BY NATHAN CRANFORD
All over the world, St. Patrick’s Day has become an excellent excuse for many to stumble around town, testing their body’s limit for alcohol consumption. However, as many New York residents can probably tell you, a lack of planning for a weekend of heavy imbibing on a mass scale could lead to all sorts of annoyances–some more dangerous than others. With that in mind, let me give you the scoop on what’s going on in the way of libations this weekend in and around San Francisco.
Photo by Tim Bartel; CC BY-SA 2.0
But first things first:
St. Patrick’s Day Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home
Throughout San Francisco, CA
Saturday, Mar 17 3:00pm to Sunday, Mar 18 3:00am
I’m sure after all the boozing, dining and music listening, the last thing you want to do is jump in your car (or even the Muni, for that matter) and head back to wherever you’re planning to crash for the night. Instead, why not take advantage of the Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home service set up by the kind folks over at Berg Injury Lawyers? As much as they’d like to represent the victims of your potential St. Patrick’s Day “spree” behind the wheel, it’s much smarter (and safer) for you to just give Luxor Cab a call at (415) 282-4141 and order a free (up to $35) cab ride home.
Now onto the fun stuff:
Photo by Sam Soneja; CC BY-SA 2.0
Tipsy & Green – SF St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl
One Bush Plaza, San Francisco, CA
Saturday, March 17th, 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Don’t know how to start your St. Paddy’s Day weekend? No worries, Bay Area Young Professionals Activities Crew (BAYPAC) has it covered. For a scant $5 per pass, inaugurate your weekend of inebriation in style by joining a group of like-minded individuals on a guided tour of three San Francisco pubs: Harrington’s Bar and Grill, the Irish Bank, Johnny Foley’s Irish House–and more, if you’re up to it! St. Patrick’s Day costumes are highly encouraged, but definitely not required to join in the fun. If you enjoyed the tour (and if you happen to remember once it’s over), don’t forget to donate to the helpful folks at BAYPAC for organizing the event.
Irish Beer & Cheese
2155 Powell St, San Francisco, CA
Saturday, March 17th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
If you’re still feeling gung-ho for Irish beer after the “pub crawl” and a little hungry to boot, head over to The Cheese School of San Francisco for more beer and an opportunity to fill your gurgling stomach with some of the finest Irish beers and cheeses around. However, make sure your brain is still functioning a little bit, because in addition to being a delicious interlude in your St. Patrick’s Day merriment, The Cheese School will also do what it does best and teach you the optimal way to savor their artisan cheeses with your beer.
Photo by SMcGarnigle; CC BY 2.0
St. Paddy’s in North Beach – Live Music
515 Broadway, San Francisco, CA
Saturday, March 17th 8:00pm
When you feel like you’ve finally had your fill of beer and cheese this Saturday, why not take a trip to The Vin Club Wine Lounge in North Beach and switch to wine for a little while? Your stomach is sure to thank you in a very special way–but hey, it’s St. Patty’s Day after all–soldier through it! Besides, in addition to having one of the finest selections of wine in the City, The Vin Club will be hosting an evening of live music showcasing some of the biggest rock hits from the 1980s–perfect music for the occasion, if you ask me.
Champagne and Jazz Sunday Brunch
750 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA
Sunday, March 18th, 11:30am to 3:00pm
The sun finally rises, and your body hurts all over–heck, you might even be somewhere you never expected to be just 12 hours earlier–but the good news is, you’re still alive! Even more lucky for you, 750 Restaurant and Bar is holding a Champagne and Jazz Sunday Brunch for you to drink, eat and while away your hangover on a glorious Sunday afternoon. Don’t skimp on the champagne because your “head hurts,” though–the age-old drinking expression “hair of the dog” hasn’t remained in use all these years for nothing!
So there you have it, a smart way to enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day weekend in San Francisco. That’s not to say there aren’t tons of other things going on in the City this weekend, but by sticking to some of the great events listed above, you’re sure to spend your one weekend-a-year (yeah, right…) binge with the least amount of annoyance and embarrassment!
Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to give us a shout. You can also stay on top of exciting events from around the world by downloading the eventseeker app for iPhone, Android or Windows.