It's set to be a gorgeous day for a parade (a high of 64 degrees is expected), so we're guessing that today's St. Patrick's Day Parade will be especially well-attended. But, remember, the NYPD is cracking down on alcohol consumption and public intoxication—no hijinks because Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is Grand Marshal this year!
Of course, this also means that alcohol consumption and public intoxication at bars will be higher than usual. Eater sent an intern to McSorley's this morning: "One drinker says he called out of his job in Jersey City today. 'Today and Halloween are the two days adults are allowed to have fun.' He said McSorely's was just the first of several stops. 'I don't really care where I go as long as the ale is dark and I don't pass out.'" If you're not making it to (or simply avoiding) McSorley's, you can check out mcsorleystv, which compiles all McSorley's related Tweets.
The parade begins at at 11 a.m. at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue and ends at 86th Street Fifth Avenue, from East 44th to East 86th streets. If you want to avoid crowds, watch the parade between 66th and 86th Streets; Newsday reports, "One NYPD official said the area north of 73rd Street also is usually less crowded." You can share your photographs of the revelry, whether at the parade, bars, streets, or subways, by tagging them "gothamist" on Flickr or emailing them to [email protected] .
