Venues in Brooklyn and Queens charging big bucks for July 4 parties — fireworks not necessarily included
No fireworks? No problem.
Some of the swankiest bars in Brooklyn and Queens are holding onto the hope of a glimpse at the annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show — and charging a pretty penny for it — despite the event moving from the East River to the Hudson River for the first time in over a decade.
This year’s fireworks display on the West Side will be closer to New Jersey than Brooklyn and may be obscured by the Manhattan skyline — but that’s not stopping several upscale venues from flaunting the possibility of a peep at the show.
The Arlo Hotel in Williamsburg, for instance, is hosting its own “Skyline Fireworks” party featuring a special “DJ Fireworks b2b” and starting at $55 a pop.
It’s not until further down in the event description that the hotel discloses the fireworks “will be set up in Hudson River between 14th St. and 34th St. for 2024, not in the East River.”
“You can’t see them here,” said Javiera Aranba, 32, who was spotted tanning at the Arlo rooftop Wednesday. “I don’t think it’s right to charge people for fireworks you can’t see. I think that’s just wrong. Especially when you can see them for free by the river.”
Another Arlo guest, France native and New York resident Yohann Corre, 31, pointed out that high ticket prices account for not only a possible fireworks view, but DJs and other entertainment as well.
“It’s gonna be a nice party tomorrow,” he said.
The Williamsburg Hotel, which was replaced by the Arlo last September, threw a similar bash last year when the Macy’s fireworks were set off from the East River. Those tickets were priced at $175 for general admission.
But not all venues are slashing ticket prices.
CODA Williamsburg Hotel’s $175 evening soiree ticket this year offers “access to rooftop party and fireworks viewing,” although the the Eventbrite page for the party warns “direct views from our location not guaranteed.”
The William Vale Hotel’s Westlight rooftop cocktail bar will be hosting a party for $111 a pop that will guarantee attendees dinner, DJ sets and 360-degree skyline views — but still a slim chance at fireworks.
The fireworks — or lack thereof — aren’t mentioned in on the event ticketing website until users click on an FAQ dropdown menu.
“Westlight does not put on a fireworks show,” the FAQ reads. “Please note, the Macy’s firework show is over the Hudson River.”
A spokesperson for the Macy’s July 4th Fireworks show did not immediately respond to a request for comment about visibility from Brooklyn.
Further north on Roosevelt Island, the Panorama Room atop the Graduate Hotel is known for its breathtaking views of the annual fireworks display — but a bartender there told The Post the views may be different this time around.
“Last year was beautiful,” the bartender said. “There was a lot going on, it was amazing, [but] they switched it up this year. I don’t know if it’s gonna be as beautiful as it was last year.”
“If you can’t see the fireworks. Why pay? They should pay us then,” chimed Panorama Room patron Anand S., 65, who was visiting from California.
The Panorama Room’s cover charge this year is $25 with a Resy dinner reservation, the Graduate Hotel’s operations manager Baha Nikolkin told The Post — a far cry from last year’s general admission presale rate at $216, according to local news and event listing website 6sqft.
Independence Day is an important day for business at both the Panorama Room cocktail bar and adjoined Graduate Hotel, Nikolkin said, given tourists are coming from out of town to see the famous fireworks — though some may not know where the Hudson River is.
“If I were a tourist who didn’t know, I would definitely feel cheated if I came here and had an obstructed view,” Lamar Brennan, 41, told The Post at Harriet’s Rooftop in DUMBO on Wednesday.
The cocktail bar, which sits atop the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, will be having its own party for $60. A disclaimer at the bottom of its third party ticketing website notes “views of the firework display are not guaranteed.”
Despite this year’s fireworks location switch-up from the East River, where it’s been held each year since 2014, Nikolkin said ticket sales at the Panorama Room have largely remained the same year-over-year.
“Yes, there are some people who are disappointed that they won’t be able to see [the fireworks], but we expect being packed completely,” Nikolkin added.
Other bar patrons say they don’t mind the obscured view on Independence Day.
Arlo patron Zoe Goldstein, 26, said that, while she won’t be visiting the rooftop bar on Thursday, she believes the occasion is less about the fireworks and more of an excuse to throw a party.
“I think it’s just a 4th of July party,” she said. “I don’t think it’s for the fireworks … You’ll probably see a little bit.”
“It’s also relative to the price that you’re charging me to come up here,” said Brennan, the Harriet’s Rooftop patron. “100 dollars? Yeah, no. Now if I spend 15 or 10 dollars, it’s a different story. I will easily blow 10 dollars somewhere along the way. But, 100 dollars. No way.”
“But,” Brennan added, “it’s a private business. I can’t knock them on how they make their money.”
In addition to the east side, the following NYC locations are not recommended for viewing, according to the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks website: West Street between W. Houston & Leroy Streets; West Street between W. 14th & W. 26th Streets; West Street between W. 33rd & W. 34th Streets; West Street between W. 40th & W. 46th Streets; The High Line and The Battery.
