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New York Today: Welcome Back, Felix New York Today: Welcome Back, Felix
(about 2 hours later)
Updated, 7:49 a.m.
Good morning on this frigid Tuesday.Good morning on this frigid Tuesday.
He’s black and white. He grins. And this week, he’ll be puffing out his chest again.He’s black and white. He grins. And this week, he’ll be puffing out his chest again.
An inflatable version of Felix the Cat, the cartoon character created in the silent-film era, will return to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, nearly 90 years after his first appearance.An inflatable version of Felix the Cat, the cartoon character created in the silent-film era, will return to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, nearly 90 years after his first appearance.
The parade, which began in 1924, originally included a procession of live animals from the Central Park Zoo — yes, tigers and elephants roamed 34th Street.The parade, which began in 1924, originally included a procession of live animals from the Central Park Zoo — yes, tigers and elephants roamed 34th Street.
But the growls and roars of the live animals were said to scare children. Instead, a master puppeteer called Tony Sarg — who was at the time responsible for organizing elements of the parade and Macy’s animated holiday windows — was asked to design floating animals as substitutes.But the growls and roars of the live animals were said to scare children. Instead, a master puppeteer called Tony Sarg — who was at the time responsible for organizing elements of the parade and Macy’s animated holiday windows — was asked to design floating animals as substitutes.
In 1927, the first year the parade featured any balloons, Felix the Cat made his debut flight.In 1927, the first year the parade featured any balloons, Felix the Cat made his debut flight.
But Felix, along with the other early inflatables, disappeared during World War II, when the parade was postponed for three years, and many of the balloons were donated to the war effort for rubber.But Felix, along with the other early inflatables, disappeared during World War II, when the parade was postponed for three years, and many of the balloons were donated to the war effort for rubber.
About three quarters of a century later, Felix is back — and the Macy’s team has recreated him to look like he did in his first parade. He’ll even be propped up on poles, just as he was in 1927.About three quarters of a century later, Felix is back — and the Macy’s team has recreated him to look like he did in his first parade. He’ll even be propped up on poles, just as he was in 1927.
Of the 16 giant character balloons and roughly two dozen small and medium balloons on Thursday, Felix will be the only one that appeared in the original lineup.Of the 16 giant character balloons and roughly two dozen small and medium balloons on Thursday, Felix will be the only one that appeared in the original lineup.
Ahead of his big return, we spent some time at the Macy’s Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J.Ahead of his big return, we spent some time at the Macy’s Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J.
When John Piper, the vice president of the studio, introduced us to the inflatable Felix, the cat was as flat as a pancake.When John Piper, the vice president of the studio, introduced us to the inflatable Felix, the cat was as flat as a pancake.
The Felix balloon weighs only 60 or 70 pounds when not inflated, according to Mr. Piper. But when he’s fed helium, nearly 2,000 basketballs could fit inside him.The Felix balloon weighs only 60 or 70 pounds when not inflated, according to Mr. Piper. But when he’s fed helium, nearly 2,000 basketballs could fit inside him.
On Wednesday morning, Felix will be rolled up, stuffed into a tiny bin, loaded onto a tractor-trailer and transported across the George Washington Bridge.On Wednesday morning, Felix will be rolled up, stuffed into a tiny bin, loaded onto a tractor-trailer and transported across the George Washington Bridge.
“We have individual inflation instructions written out for each balloon,” Mr. Piper told us, “Like, ‘Take Felix and unroll him face down with his head pointed to Central Park.’ ”“We have individual inflation instructions written out for each balloon,” Mr. Piper told us, “Like, ‘Take Felix and unroll him face down with his head pointed to Central Park.’ ”
You can watch Felix the Cat and friends come to life at the balloon inflation on Wednesday afternoon, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., near 79th Street and Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side.You can watch Felix the Cat and friends come to life at the balloon inflation on Wednesday afternoon, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., near 79th Street and Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side.
Here’s what else is happening:Here’s what else is happening:
Not ideal for balloons.Not ideal for balloons.
It’s windy (again). Gusts strong enough to rip the leaves off trees and leave you feeling extra cold will be on parade.It’s windy (again). Gusts strong enough to rip the leaves off trees and leave you feeling extra cold will be on parade.
With the wind chill, the temperature will be somewhere between 25 and 35.With the wind chill, the temperature will be somewhere between 25 and 35.
And don’t expect much warmth from the sun — dress for icy weather.And don’t expect much warmth from the sun — dress for icy weather.
• Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to shield New Yorkers from President-elect Donald J. Trump’s policies. [New York Times]• Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to shield New Yorkers from President-elect Donald J. Trump’s policies. [New York Times]
• A pilot program focused on low-income families will give 3,500 children a year an initial $100 to be deposited into a college savings account. [New York Times]• A pilot program focused on low-income families will give 3,500 children a year an initial $100 to be deposited into a college savings account. [New York Times]
• Gov. Chris Christie’s removal from Mr. Trump’s transition team was weeks in the making, according to people close to the New Jersey governor and the campaign. [New York Times]• Gov. Chris Christie’s removal from Mr. Trump’s transition team was weeks in the making, according to people close to the New Jersey governor and the campaign. [New York Times]
• A Brooklyn man who was arrested and accused of supporting the Islamic State said the group had planned an attack on Times Square. [New York Times]• A Brooklyn man who was arrested and accused of supporting the Islamic State said the group had planned an attack on Times Square. [New York Times]
• Protecting the president-elect costs the city $1 million a day, according to officials. [CNN]• Protecting the president-elect costs the city $1 million a day, according to officials. [CNN]
• A Women’s March on Trump Tower is planned for the day after Mr. Trump’s inauguration. [Gothamist]• A Women’s March on Trump Tower is planned for the day after Mr. Trump’s inauguration. [Gothamist]
• The police arrested a man in connection with the theft in Staten Island over the weekend of a car that had a baby in the back seat. [Staten Island Advance]• The police arrested a man in connection with the theft in Staten Island over the weekend of a car that had a baby in the back seat. [Staten Island Advance]
• A little red “book train” runs below the New York Public Library’s main branch in Midtown. [New York Times]• A little red “book train” runs below the New York Public Library’s main branch in Midtown. [New York Times]
• Raising five sons, three of them with autism, takes a toll on a mother’s body. [New York Times]• Raising five sons, three of them with autism, takes a toll on a mother’s body. [New York Times]
• Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “‘Hey, Cool Shoes’”• Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “‘Hey, Cool Shoes’”
• Scoreboard: Rangers snipe Penguins, 5-2. Sharks feast on Devils, 4-0.• Scoreboard: Rangers snipe Penguins, 5-2. Sharks feast on Devils, 4-0.
• For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing.• For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing.
• Watch model trains zip through re-creations of city landmarks at the Holiday Train Show in the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. [$20]• Watch model trains zip through re-creations of city landmarks at the Holiday Train Show in the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. [$20]
• Work out before that Thanksgiving meal with New York Road Runners at Silver Lake Park on Staten Island and Brooklyn Bridge Park. 7 p.m. [Free]• Work out before that Thanksgiving meal with New York Road Runners at Silver Lake Park on Staten Island and Brooklyn Bridge Park. 7 p.m. [Free]
• Join the Comic Book Club for a discussion at the Peoples Improv Theater Loft in Chelsea. 8 p.m. [Free]• Join the Comic Book Club for a discussion at the Peoples Improv Theater Loft in Chelsea. 8 p.m. [Free]
• Eat Your Science, a show with the TV personality Alton Brown, is at the Barrymore Theater on Broadway. 8 p.m. [Tickets start at $49]• Eat Your Science, a show with the TV personality Alton Brown, is at the Barrymore Theater on Broadway. 8 p.m. [Tickets start at $49]
• Looking ahead: Sign up for a beginners’ flying trapeze class on Saturday or Sunday at Circus Warehouse in Long Island City, Queens. [$65]• Looking ahead: Sign up for a beginners’ flying trapeze class on Saturday or Sunday at Circus Warehouse in Long Island City, Queens. [$65]
• Knicks host Trail Blazers, 7:30 p.m. (MSG). Islanders at Ducks, 10 p.m. (MSG+).• Knicks host Trail Blazers, 7:30 p.m. (MSG). Islanders at Ducks, 10 p.m. (MSG+).
• Subway and PATH• Subway and PATH
• Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak• Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak
• Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s.• Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s.
• Alternate-side parking: in effect until Nov. 24.• Alternate-side parking: in effect until Nov. 24.
• Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry• Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry
• Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark• Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark
New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email.New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email.
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What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday.What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday.
Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter.Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter.
You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com.You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com.