Like most celebrations in the city, St. Patrick’s Day is go big or go home. Here are the 10 things that New Yorkers love most about this holiday:
1. It’s acceptable to miss work for the parade
Most bosses won’t bat an eye if you take a long lunch break or have to call out sick, or suddenly have a family emergency that you need to attend to.
2. You might be able to see the parade from work
The parade route goes straight through Midtown up 5th Avenue, so if you have a perfectly positioned office building, you might not even have to leave work in order to see it.
3. Everyone leaves the office early
Your boss wants to get the happy hour specials too.
4. Beer specials
This city is full of Irish pubs, and you can be sure they’ll all have specials on St. Patrick’s day. And they won’t be serving the gross green beer that you drank in college. Get ready for good, hearty stouts at a discount.
5. Food specials
Lots of pubs will probably have specials on their food too—delicious dishes like shepherd’s pie and Irish stew. Wash them down with another Guinness.
6. Green
Everyone’s wearing green; the Empire State building is green; the city is turning green now that spring is coming early. How can you be in a bad mood when everything is that bright Irish green?
7. Acceptable work hangovers
Calling out two days in a row is probably pushing it. But being hungover at work the day after St. Patrick’s Day probably won’t get you yelled at unless your boss is one of those people who just doesn’t understand what fun is.
Cover photo credit: New York National Guard/Flickr