Julio Cortez/AP Fireworks explode over the East River during Fourth of July celebrations.
America's 239th birthday was a bash for the books that included plenty of pyrotechnics, picnics and an upset of gastronomical proportions on a sometimes overcast Fourth of July.
From the Coney Island Boardwalk, where an upstart challenger gained hot dog immortality, to the Statue of Liberty, to Central Park, New York held a giant party, but with a somber reminder of the times. There were no specific terror threats, but the NYPD’s beefed-up patrol included 1,000 counterterrorism and undercover officers working amid the celebrations.
It was still afternoon when crowds began to flock toward the East River to grab front-row seats for Macy’s jaw-dropping fireworks display. Cloudy skies and a little rain did little to cool the patriotic spirit in Coney Island as Matt Stonie swallowed the competition, including eight-time champ Joey Chestnut, at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.
Stonie, a 23-year-old from San Jose, Calif., beat Chestnut by two dogs, downing 62 wieners in 10 minutes at the annual outing.
Julio Cortez/AP America's 239th birthday was a bash for the books that included plenty of pyrotechnics.
“I trained hard for this, and I came prepared,†Stonie said after the gut-busting dethroning.
He walked away with the competition’s coveted mustard yellow winner’s championship belt and $40,000 in prize money. The event went down as smoothly as an Alka-Seltzer tablet, though one over-enthusiastic hot dog fan went home with a summons after flying a drone over the contest, a police source said.
Chestnut, who had won the contest every July 4 since 2007, just couldn’t catch up.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images There were no specific terror threats, but the NYPD’s beefed-up patrol included 1,000 counterterrorism and undercover officers working amid the Independence Day celebrations.
“I just didn’t find my rhythm.†Chestnut said. “I did bad. He deserved to win.â€
In New York Harbor, a replica of the Hermione, an 18th century ship that carried French General Lafayette to America, led a flotilla of ships past the southern tip of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
Uptown, hundreds of parkgoers flocked to Central Park throughout the day despite dreary skies.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images It was still afternoon when crowds began to flock toward the East River to grab front-row seats for Macy’s jaw-dropping fireworks display.
The Castro family from Jamaica, Queens, played volleyball in the park and planned to head to Coney Island for a seaside fireworks show in the evening.
“It’s my favorite part of the Fourth of July,†said 12-year-old Giovanni Castro.
In Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Rubio Jimenez, from Bay Ridge, said the day was set aside “to relax with family, to celebrate the freedom and unity of our family.â€
In the Rockaways, passing rains forced beachgoers to huddle below banners and awnings for the better part of the afternoon.
David Diaz, 24, a passenger service agent from Jersey City, was a little bummed that the morning wasn’t ideal beach weather.
“I was sure hoping the weather was going to clear up,†Diaz said. “It’s a complete wash.â€
ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS Cloudy skies and a little rain did little to cool the patriotic spirit in Coney Island as Matt Stonie (right) swallowed the competition, including eight-time champ Joey Chestnut, at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.
Bobby Michielini, 23, from Levittown, L.I., came to the beach to celebrate his sister’s birthday, but was a little more optimistic that the day would brighten up.
“We’ll make up for it in night time with some partying,†he said.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton dispatched a heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of cops protecting Fourth of July events across the city Saturday.
Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images A fan at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island.
“Being away from your friends and families today is difficult, but this city’s eight and a half million residents and millions more visitors depend on you,†he wrote in a message that was given out to all cops. “After all, the freedoms we celebrate today â€" those enshrined in the Declaration of Independence 239 years ago in the Constitution we uphold â€" rest on the public safety that you provide.â€
The huge deployment of police included 822 rookies who graduated from the Police Academy Thursday, Bratton said after addressing officers at a roll call around 4:30 p.m. near 23rd St. and the FDR Drive.
“This is one of the most spectacular, if not most spectacular, fireworks show in the country and it’s one we want everyone to enjoy safely,†Bratton said.
Tina Fineberg/AP Miki Sudo won the women's hog dog eating competition.
In Washington, D.C., a fife and drum corps, a parade and concerts on the National Mall kept the celebrations going throughout the day, despite a little morning rain.
The National Mall was also host to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The annual event features the culture of Peru this year, drawing thousands of visitors to the mall before evening fireworks.
The U.S. Air Force Band was set to perform Saturday evening on the Washington Monument grounds.
Early Saturday morning, President Obama wished the nation a Happy Fourth of July from the White House â€" and he didn’t forget to give a birthday shoutout to his daughter, Malia, who turned 17.
In his weekly address, Obama praised the nation’s troops claiming, “We honor those heroes today. We honor everyone who continually strives to make this country a better, stronger, more inclusive, and more hopeful place.â€
Obama was set to spend the Fourth at the White House with a couple of hundred military members and their families.
Overseas, nearly 10,000 American troops received a slice of American pie for Independence Day. Chicago-based Pizza 4 Patriots sent 5,500 pizzas to troops in Afghanistan and Kuwait to give them a taste of home on holiday.
With Laura Sanicola, Ben Kochman, Keldy Ortiz, News Wire Services
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