You needn't bother trying to get hold of Brian O'Carroll on St. Patrick's Day, because he's gonna be a wee bit occupied. The bearded guitarist and frontman for local Celtic rock outfit The Biffos will be busy bounding around town with his bandmates during Lá Fhéile Pádraig, staging gigs at three different pubs at different ends of the Valley. "St. Paddy's is like Christmas and New Year's for Irish bands, multiplied by three," he says. "Every musician I know is playing at least two or three shows." That's no surprise, considering the number of Emerald Isle extravaganzas planned for the big day. Every bloke and babe we know will be out and about, whether they're watching Flogging Molly sing "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" in Tempe or guzzling Guinness by the gallon at their neighborhood dive. Here's our annual compilation of the best of what's happening on Wednesday, March 17 (unless otherwise noted).
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SPECIAL EVENTS
The Compound Grill
7000 E. Mayo Blvd.
www.thecompoundgrill.com
Blues wunderkind Jason Ricci and his backing band New Blood perform, while the bar serve up specials on Guinness and green beer all night. 8 p.m., $12-$14. Call 480-650-9521.
Fountain Park
12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills
www.plazafountainside.com
There's more than just green beer and corned beef and cabbage at the town's annual open-air St. Paddy's Day Festival, as the event will also feature arts and crafts, barbecues, vendors, children's play areas, and more. As always, the park's eponymous 330-foot fountain will be turned green, erupting at noon and 5 p.m., and music will be provided by the artists of Jed's A Millionaire, No Regret, the Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band, and Seanachie. 10 a.m. Saturday, March 13. Free. Call 480-816-5151.
Mesa Arts Center
1 East Main St., Mesa
www.mesaartscenter.com
The classically trained vocal trio of Deirdre Masterson, Wendy Dwyer, and Kay Lynch (a.k.a. The Irish Sopranos) will impress and enrapture when they interpret a variety of operatic music, Irish folk tunes, and pop songs inside the Ikeda Theatre. 3 p.m., Sunday, March 13. $31. Call 480-644-6500.
Sea of Green
2340 W. Bell Rd.
1301 E. University Dr., Tempe
www.sea-of-green.com
Save 20 percent on all items on St. Patrick's Day. Call 602-504-8842 or 480-967-2045.
The Underground
105 W. Main St., Mesa
www.mesaunderground.com
The former Nile Basement hosts a gig by L.A. indie/electronica act The One AM Radio. 6:30 p.m., $8. Call 480-559-5859.
RESTAURANTS
The British Open Pub
1334 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
www.thebritishopenpub.com
Stovies, Scotch Eggs, colcannon potatoes and corned beef and cabbage are just some of scrumptious U.K. dishes that will be prepared. The bar will also offer such specials as $1 off all drafts, well drinks, and domestics. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Call 480-941-4915.
Cadillac Ranch
2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
www.cadillacranchtempe.com
The "Shamrocks & Shenanigans" celebration will feature local bands performing contemporary, country, and Irish rock music. All-day food and drink specials include $10.99 shepherd's pie and $6 Irish car bombs, as well as Jameson shots, 20-ounce Guinness drafts, and Irish coffee for $4 each. 11 a.m. Call 480-894-1111.
Chompie's
Three Valley locations
www.chompies.com
Devour all-you-can-eat homemade corned beef and cabbage, boiled potatoes, and Irish soda bread for $16.95 per person. Hours vary. Call 602-710-2910 or 480-557-0700.
Churchill's Pub & Grill
2050 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler
www.churchillspubandgrill.com
Food and drink specials will be available all day. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Call 480-857-9444.
Fatburger
414 S. Mill Ave.
www.fatburger.com
Drink specials include 99-cent Coors Light and $1.99 Corona bottles. 10:30 a.m.-3 a.m. Call 480-449-9002.
Harrah's Ak-Chin
15406 N. Maricopa Rd., Maricopa
www.harrahsakchin.com
The Harvest Buffet will serve up an Emerald Isle feast ($9.99 per person for lunch, $12.99 for dinner), Seanachie performs authentic Irish music from 7 to 11 p.m., and drink specials like $1 green beers, $2 Irish Cactus shots, and $2.50 Irish coffee will also be available. Call 480-802-5000.
Kiley's Grill
2394 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler
www.kileysgrill.com
Festivities commence at 6 a.m. with a green eggs and ham breakfast, followed by a daylong indoor/outdoor festival featuring live music from 11 bands on two stages starting at 10 a.m. Green beer, games, prizes, giveaways, dunk tanks, and other fun will also take place at this fundraiser for Phoenix Children's Hospital. Runs until 2 a.m., $10. Call 480-245-6601.
Kozy Cactus
4326 E. Cactus Rd.
www.kozycactus.com
Music from Everyone Gets Laid, shepherd's pie, corned beef, and available all day. 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Call 602-569-5699.
The Lodge
4422 N. 75th St., Scottsdale
www.scottsdalelodge.com
Patrons can enjoy $5 20-ounce drafts with $3 refills all night (including Guinness) during the "Green Beer is Gross Gala," which also includes music from John Creasey. Open until 2 a.m. Call 480-945-0828.
Long Wong's at the Firehouse
1639 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe
www.longwongstempe.com
Live music from Americana foursome Chicken & Waffles, corned beef sandwiches, and specials on drinks, wings, and appetizers. 5 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Call 480-967-0167.
McDuffy's Grille
980 E. Pecos Rd., Chandler
www.mcduffys.com
Emerald Isle indulgences await at this St. Patrick's Day fete, such as $7.99 corned beef and cabbage with potatoes, $6.99 Irish stew in bread bowls, and $2 Lucky Charm Jell-O shots and green drafts, as well as specials on Guinness, Smithwick's, and Irish whiskey. Beads, giveaways, appearance by the Green Girls, and other distractions are also planned. 11 a.m.-2 a.m., $3 after 7 p.m. Call 480-966-8200.
