After Boston blasts, New Yorkers gear up to support

With the nation still reeling and looking for answers about the Boston Marathon bombing, New York wasted no time in showing solidarity. Politicians and residents alike were eager to show their support.

"We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Boston, as all Americans do," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday as he detailed the city's response and heightened security.

"Today, I've directed all flags at city government buildings to fly at half-staff in memory of those killed in Boston," he said. Boston's flag flew at City Hall at half staff as well.

Eager to help, some restaurants with large Boston followings volunteered to send monetary support to the city, including the Riviera Café and Sports Bar on West 4th Street, which is donating 10% of gross sales to victims and their families for the next week.

"We had the marathon and the Red Sox game on, it was just horrible," said general manager Steve Sertell of the blasts. "It was like a mini version of what happened 12 years ago. It's one of those things you can't expect."

He added: "We certainly felt we're going to do something. For Boston sport fans, this is one of their homes in New York."

Washington Heights runner Ella Ceron, 23, is organizing her own movement to support the victims, encouraging people worldwide to run for five minutes at noon Saturday in solidarity.

"For a lot of people, running is their prayer, their form of meditation, so I wanted a moment where we could all run for Boston together," she said, adding that she's encouraging runners to donate to Red Cross and other charities helping in Boston.

"We all run for our own separate reasons, but for this we're coming together for the same reason," she said. Interested runners can search for the Facebook event called "#loveyouBoston."

In Brooklyn, shows of support quickly emerged in the aftermath of the bombings, as the visual art group Illuminator Collective set up a light display at the Brooklyn Academy of Music that quickly went viral, lit up with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr., and other images supporting Boston.

"The feedback to it has been overwhelmingly positive, people loved it," said Kyle Depew, who helped set up the display. "People who were walking by said, 'Thank you,' people honked horns, people gave us handshakes, everyone felt really good," he said, adding that national media attention multiplied the group's show of support.

Depew added that another Boson-focused light exhibit is already being planned for this weekend.

That wasn't the only light show of solidarity in Brooklyn, as borough President Marty Markowitz said that Borough Hall would be illuminated green last night "in honor of all the victims and their families"

Even the Yankees dropped their rivalry with the Red Sox, tweeting support for the team support Tuesday.

"We stand united with the @RedSox," the team tweeted, along with a photo of the Red Sox "B" on Yankee Stadium.

"Our thoughts are with the Boston community," the team said, adding that at last night's game there would be a moment of silence, along with the playing of Fenway Park favorite "Sweet Caroline" in the third inning.

(with Ivan Pereira)