A Sold-Out Show: The Rock Star of One First Street!

As Article III Groupie previously reported, Justice Antonin Scalia will be serving as the Grand Marshal of this year's Columbus Day Parade in New York City. Before the parade, the Rock Star of One First Street will be attending a special Columbus Day Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

But if you were hoping to squeeze into that venue to catch a glimpse of Nino, A3G has some bad news for you: Justice Scalia playing St. Patrick's Cathedral is sold out. A New York-based reader offers this report:

Hi A3G. Yesterday I received a postcard in the mail that you would love so much, you would stick it up on the wall of your office. Taking up most of the front of the postcard: a pen-and-ink drawing of your hero, Justice Antonin Scalia!

On the back of the postcard was the following announcement:

Celebrate Columbus Day with Justice Antonin Scalia!

Come to the world's largest Columbus Day parade. Begin the day at St. Patrick's Cathedral at the Columbus Day Mass.

New York, NY -- The Columbus Day Parade begins at 11:45 AM and ends at 3:00 PM on Monday, October 10th, and is held on Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street.

Earlier that day, Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral at 9:30 AM, and admission is by ticket only. For tickets call [number omitted] or email [email omitted].

As a good Article III groupie myself, I immediately called the telephone number on the card. You can imagine how heartbroken I was when the woman on the other end of the line informed me that the Mass with Justice Scalia was completely sold out. She said: "There's not even standing room left -- tickets went like hot cakes!"

So if you were hoping to kneel next to -- or exchange the "kiss of peace" with -- Justice Scalia, sorry! Unless you already have your ticket, it's not happening. But you can still line up on Fifth Avenue and watch Justice Scalia as he marches past, or maybe rides by on a float. (The $64,000 question: Will he be wearing his robe?)

Justice Scalia's selection as Grand Marshal of the NYC Columbus Day Parade dispels any remaining doubt that he is a celebrity in the truest sense of the word. Just consider some of his illustrious predecessors in this post: Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio, Sophia Loren, Mario Andretti, and last but not least -- Susan Lucci!*

A special request to any UTR readers in the area: Please attend the Columbus Day Parade, and please keep your eyes peeled for the Rock Star of One First Street. If you can use your digital camera to take a photo of Justice Scalia -- which he can't complain about this time, since it is an outdoor parade, for crying out loud -- please email it to A3G. Thanks!

* And who is the Susan Lucci of the federal judiciary? As noted by Timothy Noah in his fun and fascinating Slate piece, "Susan Lucci in Judicial Robes," it's Fifth Circuit Judge Edith H. Jones. As revealed in Noah's article, the number of times that Judge Jones has been passed over for the Supreme Court is stunning -- and deeply disappointing.

Comments

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It is always fun to see dignified public figures, especially members of the judiciary become real human beings for a change, and mingle with the people. Most of the time, people tend to be either at awe or frightened whenever they see a respected judge, dressed in his robes. But to see them so down-to-earth, spending time with other people, it makes you feel more at ease with them, removing your fear that they might bite. It is actually those who have committed a crime who tremble in fear whenever they see a judge since the time that they first get to see them is in court. Being familiar with the people can sometimes also be a disadvantage since some may try to abuse the person in terms of asking for favors and such. But I guess, it will all depend on how the judge conducts himself and how he treats each person individually.