Washington DC St. Patrick's Day Parade - Sunday, March 16, 2008

[Deepbluegxp]

I'd like to meet ealier and do breakfast.

[smartin]

Originally Posted by Deepbluegxp I'd like to meet ealier and do breakfast.

Sounds perfect. Me too.

[reedred]

Me three! I'll take a shamrock too- let me know how much and I'll settle up with you that morning!

[solli4me]

We need one more to make the magic St. Patty number 17.

[smartin]

Originally Posted by reedred Me three! I'll take a shamrock too- let me know how much and I'll settle up with you that morning!

Ok, great. The magnetic shamrocks are 8 bucks a piece.

Originally Posted by solli4me We need one more to make the magic St. Patty number 17.

That's a good idea.

[ScottyB]

Thanks SMartin. I am def in and I would also like a shamrock if you have any remaining. I am in for breakfast too.

Deep - maybe we could hook up and drive in together. Need to talk to about the windresticter too. About ready to order one and wanted to get your opinion on the new setup they have there you can control the switches (supposed to be new just not sure how new - cost 99 bucks). Have you ever put one in? Trying to get it ordered and done by the parade but not sure I will make it.

[smartin]

Originally Posted by ScottyB Thanks SMartin. I am def in and I would also like a shamrock if you have any remaining. I am in for breakfast too.

There should be plenty of shamrocks. I will make sure I get more if I ever get the first order.

Yes, breakfast. Need to pick a place over near me. Let me think about it.

Have also ordered stickers and candy for my daughter and her best friend to hand out to the crowd.

[ctyankee]

If I go, we'll need something like this if we are going top down.

Item# 125898 - Giant Leprechaun Hat - Discount Costumes and Accessories

[Go-N Def]

Originally Posted by ctyankee If I go, we'll need something like this if we are going top down. Item# 125898 - Giant Leprechaun Hat - Discount Costumes and Accessories

Why top down? LOL!!!

[Deepbluegxp]

Originally Posted by ScottyB Thanks SMartin. I am def in and I would also like a shamrock if you have any remaining. I am in for breakfast too. Deep - maybe we could hook up and drive in together. Need to talk to about the windresticter too. About ready to order one and wanted to get your opinion on the new setup they have there you can control the switches (supposed to be new just not sure how new - cost 99 bucks). Have you ever put one in? Trying to get it ordered and done by the parade but not sure I will make it.

No problem, we'll drive up together. Also you have plenty of time to get a WR, I've installed 3 with switches.

[Midlife]

Having participated in this parade for the last 15 years, I'm telling you, the site of 17Solstices and Skys WILL BLOW PEOPLE AWAY! This parade is run well, and run casually. If 20, 25 or more cars show up, no big deal.

Here are few tips from a parade veteran. 1) I encourage you to get to the staging area EARLY. The parade starts at noon. My recommendation is to get there no later than 11 AM. There are three good reason for this: 1) PARTY! Taking in the local flora and fauna of parade revelers, outrageous costumes, bagpipers, etc., is a people watching moment not to be missed. 2) It will take you longer to reach the staging area than you think. There is one big flaw in the organization of the parade. The two staging areas (the two frontage roads paralleling the mall) are closed to regular traffic, guarded by cops, and are for parade vehicles only. The only problem is that the cops will probably not know who is in the parade and who is not. The first time I ever saw official parade credentials that could be submitted to the cops was last year. Their effectiveness was, shall we say, spotty. You may or may not be issued credentials this year. If not, no worries. As I mentioned, the mood is casual. You basically have to talk your way past the cops. What I've done is just pull up to the baracade and announce very confidently, "I'm in the parade. I'm with the XXX group, parade position XXX." (You will be given a letter and number position, e.g. C-22.) This has worked for me every time. 3) Getting there early means having time to decorate your car. Almost all cars have some decorations. Most people just drop by the local party store to load up on big shamrocks and the like. They can be taped to your car with masking tape.

I'm sorry I will be with my own group that day. But you are invited to join my party in the staging area before the parade, place TBD. If you decide to have your own, I'll drop by.

I also highly recommend a post parade party at a local Irish bar. You are invited to join my gropup at Pat Troy's in Old Town Alexandria, about a 15 minute drive. Pat Troy's Ireland's Own Restaurant and Pub of Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. Another fine choice is The Dubliner. It is closer but may actually take longer to drive to, given the traffic. The Dubliner | An Irish Pub in the Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.

FUN!

[ctyankee]

Originally Posted by Midlife Having participated in this parade for the last 15 years, I'm telling you, the site of 17Solstices and Skys WILL BLOW PEOPLE AWAY! This parade is run well, and run casually. If 20, 25 or more cars show up, no big deal. Here are few tips from a parade veteran. 1) I encourage you to get to the staging area EARLY. The parade starts at noon. My recommendation is to get there no later than 11 AM. There are three good reason for this: 1) PARTY! Taking in the local flora and fauna of parade revelers, outrageous costumes, bagpipers, etc., is a people watching moment not to be missed. 2) It will take you longer to reach the staging area than you think. There is one big flaw in the organization of the parade. The two staging areas (the two frontage roads paralleling the mall) are closed to regular traffic, guarded by cops, and are for parade vehicles only. The only problem is that the cops will probably not know who is in the parade and who is not. The first time I ever saw official parade credentials that could be submitted to the cops was last year. Their effectiveness was, shall we say, spotty. You may or may not be issued credentials this year. If not, no worries. As I mentioned, the mood is casual. You basically have to talk your way past the cops. What I've done is just pull up to the baracade and announce very confidently, "I'm in the parade. I'm with the XXX group, parade position XXX." (You will be given a letter and number position, e.g. C-22.) This has worked for me every time. 3) Getting there early means having time to decorate your car. Almost all cars have some decorations. Most people just drop by the local party store to load up on big shamrocks and the like. They can be taped to your car with masking tape. I'm sorry I will be with my own group that day. But you are invited to join my party in the staging area before the parade, place TBD. If you decide to have your own, I'll drop by. I also highly recommend a post parade party at a local Irish bar. You are invited to join my gropup at Pat Troy's in Old Town Alexandria, about a 15 minute drive. Pat Troy's Ireland's Own Restaurant and Pub of Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. Another fine choice is The Dubliner. It is closer but may actually take longer to drive to, given the traffic. The Dubliner | An Irish Pub in the Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. FUN!

OK, you convinced me. If there is still room for me, I'm in And if I can get a shamrock or two, on for each side, I'll buy them as well. I mean, really, I have a green car, I have to go. Heat on, top down, BIG Irish hat of some sort. Hopefully some of us So. MD. folk can all ride in together and talk our way in.

[Deepbluegxp]

Even more reason the come join us for breakfast and enter the staging area as a group. A whole lot less confusion for all participants

[Go-N Def]

Originally Posted by ctyankee OK, you convinced me. If there is still room for me, I'm in And if I can get a shamrock or two, on for each side, I'll buy them as well. I mean, really, I have a green car, I have to go. Heat on, top down, BIG Irish hat of some sort. Hopefully some of us So. MD. folk can all ride in together and talk our way in.

Speaking of Southern Maryland, it always brings the term "SMIB" to mind. I did some searching around, just because...

Joe, when I found this, I thought of you.

I highlighted some of the more applicable ones:

You know you are in Calvert County when: you see hairstyles you haven't seen since the 70's. you see ugly wishing wells on people's front lawns to cover a less-ugly septic cap. you know people who honestly believe that beer out of a 10 oz. can is BETTER than beer in a 12 oz can. you see that pickup trucks outnumber cars by 2 to 1. you get so used to the putrid smell coming from the Lusby landfill that you hardly notice it anymore. when you ask your kid what they did in school today, they reply "we watched the movie Flubber!" in the rest of the free world, the LEFT lane is considering the passing lane. when someone says they are going "up the road" you know what road they are talking about. a new Food Lion store opens and they shine a huge spotlight at night, as if it's the premier of a blockbuster movie in Hollywood. Hollywood, California that is....not to be confused with Hollywood, Maryland. In case you don't know where Hollywood, Maryland is - it's up the road from California, Maryland. every household has all the necessary condiments in the kitchen: salt, pepper and Old Bay seasoning (perhaps in a gallon size jug bought from a warehouse store). when flipping past the local cable access television station, you see that they are still advertising "Breakfast with Santa" with a November reservation deadline (and it's currently February). you've laughed at the Mattress Mart Mascot and wondered how much money he makes to wear a mattress costume every weekend and wave to people on Route 4. after a while, you are able to correctly identify SMIBs when you see them. you can tell the socioeconomic status of your neighbors by looking at the appliances they throw out in their front yard...almond for classier people, white or avocado colored appliances for the less fortunate. during deer hunting season, your neighbors hang a dead deer from the tree in their front yard and they think there's nothing wrong with that. you start thinking that Taco Bell is real authentic mexican food. a night out on the town involves going to a Wal-Mart (if the Tiki Bar is closed for the winter). your county commissioners in the early 1990's enacted a "cat leash law"

O.K. I'll stop threadjacking now.....

We can definitely meet up somewhere down here and head north. Then we meet up with everyone else in DC for breakfast before heading to the staging area...

[icemanll]

where do you find the online application? to register