Parades in New York City have always carried with it a certain epic panache. Few do it like we do it here and even within the annual parade schedule, there are clear standouts. In addition to photographing countless events in New York City, my man Adam Ninyo makes it a point to survey the cultural landscape of NYC and capture images that encapsulate the colorful vibes of New York City. It is no surprise that he found his way to the southernmost tip of Brooklyn to get this shot of two women in fabulous regalia befitting the borough's annual “underwater” procession. If you've never been to any of New York's numerous parades throughout the year, I highly suggest you check some of them out because you would be hard pressed to find better anywhere in the world.

Artistic Statement

This is a photo that was taken on June 20th, 2026 at the Coney Island Boardwalk.

I took this shot while shooting and marching with the Mermaid Parade for a music video that I’m directing for Miss Cherry Delight this summer in Coney Island.

When I’m shooting a widely covered event, I try to think of my photos less journalistically, and more experientially since all the documentary-style angles are being covered. Marching with the paraders - a vibrant mix of performers was kaleidoscopic.  The campy colors, Coney Island architecture, homages, crowds that matched the nautical vibe. Thus, I thought about my shots less as photos and more as visual art: incorporating shutter drag, multiple exposures, hard flash, and editing them with heightened, poppy color to mimic the vibrance of the costumes, setting, and crowd.

For more incredible photos, please follow Adam Ninyo HERE.

If you have any amazing photos you’ve taken or that you’ve come across, that you think are simply incredible representations of community and culture in NYC, please send them my way [email protected] (when sending, please include photo credit as well as the location in NYC where this was taken and when as well as a brief description no more than a paragraph long of what’s happening in the photo and why it inspires you.)

That Quirky Bird Girl

Sometimes the thing that makes you stop and feel present is surprisingly small, a flash of color in a tree perhaps, a strange call overhead, or simply nature revealing itself in it’s tiny and mysterious ways

That spirit is at the heart of That Quirky Bird Girl, a community created by founder, influencer, and public speaker Steph Minaya around birding, nature, curiosity, and connection with a lean towards the neurodivergent which Steph proudly considers herself a part of.

Birds entered Steph's life during a particularly uncertain period while she was navigating personal challenges, her neurodivergence, and questions about what came next.

What began as a personal source of healing eventually became something she wanted to share with others.

Today, That Quirky Bird Girl is deliberately about much more than identifying birds. Its larger mission is to make the outdoors more accessible by helping people of all ages discover passions, special interests, and even the wonderfully intense “hyperfixations” that can make learning exciting again.

There is a particular emphasis on creating welcoming experiences for neurodivergent people and others who may have historically felt excluded from traditional outdoor communities.

And you certainly don't need to be an experienced birder to belong.

Steph has built a community of thousands online and led hundreds of people through in-person birding experiences in cities including NYC and San Francisco.

The team also creates workshops, seminars, parties, scavenger hunts, and other gatherings designed to help people reconnect not only with nature, but with themselves and one another.

Kindness, authenticity, curiosity, and creating a genuine sense of belonging are the central themes of this growing community.

There's something especially fitting about discovering birding in New York.

That Quirky Bird Girl gives people a reason to look up. And once you do, you may discover that the city you've walked through a thousand times is considerably more magical than you realized. 

In a certain sense it trains you to appreciate things with a different kind of attention.

Perhaps that's the real appeal. You might show up because you want to see some birds or appreciate a bit of nature. But you just may leave having learned a few names, noticed something you've never noticed before, and met people who share your curiosity and who decided to stop…

…and look with you.

Fabrik is a home for communities and where everyone has a place to belong. With spaces designed to feel more like your living room than your office, Fabrik’s 'third spaces' are vibrant hubs where you can come together in real life, explore interests, forge meaningful connections, and enjoy a sense of community.

Sign-up here to experience a free trial at Fabrik.

Weekly events at Fabrik HERE

Thank you for taking the time to read to the end!

I hope you found something inspiring and meaningful in my content and until next time, explore the possibilities of NYC.

-Sugary

🍰🍭🍩🍦🍫🍪🍨🧁

PS. Don’t be shy and hit reply and tell me how you’re doing!