Crew Has Chicago River Glowing Green For St. Patrick's Day
CHICAGO (WBBM) - The Chicago River glowed a luminescent emerald green Saturday. WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser spent some time with the dye crew on the river bank near the Michigan Avenue Bridge.
Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the first time a group of Chicagoans got together on St. Patrick's Day and dyed the Chicago River green.
Tom Roan has been doing it for 40 years.
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"We have a good time. When we start doing the dye, as one person said, it's like Soldier Field when the Bears score a touch down. They just go berserk," Roan said.
Thousands lined the river bank as the crew took off in their boat.
Roan said the dye that the crew uses, if inhaled enough, will turn everything green, even urine.
"There is a momentary while that that can happen, but it's totally harmless," Roan said.
Frank Manke was covered with the dye. It looked like his eyes were dyed green.
"Yea, they are. I'm starting to see a little funny now," Manke said.
And, just as one woman in the crowd was overheard saying all that is missing are the Shannon Rovers, the Irish pipe band started playing along the parade route.
