St. Patrick's Day in Delaware County

It appears that most of us survived St. Patrick's Day.  I began hearing from friends early this afternoon, so I assume they have shaken off the effects of yesterday's festivities.  It was a busy and beautiful day all over the county.  St. Patrick smiled upon the Center of the Universe yesterday.  Springfield had its annual parade.  Bars all over the county were bustling serving up ham and cabbage in large volumes.  Widener University played host to the 2012 Donnybrook Cup facing the U.S. Tomahawks off against the Ireland Wolfhounds.  The U.S. brought home the hardware in a hard-fought, 38-20 battle.  The post-game party was held at Harrah's, where Delaware County's own Irish band Blackthorn played to a huge crowd of St. Patty's reverllers.  I got to hang out and chat with a number of the Wolfhounds players.  All were thoroughly enjoying their St. Patrick's Day in the U.S.  One of the Wolfhounds players got on stage and sang Molly Malone with the band.  Several hundred people enjoyed the festivities at Harrah's. 

Blackthorn crowd at Harrah's on St. Patrick's Day 2012

The Shanty's Irish band played at The Erin Pub in Norwood.  There is always a Delaware County reunion party at the Pub on St. Partrick's Day.  I spoke to people from all over the area yesterday at the Erin Pub.  The McGee family originally from Colwyn, then Broomall, came in from all over Delaware and Montgomery County, to celebrate their mother's St. Patrick's Day birthday.  One of three birthdays celebrated there yesterday.  Blackthorn came into the Pub for dinner between their gigs at Harrah's, and Brownie's 23 East.  Michael and John Boyce of the band also sang the National Anthem at the rugby match at Widener earlier in the afternoon.  A couple of busy Irishmen yesterday.  As the night wore on, the crowd at the Pub waned, and another St. Patrick's Day in the Center of the Universe was in the books.  Delaware County knows how to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Live From the Center of the Universe - Delaware County.  The title of this blog is derived from the moniker I've given to Delaware County when asked where I live by my co-workers in King of Prussia.  Most of my co-workers live west of King of Prussia, out Route 422 a ways.  The "sticks" I call it.  When they ask where I live, I reply, "the Center of the Universe, Delware County".  My answer always garners a chuckle, but I'm only half kidding.  Delaware County has a little bit of everything.  We have history, we have entertainment, excellent restaraunts and nightlife.  We have great public and private schools.  Wonderful youth sports programs.  We're fifteen minutes from the Philly sports complex and twenty minutes from Center City.  We're ten minutes from the airport, ninety minutes from the mountains and the shore.  We now have a waterfront casino and a major league sports team and stadium.  We have the landmark Tower Theatre, where countless headline bands have played over the years.  We still have our daily gazette, reporting the happenings of the county at The Daily Times.  The beautiful and historic Media Theatre has been brought back to life.  There is never a lack of things to do here in Delco, however there is always a change of pace awaiting. I will report from several "remote" Delco locations, like Clearwater Beach, FL, "Delaware County on The Gulf" and Sea Isle City, NJ, which I refer to as "Delaware County East".  You meet no shortage of people from the homeland in either of these locations.  To coin an old marketing campaign; "Delaware County where Pennsylvania began".  We have vast history here, from the Thomas Massey House in Marple, circa 1696, to the Thomas Lieper House in Nether Providence, 1785,  just to name a couple of our treasures.  Several of our Founding Fathers have rested their horses here.  Delaware County is a great place to grow up.  A super place to raise kids.  A fantastic place to live.  If you can't find it in Delaware County, you can't find it anywhere. 

In this blog I will cover anything in and about Delaware County.  Restaurants, bars, stores, events, museums, cool places, weird places, anything I can find, and anything you the readers tell me about.  So let me know what's going on in your neighborhood.  What bars are happening.  What restaraunts are dishing out great stuff.  We have St. Patrick's Day coming up, always a busy day in Delaware County.  We have a great homegrown Irish band here in Blackthorn.  Their shows are always a great time.  We have some great Irish Pubs around the county.  You may find me at the lengendary Erin Pub in Norwood hoisting a pint of Guiness at some point on Saturday, and at the aforementioned casino, watching that homegrown Irish band.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and learning about new places that I've never heard of or been to.  So send me your thoughts and ideas. See you around the Center of the Universe soon!