Day 23: Never have I ever... attended the St. Patrick's Day parade

It's St. Patrick's Day! I'm Irish and unemployed... Parade here I come!

Marching Band

I've never done the St. Patty's Day thing in NYC. I have been in Chicago when they turn the river green, and that is pretty cool. But, I'm generally not into huge mob-crowds. They're oppressive, annoying, and potentially dangerous. But I decided that I'd probably be OK if I got to the parade by noon. How drunk could people be by noon? 

Flag bearers

The answer: Very drunk. People were shoving and pushing, and I felt like cattle being herded onto the slaughterhouse truck. I nearly stepped in puke. And there were more stupid outfits than Halloween at a frat house. Felt leprechaun hats, bouncy shamrock headbands, spray-painted green hair, even green tulle tutus. Everyone was decked out, I was practically blinded by all the reflective green sparkles. 

The un-stupid outfits were all IN the parade. I have to say, the parade itself is really cool. Huge bands with elaborate outfits, bagpipers with kilts, Irish dancers in gorgeous dresses, color guard and flag bearers in uniform. It was festive, indeed. Though it was very difficult to see over the throngs of people. I can only imagine that the people along the front barricades had been there since 8am. You gotta really LOVE St. Patrick's Day to do that. 

All in all, watching the parade on a beautiful, sunny March day with a cold Guinness in a cop-friendly thermos was a lovely treat. This is something that I would never ever take the time to do in regular life, but I'm so glad that this project afforded me the chance to do it. 

A wall of American Flags

Though I probably won't do it again. Because with rare exception, these are the main crowd demographics at the St. Patrick's Day parade: 

1. International Tourists
2. Teenagers
3. Bridge and Tunnel Assholes 
(And to clarify, I'm not saying all B&T'ers are assholes...)

Grand Central Station. Mid-day.

Walking down to the subway, every bar was packed. I picked up the 4 train from Grand Central, and I have never seen it so crowded in the middle of the day. It looked like 8:45 a.m. on a Monday morning. Except a really weird Monday, where everyone is wearing green and falling down the staircase. 

Results: I came. I saw. It was fun. I went home before things really got ugly. 

Status: Slàinte!