Nine Step Plan to a Perfect St. Paddy's Day

In seventeen days, a Celtic invasion is coming to a town near you.  Whether or not you are Irish, prepare now to make the most of this festive holiday.


Scope out the best pubs in town for some live Irish music and a pint.  Make plans with your significant other(s) and friend(s) for a night of conviviality.  You'll know that your pub is authentic if it has a Snug, a smaller private room, oft favored by lasses.  And go early. My memories of living Arlington, Massachusetts (Boston suburb) include vivid images of Tip O'Neill-esque men walking about the town center with their bright red noses ... by 10 am.

Buy tickets to hear your favorite Irish band.  Or two or three.  If you are in Salt Lake City, please consider the Young Dubliners concert at The Depot on March 12th.  I bought 20 tickets to ensure that I have lots of friends jigging with me and I've only got a few left.  Hope I won't be left with any tickets or I might have to do a giveaway the week of the concert.   Look for special Irish bands playing all month. In fact, Piper Down, also in Salt Lake City, is featuring The Wailing O'Sheas on Friday, March 4th.  Ummm the fiddler of that band is a live wire and not to be missed.

www.your-kilt.com

Pull your kilt out of the closet and launder if necessary.  You might want to try it on first to see if it even fits or if you are going with Plan B, find your torn jeans and a green t-shirt.  Gather shamrock beads and green apparel, perhaps green cosmetics if you dare.

Calendar the parade.  Many cities have a parade for St. Paddy's Day and Salt Lake City is no exception.  The parade will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 10 am. The route runs through the Gateway Center.  Tell your kids and your friends and get your Starbucks coupons. If you're lucky enough to be in NYC, the Grand Marshall for the parade, running since 1762, is Mary Higgins Clark.

Refresh your jig.  My daily routine now includes morning jigging while I get ready for work to songs from Celtic podcast.   I download my Celtic fix from iTunes.  Totally free. Can't beat that. 

Eat your greens.  Avoid green runny noses on this holiday of holidays.  Be sure to eat plenty of fresh, green, leafy veggies, daily, to cancel the chance of illness. And pop those vitamin C tablets from Costco. Yummers.

Go green.  Recycle.  I don't know if recycling is highly correlated with St. Patrick's Day, but the practice is highly encouraged nonetheless.  And maybe you will find a leprechaun in the recycling bin.

Seek out Irish companions.  The Irish are a warm and welcoming people.  You may be Irish, but if not, you will be adopted in if you can say "shaleiliegh," which is a walking stick of dense, woody blackthorn roots shaped into a "T" at the top.  If you are Irish, ask your parents and grandparents if you are of the "Lace Curtain" or "Shanty" variety.  Maybe you already know.

Look ladies ... extra men!

Prepare for fun.  St. Paddy's Day is one of a few holidays where the entire emphasis is on having a great time. No big dinner to prepare, no presents to buy, no eggs to hide ... just a rollicking good time.

Websites
Everywhere
St. Patrick's Day
Finding a Pub
Finding the Parade
Celtic Podcast

Salt Lake City
Utah's St. Patrick's Day Parade
Piper Down Pub
The Depot