NYC & COMPANY INVITES VISITORS AND LOCALS TO DISCOVER NEW YORK CITYS IRISH HERITAGE

3/2/17


NYC & COMPANY INVITES VISITORS AND LOCALS TO DISCOVER NEW YORK CITY’S IRISH HERITAGE



—Experience St. Patrick’s Day Parades, Activities and History Throughout the Five Boroughs—



New York City (March 1, 2017) — New York City is a destination that observes and welcomes the diverse traditions of its residents and visitors. Included among those revelries is St. Patrick’s Day when the City offers visitors and locals a variety of experiences to celebrate Irish culture throughout the five boroughs. From the iconic Fifth Avenue parade in Midtown Manhattan, to “Little Ireland” in the Bronx, there is something for everyone looking to discover the ‘Luck of the Irish’ culture.



“All are welcome and celebrated in New York City, and St. Patrick’s Day is a time when we recognize the history and heritage of the Irish,” said Fred Dixon, NYC & Company president and CEO. “From parades to museums and Irish cuisine, New York City is an exciting and iconic destination to celebrate the Irish holiday.”



NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, has compiled the below list of ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day throughout the five boroughs.



Parades



New York City has a longstanding tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day including parades in each of its five boroughs:



On March 17, experience the annual NYC, the oldest and largest in the world after being first held in 1762. From 44th Street to 79th Street, more than 200,000 people will march up Fifth Avenue and past the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan, built in honor of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York. The parade starts at 11am and typically ends before 5pm. (nycstpatricksparade.org)



Head to Rockaway Beach in Queens on March 4 for the 42 The parade begins at 1pm and heads down Newport Avenue, across Beach 116th Street, down Rockaway Beach Blvd., by the reviewing stand on Beach 105th Street and Rockaway Beach Blvd., to the end of the parade by St. Camillus on Beach 100th Street. (queenscountyparade.org)



On March 5, take a ride on the free Staten Island Ferry and head to the 53 parade, which will step off at noon at Forest Avenue’s intersection with Hart Boulevard in West Brighton. Tens of thousands of people will gather for this celebration of Irish heritage. (statenislandstpatricksparade.com)



A short trip south of Woodlawn in the Bronx, you can enjoy the 19 which will take place on March 12. Bronx videographer Derek Woods will serve as the Grand Marshall. (tnsaintpatricksdayparade.com)



The 42 will take place on March 19, making a loop from Prospect Park West to 7th Avenue and back. The parade commemorates the Battle of Brooklyn and pays tribute to the Irish for their significant and historic contributions while marching through the neighborhoods of Prospect Park and Park Slope.



(brooklynstpatricksparade.com)



History



Whether visiting on St. Patrick’s Day or any other time of the year, these historical spots in New York City are great places to learn about Irish culture:



With four-leaf clovers and kelly-green signs sprinkled throughout the neighborhood, there's no mistaking that the Woodlawn area of the Bronx is predominantly Irish and proud of their heritage. Irish immigrants have been settling in the neighborhood for years, carrying with them time-honored traditions that permeate the quaint, row house–lined streets. If you're craving a traditional Irish breakfast, Celtic jam sessions and perfectly poured Guinnesses, “Little Ireland” should be your first stop in the Bronx. Also in the Woodlawn area is Van Cortlandt Park, an ideal location for a picnic or a round of golf and at the end of the day, stop by one of the area's many pubs to throw back a brew with the locals. (vcpark.org)



Take a brief ferry with Statue Cruises from Lower Manhattan to Ellis Island where more than one million Irish immigrants passed through Ellis Island following the famine in the mid-1800s. (libertyellisfoundation.org)



Take a tour of the Tenement Museum on Manhattan’s Lower East Side which preserves and interprets the history of immigration through the personal experiences of the generations of newcomers who settled in and built lives. (tenement.org)



Head to the Merchant’s House Museum downtown just off Bowery on 4th Street, to see the home through the eyes of the Irish immigrants who worked as domestic servants for the Tredwell family, who directly descended from Mayflower passengers and whose romance was immortalized in 1858 in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s narrative poem “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Visitors can climb the narrow staircase to the fourth-floor servants’ quarters and see where the Tredwells’ four Irish servants lived and did some of their work. (merchantshouse.org)



Take in an Irish walking tour from Big Onion Tours on Saturday March 18. This family friendly tour will take guests on a tour of the former “Little Ireland” district of the Lower East Side, between City Hall and Houston Street. (bigonion.com)



Food, Drink and Entertainment



After a day of marching or exploring, these iconic spots in New York City are a great place to stop for a pint or try some traditional Irish cuisine:



St. Andrews Restaurant and Bar in Times Square will serve a traditional Irish breakfast from 10am-12pm and then a special menu for lunch and dinner featuring Irish favorites. (standrewsnyc.com)



Head to McGettigan’s in Manhattan’s Herald Square for an upscale Irish bar known around the world for mouthwatering modern Irish ‘pub grub’ dishes and perfectly poured drinks from its award-winning menu.



(mcgettigans.com)



Visit the famed Chipper Truck Café in the Pelham section of the Bronx. The brick and mortar location for the popular food truck opened in 2015 and serves traditional Irish and American food. (thechippertruckcafe.net)



If you are looking for some authentic Irish music, head to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on March 17 for at its annual NYC Sober St. Patrick's Day Party featuring live music, dancing and world-class performers.  (soberstpatricksday.org)



For those looking for a bit of luck, head to Lucky Strike NYC in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen for some drinks, eats and bowling fun.



(bowlluckystrike.com)



For the first time ever, celebrate St. Paddy’s day onboard a Circle Line Cruise. Setting sail on March 17, the cruise will take place on the brand new state-of-the-art Circle Line Bronx and take passengers on a two-hour cruise around the city’s most famous landmarks and enjoy complimentary Coney Island Brewing Company samples upon boarding as well as Irish-themed appetizers throughout the voyage. (circleline42.com)



For more information, go to nycgo.com and for spring in New York City, visit nycgo.com/spring.



About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official destination marketing organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For all there is to do and see in New York City, visit nycgo.com.



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Contact: NYC & Company / Chris Heywood 212-484-1270
Kim Klein 212-484-1270