ShamRockaway Around Town
By Katie McFadden
That came quick! The Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Saturday, March 2, and there’s plenty of ways to find some good craic before and after the parade.
Saturday’s parade begins on Beach 130th Street and Newport Avenue at 1 p.m. It continues down Newport to Beach 116th Street, where it will turn on to Rockaway Beach Blvd. and continue down to St. Camillus on Beach 100th Street. The grandstand will be on Beach 105th Street. The parade day will begin with a Mass for Peace and Justice at 9 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales on Beach 129th Street. All are welcome.
Before the march, why not go for a run? The Rockaway Track Club is hosting its Parade Day 5K and Half Marathon on Saturday morning. Check in and day-of registration takes place at 8 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima on Beach 84th Street and the run begins on the boardwalk at Beach 85th Street at 9:30 a.m. To register, head to Rockawaytc.org
The elevated Harbor Light on Beach 130th Street offers some of the best parade views in town, as it’s where it all begins. Watch the parade from the deck, enjoy corned beef, Irish stew and a Guinness or Irish coffee and stick around for some tunes afterwards.
There is plenty more musical entertainment to keep your party going. One of the biggest events each parade day is the Rockaway Fisheads Rugby tent featuring popular band Shilelagh Law. On Saturday, the tent will be in the Sands Point Parking lot on Beach 102nd Street. Doors open at 2 p.m. The band Two Degrees kicks off the music at 3 p.m., followed by Shilelagh Law sometime after 5 p.m. DJ Timmy Tubz will also be playing sets. Note that this is strictly a 23 and over event, and IDs will be checked. Cover charge is a $30 donation.
Another big party this year will take place at The Rockaway Hotel on Beach 109th Street. On Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m., they’ll have Irish musician Ray Coleman singing some tunes as you drink and dine at Margie’s (reservations recommended), while the GrassLighters play the Rooftop. On Saturday, the Hotel will be hosting an Irish Shopping Village in the Pool House from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., so stop by and find all of your favorite Irish goods and more and grab some to-go drinks for the parade. The Harbor Room opens for a ticketed event at 2 p.m. with Ninemile House kicking off the tunes at 3 p.m., the O’Malley Irish Dance Academy performing at 4:30 p.m., the Canny Brothers taking the stage at 5 p.m. and Slainte ending the night starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at www.therockawayhotel.com. Tickets aren’t needed for the Rooftop where DJ Paddy Tubz will be spinning tunes starting at 3 p.m. Plus Ray Coleman is back for another set at Margie’s from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by The Wooden Nickels Duo from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Jamesons on Beach 129th is kicking off the celebrations early with two lads straight from Ireland, Two Degrees, performing Friday, March 1 at 9 p.m. On parade day, Jamesons will have Kieran Monaghan playing at 4 p.m. and they wrap it up Sunday with a hangover brunch at 11 a.m., serving up a special Irish menu all weekend long.
The Belle Harbor Yacht Club on Beach 126th Street will be keeping the post-parade party going with Wine With Sue, followed by The Knobs and The Indecisions playing, starting at 3 p.m. The Wharf on the bayside of Beach 116th will have live music by AMO from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by DJ Cash, plus corned beef and cabbage specials. The Rose Den on Beach 116th Street will be opening at noon, serving up hot drinks and a serving of John Baxter playing Irish tunes. Tap That, along the parade route at Beach 111th Street, will have plenty of beer on tap, a special menu with corned beef on rye and Bailey’s Irish cream cheesecake, and Anthem playing acoustic tunes starting at 4 p.m.
At Bungalow Bar on Beach 92nd Street, they’ll be opening at 11:30 a.m. with brunch featuring Irish specials. All who purchase an entrée can take advantage of a shuttle from the Bungalow to the parade route at Beach 108th Street from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. After the parade, you can catch Bobby Butler and The Irish Mutts back at Bungalow at 3 p.m., with DJ Teddy keeping the party going.
Smoke and Barrel on Beach 98th Street will have some post-parade fun with The Brooklyn Bards playing from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by Chris Solo from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Smoke and Barrel will have 14 beers on tap and will be serving up corned beef and cabbage and smoked bbq.
Connolly’s on Beach 95th Street is open for the day starting at noon. They’ll be serving up greeña coladas and more. Murphy’s Lawyer will be playing tunes from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Want to keep your daytime shenanigans going into the night? Rogers on Beach 116th will provide some late-night entertainment with The Gobshites at 9 p.m.
If your Irish eyes are still smiling come Sunday, head to the St. Camillus-St. Virgilius St. Patrick’s Day Dance on March 3. The McLean Avenue Band will be playing live, plus there will be a corned beef dinner. It all takes place Sunday, March 3 at St. Camillus Springman Hall from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $60 for adults and $20 for kids ages 6-12 and are available at the St. Camillus rectory. Call 718-634-8229 for info.
