Balloons, spirits soar at NYC Thanksgiving parade

NEW YORK (AP):

The big balloons soared along with the crowd's spirits yesterday as the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade made its way through the streets of New York City.

The cheering throngs were bundled against a 30-degree chill, but the sun was shining. Some in the crowd lifted small children on to their shoulders.

In Philadelphia, gusty winds of 28 mph limited use of balloons during the city's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with officials citing concern for the safety of participants and spectators. Instead of flying along the entire route, the balloons soared only around Eakins Oval and the broadcast area near the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Meanwhile, in Washington, President Barack Obama and his family paused to celebrate a quiet holiday at the White House. Their menu was quintessential Thanksgiving, including turkey, honey-baked ham, cornbread stuffing, greens, and six choices of pie.

In New York City, volunteers from Citymeals-on-Wheels helped escort dozens of elderly residents from neighbourhoods affected by Superstorm Sandy to a restaurant feast in Manhattan. The organisation funded almost 20,500 Thanksgiving meals, including 13,000 delivered in advance to homebound elderly.

On Wednesday, two American astronauts on- board the International Space Station, Mike Hopkins and Rick Mastracchio, released a video from 260 miles above Earth showing off their traditional Thanksgiving meal: irradiated smoked turkey, thermostabilised yams, cornbread dressing, potatoes, freeze-dried asparagus, baked beans, bread, cobbler, and dehydrated green bean casserole.