Part 2: Inside the Madness-Parade Day

Lessons from the Chaos- What We Learned: Cold, Wet, and Worth It

By Thursday morning, the dream turned into reality—the cold, wet, and slightly miserable reality.

Our press station at 77th and Central Park West was the perfect location—right at the starting line. The only problem? It was dark, it was freezing, and it was raining. And in my excitement, I forgot the two most important things: an umbrella and hand warmers.

Despite the brutal conditions, the energy was electric. Towering balloons swayed in the wind, marching bands powered through the downpour, and the cheerleading spirit shone through it all. We captured the magic, even while questioning our life choices in the process.

Lessons Learned: A Parade Survival Guide

If Anthony Bourdain had covered this, he’d probably sum it up like this: “It was cold. It was wet. And we were wildly unprepared. But damn, was it an experience.”

• Lesson one: Bring hand warmers. If your fingers freeze at 5 AM, it’s too late.

• Lesson two: The weather is not your friend. Wear waterproof everything. You will look like a damp raccoon in someone’s livestream.

• Lesson three: The real magic happens in the chaos. Whether it’s a balloon handler wrestling an inflatable mouse or the press corps collectively regretting their choices, those are the moments that matter.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Next year, we’re coming back smarter. Warmer. More caffeinated. Better prepared. 2024 was our initiation—2025 is where we prove we really belong.

And who knows? Maybe next time, we’ll even remember an umbrella.