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Community Corner

Everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day

And (nearly) every bar is an Irish pub.

Although St. Patrick’s Day is affectionately known to bar/restaurant industry insiders as “amateur night,” it’s also a darn good reason to wear that usually-forgotten Kelly green shirt and try out your best Irish accent (hint: go Colin Farrell, not Lucky Charms).  Even if you’re not remotely Irish, you can join in the holiday spirit at one of the following local venues.

Of course notable Irish pub Hooley’s is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in style—Hooleyfest, running from 5 p.m. to midnight, will feature live music, lots of green, and even safe shuttle rides home within a 5-mile radius.

Fittingly, St. Patrick’s Day will coincide with the grand opening of Cali Comfort’s bar expansion.  Green beer, Irish shot specials, and a festive meal of corned beef and cabbage will round out the festivities.

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In addition to a $3 corned beef and cabbage meal deal, Fannie’s will host the weekly Thursday Night Jam, featuring a mix of rock, dance and blues that you can probably dance an Irish jig to.

While the club will feature live music by El Monte Slim And The Low Volts Thursday night, the real St. Patrick’s Day celebration will take place Friday night, with a performance by San Diego-based Celtic punk band The Downs Family (NOT to be confused with the Southern Gospel family band of the same name). The shows will start between 9 and 9:30 p.m. in the club’s Turquoise Room, and best of all, they’re free.

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  • Irish Cuisine, SoCal Style

If surrounding yourself with pint after pint of green beer and bar patrons with terribly fake Irish accents isn’t your ideal way to celebrate the holiday, try whipping up a classic Irish meal with a Southern California twist: corned beef tacos!  Pair the tacos with a bottle of Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, or, heck, Corona, and you’ll have a St. Patrick’s Day meal to remember.

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