Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Chicago

Chicago has been celebrating St. Patrick's Day, in one form or another, since 1843. Now, it's like Christmas in March when, as the saying goes, "Everybody is Green for a Day."

With the city's official St. Patrick's Day Parade, the celebrated South Side Irish Parade and a host of Irish-themed haunts, this year the City of Big Shoulders offers more fun than you can shake a shillelagh at ...

The 52^nd annual Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade will actually take place on St. Patrick's Day this year -- Saturday, March 17, 2007. Marchers will start at noon at Balbo Avenue and Columbus Drive and precede northbound towards Buckingham Fountain. A viewing stand will be erected at Congress Drive in front of the immense waterspout. Floats, marching bands, local celebrities and -- of course -- bagpipers from across the globe will be participating, and thousands of Chicagoans of all ages will line the parade route to take in the fun.

About an hour before hand, in a spirited tradition that dates back to 1962, the Chicago River will once again be dyed green. Arrive at the Michigan Avenue Bridge (or any other nearby north-south crossing) by approximately 10:45 AM and you may be in time for the best view in the house as a riverboat dumps the "secret ingredients," a mixture reportedly known to only a few Chicago families, that will turn our celebrated waterway into an emerald channel to make the rivers Liffey and Shannon proud.

The green concoction is biodegradable, or so we are told, so even the most environmentally conscious of leprechauns can fully embrace the fun.

Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade, traditionally led by "Hizzonor" Mayor Richard M. Daley, is the city's largest parade of the year. For some Chicagoans, however, it ranks as only the second best St. Patrick's Day Parade in the city.

What can one say? Chicago likes to celebrate its Irish heritage.

Six days earlier, at noon on Sunday, March 11, 2007, the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 103rd and Western Avenue, in the heart of the city's Irish community. It rolls north for twelve blocks. What began in 1979 as a small procession of 17 children marching down the sidewalk -- a few boy scouts, a leprechaun, a St. Patties Day Queen and an American Flag -- has blossomed into one of the most festive and anticipated events in all of Chicagoland.

The annual gathering now boasts of a plethora of colorful floats and marching bands, and plenty of candy for children of all ages lining Western Avenue. And -- of course -- there will an appearance by the very bagpipers from near and far who will bless the city of Chicago not once, but twice in the same week with their mystical sounds from the Emerald Isle.

So ... two parades with six whole days in-between ... what's a celebratory soul to do in honor of the green to pass the days away in the City of Big Shoulders?

Well, here's a hint: its a deep ruby-brown stout served up with a creamy, cascading head, best chilled and not at "room temperature" as so often and incorrectly described in Ireland, and it goes great with fish & chips, sheppard's pie, or, well, maybe just another pint. Or two.

Along the South Side Irish Parade route, or near enough, are a number of pubs where one can tap a fresh pint of Guinness such as the Cork & Kerry, Corrigan's Restaurant & Pub, and The Limerick Public House, which Chicagoan George Wendt (who tipped a few pints as Norm on "Cheers" ) called "the coolest bar I've ever seen." Head a bit deeper through the south side, to suburban Willowbrook, Illinois, in fact, to find a charming Irish cottage called the Kerry Piper with full Irish menu, live music, and ... mmmmmmm, plenty of Guinness.

Their north side counterparts include the Hidden Shamrock (all day Irish breakfast, lamb stew, Guinness), Abbey Pub (live music, corned beef and cabbage, Guinness), and Johnny O'Hagan's (fireplace, rugby on the TVs, Guinness). And, arguably the best and most authentic of all is Chief O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant offering all of the above, especially the Guinness, plus the best craic in Chicago.

For a haunt of another kind -- quite literally -- check out the Chief O'Neill Memorial Pub Crawl offered by Chicago Hauntings Tours or the Irish Ghosts and Weird Pub Crawl with your guide, Troy Taylor, author of Haunted Illinois.

Getting around: Now, driving to and from might be a bit of a hassle: gas prices, traffic, parking fees, parking tickets and, not the least of which, concerns over imbibing a wee bit too much and getting yourself into a DUI, or worse. If driving, please use a designated driver, and the best advice is to go early to secure a choice spot. Otherwise, Metra and the CTA offer plenty of routes (just scroll down to the "Public Transportation" section at the above Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade link). And then there are always plenty of cabs available, if you are willing to dip into your Guinness money ...

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day in Chicago!