Composer Frederic Chopin once said "Even in winter it shall be green in my heart."
This may prove to be a powerful mantra for the 70,000 people expected to descend on Atlantic City's famed Boardwalk for the 36th St. Patrick's Day Parade 1 p.m. a little over a week before spring.
Despite the damp forecast, the parade of 120 organizations will step off near Ocean Casino Resort and after a two-mile path, end at Albany Avenue inspiring revelry for about three hours along the way.
There will be floats, trams, an ad hoc kazoo band and John the Leprechaun. Oh, and Kelsey Grammer is even one of two grand marshals.
Maybe one of the parade watchers will bring him tossed salads and scrambled green eggs?
A dozen Atlantic City dignitaries have been working tirelessly all year to organize this beloved local event. Meetings were at, you guessed it, The Irish Pub. Would anything Irish happen in this city without the Pub's owner, Cathy Burke, being at the center of it?
If you plan on attending, you can absolutely expect that your favorite haunt will have specials, live music or parties to welcome you after the parade. There is even a pub crawl for those who think they can pace themselves and hit them all. Below are just a few standouts.
If you are an early riser, you can head to the Irish Pub on Saturday morning to meet Grammer. He will be there for the blessing of the grand marshal sashes. You can even try his beer, Faith American.
As most folks in this area know, this establishment boasts boxing memorabilia, Mickey Mantle's autographed photo and a ton of Guinness. There will most definitely be a crowd.
This is also one of the few places in town that doesn't try to charge casino prices. Grab a corned beef special and a beer for well under $20, which is a bargain considering you didn't pay an admission fee to see the many artifacts of yesteryear.
With easy access right off the Boardwalk in Midtown, Wild Wild West is having an after party with live music by Garden State Radio featuring "Jamo" specials, $4 drafts, free swag and a green beer pong tournament.
What's great about W3 is that you can easily get in or out of this open floor plan, find the bathroom, head to the Caesars or Bally's parking garage in doors, and enjoy the entertainment from a well-lit stage with good sound. It's a fabulous pit stop for any Boardwalk bar crawl.
Local celebrity chef Michael Brennan is serving up gourmet Irish fare starting at 11 a.m.
This party is perfect if you have little ones in your crew. The Garden will have outdoor games and live music by The Chris Yoder band from 5 to 9 p.m.!
New York Avenue always attracts a fun crowd for any Boardwalk event. And the large spaces both inside and out at Cardinal make it a great break from the chaos.
If green isn't your color, I would strongly suggest that you stick to the marina side of town.
Ocean Resort Casino is hosting Napoleon Dynamite Live. Tickets are reasonable at $29. You'll screen the iconic film and enjoy a Q & A with Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico).
Or, if crowds aren't your thing, you can watch a livestream of the entire three-hour parade at the Official Atlantic City St. Patrick's Day Parade Facebook page or at BreakingAC. Use this page or the organization's website to answer all your parade questions.
Or, visit their new website for current information.
Yours truly will be hosting the livestream, introducing each organization and interviewing its members.
This is a fabulous day to come into the city. Don't miss it!
