We had a couple of good St. Patrick's Days in Albany, too. McGeary's, which we've visited once or twice a year, pretty much tents in an entire block for the weekend, and has an endless party with lots of live music. It's way easier, perhaps I dare say more pleasant, when we're there anytime other than St. Patrick's Day.
I have no idea what Atlantic City is going to be like. We know where Trinity Brewpub is, and we eventually found the nasty, mismanaged RiRa, and I have to imagine both will be swamped all weekend. It might be saner to skip them, since somehow I doubt the area is really heavily Irish, and these are just going to be random people working in random Irish-themed bars.
I do have to say I always enjoy being in Ithaca for St. Patrick's Day, though, and it's a shame we're going to miss it this year. (It would be more of a shame if we got to be here because Cornell didn't make the tournament, though, right?)