Unless you’re a student at a major university, St. Patrick’s Day will probably be one of your most drink-centered days of the year. On this sacred day, many folks generally belly up to a bar (or pub) in the neighborhood with an Irish theme--preferably one that's giving out fake gold coins from a black plastic pot located under a poster board rainbow.
They load up on Guinness, Jameson Irish Whiskey and Bailey’s Irish Cream; they speak in their best (?) Irish brogue and repeat, “I’ve lost me lucky charms” well past the point at which it stopped being funny; they somehow make their way home to pass out with fake gold coins clutched tightly in their sweaty, drunken hands.
With the economy in a state of upheaval, you might not have the money to go bar hopping this year (if you do have enough money, The Bachelor Guy has information about the ultimate St. Patrick's Day pub crawl in New York). Don't let a tight budget stop you from fully enjoying St. Patrick's day. Instead, why not put on your best Guinness tie, stay home and enjoy this holiday on the cheap with all your friends? Using these St. Pat's Day party ideas, you can:
1. Cheap eats: Every party needs food and St. Patrick's Day offers a great opportunity to serve a lot of food (homemade or pre-made) without paying a fortune. Cabbage, corned beef, and potatoes are all inexpensive and versatile. The Food Network’s recipe for corned beef cabbage pizza puts a whole new spin on traditional St. Patrick’s day fare. You can also create cabbage, corned beef, and potato kabobs for people to snack on. For something sweet check out the ultimate cupcake blog, Cupcakes Take the Cake. They compile amazing cupcake ideas and links year round and they've got some great ones for St. Patrick’s day along with some enticing pictures.
2. Cheap Drinks: Who doesn’t love green beer? It’s not hard to dye beer green, you really just need food coloring and beer- but don't take my word for it--visit She Knows for complete instructions and some amazing green cocktail recipes. Sticking with beer keeps any party super cheap. On St. Patrick's day you’ve got to have a little Guinness for your guests. Serve the pricier Guinness in smaller cups so you can spread one bottle to two people.
3. Cheap Entertainment: Get all the ambience of your local Irish pub without the import beer prices. Download free Irish music to your iPod or MP3 player and put it on the stereo. FreeIrishMusic.com's got a ton of music to choose from and, like it says, it's all free. You could also invest in an Irish music CD or box set.
Put some Irish-themed movies on all the TVs in your home during your St. Patrick's Day bash. You can play serious titles like 'Waking Ned Divine', and "Angela's Ashes'. For those who need their fix of bad cultural stereotyping, try 'Leprechaun in the Hood' (We liked it, in spite of ourselves.) The 'Leprechaun' series is probably best enjoyed after the green beer has been flowing for a while. Read a full review of this cheese-fest at the Horror Movie a Day blog. Playing movies at a party not only provides some entertainment, but they can be great conversation starters.
Hold the St. Pat's Day party at home this year--you can save a bit of coin on food and fun, and there's no taxi fare to worry about at the end of the day.
Yolander Prinzel
Thanks to SteveFE for the 'Alcohol Menacing a Tiny Leprechaun' photo.