THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO - WE’RE GOING GREEN!
I'm not talking save the environment here. But rather, a special time of year when here in Chicago we all become Irish! In case you haven't noticed, St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. Since it happens to fall on Wednesday this year in the middle of a work week, and it's not a Federal, State, County or even City Holiday, which it should be, we'll just have to celebrate all weekend long! Hopefully, we'll make it into work on Monday!!
So, without further adieu, I hereby present St. Patrick's Day "weekend" in Chicago -
Saturday starts off early with this annual Chicago tradition, the Dyeing of the Chicago River at 10:45 a.m., so head on over to the Chicago River at Columbus Drive (399 N. Columbus Drive). Best views are the east side of the Michigan Avenue bridge, upper or lower Wacker Drive between Columbus & Michigan, or the west side of Columbus Drive. Click here for more information on this tradition.
Then it's time, rain or shine, for the 55th annual Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, which begins at Columbus & Balbo Drives (300 E. Balbo Drive) at Noon on Saturday. Click here for more information.
If you haven't heard, the City's most attended and celebrated St. Patrick's Day Parade, known as the South Side Irish Parade, has been cancelled, but not forgotten.
This Saturday, the Beverly Arts Center of Chicago will be hosting the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest. A children's parade around the Center's grounds will be featured along with kids' activities, food, drink, Irish merchandise vendors, Irish dancers, a soda bread baking contest, and more. A heated, outdoor tent will provide live music too. Click here for more information.
Then on Sunday, the Beverly Woods Restaurant (11532 S. Western Avenue) will provide appetizers and soft drinks while mourning the loss of the South Side Irish Parade at the Parade Wake. Music and a eulogy will be provided as well. Click here for more information.
And finally, on Sunday, several North Side bars will be hosting the North Side Irish Barade, which also mourns the loss of the South Side Irish Parade, by touring several of those bars. The price includes trolley service along with food buffets and Bud Light drafts. Click here for more information and a list of participating bars.
But that's not all! There's still more -
Learn how the Irish have shaped modern Chicago on Shoreline Sightseeing Cruises' St. Patrick's Day Cruise this Saturday. This river tour includes an Irish lunch buffet with a cash bar, and has two tours, a pre- and post-parade one. Click here for more information.
And let's not forget St. Patrick's Day at the Irish American Heritage Center located in the North Park neighborhood at 4626 N. Knox Avenue. Their festivities run for four days and include more than 150 Irish dancers and live music as well as food vendors, kids' activities and more. Click here for more information.
Needless to say, many of the Chicago area bars will be celebrating with their own Irish food & drink specials, entertainment and possibly more. A few of those bars are -
Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery in the Loop, Timothy O'Toole's in the Gold Coast neighborhood, O'Donovan's in the North Center neighborhood, and The Smoke Daddy Rhythm & Bar-B-Que in the East Village/Ukrainian Village neighborhood.
Finally, to bring your St. Patrick's Day celebrations full-circle, wrap-up on Sunday with one or both of these -
St. Paddy's 5K Run/Walk at Diversey Harbor at the Lake (2800 N. Lake Shore Drive). Win a prize for best outfit by wearing a festive green costume. There's also a post-race party at The Trinity Bar. Click here for more information.
Northwest Side Irish Parade in the Norwood Park neighborhood at 6334 W. Raven. This is their 8th annual parade featuring performances by 65 units, including Mullane Irish Dancers, the Jesse White Tumblers, the St. Patrick's High School Jazz Band and much more. Afterwards, Immaculate Conception Parish will be serving up corned beef and cabbage dinners, soda, beer and wine along with a variety of live entertainment. Click here for more information.
Have a Happy & Safe St. Patrick's Day weekend here in Chicago! We truly know how to celebrate "Green!"
SUE MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
