DOWNTOWN:



Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade to Take Place Saturday, March 15 in Downtown St. Louis



Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place Saturday, March 15



On Market Street in Downtown St. Louis



The Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Louis will take place on Saturday, March 15 in 2008. ......



Read Post Dispatch article:

http://www.stltoday.com/pr/arts-enterta ... 5081037629



Parade Website:

http://www.irishparade.org/



MAP:













ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE DOGTOWN:



March 17, 25th Ancient Order of Hibernians Saint Patrick's Day Parade

Dogtown St. Louis, MO, Begins, 12:30 p.m., south of the Tamm Avenue overpass at Oakland Boulevard. The route travels south on Tamm Avenue, past historic St. James the Greater Catholic Church, and ends at Manchester Road; Admission Free; Vendor Costs

^

Or you can go to both, which is what I'll probably do!

The Dogtown parade is definitely more authentic and neighborhoody. But I like to do the downtown St. Pat's run, so I usually stick around for the DT parade as well. Unless both fall on St. Pat's Day like last year--then Dogtown wins out as I actually walk in that parade.

is there a reason none of the parade routes in stlouis ever run on washington ave where the bulk of the residences/businesses are?

ContractorKitchens wrote:is there a reason none of the parade routes in stlouis ever run on washington ave where the bulk of the residences/businesses are?

I assume Market can hold more people.

Doug wrote:Why would you post the Downtown Parade? That's a corporate ripoff. The clans don't walk and there is advertising. If people want a good, family event come to Dogtown.

Doug, I know how much you love to rage against the machine, but I think both events are worthy in their own right.



The Dogtown event is more intimate, far more authentic, and more fun overall since it's actually in an Irish neighborhood. I like how the party typically carries on long after the parade has ended, whether it's in places like Seamus McDaniel's or private parties in many of the homes in the neighborhood.



The downtown event has its own advantages. Sure, it's corporate and it's about as authentic as the now-aborted Strassenhoosierfest, but it's not entirely bad. For those with families, I think it's much more family friendly than Dogtown FWIW. It's much more spread out, there are free children's activities if and when the kiddies get bored with the parade, it's more convenient since it's always on a Saturday, and as long as I can drink some Guinness, I'm fine with all of that.



Last year we went downtown, and we made it to Dogtown to go to a friend's house just as the parade was winding down. In retrospect we regretted our decision, because it was overrun last year (it isn't nearly as bad when St. Pat's falls on a weekday, but then good luck getting off work). My favorite part was when I was driving down a side street, and some methhead Eminem lookalike from JeffCo with a souped-up Camaro thought it'd be fun to play chicken with me going the wrong way on a one-way street with cars lining both sides of the street. Fortunately I found a driveway to pull into just as he stopped inches short of my car before he did a burnout while taking off. So Doug, what were you saying in that other thread about letting outsiders into our community? (I kid, I kid!)

^ Taking a look at traffic management in the area the day of the event (especially on a Saturday, when crowds are obviously much larger) would go a long way toward improving the experience. I realize there's not much that can be done to manage traffic given the parking limitations within the immediate area, but the side streets are a mess (and as our experiences prove, they can be quite dangerous at times).

FROM DOWNTOWN STL ORG



St. Patrick's Day Celebrations





The 39th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place in downtown St. Louis Saturday, March 15, 2008. The parade steps off at noon from 18th and Market Streets and proceeds east on Market to Broadway, where it will disband. The parade will feature elaborate floats, marching bands, marching units, dance groups, animal units, novelty units, motorized units and giant cartoon character helium-filled balloons.



This year the parade activities will again feature the Irish Village at Kiener Plaza from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Irish Village will feature a Main Stage with Irish and popular music, the Radio Disney Stage with a 90-minute show, food and beverages from Norton's Cafe, Super Smoker's World Championship BBQ, TGI Friday's, Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Dining Center, Irish novelties from Lite Up the Night, free inflatable bounce rides for children, free face painting, jugglers, and balloon sculptures.



Due to the change in parade direction from west to east, Market Street will be closed at 7:30 a.m. from Compton to 20th Street for staging of parade units and from 20th Street east to Broadway for the parade.



Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at St. Louis Union Station

March 15th



St. Louis Union Station will also have St. Patrick's Day activities for all. Events are as follows: The John Ford Highland Pipe Band will perform as they march through the Station at 10 am; a live radio broadcast of the parade will take place with Mark Klose and Laurie Mac with KHITS on the Market Street balcony from 11 am - 1 pm; Dr. Zhivegas will perform a concert on the Lake Stage from 1 pm - 5 pm; and, the O'Faolain Academy of Irish Dance will perform on the South Plaza at 3 pm. For more information

You may joke, but corned beef is suprisingly good on the BBQ. I've done it many times. I imagine it's probably not that common, though.

I have been going to the Dogtown parade since I was a kid. I have to say that this years cooler ban is a HUGE disappointment. It added to the neighborhood block party feel that the event has. I think the Hibernians must have cut a deal with the bars. They say it is being done to cut down on underage drinking. I guess someone of age can't buy a beer for an underage kid? It is all about money for the local vendors and establishments, which I support, but come on!! Just another way to kill the fun. How can they keep the neighbors from drinking their own? THEY CAN'T!!!

the "beef" that is being "corned" is nothing but a flank steak, which is exactly what our good friends in Texas prefer to smoke. So, I could see how the corned beef works well on a BBQ, albeit low and slow as it's a pretty fibrous cut of cow.

No matter whether the beer comes from a vendor or a cooler, the random acts of whizzing will likely still be there. I have been going to this event since I was a kid. I acknowledge the fact that it has grown in popularity, but cooler or vendor, the drunks will always come out in full force as long as the event is held. BTW, the parade is not the only event. People hang out in the streets,bars and at St. James, until the evening. You will still see the same amount of partying. SO, it comes down to how the people get their beer. Pay top dollar for it or bring your own. Either way the people will get it. Will paying more for beer discourage some? Yes, but not enough to make it noticable. There are so many places for underage people to stash beer!! It seems to be all about the local establishments making money. Same thing happened in Soulard (MG). Those bar owners admit Mardi Gras Saturday is a significant portion of their annual sales. Face it, it is all about money. I spend enough money at the Dogtown establishments the rest of the year. Guess I just hate to wait in line forever and pay the price of a 6 pack for one beer. I already have to spend 25 minutes in line to use the JOHNNY!

YES, I am bitter! RANT OVER :hell:

^supposedly they will have double the number of port-o-pottys this year in Dogtown. As a Soulard resident I can tell you no one had an excuse for not using the facilities they placed all over the neighborhood for Mardi Gras.