March Events New York City

If you’re travelling to New York City to cheer on your favorite basketball team during March Madness, there are other things to do and see while you are here.

The 11th Annual USA Memory Championship will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Con Edison Grand Auditorium, 4 Irving Place (14th Street) in New York City and is FREE for spectators.This annual event is for "Mental Athletes" to compete in events like memorizing a string of 1,000 random digits, or two decks of shuffled cards, 99 names and faces, 100 spoken words and an unpublished 50 line poem. This year’s tournament includes challengers from around the country. The winner of the USA Memory Championship qualifies to compete against the champions of other countries in the World Memory Championships.

Then on March 9 there’s the New York Open Judo Championship held at the New York Athletic Club, 180 Central Park South with participants from 23 countries.

And not to miss the The Pier Antiques Show at Pier 94, 55th Street & 12th Avenue, Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, 2008. The Pier Antiques Show will have thousands of shoppers and about 500 exhibitors . Items will include art and antiques, collectibles , interesting modern furnishings as well as vintage fashions. Admission is $15 with children under 16 accompanied by an adult FREE. http://www.stellashows.com/.

Of course New Yorker’s and visitors alive will enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Monday March 17, 2008. After the parade head to McSorley's , New York City's oldest continuously operated saloon. Established in 1854. McSorley's offers a uniquel pub experience with sawdust-covered floors, and the legendary backroom where the ale flowed during Prohibition. Women have only been welcomed at McSorley's since 1970 (and the ladies’ room was installed sixteen years later). There are only two kinds of beer available – McSorley’s Light and McSorley’s Dark – and you’ll have to belly up to the bar to get a pint. There are no stools.15 E 7th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, 212-473-9148. Take the #6 train to Astor Place.

Molly's Pub & Restaurant, Shebeen is a traditional Irish pub with sawdust on the floor and a log-burning fireplace. This pub is famous for its Shepherd's Pie and pints of Guinness. Reasonable prices. Molly's is located at 287 3rd Avenue near 22nd Street, 212-889-3361Take the #6 train to 23rd Street

And the China Institute has an exhibition, Tea, Wine & Poetry: Qing dynasty literati and their drinking vessels from March 24–June 16, 2008. The China Institute is located at 125 East 65 Street and hours are Monday–Saturday ~ 10 AM–5 PM and Tuesday & Thursday ~ 10 AM–8 PM