Irish eyes are smiling

Don your green, paint shamrocks on your cheeks, and get ready for an Irish fest in Brooklyn on March 20.

There are two great ways to celebrate the Emerald Isle in the Borough of Kings! Two parades will take place on March 20 in Bay Ridge and Park Slope.

Revelers in Park Slope can start the day with a mass at Holy Name of Jesus Church at 245 Prospect Park West at 9 am. After the mass, pay tribute during a re-dedication ceremony of the 9-11 victims memorial. Then, the parade begins as marchers wind their way from 15th Street and Prospect Park West down Seventh Avenue, Garfield Place, and then back up to the reviewing stand at Bartel-Pritchard Circle, at Prospect Park West and 14th Street. This year’s Grand Marshall is Mary Hogan, the national president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Park Slope St. Patrick’s Day Parade (kicks off at 15th Street and Prospect Park West) March 20, 1 pm. Free.

Irish eyes in the Ridge can start off the day at mass held at St. Patrick’s Church at 9511 Fourth Ave. and 94th Street at 9:30 am. Parade marchers will step off from Marine and Third avenues at 1 pm. For children, volunteers will be on hand to paint a shamrock or two upon their faces at 1 pm. The parade makes its way up Third Avenue and ends at the reviewing stand on 77th Street and Third Avenue.

Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Marine and Third avenues) March 20, 1 pm. Free.

British Swim School - Manhattan

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!

Yuletide Factory

Fill your hearts with circus cheer&mdash;the merry daredevils of Cirque Mechanics (Zephyr, 2023) are back with an industrial-strength spectacular for you and your kin. Sparkling with holiday spirit, the ever energetic ensemble of acrobats transforms a drab assembly plant into a holly jolly Yuletide Factory! From the wonder of the German wheel to festive flips from the trampoline wall, they dash and dance through a pageant of powerhouse stunts with grins and goodwill. It&rsquo;s high-flying fun, comfort and joy for the whole family!

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"