Great Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Picking where to spend a popular holiday like St. Patrick's Day can be deceptively difficult. So in the spirit of the day, we've come up with a few suggestions for where to go.

• , Hightstown

The tavern will feature Irish music all day, including bagpipers playing from 4 to 6 p.m. and a D.J. starting at 8 p.m.  There will be specials on corned beef and cabbage, and beers like Guinness ($3.50/pint) and Killians Irish Red ($2/bottle). From 4 to 6 p.m. you’ll be able to see the Three Olives Dude and Girls, and from 6 to 8 p.m. it’ll be the Michael Collins Girls.

• , East Windsor

In observance of the holiday, Guinness drafts will be $4 and there will be Irish food specials. And if you want to get started a bit later in the evening, the party at City Streets will run from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. as part of their regular Thursday DJ Dance Night. Martinis will run $4 to $5 alongside other drink specials.

• The Alchemist and Barrister, Princeton

This pub will begin the celebration at 5:30 p.m. that will also serve as a fundraiser for Colin Pascik, a Marine who lost both his legs in the Afghan war. The cover charge is $5, and the festivities will include an Irish band and dancers from the Ryan-Kilcoyne School of Irish Dancing in Newtown, Pa. Food specials will include corned beef cooked out on the patio, bangers and mash (aka sausages and mashed potatoes), Guinness short ribs and drunken clams. And of course, there will be specialty drinks along with pints of Guinness.

• , Cranbury

For a more laid-back St. Patrick's Day, visit Teddy's for the restaurant's 37th annual celebration of all things Irish. Irish Dream cupcakes from the local bakers at are one way to end a meal of specials like corned beef and cabbage or Irish lamb stew.

• , , East Windsor

If you’re busy tonight, or just want to be awake tomorrow for work, there’s still another option to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. This special fundraiser for the local Police Athletic League will have Irish beer, snacks, a basket raffle and 50/50 as well as DJ Brett Gash. The party runs 8 p.m. to midnight and admission is $20 per person. You must be 21 or older to attend. For more information, call 609-448-5333 or e-mail ewpalmail@eastwindsorpal.org.