According to Fancy Brigade Association spokeswoman Christine Cleaver Harrer, the Merry Makers and Magic brigades have dropped out of competition. They now join such past parade has-beens as the Fancy Dolls, Hearts, Gallagher, Zodiac, Alpha, Ring One, and Charles Ray Fancy brigades. It's called cottage industry, says Captain Fitzmaurice. Their basic suits for January 2001 are being tailored by costumer David Moscinski, but to save bucks, brigade volunteers are doing the finishing work. Float welder Eric Messner says cutting financial corners comes natural to an Avenuer.
Cold cart is crappy wood.
In another economic move, Avenuers use imperfect, unsold Christmas trees from street vendors instead buying good ones. Then with Recreation Department approval, formed their own division. The Avenuers say they plan to remain in that line-up, no matter what the odds. Avenuers know how to hang tough. If they drop a nuke bomb, only the roaches and Avenuers will survive.