This year's Fourth of July holiday weekend is a three-dayer, just as Memorial Day
was (for those of you who need to get a jump on it, July 1 is a Friday). The Fourth
falls on the Monday, so the Federal Holiday and the actual date match up this year.
Among other notable anniversaries, this year also marks the 125th anniversary of
the Statue of Liberty — okay...it was dedicated on October 28, 1886, but it was
restored for her centennial, which was celebrated on July 4, 1986; ergo, 125th.
If you haven't been, go. Check www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit and throw in a visit
to Ellis Island as well. It's also the 235th birthday of the good ol' US of A, which
is — ostensibly — what all the Fourth of July hoopla is to be about.
That said, here's a look at what's happening "explosion-wise" on and around the
Fourth this year. If you won't be in this area during the Fourth, go to www.fireworksguide.com
for a world-wide listing of firework shows.
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Display, NYC
This is the granddaddy of them all and is the one to see. It's scheduled to kick
off at 9 p.m. on July 4.
As of this writing the 35th Macy's Fireworks Hotline was operational. The number
is 212-494-4495 (www.macys.com/fireworks), but here's what we have so far.
Six barges will be set up over two miles of Hudson River from 20th Street to 56th
Street. The show will be simulcast on NBC (and I'm sure on their radio affiliates).
If you haven't been yet (and it draws some three milion people) this extravaganza
should be on your list.
Sag Harbor
Sag Harbor YC's annual shoot will be held July 2. The show, which starts approximately
2130 (or 9:30 PM), is shot from a barge outside the breakwater. The best viewing
spots are along the waterfront and docks (naturally), but anywhere between the southern
end of North Haven peninsula and off Mashomack Point on Shelter Island should work.
Riverhead
Festivities on the Peconic River Waterfront in Riverhead start on July 3 with a
great family concert by Brady Rymer and a Rock & Roll Review. This will be followed
by the fireworks show at dark. This is a fun family-oriented event. The entire parking
lot behind East Main Street is the perfect viewing area. Bring your own chairs and
snacks.
For more info check the Riverhead Business Improvement District's Website at riverheadbid.com/events
or call 631-727-0048.
Shelter Island
After some back-and-forth regarding the economics of staging the yearly fireworks
show off Crescent Beach on Shelter Island, a private donor pledged to raise funds
to cover the shortfall from 2009, so the show went on in 2010. For 2011 it's scheduled
for July 9 (those good ol' piping plovers should be off the beach by then), around
9 PM.
Crescent Beach is on the northwest side of the island and is the long arcing stretch
between the North Ferry (opposite Greenport) and Jennings Point. Good viewing can
be along the waterfront of Greenport, as well as along the Crescent Beach strip.
If you enjoy this show — and everyone who goes does — please help keep it going
and make a donation to Shelter Island Chamber of Commerce, P O Box 598, Shelter
Island, NY 11964, or donate online at www.shelterislandchamber.org/fireworks.html.
Point O'Woods
The Point O' Woods Fire Department's celebration — a Grucci show (there entire Long
Island schedule can be found at www.grucci.com/indexbravo.html?page=52) — is scheduled
for July 3. The Point O' Woods ferry leaves from Bay Shore. The 110-year old town
that even Fire Island time has passed by is located between Ocean Bay Park (ferry
leaves from Bay Shore) on the west and Sailor's Haven (ferry leaves from Sayville)
on the east.
Southampton
This private fundraiser for the Southampton Fresh Air Home is in its 24th year and
will be held July 1 (raindate, July 3). This event draws five digit donations and
tickets are $500, but anything is accepted, so assuage your guilt and send them
some money. The organization provides camp facilities for handicapped children.
Call 631-283-5847 for tickets and/or info.
Great South Bay
The second "Go 4th on the Bay" features a Grucci's fireworks display in four distinct
"theaters" off the coasts of Bay Shore, Davis Park, Ocean Bay Park, and Patchogue.
The best and most spectacular viewing of the 4th of July shows (there are two) would
be from the Captree Boat Fleet (www. captreefleet.com); your own boat; or from most
of the Fire Island bay fronts and shorelines of the bay from Smith Point to Bay
Shore. There are also shows on July 3 and 9, as well.
East Hampton
The Devon Yacht Club in East Hampton has a private fireworks display on July 2,
2011. The club will extend docking courtesy to reciprocal club members, but for
others head up to Three Mile Harbor and Sammy's Beach. Time for the show is 9:30
PM.
Montauk
Stars Over Montauk, the Montauk Chamber of Commerce's (www.montaukchamber.com) paean
to the Fourth goes off after dusk on July 4 off Umbrella Beach from 9 to 10:30 PM;
it's a Grucci show. For more info contact the Montauk Chamber of Commerce at 631-668-2428.
Farmingville
This July 4 spectacular is another Long Island mainstay and — if it's clear weather
— can be seen from as far as way as the Sound and the Bay because it's shot from
the third highest point (at 331 feet) on Long Island. Called the "Star Spangled
Blast" this Grucci show is best viewed from the source regardless of weather: the
Bald Hill Amphitheater off Route 83 in Farmingville.
Jones Beach
This show, which was a mainstay for Long Islanders was cancelled due to manpower
and public safety issues (read: budget restraints) in 2010, and, according to Dan
Keefe, Deputy Public Information Officer for New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation, the same situation exists this year so there won't be
a Jones Beach show in 2011 either. Sorry, folks!
Combining American Pastimes
If you want to catch some quality minor league baseball, have a good time at a very
nice ball park, and not pay a fortune for the experience (and want to see fireworks
as well), check out the Long Island Duck's schedule at Citibank Park (www.liducks.com)
in Central Islip (right off the Southern State Parkway). There are Grucci fireworks
shows held in conjunction with the games on June 18 and 30; July 3, 9 and 23; August
6 and 29; and September 10 and 17.
Shooting the Fourth
For those of you still shooting film, an SLR (single lens reflex) is the way to
go. For others — and this means most everyone these days — a DSLR (digital single
lens reflex) beats a DPOS (digital point and shoot) hands down, and in capable mitts
will produce as good a shot as an SLR.
Regardless, you'll want a tripod for the best results. If you can find a shutter
release for your camera — no matter what kind of camera you use — that's a plus,
since it takes away any shake pushing the release button will cause.
Technique? Well, once you get the shot composed— the area where the fireworks are
supposed to be — pull the trigger (so to speak) and keep pulling it as the fireworks
explode. You might want to bring some extra memory as well; all things being equal
you'll get something out of the sequence that is worth framing. Remember that composition
will make or break a photo — film or digital. Try to include some kind of identifiable
object in the lower foreground. Your kids' faces, a crowd...anything.
