I Love St. Patrick's Day, but...

[beloitpiper]

As the Wicked Tinker say, "everyone is at least 1/365th Irish". It is amazing how many people think that also requires that they don all that artificial plastic leprecaun crap. As for the drinking, I fondly recall sitting in a beer tent during an October Fest when a friend named Sullivan remarked how strang it is that the local Bavarian community has a festival to do for a week what we do all year long.

Jamie

HAHAHHA!!! The Oktoberfest thing is hilarious!

[Ayin McFye]

Preach on! About 15-30 of us do kilt nights about once a month, and we'll do them at Irish Pubs, and people will say "It's not St. Patrick's day, why are you wearing your kilt?" To which I usually respond " Why are you wearing those pants?"

[Richland]

Does Chicago dye the river green for the Holiday?
Folks fom the old sod must think we Americans take things a bit too far!
I will be kilted for the holiday, My Irish National tartan.

[mexpiper]

I would rather have a Irish Soda Bread, and a good pot of Potatoes Colcannon http://www.irelandnow.com/colcannon.html and maybe a good stew... But I will be having Corned Beef...

But we are expecting a good old fashioned snowstorm... expecting at least 8 " by saturday evening...

[auld argonian]

Does Chicago dye the river green for the Holiday?
Folks fom the old sod must think we Americans take things a bit too far!
I will be kilted for the holiday, My Irish National tartan.

Yes...yes we do...

http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/river-dye.html

Best

AA

[Graham]

I'm off this morning to our three day event. I won't see all the nonsense mentioned here, just music, craic, celtic art and music awards and guinness.

I will be promoting Patrick the man, the celtic saint, the missionary.
AND I'll be wearing my Irish tartan from USAK!

[Andrew Green]

3) Fake Irish accents.
Irish people do not talk like the Lucky Charms leprechaun. You just sound like a retarded Australian.

This one absolutely makes me want to hurt people... not the quick punch to the face... the slow torture kind of hurt.

I'll wear my kilt on St. Patrick's day, and proudly say "Not Irish!" if anyone asks. Just a good excuse to dress up, and drink a little (not like I need an excuse, but it IS awfully convenient, especially the retarded way it gets in the States).

I think my experiences really are a case of few ruining it for many though. Makes me a little bitter, and I suppose I shouldn't be.

[AL-58]

3) Fake Irish accents.
Irish people do not talk like the Lucky Charms leprechaun. You just sound like a retarded Australian.

This one wants to make me want to hurt the OP.

Al

[Big Mikey]

Here's my Patty's Day menu.

5:00 - Cocktails
Guinness, Harp, Kilkenny, Innis and Gunn, Strongbow cider
The above can be used to make Black and Tan, Guinness and Black, Snake Bite and of course each can be enjoyed on its own

6:30 - Dinner
Corned beef, Dubliner sausages, tatties, neeps, cabbage, whole wheat soda bread, hovis bread, creamery butter

Dessert
Spotted Dick with homemade caramel and clotted cream

Toasts
Bailey's Original, Jamesons, Black Bush, assorted single malts and premium Canadian whiskies

Pics wil be posted.

[Zardoz]

First off, kindly refuse that green beer your local pub may be serving and order a Guinness! Why drink a beer that you can change the color of? It's just not right, man!

Secondly, the hangover cure. Drink lots of water before, during (if possible), and after drinking! Also, popping a multivitamin a few hours after drinking, plus water, will help quite a bit. So does remembering to eat something! I like a nice Shepard's Pie.

Thirdly, a toast to Ireland, St.Patrick, Michael Collins, Arthur Guinness, High King Brian Boru, or me is always appropriate on St. Paddy's Day.

Fourthly, once you're properly pissed, practice driving home by sitting on a barstool and holding your hands out like you're driving a wheel. Then, practice what you'll say to the officers when you get pulled over! (Note: Do not call them "occifer", as this is a sign of inebriation!)

Fifthly, decide on a number of drinks you're going to have in an evening, and stick to it! This is for your own safety, and fun as well! I got this list off of the internet:
Men: maximum of 3 drinks in any day, on a maximum of 4 days per week, or a maximum total of 10 drinks per week
Women: maximum of 2 drinks in any day, on maximum of 4 days per week, or a maximum total of 8 drinks per week.

Now, print out those numbers, take the paper, crumble it up, and throw it in the trash bin. What do these scientists "know" about drinking anyways? They were too busy studying at school while we were out drinking and raising our alcohol tolerance levels to barbaric heights. Brilliant!

My personal goal this year is 16 pints (two gallons!) of stout. Possibly more, depending on how early I start drinking! Of course, drink responsibly and know your limits.
It's always good to befriend a Teetotaler who you know will be sober, and can drive your drunkard *** home from the pub. It's perfectly acceptable not to talk to them afterwards. I doubt they'll want to talk to you after the debauchery they see you commit anyways.
That's it for now. Stay safe, stay inebriated, and drink Guinness for strength!

See you at Brian O'Neill's after the parade.
Slainte,
Zardoz