I know you’re saying what kind of madness am I reading but seriously take a good look open your mind and read carefully. You may agree, or agree to disagree but one thing still stands millions come out on the Parkway each and every year with that said New York mas can’t be that bad.
1. Brooklyn is the borough……
How many of you know that New York’s Carnival wasn’t always on the Parkway. Initially our festivities took place in Harlem. Over the time the streets became too small many West Indian’s migrated to Brooklyn, hence
the Carnival was moved to Eastern Parkway. With that said I’ve come up with my first reason why the Parkway is better than Trinidad the diversity in people. No other (Carnival) place on earth can accommodate a diversity of people in love peace and unity. I’m not talking about just skin, color, creed or class; I’m talking about a variety of Caribbean and non-Caribbean Nations on one street parading their pride. Where can you see Haitian trucks, Panamanian, Kittitian, Vincentian, Jamaican, Dominican and all of the Caribbean displaying their patriotism showing each and everyone they too know how to party and get on bad? Trinidad maybe the mother of Carnival, but New York is the Father of a Diverse Carnival. Together mother and father have given birth to Carnival pride in each and every one of us.
2. Pizza, and Jerk Chicken anyone. . . . . .
Where else can I get pizza, jerk chicken, and curry chicken, and falafel all on the same strip? Yes, you guessed it NEW YORK CITY!!!! Not only are we diverse with our trucks we are also diverse with our food. New York City is the Mecca of cultural diffusion. I bet you can’t get that in Trinidad– a Bagel with Salt fish –someone tell me where else you can get that.
3. Did you see me on television………
International coverage of the most attended festival in New York City. I love New York for the various media coverage that can be seen by so many satellites around the world. Trinidad only has coverage throughout the Caribbean and if I’m lucky I might see myself on BET.
4. Security Please…..
No other place has the safest, tightest security only NYPD. NYPD is so secure that if you miss your band on Rutland road please know that you have to walk through the crowds on Utica and Eastern Parkway and ask someone to allow you to jump over a barricade, it doesn’t get safer than that.
5. Metro card……
Now if you are too tired to walk all the way home why not swipe a ride on the NYC MTA faster and safer than a Maxi Taxi and takes you where you need to go. MTA takes you almost everywhere with hardly a hassle of waiting on a packed van to take you to your destination. Air Conditioned carts, seats to sit, space to stand, and you can breath without feeling like your suffocating. Think back in Trinidad being jam up in a maxi and you wishing there was AC, and if the AC is on its so pack you can barely feel it.
6. Cool Temps…..
Nothing beats playing mas with sweet sun and nice cool temperatures. I can honestly say when I’m done playing mas in New York I don’t feel that sweaty sticky nasty feeling. I know in Trinidad when you play mas you’re so hot, thirsty, and down right tired just from the sun beating on your precious skin. Labor Day the only way you sweating is from jumping around.
7. Cheaper, Buy the dozen….
Ok! So New York doesn’t have all inclusive sections like Trinidad (goodie bag, security, port-a-potty etc) but we have mas that in some cases look better than Trinidad for far more cheaper a price. Some cases New York mas makes you feel happy you spent no more than $250 so you can buy your metro card to go to work, and pay your rent (remember Labor Day is the first day of the month).
Carnival is bacchanal and I hope I made enough bacchanal with this article. Yes we always hear the same line “oh nothing beats Trinidad masâ€, or “I’m not going on the Parkway- Parkway not what it use to beâ€. For all those who believe the Parkway is so bad why do we keep coming out by the millions, (the number of attendees never decrease they always increase)? We know nothing can compare to mas at home but for those of us who can’t make it home Labor Day is as good as it gets.
-Written By Chandy
- Photography by Sean James
Confused as hell says:
I’m a mas player in NY, I’ve never been to TnT and I could tell you that you make some valid points but overall, you talkin crap.!
TriniKev says:
Well Trinidad Carnival has way tighter security than Laborday. New York police are just more annoying. TTPD participate in the carnival, NYPD disrupts it. That aside, I think a few valid points were made but non good enough to warrant that title.
Just because the New York Parade moved to Brooklyn, for a bigger space, does not make it bigger than Trinidad carnival. For anyone who as been to Trinidad Carnival you would know that Carnival is almost everywhere. As opposed to Brooklyn, where its only close to the parkway that you begin to see any action. I’m not sure if someone can provide the difference in Km between the two carnival routes. In Trinidad, everyone knows its carnival time. In the states, people are completely clueless as to why the roads are shut down(friend of mine).
So yes, New York itself offers a lot, but it does not offer a lot of support for the culture as a whole.
OnScene says:
I’m not sure I agree with everything here. But I can tell it was well thought out. Never been to trinidad carnival(no passport) but I went to , miami,new jersey, philly, and atlanta. and . I always go to labor day because I live in Bk. I dont’ know what to believe about trini carnival. I hear its the best. Then I hear Brazil is the best. Now I’m hearing NY is the best. So I’ll stick to what I know and agree, that NY labor day is the best carnival.
JoelNoel says:
Listen, Trini carnival is for Trinidad, Labor day for New York people and Americans. Do you really have to compare it? Every city has a different way of doing their carnival. That don’t make one better than the other. I think its kind of disrespectful to even mention it.
gone mad says:
Metrocard, really? Nah gonna front ting gets my tail to work every mornin. But nah man, yah caan site that as a reason for carnival.
currentgone says:
madness! This is real s*** talk here. How de arse you gonna talk about Trinidad Carnival and the New York Labor Day Costume Party in the same sentence. Cut this nonsense out before people start to take this s*** seriously. Trinidad Carnival is the best the world has to offer. And if you dont believe me you can take yuh “metrocard†and ya “falafel†and have a nice time getting boss around by the NYPD on STINKAWAY Parkway
Lillian Finger says:
Nice attempt but pure bull. I could dispute every point. As the saying goings: the copy is never good as the original.
NDKing says:
Clearly you don’t understand that what goes on Labor Day on the Parkway is a parade and the carnival that takes place in Trinidad is a festival. There is no comparison for the two. None of the “copies” of North America can compare to Trinidad carnival.
Roberta says:
Have you ever, ever, ever been to Trinidad for Carnival? I truly doubt it……………either that or you have just escaped or been released from a mental asylum or prison, so anything looks good to you.
I will pray for you my child.
Jason C. says:
Roberta
I dont’ think the author is crazy cause I\’v gone to trini for carnival. but I jumped up and carry on for jourvet like I said on the other post. not everyone feels the same way about walking 50 kilometers in the hot sun. Carnival is fun, but jourvet is better. 1 because its at night time, and everyone parties at night. You get to let loose way more. #2 Way more madness!
fetejunkie says:
The author does add at the bottom that nothing compares to carnival at home. so they are completely crazy. (Thank god)
I think it was all in good fun. Thanks for the comic relief.
Evelyn says:
Clearly you prefer to celebrate one day but we trinis fete/party/play mas not one day only like you. Our festival \”TRINIDAD CARNIVAL\’ spans over 2 months at least and has lots of activities included ending with our gala street parade for Children on Carnival Saturday and 2 days of Mas Jouvert , Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Please compare like with like, apples with apples and not apples with mangoes
Thanks
winston says:
What I really wanna know is should I go to miami or broward or both?