Food and drink o’ the Irish
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Chicago's Irish and non-Irish alike take St. Patrick's Day very, very seriously—though this seriousness, as with most great holidays, manifests itself in the blissful ignorance of things like sainthood, opting instead for the good stuff: food and booze to provide sustenance between parades, coloring things green, and hooting/hollering. The A.V. Club salutes St. Patrick's call to gluttony with these recommendations.
Going green
Reservations about the Chicago River turning toxic green once a year aside, it's still a sight to behold, and the city swears it's environmentally sound. So why not jump into the dyeing fun full-force and fill up on some green food and beer. Plan B Bar + Kitchen (1635 N. Milwaukee Ave.) starts things up at 10 a.m. on March 15, serving green beer and miniature corned-beef sandwiches. Cityscape (a bar on the 15th floor of the Holiday Inn Mart Chicago Plaza) offers a view of the river and free appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m. (It's also running drink specials like the Leprechaun-tini of Skyy Citrus vodka, Midori melon liqueur, and Sprite.) For a really green experience, head to Geja's Café (340 W. Armitage Ave.) for green cheese fondue and Guinness.
Corned beef and cabbage and hoopla
If there's any joint in town that takes this day seriously, it's O'Briens (1528 N. Wells St.). A whole day of festivities is in order, ranging from traditional Irish dance to the 16th annual "Danny Boy" contest. (Arrive by 5:30 p.m. if you want to compete.) And that's just a backdrop for the Irish lunch buffet, an all-you-can-eat spread of corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and Irish soda and wheat breads. (This turns into a corned-beef sandwich/corned-beef egg rolls station after 5 p.m.)
Drunken blitz
Chicago isn't short on Irish pubs, which are a welcome change from high-fallutin', über-hip and cold lounges. For a true Irish experience on the most Irish of days, head to these watering holes, but expect a crowd. The South Side's Keegan's Pub (10618 S. Western Ave.) lays claim to an unparalleled Guinness pour (at least on the South Side) and serves a nice array of Irish whiskeys. If things are too packed, head to one of a dozen neighbors. On the opposite side of town, Poitin Stil (1502 W. Jarvis Ave.) is a Rogers Park hole-in-the-wall pub that promises an Emerald Isle experience. (The name means "moonshine" in Irish.) For a more raucous time, hit the Chicago classics: Poag Mahone's (333 S. Wells St., close to the parade), Galway Arms (2442 N. Clark St.), or Celtic Crossings (751 N. Clark St.). —Emily Withrow
