DIARY
And here is the account of the (much better) South Side St. Patricks day parade.
Unfortunately, I went to this one alone. Also, I think that the photos are less differentiated… while the South Side trade in of glamour for spark was a worthwhile transaction, it doesn’t show well in 2D.
I left Hyde Park at about 10:40, managed to catch a #55 with a minimal wait, and rode out to Western, where a #49 took me south to 79th. Virtually everyone there was waiting for a bus to the parade (and a good many of them were high schoolers, and already drunk). We sandwiched aboard a #379 (Pace), and I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the back next to a girl who was talking tearfully into her cel about the inconsiderateness of her former boyfriend. Her friends harangued her for spending her mind on such matters on Sunday morning.
The bus stopped at 99th street, and we walked en masse towards the parade’s starting point. Many neighborhood residents has set up informal kiosks where they were selling hats, placards, T-shirts, you name it. Some people were on volunteer duty, sitting at a card table on the curb and handing out free coffee and hot chocolate, doctored and undoctored, to all. I got an (undoctored) hot chocolate.
The temp was allegedly the same as the day before, but felt much warmer. Additionally, the crowd must have been at least several times the size of the downtown parade, which was impressive, given the remoteness of the location (served by no El line, and limited bus and Metra), the lack of high-powered celebrities, and the fact that it was noon on a Sunday.
There is a rivalry in Chicago between the North Side and South Side Irish… it follows along the same lines as most North/South rivalries. In a valid corruption of the book “Ethnic Chicago,” the North Side Irish are more likely to stage a Sean O’Casey play, and the South Side Irish are more likely to stage a coup.
The parade had already begun when I arrived, but I was able to overtake the “beginning” by walking briskly down an alleyway and setting up base along Western and 107th St. I watched for over ninety minutes, then hurried back to 103rd St. (My adventured included a choreographed maneuver with a girl outside a KFC to avoid a collision, and trying to take decent pictures over the head of the crowd.)
By the time I’d arrived back, there was still no end to the parade in sight.
I wandered off into Beverly, and waited for my ride…
I’m sorry if the pictures are less interesting this time, but I tried to focus on the life and vigor of the participants and crowds, since the parade relied less on shimmer and technology.
Also, I have more photos than are linked to here… about another thirty, but they didn’t upload. If there’s interest, I’ll post them later.
But for now:
1. St. Patrick.
2. Wall of People in Green.
3. “The South Side Irish.”
4. The Wee Folks of Washtenaw-Talman.
5. St. Barnabas Parish.
6. Big Green Drum, hauled by Jeep.
7. Pipers.
8. The Boy Scouts.
9. Marching Band, red.
10. The Caritas Society.
11. Step-Dancing Lasses!
12. Parade…
13. The Jameson Pipers?
14. Pipers up close.
15. Crowds on the opposite side of the street…
CHORUS
We’re the South Side Irish as our fathers were before
We come from the Windy City and we’re Irish to the core
From Bridgeport to Beverly from Midway to Soth Shore
We’re the South Side Irish-Let’s sing it out once more!
Our parents came from Mayo, from Cork and Donegal.
We come from Sabina, St. Kilian’s and St. Gall
St. Leo, Visitation, Little Flower and the rest.
The South Side parishes are mighty-they’re the best!
CHORUS
We live on the South Side-Mayor Daley lived here too
The Greatest Irish Leader that Chicago ever knew
and he was always proud of his South Side Irish roots!
So here’s to His Honor to his memory we’ll be true.
CHORUS
We sing the songs our fathers sang when they were growing up
Rebel songs of Erin’s Isle in the South Side Irish Pubs
and when it comes to baseball-we have two favorite clubs
The Go-Go White Sox… and whoever plays the Cubs!
CHORUS
Highly Recommended.