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Friday the 17th


 

March brings the painful Spring Forward time change followed rather quickly by Saint Patrick’s Day. Long-time readers of the blog know that I have had plenty to say about that over the years. Last year’s offering:

The Greening of America, HoCo Style , Village Green/Town², March 14, 2022

Still, and you cannot move me on this, I take a dim view of restaurants that sell any green drink as Irish and market menu items like Corned Beef Quesadillas or Irish Nachos for your Saint Patrick’s Day festivities. My husband, who is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, has learned to live with the annual cultural appropriation with no more than a wince.

One thing we agree on, though: a drink called a Car Bomb. For Heaven’s sake, look it up, bartenders and restaurant owners. Why on earth would you think this is a celebratory name for a cocktail?

Here are three examples of Saint Patrick’s Day-themed social media posts that have made me laugh over the past few days.

The first is here by virtue of a typo.


It's that time! Our first batch of Irish Sofa bread is out of the oven.

Mmm…Irish Sofa Bread. Perfect for couch potatoes like me. 

This is not in any way a critique of Decadent Dessert Bar in Maple Lawn. A typo like that could happen to anyone and I’ve heard nothing but good things about their business. Still, it made me smile.


Next, a promotional email that I undoubtedly read wrong:



“Get Lucky” bagels? What on earth do they put in those things? Is there a time limit on their efficacy? Can you buy a bunch and freeze some for later? 

A second read-through revealed that THB is encouraging you to get “Lucky Bagels”. Oh. Well, that’s different, I guess, but putting food coloring in an otherwise non-authentically Irish food product isn’t…

Sigh.

Last, an upcoming event in Old Ellicott City:



Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at La Palapa Grill & Cantina! All day food and drink specials. DJ and dancing.

Their Google entry describes them as follows:

This Mexican standby offers a menu of traditional fare & a full bar with mariachi music on weekends.

I can only guess that what will make it a Saint Patrick’s Day event at a Mexican restaurant will be themed party decorations and alcohol. Lots of it.

Could an establishment that entices patrons with authentic Mariachi music on weekends invest in authentic Irish trad musicians for their Saint Patrick’s Day festivities? They could. But are they?

No.

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day however you wish. All I ask is that you don’t drink and drive. 


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