7/4/2003 » Photos

And now, for your amusement, the biggest fireworks show in the U.S. -- four barges, smiley faces, pink hearts, weeping willows, UFO's, Peter Pan and Wendy too; hesitant ones which go up, hang out and then go up some more; Scuds, echoing reports through concrete canyons; purples and greens, sidewinders, bow ties, corkscrews.

Somewhere in their migration, the Italian family which has been doing NYC's fireworks for over a hundred years lost their Roman moorings. It was the biggest I've ever seen, but not the most poetic; that was Rome, New Year's 2002. Americans' taste in fireworks runs to the big and loud, while the Romans appreciate fan sprays pulsing to sweeping classical music. It's the difference between a Caddy with hood-mounted longhorns and a classic Alfa Romeo; and each barge sent up identical smoke signals, a missed opportunity. No matter, they did push your heart to the back of your ribcage. It was the Vin Diesel of shows, and where was I? On my rooftop, the best photo angle in Manhattan :) It's the only time living this far east on the island has worked in my favor.