coming over EP on Franklin). 

Going towards Empire, away from the parade, is possible throughout the day as there aren't any restrictions going in that direction.  Trying to get north from Empire, that is where the street closures/restrictions come into play.

whynot_31

I think the worst days for traffic are the 5 Boro bike tour, and the NYC marathon.

Those events tie up the whole city, and smart drivers know to avoid even thinking about driving anywhere on the dates they are scheduled.

newguy88

Honestly, I'd be heartbroken if the parade got canceled. I understand it's a little noisy and can make our neighborhood tougher to get around but it's navigable. As for the "I can't drive anywhere!" crowd. You're in a city with great mass transit and it's only one (1) day a year can't you just deal with it? I know I can.

 If the parade goes away we will lose such a cultural icon for our area. It really makes our community stand out from other completely pedestrian areas of Brooklyn. However these rumours seem a lot like the trader joes rumors. We should be careful that the Brooklynian doesn't become flooded with false rumours. 

mugofmead111

Honestly, I'd be heartbroken if the parade got canceled. I understand it's a little noisy and can make our neighborhood tougher to get around but it's navigable. As for the "I can't drive anywhere!" crowd. You're in a city with great mass transit and it's only one (1) day a year can't you just deal with it? I know I can.

THIS. You may have to walk a little further to get to a subway station or a bus stop to get you out of the neighborhood, but it's possible.

Years ago I remember going to a barbecue at a house of a family friend who lived in northern Crown Heights. I walked up the hill with my parents (I live in SW Crown Heights), and we walked through the Eastern Parkway train station to cross (under) the parade route. Taking the B48 obviously was not an option. LOL Yet, it wasn't terrible, and by the time we reached our destination, we were removed from much of the hubbub.

The parade has been a staple of the neighborhood; why not adapt to it?

whynot_31

We should be careful that the Brooklynian doesn't become flooded with false rumours. 

The online world is very similar to the real world in that it is largely up to the reader/listener, to determine for themselves what is credible and what isn't.

Not everyone is going to be listened to or believed. Not everyone is going to like carnival weekend. Some people will be unhappy.