Mondays are, of course, the worst, but there's no better way to spruce up the start to your workweek than with a trip to your favorite haunt on St. Paddy's Day, where you can knock back a few green beers, listen to the music of the old country and take full advantage of the chance to don a buckled hat without shame.
MARCH 7
Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar
Cypresswood Golf Course
21602 Cypresswood, Spring, 713-528-9912
Griff's will hold its 32nd annual Irish open golf tournament, also known as Beer, Boobs, Babes and Balls. Tee time is noon with a shotgun start. There will be trophies and prizes for first, second and third places, as well as special prizes for Closest to Hole and Longest Drive. You can also come early for a putting contest at 11 a.m. The individual entry fee is $150, which includes lunch before the tournament, dinner after the tournament, entrance to all festival activities at Griff's and the joy of being served complimentary drinks by beautiful women. All participants must apply.
MARCH 8
The Goose's Acre Bistro & Irish Pub
21 Waterway Ave., The Woodlands, 281-466-1502
The Goose's Acre Running Club will be hosting its fourth Green Clover Fun Run for charity, with all proceeds going to St. Baldrick's Foundation. There will be a 1K kids' run along the waterway starting at 9:30 a.m., with entrance fees of $5 per runner. Each participant will receive a finisher's medal. The adults' fun run, a 5K, starts at 10 a.m. Wearing green or other St. Patrick's-themed attire is highly encouraged. Registration fees are $25 for individuals and $40 for family groups of up to two adults and three children below the age of 12. Participants in the run must arrive and pick up their packets between 8 and 9:30 a.m., and will later get to celebrate at an after-party back at the pub.
MARCH 9
The Goose's Acre Bistro & Irish Pub
21 Waterway Ave., The Woodlands, 281-466-1502
The Goose's Acre will participate in the 8th Annual St. Baldrick's Day celebration, which involves people shaving their heads publicly. The event helps raise donations for children's cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Start time is 3 p.m. To learn more about St. Baldrick's or to commit to shaving your head, please visit www.stbaldricks.org.
MARCH 11
Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar
3416 Roseland, 713-528-9912
Compete in the fifth annual St. Patrick's Day Cornhole Tournament under the tent at Griff's for prizes and fun. Also enjoy steak night at Griff's.
MARCH 13
Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar
3416 Roseland, 713-528-9912
Griff's will hold its annual St. Paddy's Day Queen Contest at 7 p.m. under the tent. Judging will be based on natural beauty, poise, attire and personality. All contestants must apply; check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.
MARCH 14
Wildcat Golf Club
12000 Almeda, 832-526-8764
Lucky's Pub is back with its second annual St. Practice Day Golf Tournament, a special pregame event for the big day on the 17th with drinks, lunch and dinner included. The entry fee will cover the cost of the meals, the golf cart, an 18-hole green fee, a commemorative T-shirt and VIP entrance to a St. Patrick's Day party at Lucky's on St. Patrick's Day proper. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place, as well as for special contests on the course. Individual entry is $150, and corporate entry is $700. Hole sponsorships are $150 each. Tee time is noon.
MARCH 15
Griff's Shenanigans Café and Bar
3416 Roseland, 713-528-9912
Join the folks at Griff's for its annual Irish Stew, Chili, Chicken and Open Irish Cook-Off from noon to 6 p.m., with check-in between 9 and 11 a.m. Guests can join the 10 a.m. caravan known as the Green Tide to see Houston's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, then return to Griff's after the parade for the cookoff. Each team will consist of six cooks, who must supply everything they might need, including propane, and prepare the food at Griff's after check-in, including five gallons of stew or chili and one whole chicken. City rules require that each team bring three aluminum pans, each for a different cleaning purpose, and may require an additional fee of $25 per propane cooker. The entry fee is $35 per team or $60 for all four items. Judging begins at 4 p.m. for chicken, 4:30 p.m. for chili, 5 p.m. for open and 5:30 p.m. for stew. Prizes are six festival passes and $50 worth of drink tickets for St. Paddy's Day for first place, six festival passes for St. Paddy's Day and $25 worth of drink tickets for second, and six festival passes for St. Paddy's Day for third place. Awards will be given for "Best Decorated Booth" and "Most Creative Stew," and beer will be provided for all participants during the competition. All participants must apply.
Houston St. Patrick's Parade
1800 Texas
The whole city is invited to the 55th Annual St. Patrick's Parade. The parade features more than 100 entries every year, and is completely free to join. It begins at noon at Minute Maid Park and continues through 2 p.m., and will take place no matter what the weather is like.
Silver Street Studio
2000 Edwards, 409-781-7979
Select Entertainment and Events is hoping to start a new Houston tradition with the First annual H-Town Throwdown event, which will feature live entertainment courtesy of the Celtic rock band The Blaggards, cover band The Mockingbirds, DJ Bizonee and bagpipe player Barun Das; carnival games; and a swimsuit contest with cash prizes and a chance for the winners to travel to the next round of competition in Mexico. Food trucks and Wrecking Crew BBQ will join forces with five cash bars to make the evening as tasty as it is fun. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door. The Throwdown begins at noon and ends at 8 p.m.
MARCH 16
Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar
3416 Roseland
713-528-9912, www.griffshouston.net
Teams of four can congregate at Griff's at 2 p.m. for the chance to compete for prizes and glory in the First Annual Irish Beer Olympics at Griff's.
MARCH 17
Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar
3416 Roseland, 713-528-9912
The 49th Annual Griff's St. Patrick's Festival will last all day and night. Expect music, beer and companionship. Guests are advised to purchase tickets well in advance.
The Harp
1625 Richmond, 713-528-7827
The Harp plans to honor the Irish saint with dancers, bagpipers, live music, beads, specials on shots and valet parking.
Lucky's Pub
801 St. Emanuel, 713-522-2010
27126 Northwest Fwy., 281-758-2514
2520 Houston Ave., 281-862-2400
Come St. Paddy's Day, Lucky's will once again be fully decked out with leprechauns, bagpipers and green beer for its 7th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival. Doors open at 9 a.m. Visitors will enjoy entertainment by 12 bands and four DJs. All three locations are celebrating, so stop by anytime. Radio station 94.5 The Buzz will broadcast live on location.
Scout Bar
18307 Egret Bay, 281-335-0002
Celebrate the day with a visit to Shamrock Fest 2014, which will feature Cassette Tape, Positive Disturbance, Vella, Elbodo, Another Pearl Harbor, Chris J. Hardy, Cody Joe Tillman and Travel Be. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 8 p.m. This event is free, and guests must be 18 years of age or older to attend.
