CHICAGO ST.PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

My week of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the great city of Chicago has been quite an enjoyable affair. The festivities began on a Sunday and drew to an end on Saturday. As I’ve stated before, few cities celebrate St. Patrick’s Day like Chicago. You can thank the Irish blood that pumps through the City and the strong party scene for this great celebration that comes around only once a year. Everyone becomes Irish when they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Second City. Green overfills the town as the inhabitants sport green attire and as the legendary Chicago River becomes Irish too (they dye the River green!). Our Saturday started off with a morning session of Green Beer and a savory breakfast buffet. We drank at Mother Hubbard’s in the River North section of Chicago. The original plan was to drink at Fado’s a couple blocks down, but all the Irish pubs and taverns in the city had lines that went around the corners. It’s in your best interest to arrive early or to booze up before you hit the bars so you’re feeling good while you wait in line. Mother Hubbard’s may not be as classy or cool as the surrounding bars of the infamous Hubbard Street, but it is one of the most enjoyable. They had a great draft selection (sorry, the draft list went missing after an hour or two of singing and drinking) and the crowd was a great mix of young and old people looking to drink some beers and have some fun.

After breakfast we proceeded to catch the dying of the Chicago River green. Spectators fill the bridges, sidewalks, docks, and plazas to get a glimpse of the magic. It was quite a site. 10:45 came and the boats and Irish bagpipes began the ceremony. Up and down they went spreading the orange dye that turns the Chicago River green. Once the ceremony was over, people either stayed or went back to their drinking ways. North or South, East or West: Would be Irish men and women roamed the great downtown that Chicago has to offer. There is also a parade that happens on Saturday, but after the dying of the river I decided to go back to the parties. It was remarkable to walk around the parks and plazas of the downtown area and be greeted by green men and women enjoying their beers. No matter where you went in the City, a party was just around the corner. Plus, if you get hungry, the best food from around the world is found at your fingertips (I indulged myself with some Gino’s East Deep Dish Spinach Pizza. Fan-freaking-tastic.)

Overall, the Chicago festivities that surround St. Patrick’s Day are not to be missed. I ran into people from all over the world: California, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, Australia and many more. They all came to Chicago because they knew Chicago does the St. Patrick’s Festivities right.

Mother Hubbard’s is located in the River North area of Chicago on the infamous section of Hubbard Street. http://www.motherhubbards.net/