Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section

Like most Irish bars in New York City, River Bar and Grill in Hell’s Kitchen will be jammed this coming St. Patrick’s Day with eager revelers enjoying the Irish celebrations.

However, this Irish bar is offering a little something special this year, as customers inside will gather for the second annual St. Baldrick’s head shaving event.  After the success of last year, River Bar and Grill will play host once again to the charity event, which raises money for cancer research.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer driven charity that raises funds for childhood cancer research.  Dan Ryan, co-owner of the bar, is shaving his head for the fifth year in a row for the worthy cause.

“My father, a cancer survivor, was instrumental in planning Chicago’s big event.  My friends and I used to go out to Chicago to participate in the event, but now that I am a partner in River Bar and Grill, I wanted to continue our efforts in New York,” he said.

“To be able to help children is so rewarding and to be able to have fun while doing it makes people keep coming back and looking forward to helping out,” adds Ryan, whose ancestors hail from Counties Tipperary and Cork.

Already numbers are growing, and around 20 participants are expected to shed their locks in aid of St. Baldrick’s on St. Patrick’s Day.

Ryan expects that many more will join in with the festivities on the day. “Usually the day of the event people get motivated and participate,” he told the “Irish Voice.”

Initially the goal was to raise $10,000, but volunteers have already reached that target and have now increased their goal. “We are going to shoot for $15,000,”says Ryan.

Committed to the cause, Ryan has also organized another head shave in aid of St. Baldrick’s in the Watering Hole, which will take place on Monday, March 14.

The event at the River Bar and Grill kicks off at 2 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day. There will be live traditional Irish music and a raffle which will include such prizes as Yankee tickets, gift certificates and designer jeans.

The River Bar and Grill is located at 500 West 43rd Street.

Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section