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!
Wonderful time spent with FRIENDS!
Hi Pat, what an awesome collection of photos and having special time with friends makes it perfect. I'd love to have lunch with you when I am there..hopefull soon. Love that guy in his Irish outfit, as usual, stunning photos. Happy week ahead Pat :D
ReplyDeleteAwwww...how cool is that! We were in Chicago for our daughter's wedding last weekend. Lots of people, lots of green...
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! The music started about the time I arrived at the bagpipes photo-perfect timing. So nice to be able to meet up with other bloggers. My sister keeps calling blog friends "my imaginary friends" but it warms my heart to see bloggers actually meeting up. I would loved to have joined in the fun!
ReplyDeleteI wondered if you would go to the parade yesterday. How nice that you got to spend the day with a fellow blogger. I did my St Paddy's Day part by wearing green yesterday.
ReplyDeleteLove that musical selection from Braveheart!
Oh you must have had a ball! A big parade and meeting new blogger friends:)What a fun day. Thanks for all the pics too:))
ReplyDeleteOh, Pat! What great fun! Three of my favorite bloggers in one picture! Loved this SO much! :-)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you all had fun...
XO,
Sheila who loves all of your pictures! :-)
Loved your post, Pat. Like you, I have met my "online friends," who, over the years, have become just friends. I've been in an online quilt guild for about 8 years. In fact, this June a group of us are meeting for a day in NYC. And, yes, we are meeting at GC. Great to "see" you.
ReplyDeleteWow, what fun! Wish I could have been there. How nice to meet up with other fellow bloggers. Love all the photos.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Donna
It was great visiting your blog today. I love the music and photos. I knew you would have wonderful photos of the parade. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteAnd friendship is a true beautiful gift life give us, right?
ReplyDeleteFriends are definitely the best treasures! And what fun to meet in NYC on St. Patrick's day...and take in the parade.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time, Pat! I have yet to meet a fellow blogger. Hope to someday, though!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful NYC photos!
WOW, isn't it fun meeting friends for the first time? All decked out in green and I've never seen so much attention given to St. Patrick's Day. It must be so much fun living in the city.
ReplyDeleteI grew up hearing stories about the St. Patrick's Day parade in NY. Since everyone in my family but me was born there.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to finally get to see it myself!
How fun you got to spend time with blogger sisters! I can't wait until I can come to NY for a visit too.
Our house is back in escrow. Let's keep fingers crossed it goes through this time. If so it will be about the 1st or 2nd week in April that it is final. I'll let you know when I'm coming.
Hugs,
Joanne
That is so great that you got to meet two blogging friends, and St. Patrick's Day...thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures!
ReplyDeleteHi, Pat!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have stayed in NYC long enough to meet with you as well! I'm happy that you had a wonderful day.
The photos of the parade bring back memories of going, when I should have been in school:)
Thank you for the birthday/anniversary wishes. I'll be writing about Maze and the trip soon.
Cheers!
Camille
I really enjoyed this post. What fun you all had! The parade looks so lively and colorful and everyone was wearing a smile...perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the armchair visit to the St. Pat's Day parade. Next year I am definitely coming up to see it in person. I love that you and the other bloggers met for lunch. What a great group of people.
ReplyDeletePat....it looks like a good time was had by all and that was a great way to celebrate two great things at once!
ReplyDeleteHi Pat,
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a St. Patty's Day parade, but it looks like so much fun and who could resist a man in a kilt...not I!
It looks like the three of you had a wonderful time. Bloggy friends are the best!
How's baby Leo doing?
:) Cori
Wonderful pictures...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow much fun is that! I loved hearing about your wonderful day and seeing all of your pictures. How neat to meet for the Saint Patrick's Day parade ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the parade with us...and that lunch! Sounds like a wonderful, fun day...even with bloggy friends!
ReplyDeletePat, You had a very exciting and busy day! I'm glad you were able to meet up w/blogging friends. Loved the reference to SusieQ, who, I just found out today, lives just a few miles away from me in the same community. What a coincidence huh? Great Irish posts all week. Take care. Sue
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day you had, full of adventure in the company of friends. Truly lovely. And I'm so tickled you met a leprechaun.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Pat! You New Yorkers do everything in style! Great photo's, and so cool to meet fellow bloggers too.
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful day for a parade! Everyone looked like they were having a wonderful time, and it must have been even more fun to meet up with fellow bloggers in the flesh. I have to say that I didn't expect to meet so many people with the same interests when I started blogging, but it has been one of the best features.
ReplyDelete♥, Susan
I so enjoyed all your pictures from Ireland...oh how I want to go! Someday...
ReplyDeleteI am tickled you met bloggy friends AND saw the parade! And sharing it with us is just too wonderful!
Oooh...he DOES look a bit like my Brian D. : ) i laughed out loud when I saw the photo!!
I am appropriately *green* with envy over theparde AND Ireland...
*smile*...and meeting special bloggy friends so so sweet!
Love,
Sue
Hi Pat...What a fun day you girls had...and thanks so much for taking us along through your terrific photos...you write such a good commentary to go along with them too. ;-) Bo
ReplyDeleteHey Pat,
ReplyDeleteWe're still here and having a blast. Love all your pictures. Thanks for doing a post and for the great time we all had together! It was so much fun meeting you and Laura.
Be home late tomorrow night!
Diane
Awwwww.....I'm tickled green to read this post! :-) And ironic that the comment before mine is Diane's huh? We must be on the same cosmic blog wave length or something.
ReplyDeleteIt was an honor to be gifted with treats (thank YOU for the awesome "Jersey diner" salt & pepper shakers!) and good company. And lunch NOT at my desk! I was thrilled to meet you.
I'm glad to see you got close to the parade...Great photos!
Thanks so much, sweet Pat!
Laura
xo
Pat, you have so much fun! I think it's so neat that you got to meet your pals. Someday I hope to come to NYC and check it out. Great pictures!
ReplyDeletelooks like you had great fun, loved seeing the parade and its always nice seeing friends meet~
ReplyDeleteHow terrific, looks like you all had a great time. Mmmmmmm, I can only imagine how wonderful that Magnolia soap must smell!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Pat! Isn't it so much fun to meet other bloggers? This is the second time right? First was in San Diego...
ReplyDeletePat, you are the youngest-looking grandmother I ever did see. Tell me, do people take you for Leo's mom when you are out and about? Wow!
ReplyDeleteHia Pat what a wonderful day you spent. Thank you so much for sharing it. How special that you could meet up with fellow bloggers.
ReplyDeleteSuch great pictures! Thank you for all the wonderful hospitality to my niece, Diane. Fun times! I love NYC, too. My older daughter, Amber, and I had our first visit there in 2005 to visit my younger daughter, Ainsley, when she was an intern for "Fox and Friends". Her first visit to NYC was just two months before 9/11. She made wonderful friends there and visited many times during her high school senior year and college years. I'm so glad Diane loves it, too, and has met such lovely friends there through her blog. Maybe I'll get back someday, especially to Macy's and Tiffany's!
ReplyDeleteDiane's aunt, Gloria
Loved the green hair at Grand central!
ReplyDeleteWhat a parade.
We are back in NY.
How about the Ukranian diner fairly soon?