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I'm honestly not surprised its at the top, with the exception of Boston. Pittsburgh is easily the 2nd most Irish city in the country, percentage wise and the whole city shuts down for the parade and celebration.
^ I have no doubts it's "one of the best"... But #1? I'm surprised because it's not top 5 in attendance or participation... Unless it's more condensed... thus better?
Chicago's going for "greenest city" a second year in a row. Tourism Ireland ran the competition last year and apparently the city came up on top. I know even though it's only Friday people are getting pumped for tomorrow. A day of dizzying pub crawls going on all over the city. I have 4 people at my house right now from out of town resting up as we speak.
Quote:
Chicago aims to be world's greenest city on St. Patrick's weekend
Chicago is going for the title of "greenest city in the world" this weekend for the second year in a row.
"We will have the most buildings lit up in green of any other city in the world," said Blair Ciecko, director of ShamROCK Chicago. "I don't think we should have a problem nabbing the title of greenest city."
Chicago's St. Patrick's Day celebrations will also include countless pub crawls, at least three parades and one very green river.
Some of the city's most prominent buildings and monuments will be illuminated in green Friday through Tuesday. ShamROCK Chicago, the group that organized the lighting, has 15 structures lined up to participate, including Trump Tower, Navy Pier, John Hancock Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Soldier Field and Old St. Patrick's Church. Tourism Ireland created the "greenest city" campaign to get cities to light up landmarks around the world.
People can participate by taking selfies and posting them on social media with the hashtag #ShamROCKChicago. Nineteen stations are sprinkled throughout the city and photos will be projected on the Block Thirty Seven building.
"This project gives Chicagoans the opportunity to display their green pride," Ciecko said. "People feed off each other's energy. Even people who aren't Irish get into it. I really think St. Patrick's Day gives people an opportunity to come together to celebrate something common to this city's culture."
Even politicians are putting differences aside for the celebration. The South Side Irish Parade will include Mayor Rahm Emanuel, challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Gov. Bruce Rauner. They will march down Western Avenue from 103rd Street in Beverly to 115th Street in Morgan Park on Sunday, said Tom McGourty, chairman of the South Side parade committee.
^ I have no doubts it's "one of the best"... But #1? I'm surprised because it's not top 5 in attendance or participation... Unless it's more condensed... thus better?
The parade attracts about 250,000 or even more most years and there are the tens of thousands across the river in the South Side who celebrate all day. How much bigger does it need to be in a metro of 2.4 million?
1. Pittsburgh
2. Boston
3. Davenport, Iowa
4. Buffalo
5. Philadelphia
6. Savannah, Georgia
7. Kansas City
8. Cleveland
9. St. Louis
10. Chicago
% Irish
1. Boston - 13.6%
2. Pittsburgh - 13.5%
3. Davenport - 13.1%
4. Philadelphia - 11.3%
5. Buffalo - 10.9%
6. Kansas City - 10.2%
7. St. Louis - 9.1%
8. Cleveland - 8.0%
9. Savannah - 7.4%
10. Chicago - 6.9%
Year Parade Established
1. Boston - 1737
2. Philadelphia - 1771
3. Buffalo - 1811
4. Savannah - 1824
5. Chicago - 1843
6. Pittsburgh - 1866
7. Cleveland - 1867
8. Kansas City - 1873
9. St. Louis - 1968
10. Davenport - 1986
Bar Grade
1(tie) Pittsburgh - A+
1(tie) Boston - A+
1(tie) Philadelphia - A+
1(tie) Chicago - A+
5(tie) Davenport - A
5(tie) Buffalo - A
5(tie) Cleveland - A
5(tie) St. Louis - A
9. Kansas City - A-
10. Savannah - B+
St. Patricks Day Hype
1. Savannah - 567%
2. Davenport - 150%
3. Pittsburgh - 136%
4. Buffalo - 83%
5. Cleveland - 75%
6. St. Louis - 58%
7. Kansas City - 37%
8. Philadelphia - 27%
9. Boston - 18%
10. Chicago - 16%
Given the criteria, I'm really surprised that Syracuse isn't on this list given that the Tipperary Hill neighborhood and other Irish based pubs will be busy all day and the city is 15.2% Irish. They even put the St. Patrick's Day Parade on TV twice on the same day(Live and at 8 PM). The parade takes today, btw and the parade court is announced weeks in advance, with segments on the news leading up to the event.
The parade attracts about 250,000 or even more most years and there are the tens of thousands across the river in the South Side who celebrate all day. How much bigger does it need to be in a metro of 2.4 million?
I've been through a few rainy St. Patrick's Days in Pittsburgh. It's sort of like the Superbowl parade, but I never got a half day for St. Patty's. One of the few times downtown is more lively than the Southside.
Never really liked it in the burgh. Nor am I a fan of most of the festivals. I don't know why. Love the city. Maybe it's great enough that a festival isn't needed to boost it up like some other cities?
People "celebrate" all day on the South side as an everyday thing. Many days I'd be walking to work and certain bars would be full in the morning. On the whole Pittsburgh bars fill up early. Most places I've lived people would go out around 10 pm. If you were to wait that long to go out on the weekend on the South Side you're already looking at standing room only.
I had planned on checking out Savannah this year, but alas I never made it. However, I believe they said something like 500,000 people show up for that one.
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