On IST as always, NYC’s India Day parade was held on August 21 this year. I couldn’t attend, but I hear one of our readers played the nauch girl on stage. Perhaps you’ll chime in with incriminating photos.
Like the Poe toaster, only sans macabre, some mystery soul always garlands the Gandhi statue in Union Square with fresh flowers:
For over 50 years since 1949, on the night marking the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth, a mysterious man-in-black has entered the cemetery where the master of the macabre lies buried, and, making his way through the dark shadows to Poe’s grave, he places a partial bottle of expensive French cognac and three blood-red roses there, presumably as tokens of admiration and in tribute to the great author. This ritual completed, he then slips away into the night as quietly and as mysteriously as he came…
The Poe Toaster is described by witnesses as a somewhat sinister-appearing person dressed completely in black, sporting a black fedora and a black (or white) scarf, wrapped in order to hide his face, and carrying a walking stick. Once he enters the cemetery, he carefully places the cognac and roses on the grave, sometimes bending to kiss the effigy of Poe inscribed on the monument, then stands, tips his hat and walks away. The items left behind have been the same each successive year, but on some occasions, they have been accompanied by unsigned notes, one of which, when read later, stated simply, “Edgar, I haven’t forgotten you…” [Link]
The statue stands in front of a shopping arcade which could hook Imelda Marcos up with new shoes for life. It also sports an ultra-gourmet Whole Foods. If the Salt March were held today, they’d march toward the artisanal sea salt counter, stopping by the deli for hot samosas.
The Empire State Building and the 23rd St. tower showed the tricolor right side up this year. They must’ve heard an earful about last year’s gaffe. The Pakistan Day parade and lighting are usually held the weekend before.
Previous post here.
