By Charly SHELTON

Whether you reach for a Guinness or a dyed-green beer, there are enough St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around LA to suit anyone’s needs. From Long Beach to LA proper, there were events at pubs and restaurants to celebrate the Irish people, their diaspora in America and abroad, and the Irish culture that ties them all together.

For those who drink green beer and wanted to celebrate the surface-level drinking holiday, the Queen Mary in Long Beach held a St. Patrick’s Day Eve pub stroll through the ship. Three pubs were set up in the various ballrooms of the ship where revelers found cocktails like the Irish Trashcan – Red Bull, gin, vodka, triple sec, peach schnapps, Blue Curacao and white rum, literally none of which come from Ireland – and food offerings like corned beef nachos and “Irish” crème brulee. You know, classic Irish fare. Despite the lack of anything Irish but Guinness at the bar, the location was fantastic and the live entertainment by The Merry Wives of Windsor, Poxy Boggards, Sportive Tricks and Story Wrens was grand. It was a nice opportunity to hear some Irish music in these salons and ballrooms that are usually closed and reserved for special events. This was a decent St. Patrick’s Day event for those who want to party a little differently from the pubs that are more heavily Irish.

For those who like a good dram of Tullamore Dew whiskey with their Guinness and want to get a little more Irish, the Tam O’Shanter on Los Feliz was a great place to spend St. Patrick’s Day. Setting up a huge tent in the parking lot and hosting Irish bands all day long from morning to late night, the Tam offered Guinness, Harp Lager (oddly enough, dyed green), Tullamore Dew, corned beef, cabbage, a fancy selection of ice creams made with Guinness, Irish coffee and Jameson. This is where more kilts than pants were found, more dancing in the middle of the room and more lively interaction with everyone present.

For those who bleed green, cry and clench their fists when Easter Rising is mentioned and want only the truest Irish experience, there was The Auld Dubliner in Long Beach. This is the most authentic pub in LA, and one that might be confused for an ancient Dublin pub by those who don’t know where they woke up. The Auld Dubliner does not serve green beer. The Guinness flows freely, the patrons are almost uniformly pleasant and the craic is long. One would not be amiss to go alone to the pub just to see what new friends can be made over a pint. The Auld Dubliner celebrated St. Patrick’s Eve, too, with a toast at 5 p.m. to welcome the day as the clock struck midnight in Ireland. And year round, The Auld Dubliner is a great place that scratches that Irish itch for those looking for their Blarney fix.

  Charly Shelton