St. Paddy's Day Parade -ing

It seems like just a couple weeks ago that I celebrated St. Patrick's Day, and yet, here it is again. OH WAIT! I was at the Hoboken St. Paddy's Day experience! It was an interesting day for the whole group. Most of us hadn't actually been to Hobo before, but most certainly never expected what was to come.
I've never seen Murray Hill, in all its college-plus denizen glory, mobilized so gleefully. Flasks, shamrocks, green shirts, and even rolling luggage filled with beer were abounding! At the Greeley Square Path station, officers had to shut down entrances periodically so the platforms wouldn't become dangerous.

[Goofy officer MUST be drunk. Check out the people to the right! There are just as many people behind me waiting to get in]

Once we get there, around 10am, we headed straight for the action: Washington Street. Look what we found!

[There was a line down the entire block and composed mostly of women. They all seemed quite dazed and confused as to why they were surrounded by green hooligans... Out-of-towners. Sheesh!]

After a quick stop at Panera Bread to get some sustenance in for a long day of drinking, we headed to Nine Bar just before 11am. The guys were charged a whopping $20 cover. Meanwhile, us ladies, getting in before 11am got in for free. We were told that if we showed up after, we'd have to pay the cover too. Outrageous! 11AM! And a cover more expensive than I've EVER paid in Manhattan. Hobo really milks this day. I can't see how the city would back canceling these celebrations. According to the local hospitals, police stations and fire departments, this year's parade day was the WORST yet.

Nine turned out to be a great choice. They had two floors and tons of hideaway seating so our group wasn't bothered for most of the day, even when most of the other bars were getting flooded with us B & T kids.

[T-Kay at Nine with St. Paddy's Day-inspired Bud light bottles and an Irish flag she found on the street. WOO!]

After a few rounds, it was nearly 1pm when the parade was to commence. We went outside to a scene I'd never witnessed before. I'm accustomed to our police barricaded scenes in Manhattan. You know, the fences, and the police horses, hoards of tourists pushing, and
officers at every corner to avoid parade crashers and J-walkers. Well, Washington Street was completely different. Families with babies and little children were everywhere. They sat, picnic-style ON THE STREETS, and waved to the parade members. It was so casual! There was so much space and people would cross the street during parade lulls. I was shocked.

[Look at a baby sleeping on the actual street! Mom wasn't too excited that I exclaimed this so loudly and then proceeded to take a picture, but you only go to Hoboken once, right?]

The next three hours were a blur. It involved beerpong back at Nine and a few slutty-named-watered-down shots. I was home by 5.

Let's see if I'm so lucky today in the Manhattan version.




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