Friday, March 9, 2007

Corktown's St. Patrick's Parade

It might seem a bit curious that our debut post for Detroit Kid City champions Corktown's rag-tag St. Patrick's Day Parade, considering the long-standing tradition is more notorious for excessive beer-swilling and shenanigans than imaginative, kid-friendly floats.

But hear us out. The parade is a surprisingly fitting vehicle for our overall mission: Help parents appreciate the value of the city's events and venues, so often dismissed as unfit for kids—much like the city itself. With a little myth-busting, education and creative corralling, we hope Detroit Kid City will become a source of inspiration to fellow Detroiters interested in creating an active, urban community for raising kids. Suburban folks, at the very least, can cull motivation and ideas for family-friendly adventures on a Saturday—or in this case, Sunday—afternoon.

I have a 10-month-old son, who will take his first-ever wagon nap in order to attend. I will dress him in the shamrock-green Irish garb our Corktown neighbors gave us when he was born, and we will brave the throngs of cheery drunkards, so that there will be one more kid wearing a "I May Not be Able to Talk, But I Still Have Irish Attitude" tee. We'll go every year, and maybe by the time he has officially outgrown his afternoon nap, we'll be meeting up with a gang of parents at the playground beforehand to decorate a Detroit Kid City float. Until then, here are my best recommendations.

Introduce your kids to authentic Irish fare
The pre-parade crowd at Baile Corcaigh, just two blocks off the parade route on Trumbull, should be convivial and merry, if not fairly tame. They'll host live Irish music all day long and offer an abbreviated menu with easy favorites like corned beef sandwiches and fish and chips—a slight departure from their regular white linen menu. For pickier palettes, the kitchen promises to whip up kid-friendly fare (grilled cheese, chicken strips) if necessary. Leave your car parked on a nearby neighborhood street and walk to Michigan Avenue for the parade.

Pick your viewing post strategically
The farther away you get from the Gaelic League, whose parking lot will be jam-packed full of RVs, coach buses and elaborate lawn chair operations, the less likely it is that your child will be trampled in the street by the green Dr. Suess hat-donning, bead-hurling masses. Head toward the beginning or end of the parade route and stay on the south side of the street for more room to pull your wagon. The parade ends at the corner of Michigan and 14th, next to the old train station. Your kids will love watching the marchers disband, and you can grab a decent pint at Slow's Bar BQ. The inside may be uncomfortably crammed, but from the sidewalk, you can still hear the lineup of bands, including Pogues cover band, Boys from the County Hell—for free.

Go home early!
Even though bars can't serve alcohol until noon on Sundays, parade revelers start drinking well beforehand on parade day. And once the parade trickles by, the onlookers push their way inside Michigan Avenue's drinking holes, and the general ambiance deteriorates quickly. Last year, I was 8 months pregnant, and I had to fight grown men for a water at the bar, while simultaneously warding off inebriated strangers from rubbing my belly. Save yourself.

Details: Michigan Avenue, from 6th to 14th; Sunday, March 11, 2pm