Ogling the view from our 23rd floor hotel room.

Loew's Hotel, downtown Philadelphia. Like I said, our room was on the 23rd floor.

Dawn's early light, January 1, 2011.

Waiting for the parade to start.

Still waiting. That's Philadelphia's City Hall in the background.

STILL waiting for the parade to begin....

Early morning Mummer.

Souvenir vendors and some onlookers showed up, the parade couldn't be far behind.

Suddenly the parade was here! Mummers! I think these people are dressed as pandas. Irish pandas.

Pretty Pandas on Parade.

Smokin' Pandas on Parade, with Kermit the Frog of course.

Here come the "Jesters Jungle Jive." There must be some kind of jungle in Ireland....

Bwana Jungle.

Juley and Nick were swallowed up by the jungle jive.

Loved that Jungle Jive.

Ftizwater's New Year's Brigade presents "Mummers on Cloud Nine."

Is he ever on Cloud Nine....

The Venetian New Years Association presented "Earth, Wind, and Mummers," which included vikings, Santa, lightning bolted weather baby people, and oh yeah... Ben Franklin.

So proud to be a viking.

The Sammar Strutters marched to the song "Devil with the Blue Dress On."

More babies!

Cops!

Hobo band!

The Goodtimers and Straight Shooters dressed as "The Deadliest Catch."

What is the deadliest catch you ask? Why, King Crabs of course!

Time to text!

Time to smoke! and talk!

Spaceman?

Goo Goo for Gaga up close.

"Take your daughter to work" day.