Standing down-wind at Navy Pier

To celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Polish constitution, Chicago's Polish community stepped it out on the city's 115th anniversary street parade on Saturday 6 May 2006.  Thousands of Polish Americans hot-footed it through the City down to Navy Pier in a sea of red and white (the colours of the Polish flag, people).  When they reached Navy Pier, the first annual "Polish on the Pier" festival awaited.  

Chicago is home to the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw.  So go ahead and share that bit of knowledge at your next cocktail soiree; you'll then be able to sit back and bask in the admiration of many.

Lexie and I headed straight to Navy Pier to await the arrival of the marchers, and saw fit to buy a Polish beer each to toast the weary walkers.  In the time it took for all the marchers to arrive, Lex and I had enjoyed two beers, two cabbage rolls (but everyone was eating them so it was okay), and two ricotta-filled blintzes.  We were feeling particularly festive by then, and the Polish MC was almost understandable.

Cute little kids were re-enacting the story of Red Riding Hood set to music, and singing the songs in Polish (presumably a Polish school performance), and then little Polish ninjas came out to demonstrate their karate skils.  Of which they had plenty.

Lexie was unnerved by the sheer number of backpacks at the event (it is apparently the accessory du jour in Chicago's Polish community), but I was ready to find the pierogi and keep grooving to the sounds of a Polish quartet of the worst singers I've heard in a very long time.  All with big hair, shoulder pads, and the biggest smiles you've ever seen.  Ten points to each of them for even getting up there!

I muscled my way into the VIP section and introduced Lexie and my Aussie friend Peter to the Polish Consul-General in Chicago.  We mingled and schmoozed, and then headed for the refreshments and free bar.  More pierogi, Lexie tried to stomach some sort of fish jelly thing, and we decided to leave.

The Polish festival was actually fun, but I did eat too much, too quickly.  Thumbs up to the Polish beer (brewed by an Aussie guy who I now understand is in a Polish jail), but thumbs down - on Lexie's behalf - to the fish jelly, and the lack of ladies lavatories.

And PS, I did not give my number to anyone - all weekend.  Yay me.