Sunday’s the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and if you want to enjoy it from the comfort of a nearby bar, it’s crucial to plan ahead so you can beat the crowds and claim your spot.
Let’s float some ideas for where to go, in an order that tracks with the parade route itself.
At Chapel Street and Dwight, the very first bar to see parade action is The Cannon, a vegetarian soccer pub that’s already opening early, at 9:30 a.m., for a rowdy Premier League match between house team Arsenal and archrival Chelsea. Two hours later, the focus will shift to parade day, thanks to a patio along the route and a special Irish menu.
“Opening our doors early at 10 a.m. for all of your pre-parade revelry,” Three Sheets is also promising a special menu, albeit from a couple of blocks north of the route. Post-parade, a 4 p.m., five-act bill of “free, live, local music” takes the party past sundown, if you can last that long.
Back on Chapel, the new Latin-forward spot Blue Tortuga holds a “brunch party” from 11 to 6, offering drink specials and “giveaways” to go with window views of the parade.
The Owl Shop, whose patio should offer glimpses of the procession, is opening early at 10:30 a.m. and offering much the same as it usually does: “cigars, cocktails, festivities, friendship and a wee bit of Irish cheer,” plus what I have to assume is a proper whiskey bar’s selection of Irish whiskeys.
A block to the east, Te Amo Tequila is marking the occasion “Te Amo-style,” with corned beef tacos, Irish margaritas, green Coronas and “green tea” shots (typically made with Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, sour mix and lemon-lime juice or soda).
Down on Crown Street, Stella Blues is offering a place to wind up as the parade winds down. Starting at 3 p.m., a dance party featuring techno and house music curated by DJs BIZO and BRDY promises “the best beats and hypnotic grooves.”
A block from the parade’s conclusion, downtown’s only Irish pub, The Trinity—even more than all the other bars—is going to be “jammers,” as the Irish lads and lasses might say. In other words, expect a madhouse inside and a line outside by midday or earlier. You can probably beat that line by getting there at the 9 a.m. opening bell, though you might still have to wait a while for the day’s live music, from The Jeff Tuohy Band, to begin. You can also get your fix the night before, during a 10 p.m. St. Patrick’s Parade Eve Party featuring live music from Ian Biggs & The Ruckus.
At State and Crown, Cafe Nine is targeting a less competitive post-parade crowd with a highly competitive offering. Starting at 3, A Drop of the Pure, “New Haven’s premier traditional Irish ensemble,” is “performing two rowdy sets of traditional Irish folk and fight songs.” The bar, meanwhile, is opening earlier than usual, at noon, with promises of “corned beef sandwiches on deck” and “Guinness and whiskey… pouring heavily all day and night.”
Could one of parade day’s most accessible St. Patrick’s Day parties also be its most authentic? You’ll have to float over on Sunday to find out.
Written by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details before attending events.
