Parade route: Starts at 44th Street, goes north up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the American Irish Historical Society and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Finishes at 86th Street.

Time of parade: Starts at 11 a.m. and ends about 5 p.m.

Best time to get there: Right after the 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Best viewing spots:

* Beginning of parade at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue: see all the marchers starting.

* Uptown, north of the reviewing stand (64th Street and Fifth Avenue): less crowded.

* Upper steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art: a great panoramic view.

* At the end of the Parade at 86th Street: gives a close-up view of all the marchers

Portable bathrooms:

60 of them:

* near the reviewing stand (64th Street)

* Off side streets of Fifth Avenue between 48th & 49th streets

* Along Fifth Avenue, covering the Parade route

MTA hot line: (718) 330-1234

City INFO hot line: 311, Courtesy of MTA and NYPD/DCPI

TV: WNBC 4 will provide running commentary starting at 11 a.m. Also adding to the commentary is Grand Marshal Tommy Smyth and his wife, Treasa.

Internet: nyc-st-patrick-day-parade.org