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A pint and a parade ...

amNY.com staff

March 7, 2008

Bagpipers in the St. Patrick's Day parade as it moves up Fifth Avenue.

St. Patrick's Day is the perfect opportunity for the Irish to re-connect with their heritage. But if you have no Irish heritage, don¹t feel left out -- it¹s also a perfect opportunity to reconnect with a properly poured draft of Guinness and shot of Jamison.

The festivities here are centered around Manhattan's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, which starts at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue at 11:00 a.m. on March 17.

. The grand marshall this year is broadcaster Tommy Smyth. Organizers recommend viewing the parade above 59th Street, but if you prefer to watch it on TV from the comfort of a warm bar, behind a properly poured stout and a nip of Irish whiskey, we've got the best places to do it.

Scratcher This hidden spot is a cozy refuge in the East Village. (209 Easy 5th Street)

St. Dymphna A good menu and, when the weather is nice, outdoor seating make this traditional Irish bar on St. Mark's worth a visit. There's a special St. Patrick's Day menu -- which hasn't been completely finalized, but will probably include corned-beef hash, shepherd's pie, and the like. (118 St. Mark's Pl.)

Ulysses Part of the Puck Fair and Swifts Hibernian Lounge network; there's a free shuttle bus between the three. Ulysses will have a special menu on the day with corned beef, lamb stew, salmon, chicken pot pie, and cottage pie. (95 Pearl St.)

Paddy Reilly's Music Bar Talk about doing one thing and doing it well. This bar has eight beer taps, all of them pouring Guinness. They will have live music all day to 4 a.m. (519 Second Ave.)

Connolly's You can't swing a dead leprechaun in midtown without hitting a branch of this local chain of Irish bars. At the 45th Street incarnation there will be live music, starting at noon. (121 W. 45th St.)

OTHER PARADES

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
95th. Street & 4th. Avenue
12:00 P.M. Parade Formation
1:00 pm. Parade begins
The parade will start in front off St. Patrick's R.C. Church (95th Street & 4th Avenue) and will proceed North on Fourth Avenue to Fifth Avenue then on Fifth Avenue to 59th Street at OLPH, where the parade will disperse. (Grand Stand on75th. Street & 5th. Avenue; for More Information, Please call: Cell 917-582-7171)

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 16th, 2008
12 Noon Parade Assembly Point: Prospect Park West & 14th St
12:45PM "Re-Dedication Ceremony" to the Heroes & Victims of 9/11 - WTC at Prospect Park West & 15th Street, before Parade "step-off"
1PM Parade Route
Down 15th St to 7th Ave
Along 7th Ave to Union St
Up Union St to Prospect Park West
Along Prospect Park West to 15th St

Throggs Neck Parade
Sunday, March 16
11:00 a.m. Line of March Assembly at the corner of East Tremont and Lafayette Avenues, in the Throggs Neck Section of the Bronx,
12 noon Parade Kicks off - Reviewing Stand on E. Tremont at Harding Avenue