Hello,

I am visiting NY for 5 days, arriving on the 24th November from the UK. We are due to land at 14.40, will we have missed the Thanksgiving parade by this time? If not, where would be the best place to catch it? Does anything else go on that's associated with Thanksgiving that we could attend?

One member of our party is 18, is this old enough to go into bars?

As i'm sure you can tell, this is our first visit to the US and we are all really looking forward to it. Does anyone have any suggestions of things we could/should do, that we may not find in the travel guides?

Thank you for your help.

Jo.

Hello jo, welcome to the US!

May I make a suggestion. Normally if one titles their thread with the actual question one normally receives better answers from those that are familar with the area.

If you don't get the proper amount of answers here do repost and entitle your thread something along the lines of "Questions regarding NYC at Thanksgiving".

I am almost certain the Macy's parade will be over by the time you arrive.
And am almost certain that one has to be 21 to legally drink or to go into bars. If the establishment is a restaurant and also serves liquor that should be no problem. At least that is the law in California and I think all our states have the same minimum age requirement which is age 21. At least I recently read that. NY use to have the minimum age as 18 years old but evidently the Federal Government made NY up the minimum age limit or they said they would not send them Federal roadway funds.

Hopefully those in NY can better answer your questions. Best wishes and have fun plannning your first trip across the pond!

The parade will be over by then (2:40, if I am correct if figuring out the time) and the legal drinking age in NY is 21.

But I suggest you follow LoveItaly's sound advice and repost with "New York" in your title.

The parade will definitely be over by then--too bad! It starts around 9am.

As for bars, I wish I knew for sure, but it seems to me that in some states in the US, 18 year olds can enter bars, just not drink in them. Restaurants will seat anyone of any age, of course. I hope someone who knows the law will post here; you could also call your hotel and ask about the bar thing.

Good luck!

thank you all for your advice. I will repost with a better title!

Hi Jo, welcome to the USA.

The Thanksgiving Parade runs from about 0900 to 1230, you will definitely miss it.

You MUST be 21 to enter a bar (an establishment serving only beer, wine, or liquor). 18+ should have no problem with a Restaurant that is licenced. However, you MUST be 21 to be served anything with even the smallest bit of alcohol in it, even with parental permission. This law is very strongly enforced as the penalties for Bars and Restaurants are severe, including losing the right to operate. 18 is also the minimum age to purchase tobacco products. You will need to show ID to do so. No, I'm not kidding.

Be aware that Thanksgiving is a TWO DAY holiday- almost every business is closed Thursday and Friday. Whatever is open on Friday will operate with minimal staff.

However, Restaurants are commonly open during this time in NYC. The most "thanksgiving" thing you can do is eat a traditional meal, which usually consists of:

- Turkey
- Mashed potatoes
- Maize
- Cranberry sauce, a kind of sweet jelly.
- Green beans almondine
- Copious amounts of afters, usually spiced Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream or some kind of Fruit Pie, usually Apple

All in enormous American-style portions. Attend to this and you get 100% of the Thanksgiving experience.

In California the Friday after Thanksgiving is considered one of the biggest shopping days of the year! Some stores even open real early in the morning. People get a start on their Christmas shopping. Isn't that true also in NYC?

Also, the 18 year old can be prosecuted for underage drinking.

QC wasn't exagerating when he/she said the drinking age laws are strictly enforced.

Yes, it's a gross exaggeration to say most businesses will be closed on Friday after T'giving--quite the opposite is true. Small mom-and-pops may be closed, some restaurants may be closed, but everyone else will be busy catering to the overfed masses. Even in NYC.

I'm sorry what are "small mom and pops"?
I take it you don't mean vertically challenged parents!

I think what the poster meant by 'most' businesses are the 9-5 type and not those that cater to tourists.

The banks may be closed but Duane Reade nor Macy's will be.

"I'm sorry what are "small mom and pops"?
I take it you don't mean vertically challenged parents!"

Thanks for bringing a smile to my face with a great image!

What "E" was referring to are small family-owned and operated shops, which are often called "mom and pop" stores in the U.S., as opposed to the big chain stores.

Loveitaly-

Yes, I should clarify. Sorry.

Large stores like Macy's will be open and very crowded. Government offices and most workplaces will be closed on Thursday, with most doing the same on Friday. Everyone who can get Friday off will do so.

Many tourist attractions may have altered schedules, call ahead. Transit will be on an altered schedule.

Restaurants may or may not be open, but in NYC they usually are, except for small family-run ones. Chinese Restaurants are almost always open on Thanksgiving.

Jo-

A "mom and pop" is a small shop that is privately owned by a family or is not a chain store or franchise.

So, a corner newsagent, kebab shop, bakery, or chemist would be a "mom and pop"*, but a large store like Barney's or Century 21 that is not part of a larger chain or only has a few branch stores, is not.

* Named like this, of course, since it's run by the nice middle-aged or older couple that lives upstairs. Mom and Pop (Dad/Father). For some reason trendy small stores like Magnolia Bakery are never referred to in this way, they are just "stores".

Another important part of the Thanksgiving ritual is American Football. The idea is to eat until senseless (my family starts at 14.00 or so), then doze off in front of the game on TV. I prefer to sleep during the Detroit Lions game, myself. Then you wake up again around 19.00 and make yourself a sandwich from the leftovers. Heaven.

Really, this is the best American holiday and you picked a good time to visit. Tell your hotel this is your first US visit and you really want to experience Thanksgiving.

Be aware that the Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day in the US - it's considered the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The stores will all be open and many will be having huge sales. New York is great this time of year!

zootsi, that is how SF is, the busiest shopping day. Even in the suburbs the chain stores open really early in the morning (like 6:00am) and have big markdowns. People start lining up at 4:00am. Not me, I have Thanksgiving and then my daughters birthday around the same day. If Friday is inbetween I take advantage of a quiet day..can't stand the crowds. But if one is in a big city it can be a lot of fun.

josumner, do we have you totaly confused by now, LOL? You will have a wonderful time, just don't let your son drink alcohol (know the age limit is lower in the UK and Europe) unless it is in your private lodgings. Have fun!