Pinellas prepares for St. Patrick’s Day
Events include concerts, parties and more
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
| Article published on Monday, March 8, 2010 |
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St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and preparations are under way to celebrate all around Pinellas.
Get in the mood early when Ruth Eckerd Hall presents The Irish Tenors on Sunday, March 14, 2 p.m.
Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Karl Scully have gained global recognition since bursting onto the scene in 1998. Whether singing the traditional Danny Boy, My Wild Irish Rose, Fields of Athenry, My Heart Goes On, Fairytale of New York or even South of the Border, these gifted interpreters breathe life into all the songs in their diverse repertoire.
Tickets are $62.50, $48 and $32.50 and available a the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office, 1111 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater; or online at www.rutheckerdhall.com and www.ticketmaster.com.
Chris Morgan and his band performs Tuesday, March 16, 7 p.m., at Tarpon Springs Library, 138 E. Lemon St., Tarpon Springs.
Morgan will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish music and song. The free concert for all ages will include traditional and folk songs of family, fun, love, loss, war and emigration with a respect for the context of their origin.
Morgan has been performing throughout the southeast for the past decade.
Beginning in South Carolina and Georgia as guitarist and lead vocalist for a three-piece electric band, he developed a love for the acoustic guitar and folk music. This interest culminated in an original/traditional, Celtic flavored duo named Ashgrove, again featuring Morgan on guitar and lead vocals and Brad Owensby on mandolin, violin, guitar and accompanying vocals. This project ended when Morgan relocated to Tampa Bay in 1995 and Owensby went to the Czech Republic with the Peace Corps.
Visit www.chrismorganmusic.com. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Tarpon Springs Public Library. Call 943-4922.
Michael Londra performs Wednesday, March 17, 3 and 7 p.m., at Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo.
Londra, well known for his work with Riverdance, will serve up authentic Irish singing and dancing backed by a fantastic Celtic band. The performer will present Sounds of Ireland with music by An Dochas and dancers from Celtic Legends.
Londra was offered the role of lead singer in the Riverdance U.S. national tour which included performances at Radio City Music Hall and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In March 2000, he again was offered the position of lead singer in the new production of Riverdance on Broadway, taking the role from acclaimed Irish singer Brian Kennedy.
Londra’s first album “Celt” was produced by producer Steve Skinner who co-produced the Grammy nominated soundtrack of “Rent.” The album was released in 15 countries worldwide selling particularly well in Korea where it reached No. 1 in the World Music Charts. Tickets are $25 in advance and $28 the day of the show. Call 587-6793.
For those still in a Celtic mood the day after St. Patrick’s, the Band of Irish Guards will perform Thursday, March 18, 8 p.m., at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater.
The Band of the Irish Guards is currently on its debut tour of the United States, accompanied by The Pipes and Drums of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Irish Guards provide musical support to active duty troops and for the Mounting of The Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace.
With a current establishment of 49 musicians, the band has a variety of professional ensembles that include a concert band, marching band, salon orchestra, dance band, fanfare trumpeters and several other smaller ensembles.
Tickets range from $38 to $48. Call 791-7400 or visit www.rutheckerdhall.com.
St. Patrick’s Day 2010 Roundup
Clearwater
• St. Pat’s Spring Break Pre-Party, Saturday, March 13, 4 p.m., at O’Keefe’s Family Tavern and Grill, 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater.
Live entertainment will include performances by Cellfish, 4 p.m.; and Four Star Riot, 9 p.m. Call 442-9034 or visit www.okeefestavernonline.com.
• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Wednesday, March 17, at O’Keefe’s Family Tavern and Grill, 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. The event will feature two tons of corned beef, live music, green beer, Irish dancers and a 10,000-square-foot tent. The tent will open at 11 a.m. All ages are welcome during the day; after 9 p.m., the celebration will be for those 21 and older. There will be bagpipers, dancers, face painters and balloon makers. Entertainment will include performances by the Irish band Hooligans, 11 a.m.; Irish music band and dancers Pooka, 4 p.m.; and the legendary Black Honkeys, 9 p.m. Call 442-9034 or visit www.okeefestavernonline.com.
• St. Patrick’s Day Tent Party, Wednesday, March 17, at Tommy Duff’s Irish Aviation Pub, 126 Island Way, Island Estates, Clearwater. The celebration will feature entertainment by Eddie “Seamus” O’Schew, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.; and the farewell performance of Crackers, 8 p.m. There also will be a special guest appearance by Unclaimed Baggage. The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place at 5:05 p.m. and will be led by Grand Piper Sgt. John and Grand Marshal Gary O’Gray. Call 449-1366 or visit www.tommyduffs.com.
Dunedin
• Noon Tunes, Wednesday, March 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Pioneer Park, corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue in downtown Dunedin. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Irish music will be presented. Several participating restaurants will sell box lunches for $8. The series is sponsored by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and Community Redevelopment Agency. Call 812-4545.
• St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival, Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., at Flanagan’s Irish Pub, 465 Main St. There will be live music throughout the day by Noel Cooney, Jeff Glover, the Irish Buskers and the Dunedin Pipe Band. There also will be Irish step dancing by The Stephen Scariff School of Irish Dancers. Call 736-4994.
• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with Irish author Ann O’Farrell, Wednesday, March 17, 3 p.m., at Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Ave. O’Farrell will discuss all things Irish. Attendees are encouraged to wear green. Call 298-3080.
Gulfport
• St. Paddy's Day Ghost Tour, Wednesday, March 17, 8 p.m. Enjoy an Irish twist to Gulfport's haunted history with tales of banshees, bogies and hobgoblins. The ghost tour meanders through town on a trail of supernatural tales. The tour is 90 minutes. Reservations are required. Tours begin outside the Gulfport Casino at 56th Street South and Shore Boulevard South in Gulfport. Tickets are $15 a person; $8 for ages 4 to 12. For tickets or more information, call 727-894-4678 or visit www.ghosttour.net.
Indian Shores
• St. Patrick’s Day Street Fest, Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on 197th Avenue off Gulf Boulevard, in Indian Shores. The town of Indian Shores will host the celebration which will feature arts, crafts and live entertainment. Sponsors include Gosling’s Rum and Mickey Quinn’s Irish Pub. Call Jason at 410-8776. Mickey Quinns also will have music and Irish fare through the day and evening at both locations, 19703 Gulf Blvd., and 11800 Park Blvd, which is in Seminole.
• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Wednesday, March 17, at The Pub, 20025 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores. The celebration will feature live music, 2 to 10 p.m., along with green beer, corned beef and cabbage, Reubens and Irish stew. Call 595-3172.
Largo
• St. Practice Day, Saturday, March 13, at O’Houston’s Pub, 518 West Bay Drive, Largo. The pub encourages patrons who think they’re ready for St.
Patrick’s Day to stop by for some practice so the holiday “doesn’t catch you unprepared.” Visit ohoustons.com.
• Third annual St. Patrick’s Day Party, Wednesday, March 17, at Finley’s Irish Pub and Eatery, 13477 Belcher Road S., Largo. The all-day party will feature live Irish music, a carnival tent, five bars and lots of “food, fun and festivities.” Performers will include J.J. Smith, Guinness and the Claiborne Shepherd Band. Call 535-7858 or visit www.finleysirishpub.com.
• St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., at O’Houston’s, 518 West Bay Drive, Largo. The event will boast an Irish menu with corned beef and cabbage. There will be live Irish music, fiddlers, dancers and bagpipers. Call 584-7772 or visit ohoustons.com.
St. Pete Beach
• Family Movie Night, Friday, March 19, 7 p.m., at the St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. Attendees will celebrate St.
Patrick’s Day with a special showing of “The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns.” Cost is $2 for St. Pete Beach residents and $3 for nonresidents. Call 363-9245.
Tampa
• MacDinton’s Leprechaun Pub Crawl, Saturday, March 13, 5:30 p.m., at MacDinton’s, 405 S. Howard Ave. Cost is $10 with costume or $15 without costume. Visit macdintons.com.
• St. Puppy’s Day, Saturday, March 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at The Dubliner Irish Pub, 12836 Henderson Road. The pub will host its inaugural St. Puppy’s Day event which will feature an Irish brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; live music, giveaways and prizes and Irish dancers. There will be a Puppy Costume Parade and contest at 3 p.m. with prizes given to the “most Irish dog.” The Humane Society will be onsite with a number of adoptable pets. The pub will fence off the parking lot to create an outdoor festival with plenty of room for dogs to roam. Visit thedublineririshpub.com.
• St. Paddy’s Day Celebration, Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m. to close, at MacDinton’s, 405 S. Howard Ave. The celebration will include live music from 2 p.m. to close as well as Irish dancers and bagpipers. Visit macdintons.com.
• St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at The Dubliner Irish Pub, 12836 Henderson Road. The Dubliner will host annual extravaganza which will include a huge outdoor tent party in the parking lot. The festivities will kick off early with a special Irish luncheon buffet featuring Irish favorites such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and authentic sausages imported directly from Ireland. The buffet will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will cost $9.95 a person. The festival also will include a variety of live entertainment from contemporary rock ’n’ roll bands on a large outdoor stage. The Stephen Scariff School of Irish Dance will perform and will be joined by a bagpipe troupe. Visit thedublineririshpub.com.
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Article published on Monday, March 8, 2010
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