By Samantha Getz

Perfect Pour at The Old Pequliar

Like any Guinness enthusiast knows, it takes a proper pour for the perfect glass of stout. You’ll find the dark, Irish beer at its prime here.
“We’re serving the best Guinness in town,” manager Gabby said.
The bar opens at 11 a.m. serving traditional dishes, corned beef and cabbage or the Irish stew, and some with a modern twist like the corned beef sliders.
Beginning at noon, live music sets the atmosphere until close. Four bands will perform including The Whiskey Gaels and The Raybone Experience.
You won’t find your fancy, mixed-drink specials here, but brews will be on tap and ready to pour. Free parking is available.
Cover costs $10, but $10 vouchers will be given at the door to be redeemed any day after St. Patty’s. Basically, it’s free.
The Old Peculiar, 1722 NW Market St., Seattle, WA, 98107

Irish Night at The Dubliner

Every Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day at The Dubliner in Fremont. But, today especially, the Irish presence will be known.
The bar opens at 11 a.m. and will keep the whiskey flowin’ until the last foot stumbles out. The friendly atmosphere and welcoming faces makes the neighborhood bar popular.
“We try to run it in that style,” bartender Jesse Jones said. “We’ve always kept our prices down.”
Drink specials include $3 Guinness or Harp drafts and $5 Jameson, Bushmills, Tullamore Dew or Powers whiskey drinks.
Live Irish music begins at 3 p.m. with three bands to play throughout the day including Bellingham’s Whiskey Galore and Seattle’s Mingus O’Bannon.
Cover costs $5.
The Dubliner, 3517 Fremont Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103

Go Irish at the British Pub

Historically, the British and the Irish have had periods of conflict and resolution. But, today, Brit pub The Market Arms is calling a truce for St. Patrick.
The bar is one of the newest spots to Ballard. Open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., the pub will be serving traditional Irish dishes and corned beef on rye. They’ll have your draft of choice, and some Irish cocktail specials to green up the day. Try the Lucky Irishmen or the Dubliner Apple.
“You’ll experience a little bit of the British Isles in Ballard with an Irish flavor,” owner John Bayliss said.
Don’t want to get away from March Madness? It’ll be on the telly.
Don’t want to pay cover to hear Irish jigs? They’ll be blaring the classics over the speaker for free.
Want free schwag? The Bailey’s and Bushmills girls will be there at 5 p.m. with giveaways.
The Market Arms, 2401 NW Market St., Seattle, WA 98107

9 Million Unmarked Bills

What better place to spend St. Patrick’s Day than at a whiskey bar?
Fremont’s 9 Million Unmarked Bills will be open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Starting at 8 p.m., Irish band Corned Beef and Hash will perform until the fun stops.
“Over the last year and a half,” owner Nate Rezac said, “we’ve really dialed in about who we are.”
They’re a gastro pub, a whiskey bar and a lounge. But, the laid-back atmosphere will be thriving with Irish spirit. Tillamore Dew drink specials will be offered.
Cover is free.
Need a challenge? They have board games to borrow if your mind isn’t at rest.
9 Million Unmarked Bills, 3507 Fremont Place N., Seattle, WA 98103

Dive into the 2Bit Saloon

If the pubs and cover charges aren’t sounding like your celebration of choice, Ballard’s 2Bit Saloon might just be your kind of dive.
The small neighborhood bar is open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. offering a variety of drink specials to bring in the green-clothed folk. Looking for a more alternative crowd with witty bartenders and a dive-bar experience? You’ll find it here.
“We have great sound, great drinks, friendly bartenders and a great atmosphere,” manager Danny Mellott said.
Free live music will start at 9 p.m. with the area’s variety of alternative and punk rock bands including Mind Candy, Ton 80 and 10 Cent Monkey.
The 2Bit Saloon, 4818 17th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Folk at the Tractor Tavern

They’re a music joint that offers booze, not a booze joint that offers music. You won’t have to deal with the crowded mess of drunken St. Patty’s goers, and you will get to experience live folk music.
The Tractor Tavern in Ballard opens doors at 8:30 p.m. with folk bands Handful of Lovin’ and Kris Orlowski to take the stage at 9 p.m.
It’ll be a regular night with typical drinks and good tunes.
Cover costs $8.
The Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Hattie’s Hat Restaurant

They’re the oldest bar in the neighborhood.
Why go?
One dish says it all.
“Because our corned beef and cabbage will be the best,” owner Max Genereaua said.
Setting the mood will be modern Irish rock resurrecting from the speakers, free of cover charge. An abundance of Irish beers and whiskey specials will be offered.
The establishment opens at 3 p.m. and will keep the holiday alive until 2 a.m.
The building has been helping Ballard celebrate St. Patty’s Day since 1904, go help them bring in 2011.
Hattie’s Hat Restaurant, 5231 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107


Dinner and show at the Sunset

Starting at 9:30 p.m., up and coming Celtic band Def Leprechaun will perform at Ballard’s Sunset Tavern. The show is expected to sell out, so get there quickly.
The ambient atmosphere will be most welcoming to those wanting entertainment, without the drunken hustle. The space offers plenty of seating room, standing room and a chill atmosphere.
The restaurant will open at 5 p.m. Drink specials will be offered throughout the night.
Cover costs $6.
The Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Encore performance at Conor Byrne

Wednesday’s performance with Robin Sarazin Blake’s Paddy Whackers at the Conor Byrne Pub started St. Patrick’s Day on the right note. If you missed it last night, they’ll take the stage again at 1 p.m.
Live music will continue all day with Celtic Rock bands including the Erin McNamee Band at 4 p.m. and the Whiskey Swillers at 9 p.m.
The bar opens at noon for the early risers, and happy hour will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. offering $2.50 microbrews, $4 Guinness and well drinks and half price on sandwiches.
The Conor Byrne Pub, 5140 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107

The Sloop Tavern

Go big or go home. If you’re going to drink a beer, you may as well “sloopersize” it. For $4.50 on domestics and $6.50 on microbrews, you can turn your St. Patty’s beer into a whopping 33.8 ounce delight.
The tavern has been serving Ballard for over 50 years contributing to the beer guts of the neighborhood. No liquor or wine here.
They will have games on the TV and a pool table open, with plenty of grub appetizing to your wallet.
The tavern will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. with St. Patty’s Day giveaways happening all day, including some Guinness memorabilia.
The Sloop Tavern, 2830 NW Market St., Seattle, WA 98107