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There’s not quite anything like St. Patrick’s Day in St. Paul. Though former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura infamously mocked the city’s angled, complicated streets, putting its Irish population to blame during an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, the Irish are an integral part of our city’s rich history and culture. St. Paul claims more Irish bars and pubs per capita than any other city in the state – and possibly in the U.S. – and boasts one of the longest-running St. Patrick’s Day parades (the first being in 1851).

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
After attending mass at the gorgeous Cathedral of Saint Paul (9 a.m., 239 Selby Ave.), grab brunch and head to the 44th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at noon. The parade begins at 4th and Sibley Streets and heads west on 4th Street, ending at Rice Park. Whether you’re heading down on a break from work, heading there with the family before a trip to the Science Museum, or looking to kick off a full day of drinking, it’s fun for one and all.
Noon. Wed. Free.4th & Sibley Sts., St. Paul. 651-256-2155, www.stpatsassoc.org.

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration at Landmark Center
For those more interested in getting a taste of Irish culture than an excuse to booze it up all day and night, bring the family – or a date – to Landmark Center for this daylong festival. Throughout the day, guests can listen (and sing along) to traditional Irish music, take part in traditional dance, and snack on Irish goodies, like corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and of course, beer. For the kiddies, there will be live entertainment and an instrument petting zoo.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed. $6. 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul, 651-292-3293, www.landmarkcenter.org.

Ike Reilly’s Hard Luck Residency of the Twin Cities at Turf Club
Part of the witty Irish rocker’s four-night tour of the Twin Cities, Ike Reilly (of the revered garage rock band Ike Reilly Assassination) takes over St. Paul just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. His band first made its mark locally when it played a four-night run at the Turf Club in 2001. Reilly and his band return to promote their latest album, Hard Luck Stories.
9 p.m. Wed. $12-15. 21-plus. 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul, 651-647-0486, www.turfclub.net.

O’Gara’s Garage
The expansive bar and club will have live music in three rooms: Orange Whip, Flashmob, The Wild Colonial Bhoys, The Bill and Tom Show, Mark Stary and Dan Neil, and Tim Mahoney. Other attractions include the “World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade” and Terri Traen from KQ92 will be broadcasting live from 3-5 p.m. Head over on Monday night at 7 p.m. if you want to catch the crowning of Miss Shamrock 2010.
3 p.m. Free. 164 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, 651-644-3333, www.ogaras.com.

The Dubliner
The small pub claims to have the longest-running (and one of the most notoriously rowdy) St. Patrick’s Day tent party in the state. Tuesday night, head there for a free pre-St. Patty’s Day Bash with the Alarmists and the Durty Nellys, then a full day of bands on Wednesday, headlined by Paddy Wagon.
7:30 p.m. Tue. Free. 9 p.m. Wed. $5. 2162 W. University Av., St. Paul, 651-646-5551. www.theliffey.com.

Shamrock’s
This pub will be celebrating all week long with green beer, green Jell-O shots, an outdoor tent, and tons of bands. Wednesday will feature a tent party that includes eats like Irish stew, reubens, corned beef and cabbage, reuben burgers, “O’Patty” melts, and “leprechaun legs” (fried green beans), all for only $6 a pop. Shuttles will take bargoers to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Irish raconteurs Paddy Wagon will pay a set from 5-7 p.m. and The Langer’s Ball also plays.
Free. 995 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-228-9925. www.patmcgoverns.com.

2nd Annual Red Bull St. Patty’s Music Festival at Gabe’s Roadhouse
Wednesday through Saturday, Gabe’s Roadhouse celebrates St. Patty’s Day with lineups including International Reggae All-Stars, Orange Whip, Uncle Chuck, the Tim Sigler Band, and more.
5 p.m. Wed.-next Sat. $5. 991 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul, 651-646-3066, www.gabesroadhouse.com.

More St. Patrick’s Day Events in St. Paul:

Station 4: Live music from The Brass Messengers, Rockin’ Hollywoods. Noon. Free. 201 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-298-0173. www.station-4.com.

Half Time Rec: Live music from The Irish Brigade. 1013 Front Ave., St. Paul, 651-4888-8245, www.halftimerec.com.

Minnesota Music Cafe: Live music from Skinny Longfeet, 8-Switch Assembly. 5 p.m. Wed. 499 Payne Ave., St. Paul, 651-776-4699, www.minnesotamusiccafe.com.

Black Dog Cafe: Live music from The Next Parish Over, plus storytelling, poetry and food from Ireland. 7:30 p.m. Wed. 308 Prince St., St. Paul, 651-228-9274, www.blackdogstpaul.com.

New Year’s Eve may be over, but the weekend still holds a few reasons worth leaving the house in zero-degree weather for in St. Paul.

Jake Rudh gives St. Paul guilty pleasure
Tonight, Jake Rudh of Transmission fame makes a rare St. Paul appearance – and a rare Saturday night gig – tonight at O’Gara’s. If you dig the Transmission “Guilty Pleasures” night, the set list should be right up your alley – expect early ’90s booty-shakin’ hits from the likes of Salt N Pepa and Bel Biv Davoe. (10 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat. Free. 21-plus. 164 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul. 651-644-3333.) It’s the official after party for the Minnesota RollerGirls‘ home season kick-off game at Roy Wilkens Auditorium. The game itself begins at 7:30 p.m., and costs 13 bones for entry.
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In 2006, Amy Michelle Mullen set out to create her own boutique, styled after her love for all things romantic and vintage, with a dash of rock ‘n roll flair. Two years later, her dream became a reality when she opened the doors to her quaint, feminine shop A. Michele at Selby and Snelling, cementing that intersection’s reputation for being one of the city’s best shopping locales. Her shop carries a mix of feminine fashions, including Ruby Pearl slip dresses (which are made from vintage slips and silk scarves), fitted jackets, silk blouses, jewelry, oversized bags, gifts and more.

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St. Paul’s got your nightlife and music needs covered this weekend. Check out the highlights of Thursday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 22:

THURSDAY

Fancy Ray and John Conroy at Station 4
If the name Fancy Ray doesn’t seem familiar, his face will. Chances are you’ve seen him hawking products in local commercials looking like a dead ringer for Little Richard, for which he’s become relatively well-known since the mid 1980s. When he’s not being a TV pitchman, running for governor of Minnesota (which he did in 1998), or auditioning for realty TV shows like America’s Got Talent, the self-proclaimed “Best Looking Man in Comedy” also happens to have a comedy act. Though his slapstick act may elicit more groans than belly laughs, it’s worth seeing for the sake of witnessing a longtime local fixture. (8 p.m. Free. 21-plus. 201 E. 4th St., St. Paul. 651-298-0173.)

Also Thursday: Renowned folk singer Arlo Guthrie at the Fitzgerald Theater…Music in Mears featuring The Melismatics in Mears Park…The University Of Minnesota’s Noontime Concert Series featuring Chris Koza at the St. Paul Student Center…Golden Animals, The Suits and Hildur Victoria at the Turf Club.

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