Fun, fun, fun - get your camera, we will be taking a thousand pictures of the Mermaid Parade.

Please note that we are meeting at a new location, since the parade staging area has been changed this year (and announced after the initial posting of this meetup).

This year, the staging area is on West 21st Street, between Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk. The entrance to the staging area is on Surf Avenue at West 21st Street. Starting at 10 am, the parade participants register and assemble in the staging area, put on the makeup and the costumes and practice their routines. See my pictures from the 2008 Mermaid Parade and 2007 Mermaid Parade to get the feeling of what to expect.

Photographers are allowed into the staging area after paying $5 (per camera). The parade itself starts at 2 pm, but meeting up at the staging area at 10 am allows to avoid the crowds and get close to the parade participants.

Once you get to the staging area, pay the $5 fee, enter, and we will assemble near the entrance. The staging area is one city block with one entrance, so it's hard to get lost. If you are late, call me at [masked] to find the group.

To get to the parade, take a D, F, N or Q subway to Coney Island - Stillwell Avenue stop. The trains depart every 8-10 minutes and take about 50 minutes from Manhattan. From Stillwell Avenue you can either walk 6 blocks West along Surf Avenue or take B36 bus to West 22nd Street and walk back one block.

See you on Saturday!