I love a parade

Who doesn't love a parade?



The Milwaukee Holiday Parade was wonderful yesterday. The morning was sunny and warm, and according to the story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this morning, an estimated 50-100,000 people came out for it. 

I hadn't been to a parade in several years, and I'd forgotten how fun they can be. Where else can you see marching bands, dogs wearing Santa hats, tap dancers, local celebrities, oversized balloons, Dancing Grannies, AND Santa Claus all in one place? A parade brings communities together and puts everyone in a great mood. The streets of Milwaukee were just bursting with holiday spirit yesterday!

The marching bands were my favorite part - the bands from Franklin High School and Mequon-Thiensville in particular because they both did some pretty groovy choreography as they played - and there were plenty of them: two dozen, according to the paper. The guy from Jolly Giants on the big wheel was fun to see, and the Dancing Grannies were great, too - I think I want to be one someday. We saw Gene Mueller and Amy Taylor, our pal Mike Jacobs ("we had lunch with him one day!" - Dave), and - mmmmm - Patrick Paolantonio.

Several groups gave out candy and other goodies as they walked by, and even though we may still feel like little kids in our minds, ready to run for the candy, we hung back and let the actual kids have it. However, when people from Starbucks went by, handing out bags of their "Holiday Blend," I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by. I yelled out "I love Starbucks!" - thoroughly embarrassing Dave - and I was thrown a bag. Score! I made a pot of it this morning - delicious.



The 90-minute parade ended with Santa of course, and I was in really high spirits as we walked back to the car.

And, as a side note, I'm getting even deeper into the holiday spirit this morning because VH1 has a new special in their "I Love The … " series – "I Love the Holidays!" It's absolutely hilarious, and yet also leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. I love it.

Comments

[Mark]

Looks like fun!!

[Rafael]

Hello, dont know you personally, but like the pictures of the city :-)
I am considering moving to milwuakee, around sherman park area.
What is life like in milwuakee?
Is it worth moving there?
Is there lots to do up there?
I say "up there" cause I live in florida, and i'm sick of this state already after being here for 13 years ;-(
Its so flat and boring !
Anyway, nice pics - best of luck!

[Mark]

Life in Milwaukee is amazing Rafael.

I love this city and don't ever want to leave. If I were to move to Milwaukee from another city however, I'm not sure that the Sherman Park area would be my first choice. Sherman park is a ways northwest of the city center and tends to be a "driving" location. Meaning, you'll have to drive a lot of places. If you live closer to downtown, south side, or east side, even northeast side.. you'll be a lot close to the action.

Milwaukee has about five million things to do... as does every large city. The only shock to your system will be the winters... it can get pretty cold here!

I feel stupid saying this, but if you want to see more pictures of the city, click on my name underneath this comment. Or, go to emporis.com and search for Milwaukee. Or check out visitmilwaukee.com and look at their photo tours... it's slightly hard to navigate your way there but you can find it. :)

Good luck!!

And sorry Erin for plugging my own page.. I didn't mean it like that.