Patch Picks: 5 Best Places (Other Than Clancy's) To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

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This week's list is actually a companion piece to our Bar Tab column, which previews today's . For Patch Picks, we bring you the 5 best (other) places to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day in Bradenton ...

• The luck o’ the Irish has St. Patrick’s Day falling on the third Thursday of the month this year, and as luck would have it the same day of the Old Main Street Merchant’s Association’s monthly party on Old Main Street. This Get Down promises to be the biggest of the year, with its hours extended to 4 p.m. until midnight and live music from Rebel Heart followed by BullsEye Ride. Get your Irish drinks and green beer at Old Main Street’s bars — , , , — corned beef, cabbage and potatoes at and a “pressed Reuben Cuban” at . The Manatee County Fire Chief’s Associa­tion also is serving corned beef and cabbage with proceeds benefiting the Emer­gency Services Memorial Fund, which helps local fami­lies of emergency workers killed or seriously injury in the line of duty. There is no cover at any of Old Main Street’s bars, restaurants or for the event itself.
• , 5106 14^th St. W., frequently hailed as Bradenton's most authentic Irish Pub, opens at 9 a.m. Thursday. Live music from Irish folk singer Brendan Nolan from noon-9 p.m. and the Muphin Chuckrs from 10-close at 2 a.m. Irish dancers and bagpipers throughout the day. Happy hour prices on drinks from 9-7 p.m. and an Irish-only menu of stew, fish n’ chips, Shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage. If you’re looking to grab an Irish brew such as a Guinness, Murphy’s, Smithwick’s, or Harp Lager on St. Patty’s Day look no further than Rashers, where they’re all on tap. No cover.
• Further down Old Main Street on the Manatee River’s historic pier is another at , 1200 First Ave. W. The family friendly restaurant may not be Irish, but it certainly knows how to whip up a mouthwatering St. Patrick’s Day menu, with traditional corned beef and cabbage featured in both the lunch and dinner specials along with Irish lamb stew. There will be live music from 7-10 p.m. from the Sarasota-based trio The Arch, as well as drink specials on Irish coffee and Irish whiskey (Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, Jameson and 12-year Jameson). No cover.
• , 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day bash from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. with proceeds benefitting the Florida Brain Tumor Association. Live music from Will Scott from 1-4 p.m., Psychotropic from 4-8:30 p.m. and closing with TC Allan Band from 9-1 a.m. Corned beef and cabbage and Reuben sandwiches on sale along with Ace’s full Italian menu. A free trolley running from 4 p.m. to midnight will take patrons to and from Ace’s, , 10104 Cortez Rd. W., and , 3561 53^rd Ave. W. There's also live music at the Clam Factory from Diamond Dave from 5-9 p.m. and a live band at Scores to be announced. No cover.
• , 7423 Manatee Ave. W., is celebrating from 12:30-11 p.m. with drink specials on Guinness, Magners Irish Cider, green pints and shots, Irish cuisine and the Anna Maria Island Dancers who will perform traditional Irish dance from 12:30-3 p.m. Get your tickets for the “Pot of Gold” raffle from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. for prizes from the Guinness factory in Ireland.