My family and friends attended Saturday’s ice cold St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Milwaukee. Kyla danced with the Glencastle Irish Dancers who are based in Franklin.

Some notes from the parade:

The most rousing ovation, of course, went to the Dancing Grannies. Following the Christmas Parade massacre last November the Grannies made an appearance in Franklin’s first-ever Christmas Parade. But they performed Saturday with a huge and well-received contingent that had to warm their souls.

What about the politicians? Who got the biggest loudest reception? Was it:

A) Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley

B) Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors

C) Milwaukee mayoral candidate Bob Donovan

D) Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judges

E) Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson

F) Milwaukee Common Council

G) State Senator Chris Larson

From my vantage point right in front of Duffy’s on Juneau Avenue the clear cut winner was Bob Donovan.

Johnson and Larson each got a smattering of love, but not much.

All the rest got nothing. Silencio.

I HEARD THAT!

As the circuit court judges walked by one of them with a full smirk on his face blurted out, “a Milwaukee parade crowd!” He, and I don’t know who it was, was referring to Milwaukee’s lengthy reputation of sitting on their hands at events like theater, concerts, etc.  In essence he tossed out an insult and didn’t care who heard it. I got news for the no-name on the bench. People didn’t come to freeze their behinds off to see you.

MORE APPLAUSE

My location was less than half a block away from The Harp. So when the Harp float went by…

AND EVEN MORE

The racing sausages.

MAJOR PRESENCE

Milwaukee Police Department squads were everywhere. Waukesha on the mind.

BRAVEST PARADE PARTICIPANTS

TIE: The bands that marched and played risking injury, like lips frozen to trumpets, saxophones, and tubas.

The tiniest Daley Debutantes.

BEST LOOKING PARTICIPANTS

St. John’s Military Academy from Delafield.

2^ND BEST LOOKING PARTICIPANTS

Irish wolfhounds.

3^RD BEST LOOKING PARTICIPANTS

Law enforcement on horseback.

THAT LOOKS LIKE FUN

Milwaukee Hurling Club.

BEST PARADE HANDOUT

Koozies.

AUDREY FISCHER WOULD HAVE LOVED THIS GUY

Can’t remember the unit but an elderly antique of a gentleman completely decked out in Irish gear noticed I was sans cap and hood.

“Didn’t your mother teach you how to dress?”

Yes she did, but Mom went overboard and I’m permanently scarred.

NICE PACE

120 parade units in 90 minutes. About 1.3 units/per minute in a parade no one wanted to drag on.