By Nanette Wiser
IRISH FARE & FUN
Everyone’s name starts with an O’ as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day which falls on Friday, 3/17, but will be celebrated by jolly Irish and their friends all weekend at local bars and festivals. Although saddened by the news that downtown St. Pete’s Courigan’s Irish Pub has closed (forever home to laddies and lassies at one of the biggest parties of the year), DTSP’s Williams Park will be serving up emerald dishes and drinks. Don your green and see for yourself why Irish eyes are smiling.
St. Paddy’s @Corey Ave. (3/17 10am-11pm) The street party features food, dancing, drinking and three bands: Sandy Bottom Boys, Bad Neighbors and Beach Rats, with tables and chairs available on the street. Say Slainte to your pals at Swigwam’s, the center of the festival. St. Pete Beach
Indian Shores Annual St. Patrick’s Festival (3/11 11am-4pm)
This free popular festival features live entertainment, music, arts and crafts vendors, food, beer, wine and Irish dancers 12:30-1pm. Municipal Center
O’Keefe’s Tavern (3/17 11am-midnight) Live bands, bagpipers, Irish dancers and more. Family friendly during the day. No cover, free parking. www.okeefestavern.com Clearwater
Finley’s Irish Pub and Eatery (3/17-18) Tent parties, great food, local bands and beer; $5 cover charge. Come back for the meatloaf and Reuben apps, great blues and weekend music after St. Paddy’s. www.finleysirishpub.com Largo
O’Maddy’s Bar and Grill (3/17 10am-11pm) Waterfront view, beer and a Reuben is your lucky charm. www.omaddys.com Gulfport
Paddy Fest St. Pete (3/17 10am-10pm) The inaugural downtown party serves Irish fare, dancing, Celtic games, art and attire; the Redbreast Whiskey Experience and Guinness Perfect Pour Tent in Williams Park. Bands include My 3 Kilts (from North Carolina), Mac Tier (feat. Ken Walker & Christer Saarikko), First Of The Day (U2 Tribute Band), Chad McDonald, Jimmy Bragg, Lucid Druid (Celtic bagpipe, drum and more), Guinness Lake (Cage O’Hanlon & Anna Dean), the World Champion Dunedin Pipe Band, Stormbringer and the Gilleoghan Irish Step Dancers. $5 admission (includes one free green beer); Proceeds benefit Ocean Aid 360. Ages 21+ after 5 pm. VIP tickets include open bar, corned beef and cabbage, VIP bathroom, private tented area and free re-entry.
NOSH NEWS Seminole’s Trip’s Diner closes and reopens as The Apple Butter Café. Torchy’s Tacos debuts in the Tyrone area. Prima Cantina opens in St. Pete Beach. Taco Tuesday is now Taco Sunday when Sea Dog Cantina Food Truck joins the Corey Ave. Market one Sunday/month (3/26, 4/23, 5/28, 6/25, 7/23, 8/20, 9/24). A fabulous refreshed menu debuts at Treasure Island’s Sea Dog Brew Pub with all your favorites and some new ones. Enjoy happy hour 2-6pm Mon.-Fri. and breakfast daily. (Can you say lobster benedict?). At Wednesday’s Madeira Beach Market, you can buy fresh produce from a booth, thanks to Clearwater’s HEP’s (Homeless Emergency Project) community garden.
For crepes, you can’t go wrong at La Croisette in St. Pete Beach, Marquise Cafe in Pasadena, Cafe Paris in Indian Rocks and Alsace French Bistro in Tierra Verde. At Alsace, there are sweet (lemon curd, salted caramel, nutella and suzettes made with orange marmalade and flambé with triple sec!) and savory crepes. My favorite is the spinach, red onions, béchamel, swiss cheese crepe with a side salad and hard-boiled egg.