Blog Archives

Bring on St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on by
Reply

Since going green is hip these days, it’s time to prepare for the hippest holiday of all, St. Patrick’s Day.

Green beer will be flowing from taps in bars and restaurants Irish all year-round or just for the day. And of course, the annual SaPaDaPaSo parade will form a green conga line around downtown Cedar Rapids to put everyone in a festive mood.

There are so many places to celebrate the Wearin’ ’o the Green, here’s more to help you plot your course of action for the day when everyone’s Irish, by birth or by blarney.

Celebrate early

Carmel Quinn
Saturday, March 12

For more than 25 years, this colleen chanteuse sold out New York’s Carnegie Hall with her St. Patrick’s Day concerts. This year, she’s bringing her stories and songs to the Englert in Iowa City. She was hailed for bridging Irish and American traditions when given the 2009 Lolo Sarnoff Award for Outstanding Vision and Creativity.

Carmel Quinn
8 p.m. Saturday (3/12), Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City; $25 at the Englert Box Office, (319) 688-2653 or www.englert.org. Artist’s site: www.carmelquinn.net

A drinking journey

Bar2Bar 5k
Sunday, March 13

A 5k? Between bars? Don’t think of it as a run. The Bar2Bar is really more like a fast walk through the Irish district in Cedar Rapids from Mahoney’s to Paddy O’Rourkes to JM O’Malley’s to the Homeport to Jule’s to the Green Gable Inn and back again. The motto: “social drinkers with a running problem,” says it all. The free race isn’t sanctioned. Organizers just ask that you bring cash, drinking toasts and Irish spirit. Slainte!

Bar2bar 5k
1 p.m., Sunday, Cabinet Studio parking lot, H Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, Free, www.Bar2bar.org or Facebook “Bar 2 Bar 5K”

We love a parade

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 17

SaPaDaPaSo’s 36th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Cedar Rapids features floats, vehicles, musicians, families, clubs, kids and animals, all sporting Irish themes, making merry and leaving mirth in their wake. An awards ceremony and post-parade festivities, including food and an all-ages performance by Glenn Lonsdale and Carlis Faurot, will be at 3rd Street Saloon, above the Chrome Horse Saloon.

St. Patrick’s Day parade
1 to 3 p.m. March 17, downtown Cedar Rapids; all-ages awards ceremonies, music, food and festivities immediately afterward, 3rd Street Saloon, 1202 1/2 Third St. SE, free admission; www.sapadapaso.org

Wylde ways

Wylde Nept
March 17

The Corridor’s own kilt-wearin’ Celtic band will keep the party going at 3rd Street Saloon, striking up their pipes at 7 p.m. Bodhran and dumbek keep the beat, while guitars, bass, mandolin, accordion and voices round out the mix on ancient and new tunes. Don’t even think of taking this band sitting down. Lace up your dancing shoes and get ready to rock ’n’ reel.

Wylde Nept
7 to 11 p.m. March 17, 3rd Street Saloon, 1202 1/2 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids; $10; www.chromehorsesaloon.net or www.wyldenept.com

Musical massacre

St. Patrick’s Day Massacre VIII
March 17

A wall of fame is waiting for the hardiest of souls who tip their hats at the Iowa City Yacht Club from 7 a.m. March 17 to 2 a.m. March 18, during the venue’s St. Patrick’s Day Massacre VIII. The lineup includes The Trollies, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Nebula Was, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., Mayflies, 6 to 7 p.m.; Ryan Persinger, 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.; White Tornado, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Uniphonics, 9:45 to 10:45 p.m.; Mad Monks, 11 p.m. to midnight; and 5 in a Hand, 12:15 to 1:45 a.m.

St. Patrick’s Day Massacre VIII
7 a.m. March 17 to 2 a.m. March 18, Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S. Linn St., Iowa City, $5, www.iowacityyachtclub.org

Irish power

Science Station
March 17

In a special St. Patrick’s Day Preschool Power Hour, little learners can head to the Science Station in Lindale Mall to discover how rainbows are formed, whether a pot of gold really sits at the end of every rainbow and the true identity of Roy G. Biv.

St. Patrick’s DayPreschool Power Hour
10 to 11 a.m. March 17, Science Station, Lindale Mall, 4444 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids; free with paid gallery admission of $3 ages 2 and up or $12 family rate; www.sciencestation.org

3 Things to do on St. Paddy’s Day

Posted on by
1

Wylde Nept
Tuesday, March 17 @ 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Eastern Iowa’s premier Celtic pub band has been entertaining the day’s kilt-wearing masses for years, playing traditional and original songs suitable for both hoisting a pint and dancing a jig, preferably at the same time.
Singer Westan James and his band mates definitely know how to host an Irish-themed party, and you can bet they’re going to put on a great show. Read a profile of the band and hear clips of their music at www.HooplaNow.com
There are two chances to hear Wylde Nept this St. Paddy’s Day. Start your day off with the band on the Z 102.9′s Morning Show with Schulte & Swann at 7 a.m. If that’s too early, head to 1st Avenue LIVE, 3701 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m.

Wylde Nept
7 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, 1st Avenue LIVE, 3701 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, $10, www.1stavelive.com

SaPaDaPaSo Parade
Tuesday March 17 @ 1 p.m.
For many regional residents, Irish or not, St. Patrick’s Day means drinking green beer, watching the SaPaDaPaSo parade in downtown Cedar Rapids. This year marks the 34th annual parade organized by, SaPaDaPaSo (named for the first two letters of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Society) the non-profit volunteer-run organization that organizes Cedar Rapids annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The first parade lasted four minutes and was a block and a half long. The parade, always held on March 17, regardless of weather, draws tens of thousands of spectators and winds throughout downtown.

SaPaDaPaSo Parade
1 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, downtown Cedar Rapids, www.sapadapaso.org


Bar2Bar 5k
Sunday, March 15 @1 p.m.
A 5K? Between bars. We know what you’re thinking. Don’t think of it as a run. Think of it as a distance journey. Really, what does it mean to “run” anyway? The Bar2Bar 5k is really more like a fast walk. A fast walk from Mahoneys to Paddy O’Rourkes to J.M. O’Malley’s to the Homeport to Just Jule’s to The Green Gable and back to the Irish District (Mahoneys and Paddy’s).
Their motto: Social Drinkers with a Running Problem, says it all. The race isn’t sanction or have a cost. Organizers just ask that you bring cash, drinking toasts and Irish spirit.

Bar2Bar 5K
1 p.m., Sunday, March 15, Mahoneys, H Ave NE & 16th St NE, Cedar Rapids, FREE, www.bar2bar.org

Three Other Things

Patty Larkin
8 p.m. Thursday (3/12)
CSPS, 1103 Third St SE, Cedar Rapids, $17 advance, $20 day show, (319) 364-1580, www.legionarts.com

Karan Casey Band, St. Patrick’s Day show
8 p.m. Saturday (3/14)
CSPS, 1103 Third St SE, Cedar Rapids, $19 advance, $22 day of show , (319) 364-1580, www.legionarts.com

Asteria and My Hidden Track
noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday (3/17)
Volume, 329 2nd Ave., Cedar Rapids, www.myspace.com/volumecr