St. Patrick's Day Guide

Sleep in today and wake up ready to imbibe. You have no excuse for missing out on the biggest drinking day of the year. Start it off at the parade or an Irish brunch -- either way it'll be the start of a big day of drinking, dancing, kissing and digging out the 1/100th of you that's Irish. If Irish luck is with you, you might even see a leprechaun or two you can follow to a big ol' pot of gold. Slainte! -- Melissa Richter

Subject(s):

St. Patrick's Day

Griff's

3416 Roseland, 713-528-9912

www.griffshouston.com

Even though Griff's claims to be Houston's oldest sports bar, they still know how to party like they're barely legal. They have one of the best, and oldest, St. Patrick's Day parties to prove it. In the past week they have hosted a cook-off, a golf tournament and various drinking events. Thursday is the Paddy's Day Queen Contest. And, finally, the day o' days -- Saturday, March 17, brings the annual St. Patrick's Day parade with music, beer and friends. All day and night, of course. Get your tickets early.

Friday, March 16

Toyota Center

1510 Polk Street, 713-758-7200

www.houstontoyotacenter.com

To us dumb Americans, the Scottish and Irish are just the same. Who can tell the accents apart anyway? The Episcopal School Pipe Band is here to present the 44th annual Scottish Festival Journey to the Skye. Where else will you see 300 pipers, drummers and dancers? 8 p.m. $15–$25. Tickets available at www.toyotacentertix.com, 1-866-4HOUTIX and select area Randalls locations.

Saturday, March 17

The 48th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

Downtown Houston

www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/houston

With a little luck of the Irish, the St. Patrick's Day Parade could be one of the best ones yet. Leap with the leprechauns, pipe along with the pipers and kiss anyone who's Irish. The parade starts at noon, which is a perfectly decent hour to start drinking.

6th Street and Studemont in the Heights

Teetotalers founded the Heights, but times are a-changin'. The corner of 6th Street and Studemont is quickly becoming a place to party, and they're out to prove it this drinking season. Fitzgerald's, 6th Street Bar & Grill, Beer Island, Jimmy's Icehouse, Heights Sports Bar and Onion Creek will have live music, drink specials and no cover all night. Take a cab and walk from bar to bar. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a nice lassie or laddie to take home.

6th Street Bar & Grill

2701 White Oak, 713-880-5999

The Irish are so lucky to have a bar celebrate them for 12 hours at the St. Pat's Party of the Year. From 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. there'll be nonstop music, drink specials and giveaways.

702

702 W. Dallas, 713-654-8040

www.702houston.com

Start imbibing green beer at 4 p.m. during this bar's second St. Patty's Day party. Beer isn't all they'll have, though -- live music and other drink specials round out the night.

Brian O'Neill's

5555 Morningside Drive, 713-522-2603

www.brianoneills.com

You know the best place to go for an Irish celebration is an Irish pub, and Brian O'Neill's is sure to bring out the Irish in you with its all-day celebration. Start your drinking at 8:30 a.m. with an Irish breakfast and live entertainment. Hang around for more good eats and drinks, with entertainment by Murder the Stout and O'Maoileidigh Irish Dancers. Finally, start the night strong with Cass Irish Dancers at 6 p.m. By this time, you should be able to dance with them.

Champp's

1121 Uptown Park, 713-627-2333

These guys claim to have a leprechaun, so you know some serious drinking must be involved. Enjoy the green beer with a free steamship buffet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., which will include yummy corned beef and cabbage.

Comedy Sportz

901 Town & Country Boulevard

713-868-1444

St. Paddy's day isn't all about drinking with the Irish -- it's also about laughing at them. What makes less sense than a short, bearded, old man who wears a buckle on his hat pinching you inappropriately simply because you're not wearing a specific color? Get a $2 discount for wearing green. (A four-leaf clover pin will not cut it.)

Firkin & Phoenix

1915 Westheimer, 713-526-3100

www.firkinandphoenix.com

Enjoy an Irish celebration with a Houston twist Thursday, March 15, to Saturday, March 17. Beer specials and crawfish boil every day.

The Ginger Man

5607 Morningside Drive, 713-526-2770

www.gingermanpub.com

The Ginger Man will be painting itself green today. This Irish celebration will have traditional food, great beer and live music. 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover.

Hans' Bier Haus

2523 Quenby, 713-520-7474

These guys want you here so badly that if you bring something green from another bar, you'll get 50 cents off your beers all day long. Not only will there be live music, but giveaways and Irish beer specials from noon to 2 a.m. No cover.

The Harp