A Historic Event That Continues to Bring us all Together, but with a VIP Twist!
Contributed By: Beyond Times Square Travel
Once upon a time, there was a little girl whose favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Not for the usual reasons people often give – like the turkey and stuffing, the football, the pumpkin pie or the gathering of family – although those were definitely a plus.
Nope – this little girl loved settling down in front of the television for three hours to watch in amazement as totally in-sync marching bands played upbeat tunes, colorful floats glided along the streets, popular singers serenaded the crowd and balloons that were larger than any she had ever seen before floated as high as the buildings themselves. And every fourth Thursday in November she promised herself that one day she would see them all in person.
By now you probably realized that little girl is yours truly. The parade? The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade of course. Flash forward to say forty years later (give or take – wink, wink) and this Thanksgiving-Day-Parade-loving-girl made good on that promise she had made to herself year after year – but in a more spectacular way than she could have ever imagined back then.
Read on for the story of that Thanksgiving Day when I checked another experience off my bucket list thanks to Beyond Times Square’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Viewing Party At Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.
How Am I Going To View The Thanksgiving Day Parade?
So, when I made up my mind that it was time to make that little girl’s dream a reality, I also decided that I did not want to just go and stand in the crowd – but rather to experience it in a more intimate way – like a Thanksgiving Day Parade VIP Party. Not knowing if there even was such a thing, I started my investigation – and what I found was even better than I had imagined!
I discovered the Exclusive Thanksgiving Day Parade Viewing Party at the stunning Del Frisco’s, which Beyond Times Square, a New York City-based destination management company, was hosting.
Now, I chose to go with Beyond Times Square for a few reasons – the top one being that they offered an indoor parade viewing experience which was appealing to me because one – you never know what the weather is going to be like at the end of November in the Big Apple and having a climate-controlled environment in which to take in the parade sounded like a very good idea, and two – the convenience of having indoor restrooms readily available during the lengthy parade.
Among the other deciding factors? My Travel Advisor highly recommended the company, BTSQ gave me the option to add a hotel stay to my package and of course the details of the event itself. To say that this way of taking it all in was a marvelous decision on my part would be an understatement.
The Thanksgiving Day I’d Been Dreaming About For Decades
The atmosphere on parade day in New York City is nothing short of electric. I could feel the excitement in the air as I left my hotel room at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square on Thanksgiving morning to trek over to Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse on Sixth Avenue – which is where the event was taking place.
On a side note, while guests can choose to attend the Thanksgiving Day Parade Viewing Brunch with no accommodations, this year they are offering not one, but two hotel choices. In addition to the Marriott Marquis, you’ll also have the option of adding a four-night stay at Lotte New York Palace which is also within minutes of Del Frisco’s.
As I embarked on the quick ten-minute walk, I strolled past people arriving to claim their spot on the sidewalks and I realized that they would be standing there for the next four hours – or longer – all bundled up in heavy coats, hats, scarves and gloves. I had zero doubt that I had chosen wisely that brisk November morning. When I arrived at the venue – which opened at 8:00am – one hour before the official start of the parade, I was greeted by colorful decorations, a welcoming staff and an absolutely beautiful three-story restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Now – keep in mind the main draw of this event for me was the amazing parade views from INSIDE. However, there was also a fairly large private enclosed viewing area outside of the restaurant reserved exclusively for guests of this event.
I also have to mention that we still had amazing views of the balloons inside Del Frisco’s from either floor, as well as of the floats and marching bands from the second-story balcony. In addition, there were also big screen TVs available should you want to see the parade from another point of view.
The entertainment wasn’t just outside on the streets! Beyond Times Square also has a DJ on hand as well as Broadway performers to entertain guests throughout the morning.
One other really nice touch – even though I personally did not have any children with me – was that they provided special things just for the kiddos – such as an artist drawing caricatures of them, a face painter creating festive scenes on their little cheeks and a balloon artist twisting balloons into all kinds of fun creations.
To Sum It All Up
Between the atmosphere inside the restaurant that morning (and of course outdoors as well), the incredible parade views it offered, the scrumptious food options available, the entertainment throughout the morning and of course – the very convenient bathroom facilities – this is one way to view the iconic Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City that you will never forget and certainly won’t regret.
In my humble opinion this is THE way to go. From the booking process – the customer service at Beyond Times Square was top notch, to the hotel accommodations, to the main event at Del Frisco’s – which sits right smack dab in the middle of the parade route on Sixth Avenue near Radio City Music Hall – it was perfection from start to finish.