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 13Griff'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 14Wildcat 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 14-17Kenneally's Irish Pub
2111 S. Shepherd, 713-630-0486
In celebration of the 30th St. Patrick's Day at Kenneally's, a full weekend of events is on tap. On Friday, live musical entertainment will be provided by Grand Old Grizzly starting at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Tyburn Jig, Grand Old Grizzly and live bagpipers will take the stage for a full day of musical fun beginning at noon. On St. Patrick's Day proper, the doors will open at noon to live performances by Luther and The Healers and the Willy Collins Band. An Irish lunch that includes options such as stew, Guinness bread, corned beef sandwiches and turkey sandwiches will be served until 3 p.m. After 3, pizza will be served by the slice. Admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at the pub.
MARCH 15Griff'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 after check-in prepare the food, 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.
Molly Maguire's Irish Pub
15945 Kuykendahl, 281-580-6167
www.facebook.com/mollymaguiresirishpub
Celebrate St. Paddy's Day by competing for prizes and gloating rights in Molly Maguire's Irish Stew Cookoff. Judging begins at 6 p.m.
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 15-17Celtic Gardens, Pub Fiction, 3rd Floor
2300 Louisiana, 713-900-2500; 2303 Smith, Suite 100, 713-400-8400;
2303 Smith, Suite 300
www.celticgardenhouston.com, www.pubfiction.com, www.3rdfloorhouston.com
In the 2300 block of Midtown, partygoers will find one of the biggest St. Patrick's Day festivals around, courtesy of Celtic Gardens, Pub Fiction and 3rd Floor. The party features three days of celebration in three different locations, complete with nonstop green beer and plenty of live entertainment, including Amanda Robinson, the Frontman Band and the Boothpimps. Sunday will have the added feature of crawfish. Doors open at 11 a.m.
The Phoenix on Westheimer
1915 Westheimer, 713-526-3100
A Texas-style celebration is in store for visitors to The Phoenix during St. Patrick's Day weekend. The party will include bagpipers, a performance by DJ Random Hero, green beer and a crawfish boil. In addition, guests will have a chance to explore a Velcro wall, a bounce house and a giant obstacle course for a day of what can only be described as shenanigans.
MARCH 16The Concert Pub North
2470 FM 1960 West, 281-583-8111
The Concert Pub will host its 36th Annual Parade and Parking Lot Party. The parade starts at 1 p.m. and will run from 249 to Kuykendahl, ending at the Concert Pub. The party begins at noon and will feature green beer; shot specials; a crawfish boil; and live music from Wild Rabbit Salad, Blues Band, Flicker System and The Ons. This event has no cover.
Griff's Shenanigans Café & Bar
3416 Roseland, 713-528-9912
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 17The Bull and Bear Tavern and Eatery
11980 Westheimer, 281-496-6655
www.thebullandbear-tavernandeatery.com
The Bull and Bear will be serving a variety of St. Patrick's Day-themed dishes, including Irish red ale potato soup, corned beef and cabbage, and Irish car bomb cake. There'll also be drink specials and a live musical performance by Murder the Stout beginning at 7 p.m.
The Concert Pub Galleria
5636 Richmond, 713-278-7272
The Galleria location of the Concert Pub will host a St. Patrick's Day party featuring live entertainment from La Raza Connection from 3 to 7 p.m., as well as by a DJ starting at 9 p.m.
The Ginger Man Pub
5607 Morningside, 713-526-2770
The Ginger Man is staging an all-day celebration of St. Patrick's Day featuring live musical entertainment by DJ Clint Broussard from noon to 8 p.m. and by The Wandering Bufaleros from 8 p.m. to midnight.
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.
McCormick & Schmick's
Seafood & Steaks
1201 Fannin, 713-658-8100
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks at the Houston Pavilions celebrates the day with an extended happy hour and Irish-themed dishes such as corned beef sliders and Guinness-steamed black mussels.
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.
