Where Else Would You Take the Family for St. Patrick's Day?
Dia dhuit, hello! "The road from Chicago to Ireland is marked in green," they say, and the annual dying of the Chicago River emerald green is described as "right up there with the parting of the sea by Moses and the Pyramids of Egypt." Well, what's a little blarney, it's St. Patrick's Day. And how is this different from the normal murky green of the River? "The difference," the official Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade website says, "is both significant and breathtaking." (Where is that stone when we need it most?) Stephen M. Bailey, the man who dyed the River green the first time, said, "with characteristic Irish exaggeration, ‘The Chicago River will dye the Illinois, which will dye the Mississippi, which will dye the Gulf of Mexico, which will send green dye up the gulf stream across the North Atlantic into the Irish Sea, a sea of green surrounding the land will appear as a greeting to all Irishmen of the Emerald Isle from the men of Erin in Chicagoland, USA.'" Malarkey! This is my hometown we're talking about, the Windy City, and where better to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? On this side of the Big Pond at any rate. The legendary Richard J. Daley took part in the first St. Patrick's Day Parade formed on Chicago's West Side in the 50s, before he became mayor. Here's a photo of the Shannon Rovers Fife and Drum Corps (Irish Pipe Band) stepping off the parade since 1956: (For photo, go here: http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/pict2000/rovers3.jpg ) Irish and Catholic is the heritage of the City, not the only one in this melting pot city, but a strong one. My father, Ray Garrett (a good Irish name) loved his hometown, knew its history well, and was always telling me tales. Every single time we rounded one curve on the road into Chicago from the suburbs he would say, "This is evidence of the power of the Catholic Church in this town." The whole highway had been swung around to allow a Catholic Church to remain standing. This may be the subject of Eleen Skerrett's book, "At the Crossroads: Old Saint Patrick's and the Chicago Irish." "Influential" others would say about the Irish in Chicago, and strong in number. The Irish were one of the largest groups of immigrants to the US and were always a large and influential group in Chicago, especially politically. According to Eastern Illinois University ( http://www.eiu.edu/~insight/stpat/stpat.htm ) included: ·1836, the Illinois and Michigan Canal opened, linking Lake Michigan and the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Much of the labor was done by the Irish. And what about the wearing of the green? The three leaf clover or seamóg became a symbol of Ireland and was worn by the Irish regiments of the Queen's Army. According to the official Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade site, "when it became an emblem of rebellion in the 19th century, Queen Victoria outlawed wearing it – the wearing of the green - and made it punishable by death by hanging. Fittingly sponsored by Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Local Union 130 U. A., (which raises funds by holding their annual corned beef and cabbage dinner in January at Plumber's Hall, and $55 per person at that), this year's parade will be held Saturday, March 13th at noon on Columbus Drive. Meanwhile, a citywide search is on for "Chicago's fairest Colleen". This bonny lass will lead the parade riding an authentic Irish Side Car. The qualifications? "Any girl of Irish ancestry, never married, 17-28 years old." Take a look at last year's beautiful red-haired winner, Jaime Dineen, robed in emerald green satin http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/queens/q2003_l.jpg and her court - Mary, Colleen, Megan and Bridget. And what can you do while in Chicago? In a town full of architecture, museums, culture, art, fun, shopping, theater and the home of urban blues, it's just a matter of walking out the hotel door. Chicago also has a long history of great food – remember the cattle were sent up to the Chicago Stockyards for fattening? A small point, but not if you're a bread-lover – rolls in Chicago are sublime, crisp on the outside, yielding to a soft and chewy interior. Move over France. Eat in a "Grill" if you can; it's a special ambiance. Chicago has an excellent and affordable public transportation system (bus, cab and elevated train, "el") that will carry you wherever you want to go. Here are some of my favorites. Do consider staying over through Tuesday, as most museums in Chicago are FREE on this day. CHICAGO MUSEUM OF ART THE FIELD MUSEUM THE SEARS TOWER CHICAGO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY The list goes on, including LINCOLN PARK ZOO still free after all these years, the SHEDD AQUARIUM, THE MIRACLE MILE (shopping), the original MARSHALL FIELD'S and more. THE NORTH SHORE In Wilmette, stop at the Pancake House. This is not IHOP. Official name, Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, 153 Green Bay Rd., 847-251-6000 , map is here: http://chicago.citysearch.com/map?mode=geo&id=3492085&map_lat=420697&map_lon=-877035&fid=2&cslink=profile_map_noncust . How to prepare? ·Put "The Secret of Roan Inish" in the DVD ( Go raibh maith 'ad and slán agat. (Thank you and Goodbye). ©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . I offer coaching, distance learning programs, and ebooks around emotional intelligence for your personal and professional development. I train and certify EQ coaches. Get into this field, dubbed "white hot" by the press, now. No residency requirement. Start immediately. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine. For daily EQ Tips, send blank email to EQ4U-subscribe@yahoogroups.com . This article can be reprinted as long as the author's name and website address are provided. |