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March 16, 2009

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Park Slope

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St. Patrick’s Day isn’t for another couple of days, but already the sights of green and the festivities surrounding the Holiday began about a week ago in most places. NYC was just starting to really come alive with it all, with Staten Island and Queens being two of many  boroughs to first kick off the celebrations with parades and other activities.

My family and I decided to venture into historic Park Slope where they were kicking off festivities with a parade of their own. We made plans to meet up with friends and headed out. With its brownstones, strong sense of community, and proximity to the gorgeous Prospect Park as well as Manhattan, it is no wonder this has become the place to escape to for many families with children.
We coordinated to meet up with our friends at their local playground of choice, Harmony Playground in Prospect Park and 9th St. Once I arrived, I sensed this was “the place to be” for local parents.

Aside from its large size, with tons of room to run around and play for the little ones, it also seemed that this was the place where local parents met up with other parents also forced to leave the comfort of their beds and homes on an early Sunday morning in order to provide their energetic little ones some playtime. Pretty much every parent had a coffee cup in hand as they conversed with each other about the stock market, the last PTA meeting, and whatever other things other parents casually talk about while their kids run around and tire themselves out. It’s a wonderful play area, surrounded by the lush greenery of Prospect Park, with easy access to public transportation and shops a few blocks away.

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I really craved a cup of coffee. Our friend suggested I get some from Connecticut Muffin, only a few blocks down. We made our way down when I could suddenly hear the bagpipers warming up and saw people starting to congregate along Prospect Park from 7th St. I love the sound of the bagpipes, but more so the sight of men in kilts. That, and the fact that my husband is half Irish, is why I love this holiday so much.

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The street was already bustling with people, though not the insane amount of people that one will expect to find along 5th Ave in Manhattan. A blessing. Large crowds and small children are an awful combination. When I arrived at the coffee shop it was, of course, crowded, so I gave up on the idea, made my way back, without coffee, but excited at seeing all the people ready to celebrate!

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The parade was great fun and officially in the spirit, feeling Irish, and ready to celebrate!

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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1 Comment
  • Nikki @ Blasian Baby
    March 16, 2009

    Woot! The parade looks like it was fun. So sad we could not go with ya'll. Next year I promise and I'll bring coffee just for you!

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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