By Ben Kochman
Revelers at Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Throggs Neck will be flush with the kind of eating, drinking and partying choices to make one green with envy.
Local Irish bars and restaurants are bringing out their best for the big event, which steps off for the 16th straight year at noon at E. Tremont and Lafayette avenues before wending its way down to a reviewing stand at Harding Avenue.
Here are just a few of the festive options worth checking out:
Start the day right
To prepare for a long day of strolling and Guinness guzzling, a hearty breakfast is essential. One chowdown morning option is the Irish breakfast at Throggs Neck Clipper. The nabe staple will be serving up a meaty plate of Irish bacon, Irish sausage, both black and white puddings, along with eggs and home fries starting at 10 a.m.
And they’re expecting a crowd.
“This is the 16th year we’ve been here, and each year it gets bigger,” said co-owner Eileen Tierney.
Check out Irish tunes
Full-bellied parade participants can then mosey their way over to the Wicked Wolf down the block, at 4029 E. Tremont Avenue. The bar and restaurant will set up a tent in its parking lot, where they’ll play live music all day long, while visitors enjoy food and drink specials.
Just a few blocks east of the parade, Irish pub PJ Brady’s is serving up traditional Irish eats from its cozy spot on Phillip Avenue. The bar and eatery is serving up a special menu, said owner John Brady, with corned beef, Shepard’s pie and homemade Irish soda bread baked by his wife Majella.
“A lot of people in our community have special ties to that day” said Brady, “And we always do get a better crowd during the parade.”
Back-to-back party
But local shop owners caution: Don’t party too hard on Sunday!
Adding to this year’s excitement is the rare back-to-back, as many shops will keep their St. Paddy’s Day specials rolling through the actual holiday on Monday, Mar. 17.
Beyond Throggs Neck, the scene at Pelham Bay Irish pub Shamrock Inn on Crosby Avenue is sure to be bumping.
And the pubs and eateries lining heavily Irish Katonah Avenue in Woodlawn are expected to don the green and grab a pint in full force.
Not that Throggs Neck’s bars and restaurants aren’t also prepared to get the Guinness taps a-flowing and fire up the grill for back-to-back days of big business.
“It’ll mean a whole bunch of corned beef,” said Tierney of the Throggs Neck Clipper, “but we’ll be ready.”
