Although the coronavirus pandemic has altered its usual format, the Boston St. Patrick's Day Breakfast returned Sunday in virtual form following a one-year absence.
State and local leaders, including outgoing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, met Sunday morning via Zoom for the 2021 "bring your own breakfast" version of the event where there was a brief virtual appearance from President Joe Biden.
Other political figures who participated included Gov. Charlie Baker, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, US Reps. Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Presley, Attorney General Maura Healey and Senate President Karen Spilka.
State Sen. Nick Collins hosted the event -- from his living room. The mostly virtual program included shout outs to frontline workers and touched on a years worth of missed moments.
Collins told POLITICO ahead of the event, "I think the music is what’s going to keep us going, and light humor is important. I'm sure everyone’s going to try to impress. That's the interesting part about this: You've got to get up to the plate, take a swing and the hope is you at least hit a double."
And humor was not lacking Sunday, where Baker took his share of jabs.
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"He has managed to do something no one else has ever done before," Markey said of Baker. "Failed to give out free shots in a place full of Irishmen."
Walsh took his own shot at Baker when he offered some advice to the growing number of candidates hoping to succeed him.
"When you get that one puff piece from the Globe... frame it and put it on the wall. Because it’s the last good story you’ll ever get," he said. "Trust me, their love for you will fall faster than the governor’s poll numbers lately."
Still, other politicians took aim at themselves.
"I couldn’t get onto the zoom. Apparently screaming like a banshee and 'putting on my emergency lights and sirens' doesn’t work in the cyber world," Rollins said.
This was most likely the last Boston St. Patrick's Day Breakfast for Walsh, whose confirmation vote as U.S. labor secretary is set for Monday.
"Most of all, I’ll miss Marty Walsh. Because he’s a hot shot now and doesn’t need to suck up to us anymore," Warren said.
All five mayoral candidates made an appearance Sunday. It remains to be seen whether soon to be acting Mayor Kim Janey will join that group.
The annual breakfast tradition first began in Boston more than 100 years ago and was televised beginning in the 1970s.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
