St. Patrick's Day celebrations
Erin go where?
St. Patrick's Day falling on a Sunday this year means there's a whole weekend of pre-game show before the big day. An expanded two-street block party in downtown Honolulu's Irish Quarter and Murphy's Bar & Grill's 15th annual celebration of all things Irish highlight the weekend, of course, but here are a few others.
Today
• Murphy's Bar & Grill Shamrocks and Corned Beef by Starlight: 5-11 p.m., Murphy's Bar & Grill. 531-0422. Already celebrating since Saturday, Murphy's throws a warm-up block party with outdoor Irish dance videos, music, and food. Merchant Street will be closed from Nu'uanu Avenue to Bethel Street.
• Jay Larrin St. Patrick's Concert: 7:30 p.m., Honolulu Suite, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, $30. 371-2910. Green is the theme for an intimate live performance by Larrin.
Saturday
• St. Paddy's Gargantuan II Craft Sale & Open Market: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Ave. 923-1802. Free admission. Hawaiian crafts, collectibles, fruits, vegetables, plants, food, antiques and more.
• Murphy's Bar & Grill St. Pat's Eve Heart Starter: Noon to midnight, Murphy's Bar & Grill. 531-0422. Another evening of Irish style food and drink in preparation for Murph's big blowout on St. Patrick's Day.
• New England Style Contra Dance: 7-10 p.m., Atherton YMCA, 1820 University Ave., $5 donation. 737-1887.
Live energetic Celtic dance music.
• James McCarthy's Association of Troubadours: 9:30-11 p.m., The ARTS at Marks Garage, $20 ($15 if dressed to "party for St. Paddy's!"). Live performances of Celtic music and tales featuring actor/musician James Mccarthy and members of local bands Irish Hearts and Friends of the Bride.
Sunday
• Tree-mendous Green Trees: 9:30-11 a.m., Hawai'i Nature Center, $12. 955-0100. For the keiki, a St. Pat's Day hike to see the green giants of the forest.
• 35th annual Waikiki St. Patrick's Day Parade: Noon. 293-9794.
The parade starts at the Ala Moana Yacht Harbor near Atkinson Street and moves along Ala Moana and on to Kalakaua Avenue, ending at the Waikiki Shell. An open-to-the-public "after-the-parade-party" follows at the The Elks Club Lodge at 2933 Kalakaua Ave. with live Irish music and food.
• Irish Rose Saloon St. Patrick's Day Party: 1-8:30 p.m., Outrigger Reef Towers Hotel, 227 Lewers St. 924-7711.
Live Irish music from James McCarthy and The McLellan Brothers.
• Kelley O'Neil's St. Patrick's Day Party: 1-9 p.m., 311 Lewers St. 926-1777. McCarthy (see above) wanders mauka on Lewers Street to join this St. Pat's party with music from Green Island.
• St. Patrick's Day Block Party:
1-10:30 p.m., Nu'uanu Avenue and Merchant Street. Free. 531-0422. Three stages of live entertainment and DJ dance parties, food and drink at this big kahuna of local St. Pat's celebrations. Entertainment kicks off at 1 p.m. at the parking lot on Nimitz Highway and Nu'uanu Avenue. Starting at 3 p.m., Nu'uanu Avenue will be blocked from King Street to Nimitz Highway, and Merchant Street will be blocked from Nu'uanu Avenue to Bethel Street.
• Murphy's St. Patrick's Day Irish Faire and Oyster Fest: 1 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Murphy's Bar & Grill. 531-0422.
As the block party spreads, so does the spread at Murphy's. Owner Don Murphy promised half a ton of corned beef, "enough cabbage and potatoes to feed an Irish army," and, "some 8,000 oysters ... giving their all."
• Darel Stark recital: 4 p.m., Hawaii Public Radio Atherton Performing Arts Studio, 738 Kaheka St. $15 general, $10 students. 955-8821. the violin virtuoso will include Heinrich Ernst's "Variations on the Irish Air: The Last Rose of Summer" in his set list.
• St. Patrick's Day Swing Dance: 6-9:30 p.m., Ala Wai Golf Clubhouse/ Palladium, $5 general, $3 members. 926-9974, 734-2914. Swing dance the night away on the big ballroom floor.
• St. Patrick's Day Green-Out: 9 p.m., Wave Waikiki, $5 (free before 10 p.m.). 941-0424. Live music from Missing Dave and Ghost Band. Green drink specials and anyone who wears green gets in free before 1:30 a.m.
