By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Mar 17, 2009 at 11:38 AM

I had the honor of joining Kramp & Adler live on the radio this morning at McGillycuddy's. I usually chat with the wacky radio wonder twins on Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m., so this morning was bonus banter.

Aside from St. Patrick's Day, today is also Kramp and Adler's third anniversary as the hosts of the 102.1 morning radio show. Hence, there was a big, decadent, bakery cake congratulating the guys, and hence, I stuck my finger in it. Shhhh.

McGillycuddy's echoed with hoots and woots this morning while Kramp and Adler cranked the tunes, including a rippin' live version of the Violent Femmes' "Blister in the Sun."

However, Water Street, as of 9 a.m., was just starting to greenify. There were a dozen or so "shamrockers" wandering around the sunny block -- no one was staggering just yet -- and a couple of vendors selling green beads and floppy hats.

This year, many of the Patty's Day participants are wearing green leprechaun ears, freebies from Miller Coors. Also, I saw two chaps in kilts -- one  gave me the rock-on symbol -- and a bunch of ladies in shamrock antennae headbands. (Someone told me these were called "head bobbers" or "head boppers," but where I come from that means something completely different.)

The bartender never stopped tapping the potent green stream into plastic pitchers, and the drinkers not only filled the bar, but spilled out onto the patio. Later, considering the warm weather, the McGillycuddy's patio will be one of Water Street's most coveted hotspots to toast the Irish.

My goal was to find the group or person who ventured out the earliest, which ended up being completely unchallenging. I met many dedicated drinkers who started imbibing before 6 a.m., including Mike Kramer and his roommates.

"It's tradition," says Kramer. "Blow off classes and drink all the day."

Personally, I only had a few sips of green beer. When I showed up at McGillycuddy's, I was still working on my morning coffee, which I considered spiking with a little Jameson, but decided against it. Kramp & Adler weren't drinking, so I followed their professional examples. (Scary.)

Despite my lack of green bevy guzzling, I did try to express my St. Pat's spirit through my attire. I'm really not much of a green-sparkly-hat kind of gal, but I did don an Incredible Hulk shirt and a green headband. Do I get half-credit?


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.