Tag: thanksgiving

How to watch and what to know

It’s that time of year again: when Snoopy and Pikachu float down Sixth Avenue and Santa makes a special appearance to signify the official start of the Christmas season.

The 96th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returns to New York City this week with five new floats and four new balloons to entertain audiences of all ages.

Quite a lot has changed since the first parade took place in 1924. Not only will people be able to watch the event from the comfort of their own homes on network TV, but various streaming services will also provide a front-row seat to the happenings.

Over 3.5 million people in NYC and more than 50 million viewers at home typically watch the parade, which utilizes 5,000 volunteers to get the show on the road.

Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the parade went on — but with some radical changes to ensure social distancing. Unlike normal years, it was tailored just for the TV audience, but this year’s celebration is free to go on without hesitation.

“Today” show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker are slated to return as hosts of the parade. However, Roker has been absent from “Today” and is currently “on the way to recovery” after he was hospitalized with blood clots in his leg and lungs two weeks ago.

Radio City Rockettes perform during the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Santa Claus will make his annual appearance with a special guest this year.
Santa Claus will make his annual appearance with a special guest this year.
NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

When is the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place on the national holiday, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 24, this year, at 9 a.m. EST. The show officially ends at noon.

How can I watch the parade and is it available to stream?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on both NBC and CBS. It will also be available to stream live on many subscription services, including Peacock, Paramount+, Hulu Live, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV.

The Wondership by Wonder Bread float is seen during the 96th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s Studio Day at Macy’s Parade Studio.
Getty Images for Macy’s Inc.

What’s the parade route and can I watch it in person?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route runs 2.5 miles, from 77th Street and Central Park West, south to 34th Street-Herald Square.

Tickets are not needed to watch the procession in person, but it’s best to avoid watching on Sixth Avenue between 34th and 38th streets, and on West 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, as the national television broadcast limits viewing there.

Those who hope to be near the cameras often show up extra early, hours before the show begins, for the perfect vantage point. It’s recommended to show up “no later than 6 a.m.” for coveted spots.

Geoffrey, the Toys R Us mascot, will appear on a company float in this year’s parade.
Getty Images for Macy’s Inc.

Will there be any special guests and performers?

Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg of “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin,” Betty Who, Big Time Rush, Jordin Sparks, Fitz and the Tantrums, Blanco Brown, country musician Cam, Dionne Warwick, Gloria, Sasha and Emily Estefan, Joss Stone and Kirk Franklin will all be on floats.

Miss America Emma Broyles, Paula Abdul, Sean Paul, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Ziggy Marley will also be there.

Mariah Carey will also fulfill her “childhood dream” and open for Santa Claus at the end of the parade.

Mariah Carey will fulfill her “childhood dream” and open for Santa Claus at the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Getty Images for MC
A float based on “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” courtesy of Abrams Books, took a test flight during the 96th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s Balloonfest run-through at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 5.
Getty Images for Macy’s Inc.
Striker the US Soccer Star, a Baloonicle by Fox Sports, takes a shot at Balloonfest.
Getty Images for Macy’s Inc.

What’s new this year?

New parade balloons include one from “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” Dino and Baby Dino, Bluey, Stuart the Minion and Striker the US Soccer Star, which celebrates the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

Look out for new floats, too, including Baby Shark, Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party featuring the Toys R Us mascot Geoffrey the giraffe, Netflix’s “Slumberland”-inspired Supersized Slumber and Wonder Bread’s Wondership, plus Macy’s own People of First Light and Winter Dragon floats.



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How to deep-fry a turkey without making the evening news

It’s beginning to look a lot like … FIRE!

The holidays are here, and you are probably dusting off grandma’s recipe cards for her crowd-pleasing, old-fashioned yeast rolls. You might also be dusting off that turkey fryer you bought on Black Friday last year. 

The chances of ever using one properly before are slim if you’ve stumbled upon this story in a frantic Google search while preparing your holiday feast and deciding how to fry your bird safely.

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents, the National Fire Protection Association states. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average.

So put down the apron and look for the nearest fire extinguisher – you might need it later. These potentially life-saving tips could prevent you from burning down your home and offer the perfect turkey to accompany Aunt Betty’s string bean casserole.

No fowl play

According to the NFPA, turkey fryers that use cooking oil are unsafe. They use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns. 

A deep fryer filled too high with oil and with the flame on, explodes in flame when a frozen turkey is placed inside.
MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Because turkey fryers pose several distinct safety concerns, including burn and fire hazards, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the leading independent product safety organization, does not certify any turkey fryers. 

Tur-key to success

If you must use a turkey fryer this Thanksgiving, State Farm offers these safety tips:

  • Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages and a safe distance away from trees and other structures.
  • Make sure the turkey is thawed and dry before cooking. Ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause flare-ups.
  • Watch the weather. Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain or snow.
  • Place the fryer on a level surface, and avoid moving it once it’s in use.
  • Leave 2 feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfilling. Oil can ignite when it makes contact with the burner.
  • Choose a smaller turkey for frying. A bird that’s 8 to 10 pounds is best; pass on turkeys over 12 pounds.
  • Never leave fryers unattended.
  • Purchase a fryer with temperature controls, and watch the oil temperature carefully. Cooking oil that is heated beyond its smoke point can catch fire. If you notice the oil is smoking, turn the fryer off.

Now, let’s stop here for a moment. Did you understand all that? 

If so, you will want to maintain your oil temperature at 350 degrees and cook your turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound. We will do the math for you. That’s about 35 minutes for a 10-pound turkey.

Without feather ado

Let’s continue with those safety tips:

  • Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.
  • Wear goggles to shield your eyes, use oven mitts to protect your hands and arms and keep an “ABC” or grease-rated fire extinguisher close by. Do not use water or a garden hose on a fire related to turkey fryers.
  • Skip the stuffing when frying turkey, and avoid water-based marinades.
  • Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times.
  • Once finished, carefully remove the pot from the burner, place it on a level surface and cover to let the oil cool overnight before disposing.
Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages and a safe distance away from trees and other structures.
Getty Images

The USDA says all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees as measured with a food thermometer. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook poultry to higher temperatures.

If you are still scratching your head and want a fried turkey for your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, fire officials recommend purchasing it from a grocery store, your favorite restaurant or buying a fryer that does not use oil.

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Kathy Hochul turns over turkey distribution to Democratic Party

Fowl play!

Gov. Kathy Hochul has farmed out the task of distributing thousands of turkeys to the state Democratic Party after deciding that the Thanksgiving tradition violates new ethics rules.

Last November, Hochul traveled across the state to personally participate in the annual turkey giveaway to the needy and noted the birds were donated by corporations and non-profits.

Some of last year’s donors included Amazon, Coca-Cola, MetLife, Geico, the Golub Family Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York and the China General Chamber of Commerce.

Hochul’s counsel, however, recently determined that the turkeys could be considered inappropriate gifts under new state ethics rules.

Instead, the state Democratic Party was asked to buy the turkeys and help distribute them, according to the Albany Times Union.

Republican Party officials were scratching their heads over Hochul’s move of turning turkey distribution into a partisan event.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has farmed out the task of distributing thousands of turkeys to the state Democratic Party.
XAVIER GARCIA
Last year, Hochul traveled across the state to participate in the annual turkey giveaway.
Robert Miller

“It doesn’t pass the smell test. Why hand off turkey distribution to the Democratic Party? If you’re going to that route, why not make it bipartisan,” said state Republican Party spokeswoman Jessica Proud.

She also said it’s laughable for Hochul — who has accepted tens of millions of dollars in campaign donations from entities and fat cats with business before the state and has been criticized for issuing a no-bid, $637 million emergency contract to a fundraiser to provide COVID-19 tests — to consider donations of turkeys a conflict.

“Hochul is worried about turkeys? She might want to take a look at the no-bid contracts,” Proud said.

Turkeys could be considered inappropriate gifts under new state ethics rules, according to Hochul’s counsel.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

NYC Council Republican Minority Leader Joseph Borelli said, “This is not the caper state ethics officials think it is. We should be happy that companies are donating turkeys to the poor. We shouldn’t impede people from giving out free turkeys.”

Hochul’s office declined to comment.

But state Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs confirmed to the Times Union, “The governor had asked us to put together the money and we purchased 4,000 turkeys.”

Minority Leader Joseph Borelli spoke out about the turkey matter.
J.C.Rice

“We’ve been distributing them. It’s been basically downstate this year because it was such a short window when we found out. We didn’t find out until two or three days ago.”

He noted that Democratic lawmakers volunteer in the handout of turkeys.

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Biden tells boy to ‘go steal a pumpkin’ during ‘boring’ speech

President Biden on Monday told a boy that he could “go steal a pumpkin” to avoid his “boring” speech about Thanksgiving to Marine Corps members in North Carolina.

Biden, 80, made the surprising stab at humor when he approached the eldest of four children whose Marine Corps mother had just introduced the president.

The well-behaved boy had been minding two of his three younger siblings as his mother spoke and his father held the family’s squirming infant.

“This has to be boring, boring, boring for these kids who are standing up here,” Biden said, grasping the boy’s shoulder. “You’re allowed to do anything you want to do, including go steal a pumpkin if you want — anything you want to do.”

The boy chose instead to listen politely to the president.

There were pumpkins decorating the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, NC, and Biden’s attempts at humor continued — on the heels of his morning turkey pardon — as he told the troops that “the reason we came is the chef’s not bad.”

Biden more seriously recounted to the soldiers his family’s experience with his late son Beau Biden working overseas in the military and praised the families of troops who have to endure their absence.

President Biden speaking at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina during a Thanksgiving dinner with military members and their families on November 21, 2022.
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’ve done. By the way, I’m serving mashed potatoes so come to my place,” Biden said.

After wrapping up, the president snapped a cellphone selfie with the family and whispered something into the baby’s ear — before donning an apron and scooping mashed potatoes as first lady Jill Biden handled stuffing for an assembly-line buffet.

The president was then swiftly handed a bowl of what appeared to be ice cream before he and the first lady greeted troops, including sitting for conversation and posing for photos.

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The 8 best food storage containers to buy in 2022

What’s the best part of any meal?

The day after, when leftovers are aplenty and prep time is as simple as a few minutes in the microwave.

We really do love leftovers here, not only for their ease and deliciousness, but also to prevent food waste. According to 2022 numbers from Feeding America, 108 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States alone. We know simply eating your cold pizza the morning after a party doesn’t drastically effect this, but it does do a part to help fight food waste as a whole.

Back to the fridge for a second, leftovers can be a tricky art to master, as some foods are harder to store, like fresh fruits and veggies that are subject to getting squishy, and breads and pastries that can get moldy before the loaf is finished.

To help you avoid sticky situations in the fridge and prevent mold from eating your food before you can, we rounded up the best leftovers and food storage containers you can buy online and ship right to your door. Good timing, too, as with Thanksgiving and Christmas on the horizon, the time for leftovers is right now.

Read on for the best airtight food storage containers and bundles to get your fridge, freezer and pantry ready for the 2022 holidays and beyond.

Bed Bath and Beyond

This set of leftover containers is an all-in-one kit that will get your fridge ready for anything. The Rubbermaid brand is a top pick for many, with over 1,000 reviews and a nearly five-star rating. This set is leak-proof, microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe, and has an air-proof seal.

Amazon

Glass? Plastic? Get a bit of both with this set. The Pyrex brand collection is a highly reviewed one, with 19,000 ratings and counting and a 4.8 star rating out of five. The containers come in both circles and rectangles to best fit in any fridge, and are dishwasher, microwave, fridge and freezer safe to help you store and reheat any type of leftover.

The best meal prep container set: Porter 8-Piece Fridge Bundle, $135, original price: $174

W+P

Want to take your food right from the table to the fridge and then off to work? Then use these storage containers and be on your way! The set includes easy to use and pack pouches, cups, bowls and more, that are all dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe.

The Home Depot

All glass everything. This is the way to go for freshness and the ultimate food safety. This Home Depot set has both glass bases and lids that snap into place for an airtight seal every time. The set is also oven safe, in addition to microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.

Amazon

Don’t let freezer burn ruin perfectly good leftovers. Instead, make sure to be using airtight freezer bags for your meat, produce, fish and any other food you aren’t quite ready to eat yet. This set is fully reusable and made of extra thick material to prevent any leaks.

The best bread storage container: Bodum Bread Box, $17, original price: $33

Bodum

There is nothing worse that going to grab a slice of bread from the bag, only to see mold has made its way in. Keep your bread fresh longer with a bread box from Bodum. This one comes with a cutting board base, too, perfect for slicing right in the box.

Amazon

Don’t forget about your coffee grounds, tea, freeze dried snack and more. Mylar bags are a great way to keep those things super fresh in the fridge or freezer, and this set of 100 also comes with 100 bags of oxygen absorber packets to preserve your food even better.

OXO

All of our hugs and kisses go to OXO for this set. The very aesthetically pleasing set of containers from OXO are perfect for any pantry leftovers, like that half-used box of pasta or beans spilling from the plastic bag at the back of your cabinet. The containers are made of stainless steel, silicone and plastic, with an airtight seal and a stackable design to save room.

Check out New York Post Shopping for more content.

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