I have heard there are going to be fireworks on May 24th to celebrate the 150th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge. My husband and I will be visiting and I wanted to know where a good spot would be to watch them. Any advice?

It's the 120th Birthday. Right now there's not much info on it. I've been checking the newspapers and internet weekly to see what the plan is, because we invited a whole slew of friends over to see it from my apartment (and cancelled a vacation to Peru b/c I don't want to miss it!).

I would suspect that the fireworks would be right on the water next to the Bridge, making South Street Seaport, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Fulton Ferry Landing (right next to River Cafe and Grimaldi's), and Brooklyn Bridge Park ideal locations. Since it's Marty Markowitz (Brooklyn Borough Prez) that's throwing the party, I would expect that any events going on other than the fireworks will take place on the Brooklyn side of the bridge.

I read that they cancelled the fireworks last year, hopefully they won't cancel again this year.

Suzanne or anyone else ... what are the best locations to see them from Manhattan, as we won't have time after dinner to get to Brooklyn, and approximately what time will they start?

Must get a reservation at the River Cafe restaurant in Brooklyn. CALL NOW!!It is without a doubt the most beautiful view of the bridge & seaport. Be prepared, quite expensive but sure to be memorable. Guaranteed!

Nina: In Manhattan, I think that South Street Seaport would have the best views. Especially on the top floor, outside the food court, where there are lounge chairs overlooking the water (get there early).

There is no word on when they will start. I'm guessing around 9PM, when it's completely dark out. I know it was cancelled before...hopefully not this time!

Kzahn is right - the River Cafe (in Brooklyn) would have a fantastic view!

I'll try and keep you all updated on the status of this celebration.

Thanks Suzanne. We will be at the 5PM performance of Salome that day and then an early dinner, 7:30PM, at the Blue Water Grill. I wish I had known about the fireworks before we purchased the theater tickets last week. I am an absolutely fireworks freak ... love um.

Absolute freak .. not absolutely

Suzanne - do you need reservations for the place you mentioned???? Where is it located exactly?

Bad news ... It's official, the powers that be won't allow Brooklyn to have fireworks this year. The event schedule will be posted on their web site shortly -
http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/index.htm

Kathryn:
Which place?
The River Cafe-definitely need reservations, as it's one of the best and most expensive restaurants in NYC. It's just south of the Brooklyn Bridge (practically under it) on the Brooklyn Side, at the end of Old Fulton Street.
The Seaport- no reservations. The Seaport is basically a 3(?)-story mall on the water, surrounded by ships. It is located just to the south of the bridge, on the Manhattan side, at the end of Fulton Street.

I went on the borough president's website to look for more info on the celebration. Here is the link:
http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/brooklynbridge.htm
There are supposed to be updates as we get closer to May 24th.

Nina-Are you sure? I can't find anything that says that!

Fuggedaboutit! Grap a slice at Grimaldi's, go home happy, anyways...

It is also the birthday of Central Park, 150 years old.
There will be fireworks there too.

http://www.wnbc.com/centralpark/2166968/detail.html

Central Park Birthday Party

Suzanne, I called Marty Markowitz's office today. They told me that they weren't going to be allowed to do the fireworks, and also that the event schedule would be on their site very soon. Apparently they are still working on some things.

Sorry that I didn't say where I got the info in my original post, instead of making it sound so mysterious!

Well, now I'm really bummed. I might just have to cancel my party, because the fireworks were the reason we were having a party in the first place.

Suzanne, check with the office again, just in case 'they' have changed their minds. Don't cancel the party, friends/relatives are more important than fireworks. Did I really say that?