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There’s not quite anything like St. Patrick’s Day in St. Paul. St. Paul claims more Irish bars and pubs per capita than any other city in the state – and possibly in the U.S. – so what better time than now to run down some of its best Irish bars?

Named “Best Neighborhood Bar” various times over the years by City Pages, the Dubliner has had one of the longest St. Patrick’s Day tent party in the state. Unfortunately, as a result of light-rail construction, they won’t be hosting their usual tent party, but inside the charmingly divey joint will be offering double Jameson gingers for $8.50.
2162 W. University Av., St. Paul, 651-646-5551.

If you’re in a green beer mood and don’t mind running into lots of drunk people with green beads, head to the Liffey, conveniently located right on the parade route across from the Xcel Energy Center. Owned by Cara Irish Pubs (whose other Irish pubs include Kieren’s, the Local and Cooper), so you can expect a classic Irish pub vibe from this downtown bar, complete with rich, dark wood detailing and mirrors – plus their in-house 2 Gingers whiskey, created by former CEO Kieran Folliard.
175 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651–556-1420, www.theliffey.com

In downtown St. Paul, Patrick McGovern’s Pub is a popular destination after the St. Paul St. Patrick’s Day parade. They’ll open early at 8:30 a.m., host a DJ on main level and in the tented parking lot, bagpipers at 1 p.m., corn beef and cabbage all day and green beer until they run out, and plenty of Irish atmosphere.
225 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-224-5821, www.patmcgoverns.com

Shamrock’s Pub celebrates the holiday with green beer, green Jell-O shots, an outdoor tent, and tons of bands. Saturday will feature a tent party that includes a “leprechaun toss,” face painting, a leprechaun look-alike competition, live music all day, and 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. And as usual, they’ll have a shuttle running to and from the parade.
995 7th St. W., St. Paul, 651-228-9925, www.crshamrocks.com

Over the past year, St. Paul’s oldest Irish bar O’Gara’s Bar & Grill has eliminated its longtime music venue, the Garage. In its place is the Shanty, a pub-within-a-pub that focuses on craft beers, video games, flat-screen TVs and shuffleboard. For St. Patrick’s Day, they’ll host their annual in-bar parade led by the Brian Boru Pipe Band (3 p.m.), plus live music on a tented stage, the Shanty and the Shamrock Room from 3 to close. Visit the website for full music schedule.
164 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, 651-644-3333, www.ogaras.com

More St. Patrick’s Day events

The Amsterdam Bar & Hall hosts the Mad Ripple’s St. Paddy’s Day Hoot being held in honor of former Replacements member Slim Dunlap, who is recovering from a stroke. A roundtable of musicians including Ashleigh Still, Martin Devaney, Jennifer Markey, Frank Randall, Gini Dodds, Nick Leet, Stook!, Curtiss A, Dan Israel, and many more will perform the music of Slim, covers inspired by Slim, and songs about Slim throughout the hootenanny.
8 p.m. 6 W. 6th St., St. Paul, 612-285-3112, www.amsterdambarandhall.com

Black Dog Cafe is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with an Americana Roots night. Enjoy Guinness, Irish food specials, and live music from 7 to 11 p.m. from Bernie King & the Guilty Pleasures and Five Miles from Town. While you’re there, be sure to check out the ongoing art exhibit “Faces, Places and Portraits” featuring the work of Luke Hillestad, David Cunningham, Stuart Loughridge, and Kyle Pettis.
Music from 7-11 p.m. 308 Prince St., St. Paul, 651-228-9274, blackdogstpaul.com

The Minnesota Music Cafe hosts an afternoon of live music from Andy Pifer, Curtis Blake & Greazy Gravy, Bluprint, the Good, the Bad & the Funky.
2 p.m. 499 Payne Ave., St. Paul, 651-776-4699, www.minnesotamusiccafe.com

Burger Moe’s is hosting an all-day St. Paddy’s Day tent party with live music from Uncle Chunk, Steve Sullivan and the Factory, and DJ Stevie Ray.
2 p.m.-close. 242 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-222-3100, www.burgermoes.com

Gay bar and cabaret CAMP‘s ongoing production of “Flanagan’s Wake” – back by popular demand – coincides with St. Paddy’s Day this year. Raise a glass with the villagers of Grapplin, Ireland, as they tell tales, sing songs and mourn the passing of one of their own in this show pegged as a “hilarious interactive Irish wake.” Get there early for parade drink specials from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. including $3 domestic taps, $5 Guinness and $5 Jameson, followed by a 2-4-1 happy hour on rails and taps from 4 to 6 p.m.
7 p.m. $34 for show, no cover otherwise. 490 N. Robert St., St. Paul, 651-290-2290, www.camp-bar.net

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.