[mousepod]

Growing up, the only parade that we attended with any regularity was the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. We still have 35-year-old home movies that feature such highlights as the the conductor of the McDonald's marching band getting stuck on the straps on the giant drum float.... ah memories.

Once I got older (and moved to Manhattan from NJ), I realized that the parade looked just fine on television, and the truly fun "New Yawker" thing to do was to go up to the area around the Museum of Natural History, grab a cup of hot cocoa from a local deli, and stroll among the crowds while they blow up the giant balloons.

So far, I've only seen the Rose Parade on TV, and unless someone has a darn good reason to get me out to the parade route, that's how it'll probably stay.