breath palette toothpaste
$6
panda bear skillet
$75
tweet dinner plate set
$36
speed racer sunglasses
$10
   
 

There were several things I had planned to do my first summer in New York.
Actually, I had a list: PS1, July 4th on a rooftop, Summerstage in Central Park, lots
of outdoor dining at Yabby’s and so on. At the top of that list was the Mermaid Day
Parade at Coney Island.

I had been planning it for weeks as it would herald my new, carefree lifestyle and
look. Some people dress up like mermaids or lobsters for this parade; I decided I
would wear pink. Pink is very important to me. But I’ll save that for another column
since it’s a very, very long story.

We – Chris from fred flare, my roommate Anne, Jim from Delia’s and yours truly –
started early that day so we wouldn’t miss any activities. The subway ride was an
adventure in itself. Everyone was high energy on this party train to Coney! There
was loud music, running, screaming and much more to go around once we arrived
at the end of the F line, among parade goers and participants.

It was kind of hard to tell the difference, actually. There were lots of mermaid
beauty queens, colorful schools of fish and sailors from outer space. Some
costumes were elaborate and some were scary. Several homemade floats began
to line up for the parade as well as lots of antique cars. People practiced their
baton routines.

It was hot and we had no intention of just standing around for hours waiting for the
parade to begin so we made another list – this one of desired food and drink for
the day – and started checking it off. Immediately we headed for the boardwalk in
search of candied apples with sprinkles, ice cream, corn on the cob, mango on a
stick, curly fries, cotton candy, pina coladas, hot dogs and beer as big as your
head. Along the boardwalk there were other parade participants practicing their
acts and getting ready for the show.

We decided that since we weren’t really in the parade we would head down to the
beach to meet some other friends, fred flare supermodels Christine and Lora. The
beach was not very crowded yet and it was much cooler being by the water. I was
so excited about the palm tree showers that were planted on the waterfront every
so often it seemed crazy to hurry back on the boardwalk and ruin this tropical
moment. Besides, several in our group had been to the parade before and said that
it lasted for hours. We would have plenty of time to do everything we wanted to do
and still see the parade.

When the time came to head back to the festivities we still found ourselves enticed
by the boardwalk delights. The only problem was now our list and the lines had
grown very long. Chris and Anne waited for about an hour in the Nathan’s line for
their giant beers. And, to make matters worse, I kept adding to my list. Lora and I
got these cute drinks in giant pink glasses with giant pink straws. We had to – they
matched our outfits!

By the time we made it down to the street the parade was wrapping up. It was
official. We had missed the 20th annual Mermaid Day Parade at Coney Island. But
I didn’t stress – that’s just not good for my new image. Instead, we headed back to
the beach and jumped in the ocean. Silly rabbit, lists are for kids.

07/2002



DIARY ARCHIVES: fred friends next BIG thing! 2008, Jesse McCartney, Jonas Brothers, Top Model's Sarah Vonderhaar, Jack Mackenroth, Think Pink writer Lisa Clark, Kit Pistol, Au Revoir Simone, Supayana, What the Buck, Peter Bjorn and John, Ratatat, next BIG thing! 2007, shoe designer Jeffrey Campbell, Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone, heartist Chris Uphues, Alison Kelly of Dahl, Stephanie Deleau of Noisette, Marilyn Patrizio of M.Partizio, Liam Sullivan of Kelly "Shoes", Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, next BIG thing! 2006, Jill Bliss, next BIG thing! 2005, Loop NYC's China Young, Sukie, The Donnas, Vinnie's Tampon Case, Leah Tinari, Peach Berzerk, The Sperber twins, Jennifer Worick, Cody, Patch NYC 2, Chip Wass, Angela Adams, Venue, Jack and Lulu 2, All Girl Summer Fun Band, 31 Corn Lane, Charlotte Ronson, Three by Three Seattle, Princess Tina, Imperial Teen, Built by Wendy 2, Dana Carlson, Sweden, Jack and Lulu 1, Bob's Your Uncle, Mary Ping & Jonathan Adler, E-Z Living, Built by Wendy 1, Endicott Five, Patch NYC 1, media blitz Mod*Mom, Aya Kanai from Nylon, Grace Bonney of Design Sponge, Samantha Moeller of Missbehave, Marie Kare of The Sampler, Pink Is The New Blog's Trent Vanegas, Martha Stewart Kids' Jodi Levine, BUST's Debbie Stoller, YM's Elizabeth Kiester, Cargo's Ariel Foxman, teeter on tour back to brooklyn, she's so rad, double handsome, wild pony, enchanted treehouse, beanz-n- rice, wide open road, crush Teeter Sperber, Kelis, Jennifer Garner, Kylie Minogue, Charlie Brown, Scarlett Johansson, employee of the month Julie, Jen, Sammy Joe & Joe Sammy, Amy, Vanessa, Tim, Anne, Chanel, Josh, Lauren, Diane, Charles, Lillian, nancy drew review the haunted bridge, the whispering statue, the mystery of the ivory charm, the message in the hollow oak, the clue of the broken locket, password to larkspur lane, the sign of the twisted candles, nancy's mysterious letter, the clue in the diary, the secret of red gate farm, the secret of shadow ranch, the mystery at lilac inn, the bungalow mystery, the hidden staircase, the secret of the old clock, lulu in the city lulu luvs, extra! extra! read all about it!, pink Christmas, thanks, new york!, single in the city, spooky lulu, roller girl, jersey girl, no lights, big city, it was a "red hot" summer!, miss independence, billyburg shopping guide, lulu and the kitty, in like a lion, out like a lamb, my best friend joe, hotpants!, the queen of brooklyn, summer in the city, the anniversary party, garbage & neighbors & mice...oh my!, lulu in the city, cheap & cheerful give thanks, hula hoops, a piece of pi, cupcakes, fred fleur, tommy: mini mode happy summer days, it's a mod, mod world, good night, sweet dreams, my girl, keep on marching, one fine day, supermodels Dana's Lucky magazine shoot, hi-fi holiday honeys, supermodel Hillary's Warhol, fallfabulous, supermodel challenge, covergirls, fred on tour Paris Dispatch: Eiffel Awesomeness, Paris Dispatch: Just Strollin', Paris Dispatch: From Colette w/ Love, Paris Dispatch: Marie & The Moulin, Paris Dispatch: Bonjour, Peeps!, behind the music, San Fredcisco, LA Flare, chartoppers: the 80's 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, chartoppers: madonna Hard Candy, Confessions on a Dance Floor, reinvention tour recap, reinvention contest winners, Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, I'm Breathless, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, Music, American Life, top 50 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, window shopping 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, sales and events Carnival of Cute: Holiday 2006, Fall Sample Sale 2006, Pool Party 2006, Holiday Sale 2003, let's skate, Holiday Sale 2002, Holiday Sale 2001, Holiday Sale 2000, Spring Sale 2000