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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Friday, March 29

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Fuel

Andrew / August 2, 2011 2:03 PM

It's a hard choice. I'd like to see the parade return, but would it be the same without the masses of drunkards? I think it would have all the party atmosphere of your typical parade -- which is to say, very little.

Spook / August 2, 2011 8:31 PM

I use to be greatly annoyed by it on GP.

Drunken green human goblins and barbarians running amok whilst politicians "salute" their pride in their "culture" while high above James Joyce,Samuel Becket, Eugene O'Neill,etc blast John Coletrain, Monk, Gil Scott, Fela, etc.to celebrate what it really means to be Irish.

But now I know that there is a far far worse "cultural" celebration in this city. Where for a whole week Chicago gang bangers( and from through out the midwest) take over North Ave. from Western to Central Park, using speeding cars as weapons along side guns and pretty much making vast segments of the neighborhood particularly apprehensive of violent crimes being committed against them. And of course every year people are killed as part of this "celebration" that requires tens of thousands of tax payer dollars to cover the legion of police needed to keep the body count down.

And of course very few are willing to mention this least they be accused of being "racist"

Hal Shipman / August 3, 2011 7:50 AM

@Spook - Yet while you decry the potential accusations as if you're some kind of victim, you've made your reference so obtuse, I have no idea what you're talking about.

matt / August 3, 2011 11:38 AM

Maybe he's talking about the Puerto Rican People's Parade on Division?

I never went to the SS Irish Parade so I'm pretty indifferent about whether it returns or not. I make it a point to try and avoid the drunken masses as much as possible.

Andrew / August 3, 2011 2:10 PM

Glad I wasn't the only one confused.

vise77 / August 3, 2011 2:41 PM

In any case, it is Coltrane.

Spook / August 3, 2011 2:42 PM

Consider your selves both "invited" next year. It's to die for, literally.

mary s. / August 3, 2011 2:48 PM

i've never been to the southside parade. i'm not a fan of large crowds (taste of chicago, michigan avenue during the summer, etc), and drunken crowds please me even less. that said, i'm indifferent since i avoid them altogether. i imagine people would probably find ways to drink though.

betty / August 3, 2011 4:27 PM

since most of the folks that read GB are north siders and an absurd amount of them live in logan square/uke village/wp and rarely venture south of 18th street (let alone beverly and morgan park, mon dieu!) i suspect very few of them have ever gone or will ever go to this parade.

Spook / August 3, 2011 4:52 PM

I don't know bout dat dar Bet.

Cause heard tale bout lots of up North white folk, following that Dave Mathew( and his band) down to the real southside for a concert about a month ago. And now that CHA has been demolished and its natives ethnically cleansed, in a few years you might be surprised, I reckon.

Santa Claus / August 3, 2011 9:37 PM

I've lived south of 18th, north of 5000N, in other countries, other states and other planets.
Spook, don't be an imbecile and assume all 'white folk' listen to Dave Mathews, and make grand assumptions. Why don't you stop letting your hang-ups/short-comings be so obvious. Stop putting other people down- it's just silly. Find another forum for your 'ego'.

PMan / August 3, 2011 10:09 PM

I'm not a south sider, but I was at the parade years ago. It was a lot of fun, and a great occasion for South Side Irish to get together. I'm all for reviving it with rules to tamp down on the wild drunkenness.

Spook / August 4, 2011 11:00 AM

Dear Santa;

Thank you for you kind words and encouragement Sir!

I am also amazed to hear about your world and intergalactic travels.
Please, please please post your photos on facebook Sir! Having those heard of flying deer I'm sure keep costs and strip searches way down!

But It cannot be underestimated at how happy I am that you've decided to settle for good in the frigid "white" tundra of the North Pole.
I will have this years list( extra long) for you soon, because as you've stated above, I've been extra extra good!!!!!!!!

Yours in Harmony,

Spook

p.s, please kiss Mrs. Clause deeply for me. The deer tell me that she's not been the same since she saw Spike Lee's Jungle Fever while vacationing In Jamaica.

p.p.s

Give only sharp edged coal to Vice77 he continues to be a Pain Royale in a dirty cloth purple bag

Charlie / August 4, 2011 3:44 PM

An Irish Parade without booze is like swimming in a pool with no water.

Dennis Fritz / August 5, 2011 2:47 PM

Sounds like a fine idea to me. According to the parade organizers, most of the trouble came from college kids and other young people who would drink, pee, fight, vomit and/or pass out along public streets or in private backyards. Restrict drinking to the local taverns and there shouldn't be a problem.

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