As a kid growng up in Long Beach, Long Island, I dressed in green every March 17, and my name on classwork headings was Fern O’Cohen. My very Jewish mom made corned beef and cabbage for dinner every St. Patrick’s Day. Yes, everybody is a little Irish today!

After the big parade this morning down Fifth Avenue, the real hard-core partying begins. Irish neighborhoods from Riverdale to Woodside, Queens will be full of green beer, Irish music and Irish food.

So, to all my Irish neighbors and Irish wannabees like myself, I would like to wish everybody a very Happy St. Patricks Day!