Cue the Flogging Molly and Celtic songs: St. Patrick’s Day, one of America’s favorite boozefests, is quite literally around the corner. With highs expected to reach the 70s tomorrow during a partly cloudy weather forecast, chances of chasing that rainbow for the pot of gold are slim, but opportunities abound for those in need of a hearty Guinness and jig to add some Irish cheer to their day.
Below are some new ways to embrace said opportunities. All that is needed is a touch of green and embracing the inner Irishman (or Irishwoman) in all of us.
The Auld Dubliner
File photo.
A good time with old buds is almost guaranteed to occur at The Auld Dubliner tomorrow evening. For a place with the motto “where friends come to laugh,” it’s not too surprising.
The bar, on The Pike Outlets side of Pine, is kicking off the day of festivities with an Irish breakfast from 8:00AM to 11:00AM, followed by live music from 1:00PM to 1:00AM by the Whooligans.
But that’s not all. The Auld Dubliner’s manager Chris Caldwell emphasized the availability and quality of bar’s spirits.
“[We have] the largest selection of Irish whiskey in Southern California,” said Caldwell. “Every Irish beer you can get, we have it on tap.”
Notable food items include Guinness steak and mushroom pie, Irish fish and chips, Boxty (traditional potato pancakes), corned beef and cabbage as well as bacon and cabbage (sliced ham and cabbage—the traditional dish served in Ireland).
The festivities will also include a Sláinte!, which is gaelic for a toast in Ireland.
The Auld Dubliner is located at 71 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille
Photo courtesy of Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille.
Just a wee bit east in Shoreline Village, Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille is offering a fun environment for locals in search of good drink, food and company on the waterfront.
St. Paddy’s Day drinks specials include $8 Tullarmore Dew Car Bombs, $10 Two Gingers and Guinness Combo and $1 Shamrock jello shots.
Of course, the restaurant will be serving up corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew, while the Ashes of Dublin will be playing from noon till closing, scheduled for 11:55PM.
Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille is located at 423 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Clancy’s Irish Pub
Photo courtesy of Clancy’s Irish Pub.
While Clancy’s on Broadway won’t be offering any drink specials, they’ll be serving up the usual classics of corned beef and cabbage, lamb Irish stew, shepherd’s pie and reuben rolls.
In the morning hours, the place will have breakfast scrambles and corned beef on hand, in addition to Swiss omelettes.
When asked about attire, en employee encouraged all patrons to “Bring your Irish.”
Clancy’s Irish Pub is located at 803 East Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Shannon’s On Pine Irish Pub & Sports Bar
Photo courtesy of Shannon’s On Pine.
Shannon’s on Pine, the self-professed “true neighborhood bar” of the Irish type in Long Beach is hosting local residents with complimentary traditional Irish fare such as corned beef and cabbage (from noon to 3:00PM) along with hearty Irish music and the usual friendly service.
If the special items on the menu aren’t what you prefer, Shannon’s is also offering its normal menu items, such as its turkey jalapeño cheddar sandwiches and sirloin burgers.
“May your pockets be heavy, and your heart be light,” the bar’s website states to potential customers. “May good luck pursue you each morning and night!”
Shannon’s on Pine is located at 209 Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802.
K.C. Branaghan’s
Photo courtesy of K.C. Branaghan’s.
K.C. Branaghan’s is on hand to lure St. Paddy’s Day celebrants with its recently patented Shamrock Shake Shots, which consist of Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur bases, vodka and other “secret stuff.”
If you’re for sure making a go of the joint tomorrow, employees encourage participants to obtain a free wrist band ahead of time (i.e., today) to cover the $5 cover charge they’ll be instituting all day tomorrow.
The festivities begin at 7:00AM Thursday morning, with $5 mimosas and patio dining that will end at noon. At that point in time, the location will transform into an Irish Beer Service Bar, according to the management.
A special St. Patrick’s Day menu will include corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, corned beef sandwiches, Banger Dogs, Irish Nachos and other nachos—available all day. To “maximize your available ingestion capacity,” there will be six Guinness taps, three Smithwicks taps and three Harp taps, management stated. The patio service bar will also have two Guinness, one Smithwicks and one Harp tap.
No one under 21 will be allowed into the bar after noon. So keep the kiddos at home and get ready to dance the jig in the company of your adult friends, Long Beachers. K.C. Branaghan’s is ready.
K.C. Branaghan’s is located at 5734 East Second Street, Long Beach, CA 90803.
Malarkey’s Grill
Photo courtesy of Malarkey’s Grill.
Marlarkey’s Grill has a St. Patrick’s Day setup that proves that praise for their food and service is not just a bunch of “malarkey.” Open at 8:00AM for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the place is welcoming celebrators with live music, a Long Beach Fire Department pipe band, dancers and food and drink specials all day.
As for food, gear up for a wide range of Irish dishes, especially Irish Nachos, corned beef tacos, reubens and Dublin Lawyer (an Irish stew served in a puff pastry shell made with lobster meat). And drinks? Prepare for an Irish Mary Jane, a “big one for this year,” said an employee about on-trend St. Patrick’s Day guzzlers.
Malarkey’s Grill is located at 168 North Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803.
The Red Leprechaun
Photo by Jason Ruiz.
Nestled at the heart of the East Anaheim Business District, Belmont Heights and Traffic Circle neighborhoods, The Red Leprechaun offers the traditions of an “Irish Pub” while retaining its own personality.
Beginning at 10:00AM, the Irish-American pub will kick off its St. Patrick’s Day celebration, featuring live Irish music by Good Citizen, an outdoor patio with Irish music in the background, outdoor buffet and beer garden, free Guinness wear and the presence of DJ Tracy-‘O, the owner of the restaurant and the mastermind behind the rad stage name.
Of course corned beef and cabbage (personally brined by the staff at The Red Leprechaun) will be on hand, as well as “new Celtic foods” made daily.
“Happy St. Patrick’s Day!” stated Tracy-‘O.
May the cheer of St. Patrick’s Day be with you. It’s time to celebrate.
The Red Leprechaun is located at 4000 East Anaheim Street, Long Beach, CA 90804.