Nothing like it used to be in the "old" days, Ummmms. Little Italy is great, but for you, visit Woodlawn Heights ............. full of Irish descendants ......... and Irish pubs. :o)
Hard to imagine you being scared of anything, Umms ;o) Don't let it spoil your trip. You can find trouble just about anywhere in the world, if you look for it. Just be sensible and take the usual precautions. I guess you won't be on your own though?
Something that I live by ....... I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said .....
"Every day, do something that scares you."
Despite the funeral, you'll have a good time, I'm sure. :o)
I only get scared about flying, being a passenger in a car, travelling backwards on a train and going to places that have a bad reputation :-) Other than that I'm hard as nails...
//There's not many countries you don't find an Irish pub :-) //
that's true enough - but a lot of them tend to be what the host country perceives. like the "irish bar" in italy i went to which was just an italian bar with some dark wood panelling and a bicycle hanging from the ceiling.