Green party
Our guide to St. Patrick's Day.

By Dave Kim and Cheryl Eddy

IT'S THAT TIME of year again: pubs are mobbed, bagpipers materialize out of thin air, cabbage tastes delicious, and you suddenly realize you're not the only one strutting around in a sparkly green top hat. All events take place March 17 unless otherwise indicated; times and cover charges are given when available.

Bars and clubs

An Bodhran 668 Haight; 431-4724, www.anbodhran.com. Noon. Stuff your face with barbecue ribs, then head to the bar for cocktail specials and giveaways. Traditional Irish music accompanies the festivities.

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason; 292-2583, www.biscuitsandblues.com. 9pm, $7.50. Guinness specials and performances by Chris "Kid" Anderson are part of this nightclub's St. Patrick's Day bash.

Bitter End 441 Clement; 221-9538. 10am. There's an old-fashioned blowout party till the bitter end here, with plenty o' Irish beer and good company.

Blackthorn Tavern 834 Irving; 564-6627. www.sfblackthorn.com. Culann's Hounds play traditional Irish jigs for the masses Sun/14 (4pm) and March 17 (6pm).

Blarney Stone 5625 Geary; 386-9914. Noon. Bacon and cabbage is served with live Irish music for a festive good time. DJs start rocking the house at 9pm, and beer and cocktail specials are available for tipplers.

Boom Boom Room 1601 Fillmore; 673-8000, www.boomboomblues.com. Get nice and tipsy during happy hour (4-7:30pm) then watch crazy funk band ALO. tear up the stage at 9pm ($10 cover). Flowmotion opens the show.

Buena Vista Cafe 2765 Hyde; 474-5044, www.thebuenavista.com. Sat/13, noon; Sun/14, 11am. The bar where Irish coffee was invented hosts two days of nonstop festive music (live Celtic and bluegrass music, bagpipes) and eats (Irish lamb stew with soda bread, corned beef and cabbage). March 17, the bagpipers return for another show.

Chieftain 198 Fifth St; 615-0916, www.thechieftain.com. Sun/14 and March 17, 9am. Bagpipers and special musical guests play traditional tunes till DJ Seanie takes over at 4pm. Corned beef and cabbage comes with a free Chieftain souvenir, the "Gaelic Lick." Between 6 and 7pm both days, anyone ordering a Guinness or Killians gets a shot of "Paddy One Eye" on the house.

Clooney's 1401 Valencia; 826-4988. www.clooneyspub.com. The pub, which opens at 6am, offers corned beef and cabbage for the hungry and drink specials for the thirsty.

Dovre Club 1498 Valencia; 285-4169. 2pm. Corned beef and cabbage are on the menu at this rowdy Mission District pub.

Durty Nelly's 2528 Irving; 664-2555. A traditional band direct from Ireland stirs things up Fri/12 (9pm) and Sun/14 (after the parade; see below). The pub features Irish coffee, beer specials, and a traditional Irish menu.

Fiddler's Green 1333 Columbus; 441-9758. 10am. Hear live Irish music while munching on corned beef and cabbage at this Fisherman's Wharf pub.

Fahey's Lounge 1355 Taraval; 566-7700. 10am. On St. Patty's, beers come with corned beef and cabbage at Fahey's.

Flanahan's Pub 3805 Noriega; 665-2424. 8am. Got corned beef and cabbage. Will serve.

Harry Harrington's Pub 460 Larkin; 775-1150. Sun/14 and March 17, 7am. A live Irish band goes on at 3pm Sunday. On March 17, stain your teeth with a bit o' green beer.

Ireland's 32 3920 Geary; 386-6173. www.irelands32sanfrancisco.com. 2pm. The live music lineup starts with some traditional Irish tunes, followed by Celtic rock, and closing with a Police cover band called Stung (ha!). Guinness and corned beef and cabbage are served all day.

Irish Bank Bar and Restaurant 10 Mark Lane; 788-7152, www.theirishbank.com. 6am. Sarah and No Name from Radio Alice, 97.3 FM, broadcast live at this outdoor block party. In the morning you'll hear Pure Shite (an Irish band, not Sarah and No Name's show), and DJs will take over at 4pm. There's lenty of Irish food and drink for all.

Johnny Foley's Irish House 243 O'Farrell; 954-0777, www.johnnyfoleys.com. 10am. This bar hosts a traditional Irish party with traditional Irish music and yep, traditional Irish food. Some traditions don't need breaking.

Joxer Daly 46 West Portal; 564-1412. 10am. The barkeeps promise "a bit of a laugh" and some fine music from the jukebox.

Kate O'Brien's 579 Howard; 882-7240. Sun/14 and March 17, 11am. After the parade on Sunday, the pub features "pipers 'n' fiddlers goin' a bit crazy" for the crowd. Genuine Irish bartenders serve up Guinness and corned beef sandwiches.

Keane's 3300 Club 3300 Mission; 826-6886, www.3300club.com. Live music begins at 2pm on the first floor, and DJs play pop hits starting at 4pm upstairs. Irish stew and corned beef and cabbage are served to the hordes.

Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub 530 Jackson; 955-1916. www.kellsirish.com. 11:30am. It's business as usual at this Financial District favorite.

Lefty O'Doul's 333 Geary; 982-8900. 7am. Expect a typically busy Wednesday at Lefty's – but on St. Patty's, the bar'll also have corned beef and cabbage.

O'Reilly's Irish Pub and Restaurant 622 Green; 989-6222. 8am. The street out front is closed off for a kickin' good time, complete with two Irish bands (Blue on Green, HyBrassyl) and the Whelan Academy of Irish Dance. Drink promotions, Irish breakfast, and Celtic brunch top it all off.

Pat O'Shea's Mad Hatter 3848 Geary; 752-3148, www.patosheas.com. 10am. The pub closes off the street in conjunction with Ireland's 32. It'll have Irish music, a blues band in the afternoon, and 40 friggin' taps of Guinness, plus giveaways and food specials.

Phoenix 811 Valencia; 695-1811. 10am. Live Irish music, dancers, and traditional Irish food never fail to make for a good time. Guinness is here doing promotions, and St. Patrick himself (or someone dressed rather like him) makes an entrance Tues/16.

Pig and Whistle 2801 Geary; 885-4779, www.pig-and-whistle.com. 11:30am. All-day specials on Carlsberg and Guinness are sure to draw in the crowds. There'll also be T-shirt giveaways and an Irish piper.

Plough and Stars 116 Clement; 751-1122. 9pm. Andrew MacNamaragh and Brendan Hearty play traditional music for Irish dancers.

Royal Exchange 301 Sacramento; 956-1710. 11am. The street's shut down for an outdoor party. Drink specials and, of course, corned beef and cabbage are part of the day's delights. An Irish rock band jams from 6pm on.

San Francisco Brewing Company 155 Columbus; 434-3344, www.sfbrewing.com. 11:30am. Have a pint of S.F.'s original "Rainbow Stout." As fishy as its name sounds, you'll be pleased with this St. Patty's Day special. Corned beef and cabbage are served for further sustenance.

12 Galaxies 2565 Mission; 970-9777, www.12galaxies.com. 4pm. Three-dollar Guinness. Nothing more needs to be said, but we'll chatter on anyway: the festivities also include Celtic rock band Tempest, celebrating their 15th anniversary at 9pm ($12), as well as corned beef and cabbage.

Bay Area

Albatross Pub 1822 San Pablo, Berk; (510) 841-2082, www.albatrosspub.com. 8:30-11pm. Traditional Irish musicians Don and Michelle Clark, Steven Donaldson, and Cathryn Bauer play tunes for the Berkeley crowd.

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo, Berk; (510) 525-5054, www.ashkenaz.com. 9pm, $9. Fiddler-guitarist combo Stump Tail Dog celebrate St. Patty's Day and the release of their latest CD.

Beckett's 2271 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 647-1790, www.beckettsirishpub.com. 5pm. The bar boasts traditional Irish dancers, bagpipers, and an Irish band – plus corned beef and cabbage served with Irish cheer.

Blake's 2367 Telegraph, Berk; (510) 848-0886, www.blakesontelegraph.com. 8pm, $3. Who says blue and green don't go together? Blake's celebrates St. Patty's with Bluegrass Night, featuring the shrewdly named Muchas Bluegracias.

Jupiter 2181 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 843-8277, www.jupiterbeer.com. 8pm. Jam with irreverent rock band Stolen Bibles as you sip Jupiter's home-brewed favorites.

McGee's Bar and Grill 1645 Park, Alameda; (510) 522-3470, www.mcgeesgrill.com. 11am. Corned beef and cabbage is served all day. Stick around for drink specials and raffle prizes.

McGrath's Irish Pub 1539 Lincoln, Alameda; (510) 522-6263. 6pm. The party features live traditional Irish music, corned beef and cabbage, and lots of alcohol.

McNally's Downtown Irish Pub 5352 College, Oakl; (510) 654-9463, 7:30pm. Everyone loves bagpipes. The Irish Heritage Pipe Band will show you why.

19 Broadway 19 Broadway, Fairfax; 459-1091, www.19broadway.com. 9pm, $10. The Mad Hannans get the crowd moving with Irish-flavored rock 'n' roll.

Starry Plough 3101 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 841-2082, www.starryploughpub.com. 5pm, $5-7. The home of the Berkeley slam scene features traditional Irish music by Driving with Fergus, Irish dancing, and good ol' corned beef and cabbage. Beer can be turned green if that's your thing.

Triple Rock Brewery 1920 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 843-2739, www.triplerock.com. 11am. No green beer is available here, but there's plenty of Triple Rock's Blarney Stone, a special Irish red that'll wash down the corned beef and cabbage served all day.

Events

'Crossroads: An Irish American Festival' San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin; 557-5500, 495-7380, www.iaf.org, www.newcollege.edu/irishstudies. Sat/13. Free. The main event in this festival features a full day of activities: a children's program with Irish music and dance (11:30-12:30pm); accordion player Andrew MacNamara (12:30-1pm); a panel discussion, "The Irish in California" (1-3pm); songs about Irish women immigrants by Melanie O'Reilly and Seán Ó Nualláin (3-3:30pm); and a literary panel, "Memory, Imagination, and Identity" (3:30-5:30pm).

'Irish Americans in the Labor Movement' New College of California, 777 Valencia; 437-3427, www.iaf.org, www.newcollege.edu/irishstudies. Fri/12, 7:30pm. Free. Part of "Crossroads: An Irish American Festival," this panel discussion includes former California state senator Tom Hayden, California assemblymember Gene Mullin, and several local labor leaders.

Irish Film Festival Delancey Street Theater, 600 Embarcadero; 495-7380 (reservations recommended), www.iaf.org, www.newcollege.edu/irishstudies. Wed/10-Thurs/11, 7-10pm. $10. Part of "Crossroads: An Irish American Festival," this two-day program includes feature films (Shimmy Marcus's Headrush Wed/10 and Nichola Bruce's If I Could Read the Sky Thurs/11), as well as shorts.

'Irish Poetry Slam' San Francisco Center for the Book, 300 De Haro; 565-0545, www.sfcb.org. 7pm, free. See 8 Days a Week.

'The Nude Green Orgy of Lying Leprechauns' Kimos, 1351 Polk; (510) 526-7858, www.eroplay.com. 9:45pm, $5. Frank Moore's Cherotic All-Star Band, Slandt, and Wolfdog play.

St. Patrick's Day Parade Begins at Second St at Market; 675-9885, www.sfstpatricksdayparade.com. Sun/14, noon. The 152nd parade (this year's theme is "Building for the Future") features floats, music, Irish dancers, and more.

'St. Patty's Day Punk Bash IV' Elbo Room, 647 Valencia; 552-7788. 7pm, $5. The Bar Feeders, Everything Must Go, Texas Thieves, the Nightcrawlers, Hightower, and the Idiots play this party.

Bay Area

Calaveras Celtic Faire Frogtown Fairgrounds, Gun Club Road off Highway 49, Angels Camp; www.calaverascelticfaire.com. Sat/13, 10am-9pm; Sun/14, 10am-6pm. $16-18 (two-day pass $30). This huge festival features Celtic bands, bagpipers, an Irish art and food marketplace, a living-history village, a whisky-tasting competition, and more.

Dublin St. Patrick's Day festival Amador Valley Blvd between Regional and Donohue, Dublin; (925) 833-6645. www.dublinstpats.com. Sat/13-Sun/14, 10am-5pm (parade Sat/13, 9:30am; fun run Sun/14, 8:30am). Can't make it all the way to Ireland? Visit California's own Dublin for two days of Celtic music and dance, crafts, a children's carnival, Irish eats, and more.

'Romancing the Green Party' Blake's at Boundary Oaks Country Club, 3800 Valley Vista, Walnut Creek; 1-800-870-7072, www.pguild.com. Fri/12, 8pm-midnight. $25. The Professionals Guild hosts this dance party for singles.

St. Patrick's Day festival and barbecue Dance Palace Community Center, Fifth St at B, Point Reyes Station; (415) 663-1075, www.dancepalace.org. Sun/14, noon-4pm. $5-10. The Dance Palace and Sacred Heart Church host the 48th annual incarnation of this festival, featuring food and family fun.