3
Jul/13

MACY’S FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS: LIGHT IT UP

3
Jul/13
Usher will help usher in America’s 237th birthday by curating fireworks show (photo by Kevin Mazur / Getty Images / Macy’s Inc.)

Usher will help usher in America’s 237th birthday by guest-curating fireworks show (photo by Kevin Mazur / Getty Images / Macy’s Inc.)

Televised live on NBC-TV
Broadcast live on WINS 1010 and Z-100
Thursday, July 4, free, 9:20 pm (approx.)
212-494-4495
www.macys.com

For some unknown reason, our building couldn’t wait just a few more days before beginning renovations on the roof deck, denying us our annual great view of the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks display. Things are being done a little differently this year, as Macy’s has hired its first-ever guest curator, handing the reins over to R&B star Usher, who put together the music and also worked with Pyro Spectaculars by Souza to develop new pyrotechnic effects. The award-winning singer of such hits as “Burn,” “Yeah,” “Lovers & Friends,” and “OMG” has lined up live performances by Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Mariah Carey, hosted by Nick Cannon, along with a prerecorded setlist that includes Jimi Hendrix, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Cooke, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and Frank Sinatra, as well as a trio of Usher songs that will be accompanied by the explosive new Usher Shell. For the fifth year in a row, the fireworks will be blasting off on the West Side, from four barges situated between 24th & 42nd Sts.; vehicular traffic will be closed on 12th Ave. between 22nd and 59th Sts., with viewing spots not available along the Hudson River Park promenade and bike path and most piers. (There will be extremely limited access to Pier 84.) Public access points can be found at 24th, 26th-27th, 29th, 33rd-34th, 40th, 42nd, 44th, 50th, 52nd, 54th, and 56th-57th Sts. as forty thousand fireworks explode over the course of twenty-five minutes; the finale will be accompanied by a special LED show at the top of the Empire State Building. Happy 237th birthday, America!