The Mermaid Parade 2013

See The Mermaid Parade 2012 for a tiny bit of history.  2013 is the 31st year of the Mermaid Parade which is the closest thing NYC gets to Mardi Gras.  There was concern that the financial ravages of Superstorm Sandy might end or suspend the parade this year, but the spirit of Brooklyn prevailed and the weather gods smiled.  As I wrote in 2012, this is a 'raucous, uninhibited, unabashed, often tacky and uncensored celebration of the sea'.  Eventually I expect to distill the two years of images into one gallery but there is so much to enjoy here, I provide the fuller coverage for the time being.   (Click a thumbnail image once to enlarge; click within the right or left side of the image to advance or go back - or use your right and left arrows.)