How to add NYC Parking Holidays to MS Outlook

2006 is right around the corner and it's time to update your calendar.
If you like me own a car in New York City and are a slave to alternate side parking, then you want a tip on those great days when it is officially suspended. Meanwhile I often use Microsoft Outlook's calendar feature to remind myself of many events.

So here, I present the ingredients you need to simply add the official 2006 NYC alternate parking calendar to MS Outlook.

In windows, open Notepad.

Then open this directory from Notepad:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\1033

Edit this file
outlook.hol

Append this blob of text and save it (don't worry about blank lines):

[NYC Parking] 45
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/01/01
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/01/02
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/01/10
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/01/11
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/01/12
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/01/16
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/01/29
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/02/12
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/02/13
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/02/20
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/03/01
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/03/14
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/04/13
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/04/14
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/04/19
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/04/20
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/04/21
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/05/25
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/05/29
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/06/02
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/06/03
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/07/04
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/08/15
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/09/04
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/09/23
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/09/24
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/02
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/07
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/08
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/09
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/14
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/15
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/22
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/23
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/10/24
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/11/01
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/11/07
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/11/10
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/11/11
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/11/23
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/12/08
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/12/25
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/12/30
NYC Parking Holiday, 2006/12/31
NYC Parking Holiday, 2007/01/01

Now go to this URL and follow the instructions on how to use Outlook's feature to add new holidays to your calendar. Follow the step in the instructions called "Add the new dates to the calendar." You will see that you have a new holiday called "NY Parking".

This link gives better directions on editing your custom Outlook holidays.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010864971033.aspx

And there you have it.

Important: Check the official NYC site for more info on Alternate Side Parking, because it sometimes other days for weather and other reasons.

Notes: This definitely works for me in Outlook 2003, but you may have different results in other versions of Outlook. I checked my conversion of the calendar to the Outlook format, but if I did make an error, please do not forward me any parking tickets. There is enough information on the official NYC parking site for you to verify my work yourself. This information does not help you if you do not have a car, and if you do have one, it does not help you if you never park it in New York City.

Just an update: my wife has started a theater company called Katharis. I recently helped her deploy their new website.

OK, here's a Thanksgiving puzzle. What's wrong with this picture? And, No, I did not use Photoshop.

If you figure it out, post a comment. If you think it is way cool, email my blog link to every human being you know.


 

This photo was taken during Thanksgiving. The camera's flash made this common object quite compelling. What is it?