Hit Parade
For more than 150 years, Northside has held a parade on Independence Day. What began as a march of Turners, Oddfellows, butchers, and bricklayers in 1854, gave way to drag queens, Men’s Drill Team, Lawn Chair Ladies, and Dancefix.
Neil Spataro, Chair,
Northside 4th of July Committee
It is the stuff of legend.
But last year’s annual parade, and its accompanying Rock ‘n’ Roll Carnival were cancelled due to the pandemic.
“The parade has such a long history, we couldn’t imagine missing two years in a row,” says Neil Spataro, Northside 4th of July committee chair. “I didn’t want it to happen on my watch.”
Though restrictions on gatherings began to ease in the Spring, it still wasn’t enough lead time to plan a mile-long parade on Hamilton Avenue and a carnival in the park. The Parade Committee needed an alternate plan for this year, too.
“We looked at what other cities had done,” says Spataro. “And we asked ourselves what is Northside good at.”
“We wanted to try to capture that energy,” says Spataro.
The idea for this year’s block parties and “house floats” in Northside was inspired by Mardi Gras, which had krewes decorating houses around New Orleans.
“The house floats came out of necessity. We were trying to make (a celebration) that would be compatible with whatever situation we would be in at the time,” says Spataro.
Another big influence? Northside’s own “scare coronas.”
Let Freedom Ring
Taking in the sights and sounds of the Northside 4th of July festivities? Neighborhood businesses will be open!
Bars
C & D Northside, open 4 p.m.–12 a.m.
Chameleon, open 4 p.m.–12 a.m. (kitchen closed)
Higher Gravity, open 1–9 p.m.
Humble Monk Brewing Co., open 1–7 p.m., with Kealoha’s Kitchen offering Hawaiian fusion BBQ
Northside Tavern, open 3 p.m.–2:30 a.m.
Second Place, open 11 a.m.–12am,, with a grill out w/special menu
Tillie’s Lounge presents NEDS (Never Ending Drag Show) in the rear parking lot. Three FREE sets on the hours at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. All ages are welcome.
Urban Artifact. open 12–6pm
Restaurants
Bridges Nepali Cuisine. open 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
The Littlefield. open 11 a.m.–9 p.m., with a grill out special menu all day
Melt Revival, open 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Northside Yacht Club, open 11 a.m.–2 a.m., with a grill out and karaoke party
N.Y.P.D. Pizza Inc., open 12 –10 p.m.
Tickle Pickle Northside, open 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Find more info at welcometonorthside.com/your-guide-to-4th-of-july.
Last spring, spurred on by photographer Tina Gutierrez, houses throughout the neighborhood installed “scare coronas” –humanoid figures made of art supplies, household items, lights, and any number of weird things residents had on hand – to ward off the coronavirus and bring a bit of joy to a very dark time.
“We saw the enthusiasm people had for the Scare Coronas. Plus this neighborhood goes hard for Halloween,” says Spataro. “We felt strongly that people would go for decorating. It was a matter of encouraging them.”
Over the past few weeks, the parade committee distributed a couple of dozen decorating kits. But in the last couple of days the map has filled in with parties and DIY celebrations.
Block parties are set for Brookside Avenue (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.), Cherry Street (3 to 7 p.m.), Haight Avenue (12 to 4 p.m.), and Ludlow Place (12 to 5 p.m.).
“We had the idea, but weren’t sure if people would be into it,” says Spataro. “The enthusiasm has been growing – It’s really living up to want we want it to be.”
““In my head, I knew they would. We put in the work, we just had to give people time to get into it, says Spataro. “People will surprise you in all kinds of ways.”
–Tricia Suit