Artless and Bored

You know, it does seem cheesy, but I do love St. Patrick's Day. Being an Irish-American living in NYC, it is a really fun time. I have settled into this routine every year of going to the parade down 5th Avenue, indulging in a good Irish meal (usually bacon and cabbage, but love the steak and Guinness Pie at Shades of Green), and then hitting a few pubs with some friends, then winding up the night at Flannery's Bar on 14th St. to take in the yearly bash with Bergen County, New Jersey's finest punk rock paddy's, The Skel's.
If you take your time, you can find some fun pubs to raise a pint in. First off, stay away from Connolly's Bar, any of them, and the Upper East Side Irish Bars, unless you like frat boys and drunk financial guys hitting on you, puking on you, etc... Also, stay as far away from NYU as possible. There are quite a few nice pubs in the East Village that will be packed, but with a fun crowd. Flannery's Bar on West 14th is a favorite of mine. Shade's of Green on 15th St. is usually where I start my night with a hearty meal and one of the best pours of Guinness in NYC. Notice I say one of, not the best, though I am partial to my local watering hole as they have a super nice bar staff. Molly Malone's on 3rd Ave. between 22nd and 23rd is another favorite and they serve up some good pub grub to line your stomach with. These are my favorites within stumbling distance of my house.
I cannot reveal my others, as that would be destroy my fun.
Anyway, there are quite a few great Irish-American and Irish bands playing this year. The Skels, Blood or Whiskey, The Prodigals, The McCabes, Black 47, and I am sure that there will be trad sessions all over town. Good god, just get your ass out of the house and have a good time.
Here is my St. Patrick's Day 2005 Special playlist:
Fairytale of New York-The Pogues with Kirsty McColl
Field's of Athenry-Dropkick Murphy's
Rebel's of The Sacred Heart-Flogging Molly
Galway Town-Blood or Whiskey
The Rare Ol' Mountain Dew-The Pogues with The Dubliners
Home Boys Home-The Dubliners
Chorus Jig / The King's Reel-Ashley MacIsaac
Fare Thee Well Enniskillen-Rapparee
Bird In The Tree-Solas
Trad Reels-The Drovers
I'll Tell Me Ma-Sinead O'Connor
Raggle Taggle Gypsy/Tabhair Dom Do Lamh-Planxty
The Monaghan Twig-Cul An Ti
Mull of Kintyre-Ashley MacIsaac
Rogha An Ghabha/The Mountain Lark/John Carty's/The Old Pensioner-Danu

Get your Mick on and have a nice drunken night. Don't forget the hangover cures before bed. Do forget the fucking GREEN BEER!!!