This Weekend: Easter Parade, Chocolate & Cherry Blossoms

After what seemed like a solid week of rain, the beautiful spring weather has arrived in New York…just in time for Easter. The centerpiece of the city’s Easter celebrations is the Easter Parade, which runs along Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets. More informal than other parades, the Easter Parade features no floats or marching bands, but welcomes all kinds of marchers (including kids) in Easter bonnets and outfits ranging from pretty and pastel to just plain outrageous. A good place to watch the parade is outside the majestic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which also offers services throughout the day.

In honor of Easter (or just to treat yourself), why not do a little chocolate shopping this weekend? New York Magazine put together a great roundup (complete with slideshow) of the most inventive Easter-themed sweets and where to buy them, including Bouchon Bakery and Magnolia Bakery.

Cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, by Nick Johnson via Flickr

This Saturday, April 3, marks the opening of a short but special season—Hanami, the Japanese tradition of cherry blossom viewing—at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. All throughout the next month, visitors to the gardens can enjoy watching the cherry trees in different stages of bloom, from the first tentative blossoms to the full frothy pink effect. The marquee event of the cherry blossom season arrives on May 1-2, when the Sakura Matsuri festival celebrates Japanese culture in all its forms, from tea ceremonies and flower-arranging to J-pop and manga.