I think my husband is crazy - he has a hotel room for Sunday evening in preparation for Monday all-day meeting near 7th Ave around mid-town. Although I have never been to NYC on St. Patrick's Day, I have been predicting that for blocks east and west of the 5th Avenue parade route streets will be impassable. Hoping I am wrong but looking for insight from those who have been there on St. Patrick's Day.

I used to work in that area--and always managed to work from home or elsewhere on St Patrick's day.
The parade runs on 5th avenue from about 42nd to 79th streets.
As you move away from 5th Avenue, the streets shouldn't be impassable. Still, you will see smaller crowds, sometimes bunches of drunken college students and younger kids cutting school, all over midtown, on the subways, in food places.
It's certainly not the most tranquil day for running around the city but if your husband is going to be at a meeting all day, its a non-issue for him.
Are you going to be there too and planning t o tour the city?

Thanks - that info helps a lot. (No, I am staying home this time)

I went a couple of years ago and will not go again.

Extremely crowded with a majority of people aggressively drunk at 10 am. Not a place to be by choice.

While it's true that the side streets will be very difficult (even worse than on a typical Monday) for traffic, pedestrians will see no problems at all even on Madison or 6th Avenues. By 7th Avenue, you might even ask, 'What parade?' If your husband stays west of 7th Avenue, he could even take a cab to his meeting, though it's almost always faster that time of day to walk or take the subway; it will be more difficult if he's staying east of 5th Ave. It can be tricky if you have to walk across 5th during a big parade like this because the police usually funnel traffic into only a few large intersections and keep everything else blocked off for pedestrians.

The parade has more than a million MARCHERS plus at least that many again watchers - depending on the weather. All traffic anywhere near Fifth Ave from 42nd to 86th St is out of commission from before 9 am to mid-afternoon.

I assume the meeting is in the hotel - or on the same side of Fifth Ave. Getting across Fifth is only on foot - and then only when there are breaks in the parade. And the streets heading north and south on each side will be full of traffic circling the parade. So - as long as he can walk or subway where he;s going he'll be fine. If he's trying to use a bus or cab he's in big trouble.

nytraveler, even the parade organizers who tend to overestimate these things say "only" 100,000+ marchers!

Yes, it will be crowded, but the parade and marching starts at 11. Gail's husband has all day indoor meetings and will be fine.

However,it not a good time for anyone who would want to be in town touring that day. Even havens like the 5th avenue museums will be less than tranquil with parade watchers spilling over