It’s that time of year again. Time for the river to run green, the bystanders to watch hundreds of unions and politicians walk the Loop, and for everyone to be Irish.
St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago is one of the longstanding traditions that everyone should experience at least once. It’s usually a miserably cold, rainy, gray day — the very opposite of perfect parade weather — but standing on the sides of the streets is only part of the reason to be there. It’s where the true Irish and the Irish for the Day meet up and raise a glass together.
I’ve always enjoyed this holiday because:
1. Warm Irish soda bread with butter
2. Four-leaf clovers
3. Shamrock shakes
4. Happy Celtic music (hello, Chieftains)
5. Melancholy Celtic music
6. Fake Irish drinking songs, a la Denis Leary’s “Traditional Irish Folk Song”
But my absolute favorite thing about St. Patrick’s Day is that redheads, much maligned the rest of the year, finally catch a break. It’s like National Middle Child Day all over again.
For one day, it’s good to be red.
Any plans for St. Patrick’s Day? And do you wear green today?
the thing about joan... 