How New York City Will Celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2008

New York City is the place for unique celebrations year round, the city where revelries go well beyond the famous Times Square countdown over the New Year. Saint Patrick's Day 2008 preparations are underway so the city can host the official St. Patrick's Day parade and round up local and national Irish bands to entertain the crowds at area bars.

If you're heading to the Big Apple for Saint Patrick's Day in 2008, make your way to any of these fun events and attractions:

Saint Patrick's Day Celebration at Maggie's Place
21 E. 47^th Street, New York
If you need a place to eat before the festivities begin in the city, head to Maggie's for the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast served at 8 a.m. It's a great starting point before heading off to the parade, and is located within walking distance of most of the key events of the day. If you choose to stop in for dinner instead, enjoy a prix-fixe dinner for just $27.95; call (212) 753-5757 for more information.

The Solemn Pontifical Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral
Start off the official celebration at 8:30 a.m. on the corner of 50^th Street and Ffith Avenue. The Cathedral will be open for services on Monday morning, and it's also the place where the official Parade will be reviewed by the His Eminence Cardinal Edward Eagen, Archbishop of New York.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City
Even though there are over 100 parades taking place over the city for St. Patrick's Day, the official event takes place on Monday, March 17 at 11 a.m. this year. It starts at 44^th Street and Fifth Avenue. Tommy Smyth, the 2008 Grand Marshal will be joined by the former grand Marshals of 2003 - 2007 who will march up 5^th Avenue with over 150,000 other participants. This is the parade that will also be televised on NBC, so if you don't make your way through traffic on St. Paddy's Day, be sure to tune in for the live broadcast at a nearby screen. Find out more at the official website of the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade.