Blogger Lunch and The St. Patrick's Day Parade

I met a leprechaun in New York City yesterday! He was a lot taller than the legend has us believe, and he didn't lead me to a pot of gold, but he did bring me good luck as you will shortly see...

Where do you meet people for the first time in the middle of a big city that is extra crowded because it is Saint Patrick's Day, and no place on earth celebrates it a big as NYC does?

You head over to Grand Central Station of course!

Everyone knows to meet by the information booth under the clock.

I am there first and I start to see quite a few people decked out in green.

Some even had green hair!

Everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick's day in New York.

This man certainly is 100% Irish! He looks a little like the actor Brain Dennehy doesn't he Susie Q?

As you can see I entertained myself taking photos as I was waiting and waiting until....

Here we are! Myself, Laura of Shorehouse Chic and Diane of A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words meeting for the first time!

We had lunch in Juniors in Grand Central Station, including a piece of their famous cheesecake for dessert.

As you can see we had a really fun time! Diane brought us gifts! A lovely smelling Mississippi "sweet cotton" candle and magnolia soap.

After lunch Laura had to head back to work and Diane and friend and I headed towards Fifth Ave to see the 248th annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade! It was a sunny day in the high 50's so the good weather was going to bring an estimated two million viewers to the parade route from East 44 Street to East 86 Street, all along Fifth Avenue.

The side streets for many blocks were staging areas where the bands and marchers waited until it was their turn to go.

We finally found a spot along Fifth Avenue where we could begin to watch the parade go by.

Bagpipes....

And more bagpipes......

Playing and marching along Fifth Avenue.

An Irish step dancing troupe did a few steps of a jig for the crowd before they marched on.

He is quite impressive Drum or Pipe major isn't he? The large staff he carries is called a mace.

New York City Police marching in the parade.

Looking down towards 44 Street.

Dignitaries from County Cork, Ireland below.

Another impressive drum major

One of the marching banners from County Donegal, Ireland.

After watching the parade for about an hour (it goes on for about four hours!) we left to go downtown to see a few more NYC sights together and had a very enjoyable day. I think we did well over the recommended 10,000 steps today, didn't we Diane? I hope you will enjoy the rest of your visit in NYC and have a very safe trip home. It was so nice meeting you and your friends and Laura today, and I hope we can do it again another time!

So while the leprechaun did not lead me to a pot of gold today he brought me something even better .......

Wonderful time spent with FRIENDS!