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Tuesday Lowdown, St. Patrick's Day Edition
issue no. 11
Just as we’ve recovered from losing that hour Sunday morning, here comes St. Patrick’s Day. This whole issue is dedicated to everything St. Patrick’s Day!
☘️St. Patrick’s Day Parade🍺
🚊Hartford Line🛤️
🎉What Else?🎊
🥔Corned Beef Hash🍳
☘️St. Patrick’s Day Parade🍺

The Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day parade takes place on March 15th. The parade starts at 11:00am at the state capitol and ends at the Memorial Arch.
Here’s the route map!
https://www.irishamericanparade.com/ParadeRoutev02.html
I usually set up in Bushnell Park close to the arch. After the parade you’re close to the bars/restaurants on your way back to…
🚊Hartford Line🛤️

***Don’t expect the train to look THIS festive!***
I love taking the train to parades in Hartford. We’ve had a lot of opportunities with UConn over the past couple of decades, but the atmosphere for the ride down to the St. Patrick’s Day parade is always more “festive!”
The train leaves Windsor Locks at 10:21 am and Windsor at 10:28 am and will arrive in Hartford at 10:39 am. Just enough time to get to the arch for the parade. Double check train times, the schedule might change! They have added extra trains in the past too, no report of that yet though.
🎉What Else?🎊

Whether you go to the parade or not, there is plenty to do all throughout the area. Here are some of the best:
Agave Grill- Hartford
Agave Grill's Parade Day Fiesta starts at 10 am on March 15th! They’ll be serving up Irish Car Bombs, Reuben Empanadas, Egg Sandwiches & St. Paddy’s Day must-haves all day long.
https://www.agavehartford.com/
Vaughan Irish Public House- Hartford
Join the St. Paddy’s Day fun on Saturday, March 15th, after the Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade on Pratt Street. Grab drinks from our outdoor bars and dance to live music by Roost the Band.
www.irishpublichouse.com
Ani’s Table- Rocky Hill
Pre-order their Potato Pancakes, Oyster Chowder, Bailey’s Tiramisu, and more.
https://anistableandmarketplace.com/
Cafe Louise- West Hartford
Cafe Louise is offering traditional dinner specials for St Patrick's Day from Friday, March 14th, through Monday, March 17th. Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish Soda Bread, Bangers and Mashed Potatoes, Shepherd's Pie, Shamrock Cookies and Cupcakes with Bailey's Frosting.
www.cafelouise.com
Froth Cafe- New Britain
Their March specials celebrate all things St. Patrick’s Day! Start your morning off with an Irish Cream Americano or Shamrock Matcha.
https://frothct.com/
Hops on the Hill- South Glastonbury
Live Irish music, green beer, a bagpiper, and the Cluck Cluck Moo and Skyscraper Sandwich trucks are available on Sunday, March 16. The food trucks will be on-site from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm.
www.hopsonthehillbrewery.com
New England Pasta Company-Avon
Their annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner for two is back! Order their Slow Braised Corned Beef with an apricot glaze for two or four. Also available are Potato and Cheddar Ravioli, Irish Soda Bread, and plenty of desserts. Place your order by Wednesday, March 12th, for pick up on Monday, March 17th.
www.newenglandpastaco.com
Stew Leonard’s-Newington
Shamrock Milk is back! Green and minty and perfect for a lil’ Leprechaun. They also have St. Pat’s catering specials, like Complete Dinners starting at $69.99 for 4, $125 for 8 with Corned Beef and all of the fixings.
www.stewleonards.com
O’Hartford 5K & Little Leprechaun Dash – Hartford
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend with a festive run through historic Coltsville! The O’Hartford 5K features a scenic course, a finisher medal, and a lively post-race party. Kids can join the Little Leprechaun Dash, making it fun for the whole family. Costumes encouraged! Race day: Sunday, March 16.
www.hartfordmarathon.com
Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade – Holyoke, MA
One of the biggest St. Patrick’s celebrations in New England! The 72nd annual Holyoke Parade features vibrant floats, marching bands, and Irish dancers. Thousands line the streets for this legendary event, making it a must-see for families and parade lovers alike. Parade day: Sunday, March 23.
www.holyokestpatricksparade.com
Irish American Home Society – Glastonbury, CT
Join the Irish American Home Society for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration filled with music, dancing, and traditional Irish fare! Their Parade Day Party features live performances, including Irish rock band DR9. A family-friendly event with plenty of Irish spirit. Parade weekend festivities: Saturday, March 15.
www.irishamericanhome.com
Irish Cultural Center – West Springfield, MA
Celebrate all week at the ICC’s Irish House Restaurant & Trinity Pub! Enjoy live Irish music, Irish step dancers, and a special St. Patrick’s Day menu. Festivities run from March 17-22, featuring bands like Ireland Parish and The Rosie Caine Trio. Reservations recommended!
www.irishcenterwne.org
Donovan’s Irish Pub – Holyoke, MA
Known for its lively Irish music scene, Donovan’s is the place to be for St. Patrick’s Day! Enjoy live music throughout March, with traditional Irish sessions leading up to the big day. The party continues after the Holyoke parade with great food, pints, and plenty of Irish cheer.
www.donovanspub.com
John Boyle O’Reilly Club – Springfield, MA
Celebrate St. Patrick’s week with an authentic Irish experience at the John Boyle O’Reilly Club! Their Irish Party Night on Friday, March 21, features a whiskey tasting, live Irish music by The Healys, and classic corned beef sandwiches. Open to all!
www.jbo-club.com
🥔Corned Beef Hash🍳

Corned Beef hash is my go-to breakfast meal anywhere I am. It’s not a St. Patricks Day dish, but is worth a mention! Apparently, corned beef and cabbage are an Irish American thing that started in New York. The corned beef was much cheaper than the traditional Irish Bacon. The cabbage was cheap and readily available. Either way, I love corned beef hash. I stumbled on a Facebook post of someone asking for the best in the state. The Laurel Diner in Southbury had the most mentions by far. Here are the local recommendations:
The Gathering Ground- Windsor Locks
Fire On The Mountain Smokehouse- Suffield
Drago’s Kitchen- Granby
Harvest Cafe & Bakery- Simsbury
New York Pickle Deli- Rocky Hill
The Chuck Wagon- Ellington
Popover Eatery- Simsbury
Thanks for reading! Back to our regularly scheduled programming next week!
Mike