I've always wondered why Jax doesn't jump aboard the Irish celebrations and sponsor a St. Paddy's Day parade and other events. It seems to me that there is a significant Roman Catholic and Irish population in the area that would patronize, not to mention the hoards of other people backing the statement "On St. Paddy's Day everyone is Irish!"
Just seems like another potentially huge event that could be held downtown.
Because it doesn't involve football, country music or monstertrucks?
I think it's a real shame that the city lets holidays like this pass without trying to do anything to celebrate or bring money into the city.
I guess since it's not on a weekend and doesn't have the above they don't care.
Just imagine what a consolidated event would do for the city. There are already thousands that turn out for the individual private events. 5 to 10 thousand people downtown for a parade and other events capped off with a big party stretching from the Landing on down Laura to Hemming Park would be huge. We could even "green" the fountains around the core like many other cities do. How cool would that be?
Yeah that was my other thought. It's not a holiday people have off work, so with the working class mentality here, they figure why bother. Or maybe someone just needs to organize it.
O'Brothers pub is doing a block party in 5 points tonight though, they're closing the streets off. At least that's something close for those of us not wanting to cross the ditch on a Tuesday night.
It is just another day if you ask me.
Wanna St. Patty's party, travel 100 or so miles to Savannah.
Naples is the only city in Florida I've found that has a parade while others have some sort of small festival. Surely, if a Jacksonville event were well organized it would garner support from most points south and west, not to mention the locals. People planning a Savannah trip may be more likely to stop off in Jax instead.
Tie a true blue Parade in with the Irish Fest and Jax could become the premier even in Florida.
That would be nice. I for one don't feel like driving to Savannah when I live in a city that has the ability to host something like that themselves. They just don't have the drive.
Not enough Paddy's in this burg I guess, though it seems like we "did" have such a festival under Mayor Jake Godbold.
There HAS been a run on Irish Whiskey down at ABC... Follow em home and have a real festival!
Seriously, I would like to see a return of Jacksonville's party and festival era under Boss Hogg.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: David on March 17, 2009, 09:09:30 AM
Because it doesn't involve football, country music or monstertrucks?
I ask people what their "Nationalities " are all the time. A lot just shrug, or say I think 1% native American.(One said Texas!).That's why we don't have any Real European ethnic food here.
Of course everyone becomes Irish on st Paddy's.... ;)
QuoteBecause it doesn't involve football, country music or monstertrucks?
:D LMAO
I disagree though. Jacksonville has many young people whose #1 hobby is drinking.
Also, the Irish fest was just last weekend with a pretty good turn out. I had a blast. I would imagine it would've been standing room only if the Irish fest fell on both St. Patty's day and also the weekend.
Wasn't there something in Metro Park this weekend with bands playing?
Quoteask people what their "Nationalities " are all the time. A lot just shrug, or say I think 1% native American.(One said Texas!).That's why we don't have any Real European ethnic food here.
Of course everyone becomes Irish on st Paddy's....
I'm third generation Slovak /Irish - should I open a restaurant that serves pasties and kielbasa?
Ask somebody that just came to the states what their heritage is... they're the ones who would open the authentic joints. The people you're talking about are Americans.
QuoteWasn't there something in Metro Park this weekend with bands playing?
QuoteAlso, the Irish fest was just last weekend with a pretty good turn out. I had a blast. I would imagine it would've been standing room only if the Irish fest fell on both St. Patty's day and also the weekend.
The Irish Fest over the weekend was deemed a success (been going a couple years now). I've just been hoping for a bit more support from the city and a consolidated effort to bring it to the CBD and make it free for all similar to what has been announced for the upcomming Jazz Fest. Plus throw in a descent parade! :)
Quote from: Ernest Street on March 17, 2009, 11:39:22 AM
Quote from: David on March 17, 2009, 09:09:30 AM
Because it doesn't involve football, country music or monstertrucks?
I ask people what their "Nationalities " are all the time. A lot just shrug, or say I think 1% native American.(One said Texas!).That's why we don't have any Real European ethnic food here.
Of course everyone becomes Irish on st Paddy's.... ;)
(http://gothamist.com/attachments/nyc_arts_john/051908confederateflag.jpg)
"CONFEDERATE AMERICAN!" YeeeeHawww!OCKLAWAHA
We should have a big southbank party and let some of the proceeds go to Friendship Fountain. If we turned that fountain green......That would be something!! I was in Savannah 10 days ago and already the fountains were green and some businesses were making preparations for the big event. We could do something much better.
That would be cool. I thought the lights at the fountain were LED's and could change the color without adding anything to the water. I could be wrong.
As for the Irish Festival I didn't even know about it until now.
in bad economy, it is even more important to have this kind of evens that get people excited and spending money.
It was not very well advertised.
Here is a link to the first mention of it on this site: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4492.0.html
Nighttime, turn the RIVER GREEN between the two downtown bridges. Use the fountain and fireworks to set it off.
the green is projected from laser lighting. If a water wall could be created under the lip of the Acosta Bridge then we would be able to project movies on it. All it involves is the projection equipment and a bunch of sprayer heads.
Knotts Berry Farm in California does nightly shows with their fountain.
OCKLAWAHA
Now that is a cool idea Ock!
BTW, Friendship fountain is capable of green lighting. No dye necessary.
(http://www.sw58.com/upload/200521101852186.jpg)
(http://www.sw58.com/upload/200521101852824.jpg)
(http://www.sw58.com/upload/200521101851360.jpg)
SAMPLES!
OCKLAWAHA
(http://www.sw58.com/upload/200521101850813.jpg)
Couldn't resist this one too. The fountain in California brings Charlie Brown to life.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: Shwaz on March 17, 2009, 11:42:33 AM
I would imagine it would've been standing room only if the Irish fest fell on both St. Patty's day and also the weekend.
Here in Chicago they did the parade over the weekend. No reason you can't move the celebration to the weekend closest to the actual date. And they apparently dye the Chicago river green as part of the festivities (I wasnt there...)
QuoteHere in Chicago they did the parade over the weekend. No reason you can't move the celebration to the weekend closest to the actual date. And they apparently dye the Chicago river green as part of the festivities (I wasnt there...)
A weekend day closest to that date was last Saturday when the Irish Festival was held at Met-Park. It did have a good turn out but imo more people would've gone if it was actually St. Patty's day.
Just stopped by my house for lunch and O'Brothers was already packed at 2:30 in the afternoon.
See, I don't think people have any problems taking the day off to celebrate and chug some green beer. :)
Green Beer, light the Modis Green and make Friendship Fountain green, that would be a good start.
One of the driving organizations behind most St Patrick’s Day parades is the Ancient Order of Hibernians and there are no local Divisions that I know of in Duval. There may be one in St Augustine but I wasn’t able to find much information for them online.
Although there wasn't a parade, the St Patty's Day block party in Riverside went real well from my perspective last night. A lot of people, good times, and no real issues. It just shows that if this city would put together events like this people would show up for them.
That was a pretty decent block party last night. I haven't ever really seen that much foot traffic in five points.
Club 5 used to pull in some crowds but that was to one place mostly. Last night had people flowing from the block party, the Publix plaza, to around the corner at steamworks and over to starlite/wall st & raglands on the main strip.
I believe O'Brothers may have found its niche.
Last night was Bananas with a capital B
The turn out was more than I expected and the whole crowd was very civil. Zero fights/ brawls which can always be a problem when theres Irish whiskey flowing. Since my driveway leads out to Margaret St; in front of O'Brothers I just set up shop with a full cooler of my own beverages. The 2 officers patroling the crowd gave the ok drink whatever - wherever! The beer / drink lines were 40-50 people deep at all times, the pub closed off at max capacity all night and the outside bar was elbows to a**holes.
At one point some friends and I went to the patio bar for a round of Jameson and soon discovered that all the bartenders were soused and useless... we placed our order with all 4 bartenders and all 4 forgot about it hahaha eventually 1 did remember us and he gave us the 4 shots on the house.
The groungs crew went straight to work at midnight and when I left this morning there were about 4 or 5 people still out cleaning. They've done a good job so far restoring the block although I don't think they can get rid of the "pee" smell until we have some good rain :D
(http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/b433603e1f2480f776e37bbc47df80c9be412d76.pjpg)
(http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/8bd364911ae78a2c7a9179d442d98e8f2e51e36c.pjpg)
pretty cool shindig. i was at a st. patty's day party. well oks, it was a birthday party... none the less it was a party on st. patty's...
Could this be a tradition in the making?? Sounds like the police were cool... :)
Shwaz,
Thanks for taking and adding the pictures.
The cops were very cool last night. No supposed use of tear gas or ghetto birds flying low over head like what happened last july 4th. The crowd was mostly armature drinkers having a blast. Good times, good times.
Quote from: Shwaz on March 17, 2009, 03:19:06 PM
A weekend day closest to that date was last Saturday
Yeah, I know. That's why I said that...and I agree. Nice pics, btw.
Now just picture that times about 20 stretching from the Landing to Hemming with a 6:00PM parade in the mix. HUGE!!!
Quote from: Deuce on March 17, 2009, 11:44:29 AMWasn't there something in Metro Park this weekend with bands playing?
That was the third annual Irish Festival, but the first time it was held at Metro Park instead of the fairgrounds. It's the only one that actually charges people to get into, the ones in any major cities do not.
This city only seems to celebrate with parades...Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Day...at least those are the only ones I can think of...
Why do we need a parade, go north 2 hours and you get a parade, green river, and all the intoxicated coeds to last for a year! Besides, we have the MLK parade....
Quote from: subro on March 17, 2009, 03:54:51 PM
One of the driving organizations behind most St Patrick’s Day parades is the Ancient Order of Hibernians and there are no local Divisions that I know of in Duval. There may be one in St Augustine but I wasn’t able to find much information for them online.
This is WEIRD... How many know the oldest "town" on Flemming Island is Hibernia? Seems to me it would be tough for us NOT to have Hibernians...Hee Hee. Hey, maybe they'll read this and buy a parcel to build a lodge in Hibernia. I mean like what else would be that cool?OCKLAWAHA
BTW, if any of you make the trek to find Hibernia, you can follow US 17, about 1/2 way to greencove you'll see a Publix on the left and a historic church marker on your right. Turn left and follow the road straight ahead, right onto the dirt. The old church is well worth the effort.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: mtraininjax on March 18, 2009, 05:08:24 PM
Why do we need a parade, go north 2 hours and you get a parade, green river, and all the intoxicated coeds to last for a year! Besides, we have the MLK parade....
Why drive two hours when all the potential exists right beneath our feet? I thought everyone liked parades. :)
We don't have nearly the intoxicated coeds....and after we use the river for blue or red energy, who wants to see a green river????
Tradition. Pubs. Irish Pubs. There are no Irish pubs downtown (since Gas Knob?). It might only take one, though - like O'Brothers. Savannah has plenty - that's the nucleus in my opinion. I would be willing to bet, however, that Jax Beach has more Irish pubs per capita than Savannah or J'ville.
LIP, Fly's Tie, what else?
Fionn McCools, Culhanes....
Just those 4 I believe.
4 at the beach? I guess that dominates all of Jax, LOL!
Yeah - I thought about T.J.'s Irish Pub - but that's Ft. Caroline - & I don't count Beef O'Brady's (anywhere)....I'm not sure where Pete's Bar classifies, either.
Well even a big event at the beach would surely pull in the crowds especially when you factor in the beaches, a semi-compact entertainment district, and warmer weather.
Quote from: blizz01 on March 19, 2009, 09:16:18 AM
Yeah - I thought about T.J.'s Irish Pub - but that's Ft. Caroline - & I don't count Beef O'Brady's (anywhere)....I'm not sure where Pete's Bar classifies, either.
Don't y'all know that after a pint of Irish Whiskey, they're ALL IRISH PUBS *(#*@!U&!
Where's my REBEL YELL!??OCKLAWAHA
I forgot, this is Jacksonville, Bennigan's/Chili's is considered an irish pub....LOL!!!!!
make this happen
Because Jax is a Baptist town mostly, although there is a strong and growing Catholic Christian community. That said, some of the ways popular culture celebrates St. Patty's - getting completely wasted/blasted - is not neccessarily Catholic nor Christian.
This is funny
I've been to the one O'Brothers and it was fun but if you want a large one just drive up to Savannah, I think it's the second largest St. Paddy's day fest in the US.
Quote from: David on March 17, 2009, 09:09:30 AM
Because it doesn't involve football, country music or monstertrucks?
Dead-on hit
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you Irish and Faux-Irish getting drunk off Guinness on your lunch breaks.
Quote from: TPC on February 22, 2010, 04:43:31 PM
I've been to the one O'Brothers and it was fun but if you want a large one just drive up to Savannah, I think it's the second largest St. Paddy's day fest in the US........
Our Irish born receptionist says Savannah St Paddy's day fest is a disappointing fake.
Everything us Americans try to mimick is a fake. But hey, we still have fun faking it! ;D
So, is there no Irish Fest this year??
The Landing supposedly has "the Largest St Patty's party in NE FL", but I haven't seen or heard it advertised anywhere. I assume O'brothers will be doing its deal tonight. I will be busy winning the Bold City Flip Cup tournament (still taking suggestions for team name).
Should be a fun night to be in Riverside/DT.
O'Brother's only has permit to close 1 lane of Margaret St. from what I was told at OB last weekend.
It is going to be packed tonight at the O'Brothers/Mossfire area. From what I was told, the cost for the permit to close off the block was so high, that it turned out not to be a money maker for them. I will be down there tonight with a group of friends, but I am worried about being able to get drinks. I may have to "neck" it and carry some spare beers in my pockets.