Your St. Patty’s Day Social Guide

You’ve had Monday March 17 marked in green on your calendar since last year. You figured out how to wear green like you mean it and are now ready to hit the town with your closest lads and paint the town GREEN!

As usual, Cincy Chic has all the hip, happening green events around town that St. Patrick wouldn’t even miss! (okay,maybe he’d skip out on the green bikini contest!)

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This official parade of Cincinnati is presented by the Cincinnati Saint Patrick Parade Committee, and starts downtown on Eighth St. and Broadway, goes down Eighth to Vine St., then heads to Vine, then Fifth St. and finishes up from Fifth St. to Sentinel. Viewing stand will be at Fountain Square. Saturday, March 15, 1 p.m.
• Shamrock Shuffle: Community 5K, 10K, Parade and Breakfast. For those who want to do it all, head on over to this event held at The Square at Union Center in West Chester. Saturday, March 15, parade starts at 10:30 a.m. (Editor’s note: Cincy Chic will be at this event taking pictures at this one!)

Heart O’ Green

• TAP Project. This campaign helps UNICEF provide safe, clean and accessible drinking water to children around the world. From March 16-22, restaurants will invite their customers to donate a minimum of $1 for the tap water they would normally get for free. For every dollar raised, a child will have clean drinking water for 40 days. Click here to a see a list of the more than 50 Cincinnati restaurants participating in the Tap Project.
• St. Patrick’s Day Dance: Cincinnati Sound Chorus. The Cincinnati Sound Chorus – an a cappella group of 100 female “barbershop” singers – may not have performed with Nick Lachey on the NBC show “Clash of the Choirs,” (they were nominated to compete in a localized version of the show), but you can still show your support for them at the Dance, which will include music by Richie and the Students, food, drinks, party favors and a door prize. All proceeds benefit The Cincinnati Sound Chorus. Friday, March 14, 8-12p.m., $20 admission.
• St. Patrick’s Day Dance: American Legion Post 484. Enjoy a night of food and drinks while supporting this local chapter of veterans. Saturday, March 15, 8 p.m.
• Bark & Purr Ball Dinner/Auction. Event will feature a dinner, silent auction, live auction, raffles and split-the-pot. The Thunderbay Band will also play live! The event sold out last year with over 550 people coming. Only 500 tickets will be available this year so book early. Proceeds benefit the Animal Friends Humane Society’s adoption programs. Saturday, March 15, 5:30-10 p.m., $50 admission. (Editor’s note: Cincy Chic will be covering this event taking tons of pictures of all the four-legged creatures, as well as the two-legged ones!)
• Montgomery Woman’s Club Inc. Antiques Show and Sale. Thinking about redecorating? Head to the antiques show and sale where you can find investment-grade antique furniture, crystal, silver, china, paintings and much more. All proceeds benefit the Montgomery Woman’s Club Inc.’s Projects Fund. Sunday, March 16, 9 a.m.
• Raise Some Green For Your Heart. Go ahead! Have a pint o’ green beer for your red heart! Presented by the Young Urban Professionals of Ohio. All proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. Friday, March 14, 6 p.m.
• St. Patrick’s Day Party. With tips from our fashion column this week, you’re sure to win the “best St. Patrick’s Day outfit” contest at this event presented by the “Holden Out for a Cure” Relay for Life Team. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Saturday, March 15, 8 p.m. Contact Denise Holden at (513) 444-1343 for more information.

Greenest of Watering Holes

• St. Patrick’s Day at The ‘Nati’s Irish Pub. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant hosts this huge St.Patty’s extravaganza downtown beginning at 7 a.m. with a kegs and eggs hearty, complimentary breakfast, something from the keg and Irish music by DJ Puck. The festivities continue all day and after having some Irish food and libations inside the restaurant, cross the street and head on over to Fountain Square, which will be dotted with tents featuring various “green-themed” activities and contests such as a “Lucky Charms” eating contest and a “Kiss the Blarney Stone” contest. Also check out the various DJs and bands that’ll be playing on the square all day. Monday, March 17, square activities from 7 a.m.-12 a.m.; restaurant open from 7 a.m.- 10:30 p.m.
• Seventh Street Green Scene. Here’s your one-stop chance to check out the happening bars on 7th Street in downtown. The weekend begins early on FridayMarch 14, with the grand opening of the BlackFinn franchise in Cincinnati. The BlackFinn Restaurant and Saloon (formerly McFadden’s) and The Suite at BlackFinn, a club lounge, will finally be open to the public after months of whisperings. The Finn celebration continues on Saturday, March 15 with its St. Patrick’s Day Party. Then on Monday, March 17, BlackFinn teams up with The Lodge Bar for the 7th Street Green Scene: Three bars for the price of One!
• St. Paddy’s Day Celebration at Keystone. If you’re hankerin’ for some good ole Irish punk music from bands such as Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphy’s – first thing in the morning – then head to Keystone Bar and Grill. Monday, March 17, 9 a.m.
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with CiN Weekly and 96 Rock at Molly Malone’s. Head over to Molly Malone’s (formerly Jack Quinn’s) in Covington for an all-day Irish celebration starting at 7 a.m. with kegs and eggs and live music starting at noon. Gigantic tents will be set up on Court Street as well. Free swag from CiN Weekly and 96 Rock. On Friday March 14, the Irish Comedy Tour, will also be at Molly’s. Then on Saturday March 22,  Vertigo USA: The U2 Tribute Band will be performing hits from the famous Dublin rock group. Comedy tour: Friday, March 14, 9 p.m.-close; St.Patty’s celebration: Monday, March 17, 7 a.m.-close; U2 Tribute band: Saturday, March 22, 8:30 p.m.
• St. Patty’s Day with 94.9 The Sound. Join the alternative rock station at the The Pub at Rookwood Mews for free breakfast food (while it lasts), beer, loud music and a chance to win $250 in cash. Monday, March 17, 7-9 a.m.
• Sully’s St. Patrick’s Day Party. First 50 people through the door gets a free St. Patty’s t-shirt, Irish menu served from lunch until 1 a.m. and Irish bagpipers. Sully’s will have a float in the St. Patrick Day’s Parade as well. Monday, March 17, 8 a.m.-2 a.m.
• Murphy’s Pub’s St. Patrick’s Celebration 2008. This Clifton joint goes all out for its green festivities, which include: a chance to win your very own pot o’ gold in a scavenger hunt for the pub’s lost leprechaun in “Where’s Murphy?,” a chance to showcase your best potato recipe and win $100 in the “Potato Bake Off” and a “Mr. Potato Head Contest.” Enter the T-Shirt Contest to get a chance to design the official 2008 Murphy’s Pub St. Patrick’s Day T-Shirt and win another $100! Saturday, March 15-Monday, March 17.
• Green Bikini Contest. Beer Sellar teams up with Hooters for the contest featuring local Hooter Girls. Friday, March 14, 8 p.m.
• Keefer’s Weekend Long St. Patrick’s Day Party. The Irish celebration begins on Friday with free food and drink specials and a Jukebox Playlist Playoff on Sunday at 6 p.m. Then Monday, the mayor of Newport will tap the first keg. Friday, March 14-Monday, March 17.
• 10th Annual Kegs and Eggs St. Patty’s Day Celebration at Millions and MLT. First 25 people through the doors either on Saturday, March 15 or Monday, March 17, will receive a free “MLT Kegs and Eggs 2008 T-Shirt.” Doors open 5:30 a.m. both days.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County will be hosting a variety of kid-friendly events at these participating branches:

• St. Patrick’s Day Party, at the Main branch.
• Family Fun Night, at the Greenhills branch.
• Leaping Leprechauns, at the Madisonville branch.
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, at the Clifton branch.
• St. Patrick’s Day Party, at the Deer Park branch.

Cultured Greens

St. Patty’s day doesn’t have to be all about drinking green beer. Check out these events that celebrate the intellectual side of the Irish culture:

• “Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley”. Shanley – whose script for the 1987 film “Moonstruck” earned him an Oscar – was educated by the Irish Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Charity in the Bronx. “Doubt” – winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play – is about molestation charges in the Catholic church in 1964. Runs March 4-April 4.
• O’Neil and O’Neill. Work by Irish artists James O’Neil and Hugh O’Neill (O’Neill is considered one of Ireland’s greatest living landscape painters). Opening Artists’ Reception is Friday, March 14 with a chance to meet the Irishmen and partake in wine, Guinness and hors d’oeuvres. Reception: Friday, March 14, 7-9 p.m.; exhibits run from March 14-March 29.
• Celtic Lands Culture Fest. Offers an array of folklore and art from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Traditional Celtic dancers perform, skilled storytellers tell Celtic folk tales and local Celtic musicians perform. Visitors can shop the vendors’ booths for authentic wares. Exhibit runs from March 15-16 at the Cincinnati Museum Center.
• Irish Identity and History. Dr. Timothy White, a political science and sociology professor at Xavier University, will share his expertise in Irish history, politics and culture at the Erlanger Branch Library in KY. He teaches courses in these areas each semester and also leads a summer abroad program to Ireland each summer through Xavier. Tuesday, March 11, 7 p.m.

• Irish Dancing with Killeen-McCarthy School of Irish Dance. Learn the Irish Jig, Hornpipe, Ceili and other traditional Irish dances from members of the Killeen-McCarthy School of Irish Dance at both the Pleasant Ridge and Oakley Library branches. Saturday, March 15, 3:30 p.m.
• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration of Song and Dance. Featuring Irish music provided by Silver Arm and performances by the McGing Irish Dancers. Monday, March 17, 11:45 a.m., Reading Garden Lounge of Main Libray Branch, downtown. 

• 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day “Run for the Green” 5K Trail Run/Walk. Course consists of 3.1 miles of mostly densely wooded, winding dirt/mud trails within Landen/Deerfield Park. Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m.
• Shamrock Shuffle: Community 5K, 10K, Parade and Breakfast. Run, walk or stroll 3.1 miles around the Union Centre Boulevard Business District. Also, for the running enthusiast they are introducing a 6.2 mile race to this year’s event After the run/walk, head to the El Coyote Restaurant for breakfast and Irish dancers and grab a good spot to view the parade that starts at 10:30. Saturday, March 15, registration is at 7:30 a.m.; 5K and 10K starts at 8:30 a.m. (Editor’s note: Cincy Chic will be at this event taking pictures.)

PHOTO CREDITS:
First Photo: Neysa Ruhl Photography
Location: Fischer Homes
Model: Courtenay Lambert, with Courtenay Lambert Florals, Weddings and Events
Makeup Artistry: Jocelyn Sparks, Zoë Custom Cosmetics

Second Photo: Neysa Ruhl Photography
Location: Fischer Homes
Model: Heather Ruggles
Makeup Artistry: Jocelyn Sparks, Zoë Custom Cosmetics