How do New Yorkers celebrate Fourth of July?
I was told the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest is a “thing,” so I headed to the legendary amusement district in Brooklyn in hopes of capturing a uniquely American scene.
As a visitor from Portugal, I was immediately struck by the sights. The Manhattan skyscrapers had been replaced by the Thunderbolt, the Endeavor, the Astro Tower, the Zenobio and many other attractions at Luna Park.
The place was teeming with people of all ages and backgrounds. Families, friends, singers, performers, and, of course, hot-dog eaters.
But what really caught my eye were the patriotic people dressed in red, white and blue to celebrate the country’s 247th birthday.
The hat. The bandana. A pouch hanging from his neck. The shirt. The wristbands. Every piece of clothing Paul was wearing was emblazoned with stars and stripes. Even his glasses featured the colors of the American flag.
The blue represents the sky and the red represents blood, Paul told me while I hurried to sketch him.
The meaning of the entire flag?
“Freedom.”
Paul was in a rush to pose for pictures with the crowd. “I don’t charge,” he said. “I just like to be with them in the photos.” But before he left, he invited me to try his “American glasses.”
I was able to see the world in stripes. What an experience!
Hundreds of people were relaxing on lounge chairs, drinking beer and spending time with their families along Coney Island Beach.
That’s where I spotted Ali, who was looking after his daughter while she played by the water.
Ali’s choice of clothing for Fourth of July was fitting for a day chilling on the beach. He wore long swimming trunks with an American flag pattern.
I enjoyed putting my feet on the warm sand as well as I chatted with Ali. He told me about his family — his mother is from Scotland and his father from Barbados — and how he came to the U.S. when he was 7 years old.
Contrary to my impression, he said that not many people in New York dress in patriotic colors for the Fourth of July.
“Maybe it’s because they take freedom and independence for granted,” he said, “but we should remember the brave people who fought in the past for what we have now in this country.”
A 2-year-old wearing a cute stars-and-stripes dress caught my eye because she looked a bit like my son when he was that age.
Luna was too young to explain or understand the meaning behind her outfit. She was more interested in having lunch. But I struck up a conversation with her parents, a couple visiting from California.
“America means freedom and independence. It’s a great country to live and grow up in” said the father as they rushed off to see the world-famous hot-dog eating contest.
New York is a microcosm of the world, so I was not surprised to meet many people born in other countries who call this city home.
Lance was born in South Africa but has been living and working in New York as a creative director for many years now.
I met him at a hot dog joint where I stopped to grab a bite while a sudden thunderstorm poured outside. When I asked if I could draw him, he wanted to draw me, too. What a surprise. A random portrait challenge!
Lance was wearing a loosely fit T-shirt stamped with the American flag. He spoke fondly of his experience in the U.S. “It’s a great country. I like to live here,” he said as we chatted and sketched each other.
I ate two hot dogs here, a far cry from the 62 shoved down by the winner of the Hot Dog Eating Contest, which I didn’t get to sketch because it was so crowded that I couldn’t get close to the action.
I stumbled upon Blayze on the famous Coney Island boardwalk. He had wrapped himself in one of the most creative patriotic outfits I saw.
He wore red and blue makeup and sported a big red star strapped around his bare torso. Blue elbow and knee pads completed his festive outfit.
A native of Puerto Rico and longtime resident of the Bronx, Blayze said he loves the diversity of people one can find in Coney Island and in New York.
When challenged to find a word to define Fourth of July and America, he said this:
“Home.”
