St. Patrick's Day is around the corner and the green-themed Irish celebrations are starting to sprout beginning today. If you are looking to join the festivities, here are some of the options.
Punch Bowl Social. [Photo: Adam Larkey]
Fadó Irish Pub is gearing up to host a weekend-long St. Patrick's Day celebration entitled The Lost Weekend. Festivities will include a charity event for St. Baldrick's Foundation on Friday, March 15, Denver's largest outdoor party on March 16 during the 51st Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade, and a St. Patrick's Day party on March 17. The highlight of the weekend is the Friday charity event for St. Baldrick's Foundation, the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research, which will take place between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hundreds of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer while requesting donations of support from friends and family. The goal this year is to raise $240,000 with 400 shavees. Fadó Denver will donate 20 percent of all food sales during the event. Pre-sale tickets available on-line now at Tickethorse.
Bonus: Fadó wants to send a lucky winner on a four-day and three-night trip to Dublin, Ireland including airfare, hotel and a VIP tour of the Guinness Brewery at St. James Gate. The drawing is on March 20, 2013 and entrants must be 21 or older to enter. To enter, simply sign up for the Fadó newsletter.
Vesper Lounge hosting a St. Patrick's Day party March 16th and 17th, its first weekend debuting daytime hours. Chefs Frank Bonanno and Ryan Higgins are serving Irish-inspired dishes like corned beef hash & cabbage, St. Patrick's Day pita with corned beef, cabbage, house pickles, Nitro Stout mustard, chips, and curry, and Scotch eggs, featuring colcannon and Guinness gravy. There will be plenty of Guinness, Irish whiskey, and beers.
Bonus: Because this is Vesper Lounge's first weekend of daytime hours, it is also hosting beer pong tournaments on both days. Winners will be rewarded with prizes.
Punch Bowl Social will host a two-day outdoor St. Paddy's Day festival in the Baker neighborhood. The bar, gastro-diner, and entertainment venue will tent off its parking lot at 1st and Broadway to host for the festival on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17. Bag pipes, dancers and live bands will play throughout the weekend including Synthetic Elements, Rachel and The Kings, Potato Pirates, MTHDS, Bop Skizzum, Monroe Monroe, The Austin Young Band, Portobello Road and Thumpin'. There will be traditional Irish fare, Biker Jim's Hot Dogs, and an outdoor grill throughout the weekend. Bud Light, Murphy's, and Jameson will be featured in the outdoor beer gardens. The entry fee is $10 at the door. Two-day passes will be available for purchase at the door for $15. Only cash will be accepted.
Baker St. Pub & Grill will host St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Sunday, March 17 at all of its four locations. On tap will be green beer, live music, and party giveaways. Festivities will start at 11 a.m. Admission is free and St. Patrick's Day attire is encouraged. More information is available on the Baker St. Pub & Grill's website.
Bruegger's Bagels will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with festive green bagels, fresh-baked in each of its 300 bakeries starting Friday, March 15, through Sunday, March 17 (while supplies last). For the bagel-chain, the green bagels are an annual tradition since 1997.
Le Creuset in Cherry Creek will host a complimentary St. Patrick's Day cupcake-making class featuring executive pastry chef Christopher Jordan of EDGE Restaurant. Chef Jordan will be demonstrating how to make Black Magic Cupcakes with Bailey's Irish Cream frosting, perfect for St. Patrick's Day. The class will take place at 3 p.m. at the Le Creuset store at 158 Fillmore Street, Suite 110. RSVP: denver.events@fourseasons.com.
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