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Approaching five years in the
greater Boston area and we still hadn't ventured out
to South Boston to see the famed St. Patrick's Day
parade. This was to be the year. We headed out early
Sunday morning with the simple yet appealing plan
of sitting in an Irish pub along the parade route
and watching the festivities. J had done some diligent
Internet research and identified several potential
candidates to quench our thirst.
The powers-that-be have moved
the parade to Sundays in an effort to curb the unbridled
drinking that had become a staple of the event. The
logic was that fewer people would drink on Sundays
because they had to go to work the following day.
Additionally, Massachusetts' arcane blue laws forbade
the purchase of alcoholic beverages before noon. Judging
by the lines of customers extending around the block
of each liquor we passed as we drove into town, not
much was going to stand in the way of a good time.
As we checked out J's pubs, we soon found out that
it was going to cost us a minimum of $20 a pop just
to get in one. And once in, you're condemned to paying
the inflated beer prices. We wandered around checking
out the revelers and looking for a suitable venue.
We eventually settled on an empty Mexican restaurant
of all things with a view of the route and a constant
supply of Corona and Modelo Negro.
The parade itself was somewhat
disappointing. While it was enjyable to see the floats,
fireman, and policemen from all over the Northeast,
it seemed overwhelmingly like a political parade beset
with congressmen and city council members dressed
in green ties and seeking re-election in the coming
Fall. Massachusetts may be the only state in which
the state capital is also the largest city, so there
is never a shortage of politicians around trying to
look important. It was something to experience once
and a nice diversion after the long winter, but we
doubt that we'll go back year after year.
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The liquor store was a busy place.
Let's get this party started.
The bartenders were a blur.
The seven musketeers.
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