The parades are over. The Chicago River’s been running green since Saturday. But you’re just getting started. Kick up your heels and shamrock on over to one of these St. Patrick’s Day parties before the day is through.
IRISH PUB FACEOFF RESULTS
Readers have been voting furiously in our Irish pub faceoffs for four weeks — and now it’s time to reveal the winner of our battle for title of Best New Irish Pub.
Paddy Long’s, Finley Mahony’s and D4 Irish Pub & Cafe faced off in our final round of voting, and your votes have crowned a winner.
Go to metromix.com now to see who won. Slainte!
The Kerryman
What: The party starts early at this River North pub; DJs Marcus and Ruki come from the Emerald Isle to spin Irish tunes all day.
Who: Young professionals who have no qualms about playing hooky to party like Paddy
Where: 661 N. Clark St. 312-335-8121
When: 9 a.m.
Cost: No cover
Mystic Celt
What: Irish dancers and bagpipers make the rounds all day. In the evening, party with RedEye as Irish band Maud’s Gonne plays live (5:30 p.m.).
Who: Drunk frat boys marveling at how much the green beer tastes like Miller Light
Where: 3443 N. Southport Ave. 773-529-8550
When: 9 a.m.
Cost: No cover
O’Donovan’s
What: Party in the heated beer garden all day, or show up after work (5 p.m.) and get jiggy with Irish dancers and bagpipers.
Who: Casual North Center singles looking to score a pint — and a date.
Where: 2100 W. Irving Park Rd. 773-478-2100
When: 10 a.m.
Cost: No cover
Abbey Pub and
Restaurant
What: More than 12 hours of live Gaelic tunes, including numbers by The Sand Carvers, the Spriorad Damasa Irish Dancers and others.
Who: Die-hard Irish music lovers and anyone who can pronounce Spriorad Damasa
Where: 3420 W. Grace St. 773-478-4408
When: 1 p.m.
Cost: $10
Wilde Bar & Restaurant
What: Irish DJs spin all day, Fox TV tapes live (7-9 a.m.) and Irish brews flow like the River Shannon.
Who: Lakeview locals, Boystown boys and anyone else who’s a sucker for a brogue.
Where: 3130 N. Broadway773-244-0404
When: 7 a.m.
Cost: No cover
Mitchell’s Tap
What: Bagpipers, free corned beef sandwiches and $3.25 pints of Guinness; green beer, if you must, is just $1.25.
Who: South Siders young and old who know a good deal when they see one
Where: 3356 S. Halsted St. 773-927-6073
When: 11 a.m.
Cost: No cover
Timothy O’Toole’s
What: A traditional Irish breakfast ($8.99) that beats a bowl of Lucky Charms any day, plus a chance to win a Dublin vacation (drawing at 8 a.m., arrive at 7 a.m. to participate, no entry fee).
Who: Rowdy American sports fans who’ve never heard of Six Nations rugby
Where: 622 N. Fairbanks Ct. 312-642-0700
When: 6 a.m.
Cost: No cover
Fado
What: A full day of diverse Irish tunes featuring Celtic rockers Nappertandy (2 p.m.), the Shannon Rovers Pipe Band (7 p.m.) and rocker Michael Heaton (8 p.m.)
Who: If you’re Irish, you’re in. And isn’t everybody Irish?
Where: 100 W. Grand Ave. 312-836-0066
When: 9 a.m.
Cost: $10 after 1 p.m.
McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon
What: Hold your hand on the “Blarney Stone” (a plastic boulder — not the real deal) longer than anyone else to win a trip to Ireland. If you get bored just standing there, the women’s teeny weeny bikini contest (6 p.m., no entry fee, registration recommended) should keep you interested.
Who: Lassies gone wild and the lads who love them
Where: 1206 N. State Pkwy. 312-475-9450
When: 7 a.m.; “Blarney Stone” contest at noon
Cost: $10-$20 cover; $20 for a “green kegs and eggs” breakfast package (7-10 a.m.)
