Plenty Of Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Near Northbrook

NORTHBROOK, IL — St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday this year. Entertainment districts in Northtbrook will be swimming in Kelly green, and perhaps flashing red and blue lights if people don’t behave themselves.

And devout Catholics may have to consult their parish priest before they dig into a plate of corned beef and cabbage.

Some of the places in and near Northbrook to celebrate the March 17 holiday are:

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m to 9 p.m. March 17, Prairie Grass Cafe, 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook. St. Patrick's Day specials include Luck o'the Irish Package For Two, colcannon (mashed potatoes and cabbage), crispy Irish Reuben rolls and Irish whiskey flights. Learn more here.
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17, Grandpa's Place, 1868 Prairie St., Glenview. Live music throughout the day along with and Irish dancers from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy the restaurant's Irish burger, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips. Learn more here.
• 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 17, St. Patrick's Day Lunch and Bingo, Senior Center, 3323 Walters Ave. For ages 55 and up. May the luck of the Irish be with you! Join the fun for lunch and dress in your best green garb to receive an extra Bingo card. To register and find out more information, visit here.
• 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 17, Allgauer's on the Riverfront, 2855 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook. Enjoy Irish nachos, shepherd's pie and Reuben sandwiches through Sunday. Find out more here

For residents celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day, the Northbrook Police Department wants is reminding everyone t follow these tips to stay safe:

• Plan your ride home before you start the party— choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver.
• If someone you know has been drinking, don’t let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home.
• If you drink, do not drive for any reason. Call a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend.
• If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
• Always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone’s life.

Devout Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, a sacrifice that recognizes Jesus’ death on the cross on a Friday. Catholics in several suburban Chicago towns can eat the traditional fare without guilt, but the Archdiocese of Chicago is holding firm.

Whether revelers in cities like heavily Catholic Chicago, one of the most St. Patrick-y cities in the country, go all in with the holiday staple corned beef and cabbage could come down to whether they get special dispensation from the diocese.

There are several Lenten fish fries going on for Catholics who want to play it by the rules.

RELATED: Fish Fry Season 2023 — Best Spots Near Northbrook