Tall drink of Irish

Let the Irish invasion begin. Green hats. Green moustaches. Green wigs.

St. Patrick's Day in Omaha wouldn't be complete without a parade, plenty of green, a pint of Guinness, and oh, yes a show or two from the Turfmen.

There will be no shortage of St. Paddy's parties, and at least four events on our list are family-centric.

Here's a few Irish sayings and lyrics (at least one of which doubles as a polka):

1. May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

What other way is there to live than without great Irish music and humor. Check out Jill Anderson, Bernie and Erin Lowis, who will perform “The Lighter Side,” a Celtic cabaret at 8 p.m. Friday at the Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St. Expect to hear the rich sounds of fiddle, bass, piano, guitar and cello in songs, hysterical dance mishaps and comedic culture clashes. Admission is $20 per person or $15 with groups of six or more. Information: 346-6580 or www.redchairrecords.com

2. May you never forget what is worth remembering, Or remember what is best forgotten.

Don't forget about the Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick's Day Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. With relatively mild conditions forecast, parade organizer Maury McSorley said, everyone is ready to “cut loose” and really celebrate. Entrants include a group of St. Bernard rescue dogs, a high school cast of “Les Miserables” in costume and an Elkhorn church that is bringing 5,000 pieces of candy. “For kids it's basically a bigger day for candy than Halloween,” McSorley said so be sure and bring a big sack. Information: www.aohomaha.com

3. May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out.

Following the Saturday parade is a huge St. Patrick's Day party at Nomad Lounge in the Old Market. The Brennan Irish Dancers and the Craoi na Tire dancers will perform. If you're looking for eats, the club at 1013 Jones St. will have $3 stew and $3 beer. Cover is $5. Information: www.aohomaha.com

4. May you get all your wishes but one, so you always have something to strive for.

Take the family to Petrow's Restaurant, 5914 Center St., for a corned beef and cabbage meal with steamed potatoes, carrots and homemade rye bread on the side. The Irish-inspired meal is $7.95 for lunch and $8.79 for dinner, and will be served Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You can't go to Petrow's and not order dessert. If you're 21 or older, try the "Guinness" ice cream float Irish cream and Kahlua ice cream dropped into a Guinness root beer mixture. Information: 551-0552.

5. In heaven there is no beer, that is why we drink it here.

Yes, we said heaven and beer in the same sentence. The Firefighter's Union Hall, near 60th and Grover Streets, will house both Wednesday in celebration of the Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick's Day party. The hall will open with a 9 a.m. Mass. A luncheon starts at 11 a.m. the corned beef and cabbage meal costs $10. Beer is $3. Soda and water are $1. The Turfmen, Irish Brennan Dancers, Craoi na Tire Dancers and Shillelagh Law will perform in the “AOH Hospitality Tent.” Information: www.aohomaha.com

6. May your troubles be as few and as far apart as my grandmother's teeth.

Speaking of creepy, Pieces Ultra Lounge, 2607 S. 120th St., will host a “St. Patrick's Day of the Leprechaun” movie night at 9 p.m. Sunday. After a few hours of flicks, such as 1993 horror film “Leprechaun,” a DJ will spin a mix of electronic music. Please wear green. It's a 21-and-older event. No cover. Information: MySpace.com/piecesultralounge

7. An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold on to one blade of grass and not fall on the face of the earth.

If you're falling, a place you might want to land is at the Two Fine Irishmen Bar & Grill, 18101 R Plaza. The bar will kick off its St. Patrick's Day celebration Tuesday night with a 7 p.m. performance by the Shira Hannah Irish dance company. At 6 a.m. Wednesday, the bar and grill will open with green bagels and beer. Corned beef and cabbage will be served throughout the day, and there will be drink specials on Irish Car Bombs. The Omaha Pipes and Drums will perform at 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. JR Hoss will play from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Lemon Fresh Day will take over at 9 p.m. No cover. Information: 933-3990.

8. May you be afflicted with the itch and have no nails to scratch with.

Chances are the St. Paddy's Day partygoers at the SkyBox in Council Bluffs won't mind the scratching. On vinyl, that is. DJ Ryder Long will spin jams starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday. He'll be accompanied by a real live leprechaun (or so the bar handbill says.) Free green beads. Information: (712) 256-4975.

9. May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

The Brazen Head Pub, 319 N. 78th St., might have that problem this weekend for its St. Patrick's Day celebration. Ellis Island will perform Friday and Saturday, from 8 p.m. to midnight. On Sunday, the Turfmen will perform at 6 p.m. for a Madonna School benefit. If you can't make all the events, Wednesday is the day you should go. Brazen Head will open at 6 a.m. for breakfast, which includes biscuits and gravy served with Red Flannel Hash. The St. Patrick's lunch/dinner menu starts at 10 a.m., serving cottage pie, Dubb Linn Stew, fish and chips, and Irish hot pockets. The Turfmen will perform two sets: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight. A heated beer garden tent will feature a DJ at 8 p.m. You can pick up a St. Patrick's Day T-shirt, $10 for a short-sleeve and $12 for a long-sleeve shirt. If you're not a beer drinker, try a “Stiff Shillelagh,” a Jameson Irish whiskey and ginger ale drink. Information: 393-3731 or www.brazenheadpub.com

10. If you're enough lucky to be Irish ... you're lucky enough!

Speaking of luck, Glo Lounge, 3201 Farnam St., will host an “O' the Luck of the Irish” bash Wednesday. Indulge in your favorite Irish libations. There might even be some lucky leprechauns leaping about. Drink specials include: $2 Jamesons, $2 Shamrock shots, $2 Guinness draws and $2.50 Baileys cocktails. The drink specials will continue through March 21. Information: 342-4505.

« Entertainment

Share