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14
Get Silly, Outside for St. Patrick's
The Quad Cities Saint Patrick's Day Grand Parade is special to many, and JJ Condon, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtor and Applestone Homes Owner, is one of them. "I love the St. Patrick's Day Grand Parade because it's the unofficial start of spring in the Quad Cities," said Condon. "Some years we get beautiful weather; other years it's still a bit cold, but regardless, it's the first day of the year we all come together after a long, cold winter to celebrate, be silly, and get outside." The Grand Parade is the only interstate parade in the nation and is viewed by tens of thousands of people along the route from Rock Island, Illinois, across the Mississippi River through Davenport, Iowa. Condon is Irish and his birthday happens to be on March 18th – both reinforcing his enthusiasm for the parade. He marched in the parade as a child and for three years now, has been sporting green (or gold) and marching the streets on the bi-state route. "I love marching in lots of parades in the Quad Cities, but the Grand Parade is unique," said Condon. "It is a bead parade, with kids and adults alike hollering for necklaces. Coming across the Centennial Bridge always makes you feel a little pride for our community. There is so much excitement in the air – any energy you give to the crowd comes back to you times 10!" Tomorrow will be the fourth year Applestone Homes and Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors have a float together. The first two years, the famous parade scene from Ferris Bueller's Day off was recreated – resulting in the Best Commercial Entry and a Judge's Trophy. Last year and this year will be the Irish Mother of the Year and the Golden Girls, which, as Condon describes, is "basically a few dudes dressed up as old ladies rocking out hard to an amazing sound system on Ruhl&Ruhl's truck." "You're always a little nervous before the start," said Condon. "There's the moment before you leave the house when you look in the mirror and ask yourself what you were thinking, but once the parade starts you remember that on this day nothing is over the top." So be on the lookout for Condon, Applestone Homes and Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors tomorrow as we cruise the streets of the Quad Cities and get you some of that GOLD! "Let's get weird, silly, and have a little fun on the one day of the year everyone is at least a little bit IRISH!" Applestone Homes was founded by JJ Condon and Adam Hehlke to establish enjoyable builder/client relationships; resulting in a building process that is easy to understand, customer service of the highest quality, and charming quality-built homes that you help create. Find out more at https://www.ruhlhomes.com/builder/32/Applestone-Homes.
