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As arguably the world’s most famous cultural melting pot, New York City is known for fostering communities that function as microcosms of nation states. The likes of Little Italy and Chinatown are among\u00a0the better known\u00a0New York diaspora, but the quiet residential neighborhood of Woodlawn is a hidden gem that makes a unique addition to a New York itinerary, giving you the chance to visit the Emerald Isle without schelpping across the Atlantic.\u00a0Affectionately known as “Little Ireland,”\u00a0the neighborhood extends from the northern tip of the Bronx seamlessly into the southern edge of Yonkers, but you won’t know the difference in this walkable cross-border part of town.<\/p>\n
An Irish neighborhood outside Ireland could easily descend into beer-swilling Leprechaun clich\u00e9s. But\u00a0Woodlawn avoids this because of its Irish population and long history of Irish immigration. As if to reinforce that point, a local coffee shop owner told the New York Post<\/a> that “Woodlawn itself is often affectionately referred to as the 33rd county of Ireland.” While there are loads of Irish pubs\u00a0(the essential rules of Irish pub and drinking etiquette<\/a>\u00a0may come in handy), Woodlawn also has Irish food and produce stores, Irish butchers,\u00a0and an Irish culture center, more accurately representing the diversity of establishments found in any run-of-the-mill town in Ireland.<\/p>\n Little Ireland is centered on two streets, Katonah in Woodlawn and McLean in Yonkers \u2014 cleverly dubbed the “Emerald Mile” \u2014 the area has proved attractive to staycation visitors and New Yorkers seeking a less commercialized version of St. Patrick’s Day each March. Woodlawn is about an hour subway ride from Union Square,\u00a0and with its friendly atmosphere, rich cultural heritage, and abundance of Irish-owned businesses, it’s a worthwhile detour for travelers in the Big Apple. At the very least, you can expect a decent pint of Guinness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The lively culture of Little Ireland in New York<\/p>\n Straddling New York City\u00a0and\u00a0Yonkers, the “City of Seven Hills,”<\/a>\u00a0 Woodlawn is a little ways from the beaten track. It feels more like a small town than a neighborhood in one of the world’s great megacities, and though the woods and glades from which Woodlawn takes its name have been built upon, there remains much to be charmed by. The streets\u00a0are framed by trees and clapboard townhouses,\u00a0plus red-brick and stone buildings housing pubs, restaurants, shops, and butchers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Though areas in this neighborhood feel quaint, Woodlawn is a vibrant and\u00a0welcoming corner of NYC. St. Patrick’s Day is a fun time to visit\u00a0\u2014 and it ensures you’ll avoid the chaos of Fifth Avenue and its wild parade. Bar hop along Katonah and McLean, sampling Guinness, Irish whiskies, and seasonal specials from the pub kitchens. There’s a parade on the Saturday nearest St. Patrick’s Day, the\u00a0Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade<\/a>, which runs along McLean Avenue. Year-round, you’ll find a lively atmosphere in the pubs thanks to the ubiquity of trad and session music nights,\u00a0and live Irish and international sporting events on TV.\u00a0The Aisling Irish Community & Cultural Center<\/a> is another community hub, offering classes in Irish music, language, and dance.\u00a0<\/p>\n The point being, Little Ireland feels authentic, a trait\u00a0many people crave when deciding where to visit. Where else in America could you eat fresh\u00a0soda bread for breakfast, browse a mini market for Irish goods\u00a0like Tayto crisps and Barry’s\u00a0Tea, dine on a\u00a0shepherd’s pie, and slurp numerous pints of the black stuff, and do it\u00a0all on the same street?\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Pull up a stool at an Irish pub or restaurant in Little Ireland, New York<\/p>\n There are some things you can expect in your meals when visiting Ireland<\/a>, like belly-busting breakfasts, and meat-and-potato dinners. Here, Little Ireland reverts to type. The Paddock<\/a>, with 4.7 stars<\/a> on Google Review and a\u00a0menu\u00a0plucked straight from an Irish kitchen, it’s a great place to kick off the day. Order a full Irish breakfast or a slight variation called an Ulster fry, primarily eaten in Ireland’s northern counties. Don’t skip trying\u00a0a soda farl, a thick, slightly aerated Irish flatbread that’s best enjoyed with eggs and breakfast meats sandwiched in the middle. Want breakfast back home? Swing by\u00a0The Butcher’s Fancy<\/a>\u00a0for authentic house-made Irish sausages \u2014 they even sell a “Breakfast Bundle” that includes black pudding, Irish breakfast sausage and bacon rashers, imported Irish butter, and brown bread.<\/p>\n The Irish Coffee Shop<\/a> on McLean has been a hub of the Irish immigrant community for over 30 years. Alongside a cup of joe, try a sweet treat, like a fruit scone or raspberry cream puff. The Irish Coffee House also serves lunch and dinner, with classics including bacon and cabbage and fish and chips. Though a jack of all trades, The Irish Coffee Shop has maintained a high level of quality, with 4.6 stars<\/a>\u00a0across more than 600 Google reviews.<\/p>\n Pubs including Rambling House,<\/a> McKeon’s Bar & Restaurant,<\/a>\u00a0Mulligan’s Fireside Pub,<\/a> and The Burren<\/a>\u00a0also score well on user-review sites. At these establishments you’ll variously find live music, sporting events on big-screen TVs, pub grub menus (with some Irish foodstuffs), and Irish-Americans enjoying “the craic” \u2014 Irish slang for a fun time and good conversation.\u00a0Rory Dolan’s<\/a> on McLean might be the pick of the bunch. A pub, restaurant, and caterer, it has won awards\u00a0from OpenTable and Tripadvisor. Ultimately, how Irish you find Woodlawn will be influenced by your familiarity with the motherland. But as one resident told the New York Post,<\/a> it’s the closest you’ll get “without buying a plane ticket.”<\/p>\n
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