It’s a glorious thing when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekend. And a Sunday St. Patrick’s Day? Even better. There are not only more weekend hours to reflect on the snake-banishing ways of Ireland’s patron saint (or the real contributions of Irish immigrants to Brooklyn) but double the time to enjoy more live music, more corned beef, and more green beer. So, Beannachtam na Feile Padraig! And here’s a roundup of the cheap, free, and noteworthy happening in Brooklyn this weekend.
FRIDAY/SATURDAY
Irish Haven (5721 4th Avenue, Sunset Park) is starting its festivities early with live music Friday at 9pm from balladeer Des Whelan of Ireland’s County Louth. Come back at 8am on Saturday for the free soda bread, corned beef and cabbage, and all the rest but stay til 1pm for the title-deciding Six Nations rugby clash between Wales and England.
The Brazen Head (228 Atlantic Avenue, Cobble Hill), unofficial home of the frustrated/hungover Trader Joe’s employee, is celebrating the holiday on Saturday as well, offering the opportunity for you to make an unlimited amount of corned beef sandwiches for just five bucks from 5pm to 10pm. See how much sloppier each successive sandwich gets after each Guinness or Harpoon Celtic Ale you drink.
The main event may still be a day away, but check out Brooklyn Tap House (590 Myrtle Avenue, Clinton Hill) starting Saturday for $5 drink specials on Guinness and Magners Irish Cider along with shots of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey for $5 with beer.
SUNDAY
Manhattan may have their parade on Saturday, but Brooklyn has more respect for the holiday and has it on the proper day. Park Slope’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade sets off at 1pm at Prospect Park West and 15th St.
Don’t forget the return of the Grand St. Pub Crawl which kicks off its second iteration at noon at Burnside. Each of the nine venues down the street is offering its own food and drink specials, with most of them falling in the $4 Irish whiskey shots, and beer and shot specials categories. Of particular interest will be whether or not pickleback headquarters the Bushwick Country Club can “Irish up” the briny shot.
If at noon you’re still trying to get a handle on the previous day, much less the one to come, pop into The Mark Bar (1025 Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint) for free bagels starting at 12. Brisket is served at 4pm, and, in the meantime, please feel free to proceed to get day drunk with $4 happy hour specials (including Guinness) until 8pm.
Any bar whose St. Patrick’s Day celebration specifically rejects notions of green beer and Danny Boy entirely must have something up its ungreen sleeve, and The Way Station (683 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights) does. The steampunk booze house is opting for a curated lineup of folk punk, Celtic mayhem, and Irish rock. Painless Parker kicks off the night at 7pm followed by the Waysties at 7 and Paul Ryan and Mike Lebess at 11.
Opening at noon, Pork Slope (247 5th Avenue, Park Slope) will offer drafts of Guinness, Irish Harp, and their regular lineup for $6. Their Slippery Slope—a beer and a shot for $5—will feature Jameson Black Barrel. Live music starts at 2pm and features The Buddy Hollers, Greg Smith, Pat Sheehan, and The Good Bad Guys.
You can’t dye Guinness green, but if you could, Project Parlor (742 Myrtle Avenue, Bed-Stuy) would knock a dollar off the price. Enjoy $8 Irish car bombs and $1 off any green drink.
Even a Park Slope Austrian bar can get in on the act: Head to Der Kommisar (559 5th Avenue, South Slope) for $3 shots of Jameson and $7 Bailey’s and coffee.
Like free bagels or free Jameson? Stop by DuckDuck (153 Montrose Avenue, Bushwick) for their Day Drunk Bagel Brunch for free bagels. Then, from 7pm-9pm Jameson reps will be there giving out free shots or drinks.
Looking for something entirely more risqué? The Bell House (149 7th Street, Gowanus) also takes an alternative view to the night’s celebrations with Wasabassco’s St. Patrick’s Day for Sinners, an all-redhead edition of the Wasabassco Burlesque. Promising good beer, good whiskey, and naked redheads, the 8pm show is $20, though redheads get in free.