Visit St. Paul for St. Paddy's Day 2013!

Play me a Celtic tune, and I’ll immediately smile—at least internally. (An Irish heritage and studying abroad in Galway is a powerful thing.)

Serve me my favorite sandwich, a Reuben, with my favorite drink, a Strongbow, followed up by an Irish Car Bomb Cupcake, on Selection Sunday, with those tunes and family and friends around?! Perfection. Joy. And by the grace of all things green, this ultimate day can occur this very weekend.

Irish paradeOf course, just like March Madness (you don’t have to be a major basketball fan to get sucked into the shining moments), St. Patrick’s Day is open to all.

The bulk of Twin Cities festitives are occuring on Saturday, March 16, with the biggest and baddest happening on the East Side. St. Paul’s parade is in its 47th year and begins at noon, ending in Rice Park. Make your way afterward through the packed streets over to West 7th Street near the Xcel Energy Center to take part in a “Block Party” full of good food, music, and other entertainment at many establishments in the area from 2-10 p.m. Note: If you’re on the other side of town, the Minneapolis parade is in the evening, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Other events:

Plus Irish pubs sure to be servin’ up pints and good craic:

Remember to celebrate responsibly. It’s easy and free, thanks to Miller Lite Free Rides: Get a safe and free trip home on buses, light rail or the Northstar on March 16 starting at 6 p.m. (through the last scheduled trips on routes operated by Metro Transit, the Met Council and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority).

Slainte!