Councilman Tom La Bong, Cancelled St. Patty's Day
Print Version > Live Green FestivalMar 15, 2010 ... Although the traditional Downtown St. Patrick's Day parade has been cancelled, the 40-piece Dublin All Star Marching Band (shown ... we look for an alternative celebration,” said Fourth District Councilman Tom LaBonge, ...
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Live Green Festival
Although the traditional Downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade has been cancelled, the 40-piece Dublin All Star Marching Band (shown here at a parade in New York City) will fill Nokia Plaza during the March 17 celebration at L.A. Live. Photo courtesy of Dublin All Star Marching Band.
The Parade Is Gone, but Drinking and a Fight Will Come to L.A. Live on St. Patrick’s Day
by Richard Guzmán
Published: Friday, March 12, 2010 3:39 PM PST
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES -When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day and Downtown Los Angeles, there is bad news and good news.
First the bad:
A Downtown tradition, the popular parade that wends though the Central City and culminates in a large (and alcohol-free) celebration at Pershing Square, is over.
The good news is that the revelry continues anyway. On Wednesday, March 17, the party will move to L.A. Live, where from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. thousands will check out live music, classic cars, food specials and possibly some leprechauns. There will even be a beer garden.
“With the city’s financial limitations I felt it was appropriate that we look for an alternative celebration,” said Fourth District Councilman Tom LaBonge, who along with Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry is co-hosting the event.
The city’s annual parade progressed down Main Street before ending at Pershing Square, where a band performed and the party continued. Louise Capone, senior recreation director for Pershing Square, said her staff has been fielding a lot of questions from people disappointed about the cancellation of the parade and party.
“I can’t tell you how many people this week have stopped by the office to ask for a flyer for St. Patrick’s Day and I have to say we’re not having it this year,” she said. “I’m kind of sad. Every big city has a St. Patrick’s Day parade, but the entire city is going through a budget crisis right now.”
Heart of Downtown
While the location is different and the procession has been nixed, LaBonge said many of the things that made the parade a hit will continue at Nokia Plaza.
“Our team of mighty vehicles that used to parade down Main Street can still be part of it, and we do have a marching band coming from Dublin, Ireland,” he said.
The band will march on to the plaza around noon. Other festivities will include the display of antique firetrucks and classic police cars, including a 1948 Buick LAFD staff car, a 1956 Buick Special from the TV series “Highway Patrol” and a 1947 LAPD squad car. Motorcycle buffs can check out the relaunch of Indian Motorcycles, a company founded in 1901 that has closed and been resurrected several times.
Live music will come from Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords, the Emerald Society 20-piece bagpipe band and the 40-piece Dublin All Star Marching Band.
While everyone may be a little Irish on March 17, true Irish artists such as the Twilight Lords will bring some authenticity to the event, LaBonge said.
“Real Irish people are quite entertaining and the music is very good,” said LaBonge, who is of Irish descent.
Scott Hanley, vice president of events and marketing for L.A. Live, said they are anticipating up to 3,000 people. He said he expects a parade-type atmosphere at Nokia Plaza.
“It’s still going to be the firetrucks you can take pictures on. You’re going to be able to touch and feel the parade because it’s all going to be in one spot,” he said.
Many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have culminated in fights, and the same will happen at L.A. Live. This time, however, it is planned: The festivities include live boxing at the plaza from 7-9:30 p.m. The card, co-organized by Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, has yet to be determined.
Since most of the celebration will take place during work hours, LaBonge recommends that those who want to escape the office use an old City Hall excuse.
“You can say you’re checking out a noise complaint,” he said.
The St. Patrick’s Day Festival is Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Nokia Plaza, on 11th Street between Figueroa and Georgia streets. Info at lalive.com/promos/stpatrick/.
Contact Richard Guzmán at
richard@downtownnews.com.
page 11, 03/15/2010
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