Slap On Something Green And Let The Parties Begin

What is it about St. Patrick’s Day that makes it one of the most celebrated holidays even among the non-Irish?

Is it a subconscious longing to dance around in a little green suit like a leprechaun?

Or could it be that men and women envy an Irishman’s bushy red beards.

Perhaps it’s because you can drink a Guinness Extra Stout for breakfast, lunch and dinner and not have to eat anything else all day. It’s a meal in itself.

Nah.

Who are we kidding? People love St. Patrick’s Day because of the parties.

And in Spokane (which is Celtic for “the party can”), even though the St. Patrick’s Day parade was last week, there’s no shortage of St. Patrick’s Day parties - especially since the celebrated day is today.

The following are some of the many St. Paddy’s hot spots.

Remember, be responsible: don’t drink and drive!!!

From open to close, O’Doherty’s Irish Grille, 525 W. Spokane Falls Blvd, will be packed today. And for good reason. St. Patrick’s Day occurs every day at this top Irish pub and grill. Entertainment today includes live Irish folk music and Irish bagpipers. The menu, as always, will favor traditional Irish meals. There’ll be plenty of Guinness and Harp flowing on tap. Cover is $1 and will be donated to Center Point, a recreational center for mentally disabled adults.

Finnerty’s Red Lion Sports Bar and Barbecue, 126 N. Division, will also draw a crowd. The Irish haven will be serving up lots of corned beef and cabbage and green beer. A local band of Irish bagpipers will be stopping by to ensure that everyone’s in the proper spirits.

It’s sure to be a green day at Cyrus O’Leary’s, 516 W. Main. As you can expect by the name, the restaurant/ night spot will be dishing out more corned beef and cabbage than you can handle. Irish folk players will be entertaining off and on during the evening. Green beer will be on special.

The Fort Spokane Brewery, 401 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., always manages to attract a rowdy bunch on St. Paddy’s day. And just for the occasion, the micro-brewery has brewed up a special Irish ale. Patrons can stuff their faces with all sorts of Irish meals, which will be on special. Also, Boise blues hounds Fat James and the Three Slims will entertain later in the evening.

The Viking, 1221 N. Stevens, has Irish bagpipers and Irish dancers scheduled to appear at 5:30 p.m. and again at 7:30. There’ll be specials galore, from corned-beef sandwiches to Irish brew.

Mother’s Pub, 230 W. Riverside, will celebrate the holiday rock ‘n’ roll style. Royball from Moscow, Idaho, and Spokane’s Percolator Stickshift and Buckethead will be on stage. The bar will have lots of door prizes. The green beer will be cheap, cheap, cheap. Cover is $3.

The Hi-Neighbor Tavern, 2201 N. Monroe, will be serving up a big batch of corned beef and cabbage at 6 p.m. Pianist Eileen Brandon, banjo and ukulele player Robert Anderson and singers John Dei and Joe Brown will be leading the tavern in Irish song at different times during the night.

Who said an Australian-styled bar like Outback Jack’s can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? After all, many Aussies were once Irish. The bar will be giving out free hats and leis as well as pouring green beer. Seattle’s dreamy psychedelic band Sky Cries Mary will be on hand along with two Spokane acts, Harvest Day and Mark Morrison. Music begins at 9:30 p.m. Cover is $3.

C.I. Shenanigan’s, 332 N. Spokane Falls Court, will be partying on the patio with a DJ and bagpipers. The place was packed on parade day, so you can expect it’ll be busy today. Plenty of Irish meals will be on the menu, and Irish drinks will be on special.

JJ’s in the Sheraton will be celebrating the holiday with an abundance of green beer. The popular club will also have Shiner on stage.

Every year the Onion, 302 W. Riverside, turns into a happening St. Paddy’s day hot spot. So this year shouldn’t be any different. Irish bagpipers will be paying the restaurant a visit throughout the night, probably to sample some of the Onion’s green beer and corned beef dinners.

High above Spokane on the South Hill, the Park Inn, 103 W. Ninth, has been a traditional spot for many to come and celebrate the day. So expect a crowd. Irish stew, corned beef sandwiches and green beer will be popular items (it’s just a hunch). Bagpipers will be checking in at 6:30 p.m.

Jack and Dan’s Tavern, 1226 N. Hamilton, a popular Gonzaga University hangout, has lots of Irish flavor. The tavern will be bringing in a hot dog stand so patrons can have something tasty to accompany their green beer.

Mr. Riley of Smith and Riley beer will be greeting partyers at P.J.’s Pub, 1717 N. Monroe, on this St. Patrick’s Day. Bowls of Irish stew will run $1.50. There will also be T-shirt giveaways and green beer.

Templin’s Resort in Post Falls is offering a special St. Patrick’s Day overnight package. For $69.95 per couple, guests receive a corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew dinner in Mallard’s Restaurant, dancing to Sawtell in the lounge and overnight accommodations. Call (208) 773-1611, Ext. 517, for reservations.

McQ’s Billiards, 9614 E. Sprague (14 pool tables and 10 dart boards) will have a keg of green beer on tap to honor the holiday.

T.W. Fisher’s in Coeur d’Alene, an Irish pub at heart, will be cooking up its own Irish stew. Guinness will be on tap, and cheery Irish folk music will be playing over the stereo.

Capone’s Sports Pub in Coeur d’Alene will be entertaining guests with Rare Mountain Air, a traditional Irish folk and bluegrass band. There’ll be all sorts of giveaways and Irish eats available. Oh yeah, Guinness and Harp will be on tap.