Photography: 264th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Photography: 264th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade

As a a native New Yorker, I never attended the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in midtown Manhattan — until earlier this week. Over the bulk of the past 20 years, if the holiday fell on a weekday, I’d be at work and couldn’t attend. And if it fell on a weekend, I’d go out of my way to avoid the parade and the crowds.

Of course, covering a parade with a press card, marching in a parade and watching as a celebrant are three completely different yet very fun experiences. And other than coming across a small and incredibly stupid group of Trumpers near Trump Tower, it was a wonderful day of smiling faces and pride and appreciation of the Irish people and their culture, despite the damp and occasionally wet weather.