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March in Buffalo
Tis a good month to be Irish. But there’s so much more. Take a gander at some of the other special events around ethnicities this month.
Irish Buffalo Tour — March 5
This may seem somber, but it’s also a celebration: Forgotten Buffalo’s Irish Buffalo Tour highlights two of Buffalo’s most beloved deceased Irish-Americans, Tim Russert and Jimmy Griffin, with a tour of colorful locations in the Old First Ward and South Buffalo. It starts at 5:30 p.m.; $45 tickets include meal, bus transportation, and guided tour. (833-5211, www.forgottenbuffalo.com.)
The Shamrock Run — March 6
While many will be spending the days surrounding St. Patrick’s on the 17th guzzling green beer and biting into corned beef, some slightly healthier types will be running the Shamrock Run. It kicks off at noon at the Old First Ward Community Center at 62 Republic Street, but there should be a lot of activity from about 9 a.m. on race day. To quench one’s post-run thirst, a party will follow at the OFW Center. It’s even open to nonrunners for a nominal $10 fee; the regular registration itself is $22–$25; the first 3,000 entrants receive a Shamrock Run jacket. (856-8613, www.buffaloshamrockrun.com.)
The Wake — March 12
Now this is a wake. The annual farewell to “Ted N. Gaughan” is a popular fundraiser for Irish Classical Theatre, with beer, wine, food, and entertainment included in the $45 ticket. It’s 7–11 p.m. at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum at 453 Porter Avenue. (853-1380, www.irishclassicaltheatre.com.)
“Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade — March 13
The Valley Community Association’s seventeenth annual “Old Neighborhood” parade. It starts at noon. (823-4707, ext. 4, or www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/buffalo.)
St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Delaware Avenue — March 14
Parade No. 2 is sponsored by the United Irish-American Association of Erie County, Inc., and runs up Delaware from Niagara Square to North Street. It’s been delighting the locals for more than sixty years and is unquestionably the top parade in Buffalo. (875-0282, www.buffalostpatricksdayparade.com.)
St. Joseph’s Table — March 19
This feast day is celebrated in various places throughout WNY, including homes. Pay close attention throughout the month, as churches and other venues will be announcing St. Joseph’s day plans. And not all events are scheduled for March 19. For example, the Culinary Arts Center at Auburn Watson on Walden Avenue will teach attendees to prepare a traditional SJT meal on March 9. (818-1140, www.culinaryartscenter.org.)
St. Patrick Joseph Dyngus Day Party — March 21
This one is a biggie. This, the thirteenth annual SPJDDP, is unlike any other event in WNY; as the name makes clear, it celebrates Italian, Irish, and Polish heritage by combining St. Joseph’s, St. Patrick’s, and Dyngus days. It’s sponsored by the Buffalo Irish Center, the Polka Boosters of WNY, and the Federation of Italian Societies, and features food, drink, and dance. Here’s your chance to finally eat a pierogi, then some pasta, and wash it all down with a Guinness. The whole shebang runs from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Harvey D. Morin Post at 965 Center Road in West Seneca. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. (834-7664, 741-3001, 668-9451, and 825-6700.)
And don’t forget, the traditional Dyngus Day is just around the corner: April 5. Stockpile your pussywillows now.
Christopher Schobert is an associate editor at Buffalo Spree. His favorite bands from Ireland are Ash and My Bloody Valentine, but the best Irish rock song in history is clearly the Undertones’ “Teenage Kicks.”
