Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Herald Square's Best View in Town

We took a tour of the Courtyard Marriott Herald Square a few weeks ago, and checked out the incredible views some of their rooms have for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Sick, I'm telling you.

Let's review: above is a shot from one of Courtyard Herald Square's amazing, premium parade-view rooms. This view is from the room's window looking up Sixth Avenue. THE PARADE GOES DOWN SIXTH AVENUE. It then turns right onto 34th Street, and you'll have that view, too. Essentially, you will see the parade coming and going. This will be as close as you can get to having the parade march right through your hotel room.

Courtyard Herald Square has select rooms with full and partial views of the parade. I think it's worth every penny for this once-in-a-lifetime experience (click to see room options and pricing, left). Couples, families, romance, or pure fun, this is an opportunity to make some seriously special memories.

Also, available to rent is the hotel's lovely lobby deck, which is cleverly designed as an outdoor space overlooking Herald Square, great for bigger parties. If it's a chilly day, there are tables just inside next to the deck.

The rooms? A photo is below; as you can see they are pretty, modern, and quite spacious. The bathrooms, too, are generous in size. There are also closets where you can stash all your Black Friday loot. Clearly, you can't come for the parade without staying to shop Black Friday on 34th Street. You'll be steps away from all the major stores! Then, at the end of the day, you can kick back with a drink at the Monarch Rooftop Lounge on the hotel's 18th floor. If you're a guest of the hotel you won't have to wait in line to hang out at this very trendy spot.

I totally just sold myself. I'm starting to save up for next year right now, no joke.

Photos below are courtesy of Courtyard Herald Square.

I believe this is a partial-view room. You'll be able to see the parade at Sixth and 34th Street.

The very lovely lobby deck, available for rent. Again, great parade views.

Courtyard Marriott Herald Square
71 West 35th Street at Sixth Avenue
To reserve Thanksgiving Day rooms click on the above flier for more information

Where Not to See Fireworks on the 4th of July in NYC

This is probably my number one favorite annual post.

Macy's sponsors a lot of things, but to New Yorkers, Macy's is synonymous with Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. Where should you go tomorrow to see the Macy's fireworks? NOT Herald Square! Yes, rumor has it that often people stop by the store to see the fireworks. As much as we would all love to see major pyrotechnics coming off the roof of Macy's Herald Square, something tells me it would not be very safe.

So instead, download the Macy's Fireworks app and proceed with fun from there. Enjoy! It's always a great show.

And, before I forget, here's the winner of the Raika Studio free cut and treatment: Nichol Perez! Congrats, Nichol, I'll be contacting you via email!

Happy Fourth of July to all!

Kids Foot Locker for the Fourth

Leave it to Foot Locker to satisfy my need for the red, white, and blue this week.

Polos on sale, 4 for $20, through the weekend.

See those croc styles, which I have vowed would never been seen on Fashion Herald, ever? Well, this is what happens when you have a kid. Crocs are great for kids, mainly, I think, because they are indestructible and easy to slip on and off. Still, I couldn't bring myself to buy Baby Herald crocs even though she was obsessed with her cousins'. Grandma remedied this by mailing us a pair of hot pink ones, seen below. The first night as a croc owner, she refused to take them off at bedtime so she wore them to sleep. Maybe if I'm lucky, her only act of rebellion in life will be to wear ugly shoes that offend her mom.

Also, I would have her in a cute little ruffled bathing suit if she wasn't so terribly lily white. Practical fashions, *sigh*.

Kids Foot Locker 120 West 34th Street between Broadway & Seventh Avenue