Green Eggs and a Green Chicago River

Green River
This was the year I finally went to see the Chicago River dyed green before the start of the St. Patrick's Day parade. Before the big event, I met two friends for breakfast at around 8:30 a.m. We decided to eat close to the river, so we picked Eggsperience Pancakes & Cafe at 35 West Ontario St. Eggsperience is a big, cool, modern space. The menu choices are plenty and the service is prompt and friendly.

Eggsperience has been in business for about a year. Their Web site says they're open 24 hours, but that isn't true during the winter months. According to our waiter, they'll be going back to the 24 hour schedule this spring.


There's plenty of green here, but dig that awesome hat!

Inside Eggsperience, there were many folks doing the same thing we were: having breakfast before trotting off to the Chicago River to see it dyed green. Many people inside were wearing their green for St. Patrick's Day.

Check out the videos below. The titles may lead you to believe they're not in order, but believe me, you're getting a true sense of the event.

Unlucky: No South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade

No parade on the South Side
This Sunday, there won't be any St. Patrick's Day Parade on the South Side of Chicago. A tradition that dates back to the 1970s was canceled due to over 80 arrests for disorderly conduct over the past two years.

Having gone to the South Side parade,  I can attest to the fact that it does get rowdy and there is plenty of beer and alcohol flowing, but I wonder if canceling the parade was the only option. What do you think?

To see a video report on the end of this tradition, click here.