City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon and continued Happy Easter wishes to you all.

It's a bit grey and chilly, but that did not prevented me from attending the annual Fifth Avenue Easter Parade.  I found lots of creative folks wearing lots of colorful outfits and ... Hats!

I saw many hats that had been made from recycled materials.  The next photo shows an architecturally inspired hat mostly constructed from old MetroCards, the laminated paper cards we use to ride public transportation.

There were very large hats and also very small hats.

As I made my way down Fifth Avenue, actually walking on The Avenue, which had been closed to vehicular traffic, I came upon a block that was truly blocked off.  Pedestrians were required to retreat to the sidewalks.

I do not recall this having been done in past years, but my memory might be faulty.  Perhaps it was done to aid the Police Department in being able to have the cross town (east west) streets at end of this Fifth Avenue block available to car traffic when directed by on duty Police Officers.  I did not ask.  I kept walking.  I had more hats to see.

Some hats were pretty yet also dignified.

Some hats were exuberant in their festive mode.

I do not know how this gentleman attached his tiny hat to his head.  It was truly a fascinator.

Isn't she lovely?

This group of Japanese ladies had differing approaches to Easter dressing.

From this particular angle this lady's hat reminds me of the Concorde planes of yesteryear.

Note that there are four visible ears and two undercover ears.

Anyone feeling the need for additional ears had available options.

I wonder how much this chapeau weighed?

This parade goer was attracting lots of attention.  I settled for a profile view.

Sometimes it seemed as if there were more folks with cameras than there were folks with hats.

This gentleman's tiny dogs seemed remarkably calm; however, we were warned not to pet the dogs.

These two hats were on the traditional side.

Who could resist taking a photograph of this little cutie?

This senorita knew how to stroll up the Avenue.

This couple made a charming, vintage pair.

I could not get any closer to the three or perhaps four ladies who were wearing these enormous Easter baskets on their heads.

I do not know the reason for the snakes and flowers on this hat.

Check out the blue hare on the lady with the blue hair.  And don't miss the duck on the hat in the background.

The young lady who had made this hat had a delicate garden sensibility to her design.

Their are always some true fashionistas in the crowd.

They are so elegant.

More fine dressing, somewhat inspired by the 1920's.  I love her stockings and shoes and his blue suit.

More recycling.  This frock is intriguing even if not really pretty.

This couple, in front of Saks Fifth Avenue are somewhat traditional, but with a certain flair.

I took a detour over to the Promenade area of Rockefeller Center to see the flower displays.  I also found a few cast off recycled material hats and some very large eggs.

There were hundreds of Easter lilies.

This extended family group was resting.  The littlest girl in blue was tired and crying, and being comforted.

The following photo shows some ladies with recycled paper hats playing with their tablet.

Sometimes a simple idea can have a large impact if done on a large scale.

Aren't these gentlemen dashing?

Of course, chocolate plays a large part in Easter celebrations, but I was glad to see that the way the light hit the sign on this shop reminded us all a bit about the spiritual side of this day.

I thought that these two little girls were absolutely adorable, and it was fun to wish each other Happy Easter.

Here is an irresistible little bunny. 

Argghh!  Here's a lady pirate wearing her ship on her head.

I hope that you all are not tiring of parade watching.

If you need a snack, have an Easter hot dog.

Two ladies who would not consider wearing bunny ears.

The trio in the white shirts wanted to have their pictures taken with the cute little folks.

Royalty posing with a subject in front of a floral covered shop front.  What more could one ask for?

Here's your answer.  A grand display of chocolate bunnies.

Here are three home made hats that are whimsical and lovely, too.

And here's the back view of those hats.

This flower bedecked cross was on the steps to one of the Fifth Avenue churches.

Here's one final view of a lovely little girl in a pretty Easter bonnet.

And here are some lemon yellow tulips in a very large planter.

And...here's the dark chocolate bunny that I brought home with me.

I hope that you all have enjoyed coming along with me to this year's Easter Parade.