If the temperature was about 20 degrees warmer, this parade might have been a smashing success. But the cold weather kept the crowds from a mini-parade that ended in front of the International Toy Center at the beginning of the 98th annual American International Toy Fair, which brought 40,000 toy industry representatives through its building at 200 Fifth Avenue for five days. The Toy Center put on the event to help brand the real estate property as a toy-related destination and to publicize its own 98 percent occupancy rate.
Jane Hoffman, the New York City consumer affairs commissioner, led the parade, and Debra Norville was its grand marshal. The mini-parade was organized by Anthony M. Furman Inc., a public relations and sports marketing firm. Event producer Elliot Winick and his team braved the cold to handle much of the on-site production for the event, which included 50 children's entertainment characters and a performance from the New York Police Department's Emerald Society Pipes and Drums corps, who shivered in their kilts while playing the parade route.
--David Adler
Jane Hoffman, the New York City consumer affairs commissioner, led the parade, and Debra Norville was its grand marshal. The mini-parade was organized by Anthony M. Furman Inc., a public relations and sports marketing firm. Event producer Elliot Winick and his team braved the cold to handle much of the on-site production for the event, which included 50 children's entertainment characters and a performance from the New York Police Department's Emerald Society Pipes and Drums corps, who shivered in their kilts while playing the parade route.
--David Adler
Felix the Cat crossed Fifth Avenue with the parade.
Parade guru Elliot Winick posed with a NYPD officer.
The NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums corps tried to keep warm while waiting for the parade to begin.
A family of Pokemon-branded Chrysler PT Cruisers were part of the parade.
