ST. PATRICK'S DAY

IN

BETHESDA

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday this year, and that means it will be an even bigger party than usual.

Unfortunately, we don't yet have a St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Bethesda. I'm hoping that will change some year soon. Redwood showed that things like this can actually be done when they - finally - brought Oktoberfest to Bethesda, for the first time in the town's modern history. If you didn't attend, it was held right here at Bethesda Row on Bethesda Lane. Maybe one day we can have a real St. Patrick's Day parade, like every other town in America! Okay, let me get down off of the community soapbox.

Now to turn to the celebrations that are available around town this weekend:

McDonald's - The Shamrock Shake is the official non-alcoholic beverage of St. Patrick's Day. This new and improved Irish treat not only tastes better than ever, but comes with whipped cream and a cherry on top! Available at East West Highway and River Road locations.

Dunkin' Donuts - Another special for the whole family is the Lucky Mint Donut. This limited-time glazed chocolate donut with chocolate icing is sprinkled with mint bark. Get yours today at Dunkin' Donuts at Bethesda Row, on Bethesda Avenue.

Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle - Where else to start your St. Patrick's revelry than the successor to Dennis Walsh's original Flanagan's Irish Pub: Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle on Cordell Avenue! Flanagan's has secured a place in Bethesda history, and you can secure your place for a traditional Irish breakfast Saturday, starting at 8 AM. But that's just the beginning. Stand clear for the live Irish bands, Irish dancers and bagpiper. Catch your choice of live European rugby or NCAA tournament games on the big screens. Enter the Sexy Leprechaun Contest. Win prizes! Enjoy giveaways! If you know how serious Flanagan's is about giving you a real Irish experience every day in downtown Bethesda, you won't be surprised that they're going all out for the biggest Irish-American holiday of the year.

Ri-Ra - The other obvious choice is Ri-Ra on Elm Street. The Irish pub will have live bands from 11 AM - 1:30 AM Saturday. Kids are welcome for facepainting, balloon artists and Irish dancers. All proceeds go to Bethesda Cares, which keeps your donations right here in our community, to help the less fortunate. Imagine helping others while enjoying St. Patrick's festivities - now that's in the spirit of the day. Naturally, you'll find a nice pint of Guinness here. And you can cast your vote in their Bully vs. Bacon contest, by choosing your favorite: Bully Corned Beef and Cabbage or traditional Irish Bacon and Cabbage.

Freddy's Lobster - Do they have Leprechauns in Maine? If what Freddy's Lobster and Clams have in store for Saturday is any indication, the answer is an authoritative, "YES!" Stop by this popular Cordell Avenue restaurant all day for the usual favorites, plus these St. Patrick's Day specials: Irish Salmon Stew, Irish Lobster Rolls, and Green Whoopie Pies! Order a mug of Frederick's own Flying Dog Lucky SOB Irish Red Ale, brewed with real four leaf clovers. How can you beat that? Oh, and did I mention they're having FREE giveaways of prizes all day and all night? Sounds like Freddy's is another must-visit spot this Saturday!

Union Jack's - FREE breakfast buffet!! 8-10 AM. It doesn't get any better than that, folks! $1 Killian 8 AM-5 PM. From 5 PM to close, enjoy $3 Killian, $3 Lucky Charm shooters, $4 Jameson Irish Whiskey, and half-price car bombs. One other unique draw at Bethesda's British pub: a chance to win a FREE Caribbean vacation! Less unique: they're also having a Sexy Leprechaun contest. And, like Freddy's, they've also tapped Flying Dog Lucky SOB Irish Red Ale. St. Patrick's Day at a British pub? Yes - just don't tell an Irish person you did it. St. Elmo Avenue.

The Parva - The South Beach-inspired restaurant and lounge is one place in Bethesda that is advertising a St. Patrick's Day must - GREEN BEER. $3 Green Beer to be exact. So much Green Beer that they're celebrating with specials both Friday (5-10 PM) and Saturday (6-10 PM): $3 Green Beer, $2 shots and $4 cocktails. Special note: WEAR GREEN and get extra shots! You have to love the ad copy The Parva sent out - in all caps -"LET'S PARTY LIKE IRISH DO - DRINK DRINK, PARTY PARTY!!!!!!!!" Never be subtle when directness will do.

Caddies on Cordell - Caddies is part of the breakfast club in Bethesda, offering "Kegs and Eggs" starting at 10 AM. They'll also fire up the Bloody Mary Bar. Other specials include $6.50 Frozen Green-Ritas, $4 16 oz. green aluminum Bud Light, $6 Green Bulls, $5.50 Red Bull Bombs, $6.50 Car Bombs. No Sexy Leprechauns, but they promise a visit by the Jameson Girls, bearing shots and Jameson swag.

BlackFinn Bethesda - Breakfast here, too. "Kegs and Eggs." Now where have I heard that before? 10 AM. Giveaways and drink specials all day and night. They also have the magic words: Green Beer! Norfolk and Fairmont Avenues.

CESCO Osteria - The newest spot on the list, the Woodmont Avenue Italian restaurant and lounge in the Newlands Building adjacent to Metro, is saluting the Irish from 11 AM - 2 AM Saturday. Enjoy the these bar specials and Irish music: $5 pints of Guiness/Harp/Black and Tan, $5 Jameson shots, $5 Bailey's and cream, $7 Car Bombs, $5 select drafts including Fat Tire and Peroni, and $6 Svedka/Bacardi/Jose Cuervo/Johnny Walker Red/Jim Beam drinks. Select appetizers will be $6, also. CESCO is the only place offering you a Sunday morning recovery program: Bloody Marys and gourmet breakfast pizzas.

Well, lads and lassies, that concludes this ultimate 2012 Bethesda St. Patrick's Day list. Plan ahead, and you may be able to hit every place on the list. Each one offers something, so take advantage of everything.

Slan go foill! Go n-eiri do thuras leat!