The Tradition of St. Patrick:
Around 432, Bishop St Patrick went to Ireland to “save” the Irish, focusing on converting royalty and aristocracy as well as the poor to Catholicism. Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish people. After nearly thirty years of teaching and spreading God’s Word he died on 17 March, 461 AD, and was buried at Downpatrick, so tradition says.
The Tradition of St. Patrick Day Celebrations:
The Irish Society of Boston organized what was not only the first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the colonies but the first recorded Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the world on 18 March 1737. The first parade in Ireland was not until the 1931 parade in Dublin.
The Modern Tradition of St. Patrick Day Celebrations in Venice:
Every bar in town has a St. Paddy’s party as today is the Valentine’s Day of drinkin’ and bars make a ton of money off of people showing their love for the booze. The Yo! Venice! pick for bar of the night is The Townhouse, as they are having a burlesque show tonight. If you really plan on getting your drink on, you should probably head to O’Briens or Finn McCool’s on Main Street in Santa Monica. St. Patrick Day boozin’ at Baja Cantina or Hama is just bad etiquette, but they won’t have huge lines ..
Don’t drive drunk. Don’t bicycle drunk. Don’t scream and yell like a lil kid when you are drunk. Don’t fight when you are drunk. Don’t ride your bicycle through the canals at 2:30 am because you WILL fall off of it into the canal. Wear condoms.
There will be a DUI checkpoint at Pico and 4th Street in Santa Monica. You can get a D.U.I on a bicycle. D.U.I.’s cost about 10-20k these days, and no one thinks you are cool when you are getting your swerve on. Srusly. Don’t drive drunk.
Common sense (and the LAPD) recommend: Planning a safe way home before the festivities begin, designating a sober driver, leaving your car keys at home, calling a taxi, a friend or family member, or using public transportation to ensure you get home safely and taking the car keys away from someone who is about to drive impaired and assist them in getting home safely.
St. Patrick Day Emergency Numbers:
Santa Monica Taxi: (310) 828-5523
Lipstick Bail Bonds: (877) 770- BAIL
LAPD Pacific Division: (818) 734-2223 (Non Emergency)
Texts from Last Night
