New Jersey is really a whole different world. I ventured out to Hoboken this past Saturday because they celebrate St.Patrick's day early so as not to compete with NYC- or to have more excuses for extreme drunkenness and revelry.
Now, I have never been to Hoboken before. So I wanted to see what it was like. And it was as if I had entered the township of Abercrombie & Fitch. I arrived into a world of white twenty-somethings bathed in all shades of green and levels of intoxication. Hoboken is cute in a precise middle America kind of way. The streets are lined with olde ye towne sorts of shops that run the gamut from McDonald's, Starbucks and the Gap to Hoboken Antiques and independent bakeries and bars. On the day of the parade, bagpipes and green beads and giant Guinness hats were everywhere. I think I saw more straightened hair, double eyeliner and t-shirts-with-witty-sayings than I ever have in my life. It was like leaving New York and heading back in time to college. Only a state college (that sounds snotty and it is. i cannot deny my own nerdy elitism).
The thing is, despite all this pre-judgement and the alien like surroundings, I had a blast. I drank five beers in six hours (and some of that was from a keg!), went to three different parties, played beer cup games, climbed onto fire escapes, ate Cheetos and philly cheesteak and made random conversation with frat/sorority types. and it was fun. maybe I miss college...or I miss what college could have been if the people I partied with didn't tend to discuss Foucault and problematic social constructions when drunk.
Anyway I plan to throw my own St.Patrick's day party this Saturday and go out in the city on Tuesday. Here's to the Irish who know how to party when poor!
Party when poor - YES! Have a great time on St. Patty's. Drink something green for me.
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