OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY: St. Patrick's Day, Chicago Style

St. Patrick's Day in Chicago is always celebrated in an "over the top" sort of way, as you can see illustrated in the above photo. Where else can you see an entire river dyed green? It is said that the road from Chicago to Ireland is paved in water, from the Chicago River to the Illinois River, from the Mississippi to the Gulf shores of the Atlantic, straight through to the Emerald Island itself...

Every St. Patrick's Day since the mid 1960's, forty pounds of vegetable dye is dropped into the Chicago River to start our great city's celebration. The dye will last only a few hours, but it is incredible to see!

Once I learn to maneuver my kayak on the lake, I am going to join these guys!

On the South Side of Chicago, we don't have a green river, but we do have Western Avenue and every year it plays host to one of the largest parades outside of Dublin. It is held every year on the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day. Being here on that day is sort of like being in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday. It's either the place you want to be or the place you want to avoid!

This year there were 15,000 marchers, 120 floats and a whopping 340,000 spectators! The temperature was in the high 60's and that alone was enough reason to grab your baby, drag the dog and head out toward Western Avenue. And good luck getting close to the parade! We live about 8 blocks away and this is where the police roadblocks start. So it's on foot or bike!

I've never had a view from up in the bleachers but it sure looks like fun!

Oops! (they're shrinking!). Moving on...

Ahhh...the infamous Cork & Kerry! Blondie has passed away some very merry time in this little pub! One year after the parade we actually got in to the bar, which is a feat unto itself. A group of bagpiper's came marching in and wove in and out of the tables playing their Irish tunes. Oh, I thought I had died and gone to...Ireland!!

The flags put a mighty lump in my throat, how about you?

Sunday marked the 31st year of the South Side Irish Parade. This little guy looks like he has been to all of them! :-)

According to Papa O'Hara, the South Side is approximately 70% Irish. Papa retired as a Captain of the Chicago Fire Department after almost 50 years of duty. He doesn't go to the parade anymore, but living just two blocks from it is almost like being there.

My girl's were dressed in their green t-shirts, beads and glitter and out the door by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the parade. People actually start taking their places on the parade route as early as dawn. The streets are barricaded off just after 9:00 mass ends.

The parade itself only lasts a little over an hour but the celebration goes on and on! Cabs line up outside the bars on Western all evening, giving rides for free.

The Husband and I spent the afternoon celebrating with our friends Reggie (Mike) and Maureen at their home, which is a block away from the parade. Sitting on their front porch basking in the unseasonably warm weather, we sipped cold ale and listened to the drumbeats and cheers from the crowds. Helicopters whirled overhead, video taping the events for the evening news. Later we went inside for Mo's incredible corned beef, cabbage, boiled potatoes and carrots and brown bread (her grandmother's recipe). She also served us homemade Irish Cream. It is 10 times better than Bailey's!! I could really imagine topping off my coffee with this every morning! Finally, for dessert being only 3/4 Irish, I supplied a vanilla cream pie!

We went home satisfied and full, shed our green t-shirts, beads and bracelets, washed the glitter off our faces and settled down to watch the day's events on the news. I turned to The Husband and said, "I wonder what they are doing over in Ireland"!

I hope everybody had a blessed and wonderful St. Patrick's Day! Happy Outdoor Wednesday! Please visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer to see her post for today and a list of all the participants sharing in Outdoor Wednesday! :-)

xoxo

Janie