Ah, St. Paddy's Day; the unrestrained joys of my youth are flashing before me.
Every March 17th, I can almost smell the beer-soaked floors of the Midnight Court. It's similar to an acid flashback (not that I would know) but instead of going psychedelic at the sound of a Pink Floyd tune, I get a scent memory when I hear an Irish song like Black Velvet Band -- something that is unavoidable on this day. I'm not sure how the Midnight Court, which closed in the early 1990s, got lodged in my Limbic system as I've indulged in the uisce beatha in numerous places on March 17ths past.
Most of my St. Pat's memories from high school sort of blur together but they all involve, in some capacity, drinking peppermint schnapps out of a Dunkin Donuts cup in M Street Park in South Boston. In college, LP and I used to flee the 413 area code to drink green beer and see McMurphy (bums up!) at the Midnight Court. And we'd stay there for about 12 hours. (I believe I just answered my own question on how the scent memory got lodged in my brain.) In my 20s, I recall a movable, Bass Ale-fueled feast with assorted co-workers that began in some questionable South Boston establishments and sloshed back toward downtown as the day wore on. However, St. Patrick's Day eventually became a non-event for many, many years as we grew annoyed by inebriated, step-dancing fools like ourselves and began to scorn all the green drunken sentimentality. I don't feel this way anymore, however.
Right now, James and I are in the grips of a fierce Mexican jones that has gone unquenched for several months. That said, we'll likely be wetting the shamrock at Acapulco's this evening. A few years back we went out to dinner at a Lebanese restaurant on St. Patrick's Day and there were Italian musicians playing Irish drinking songs, the bulk of which were dedicated to a frail blue-haired bird named Mrs. DiBona. Who knows what Acapulco's might have in store? At least we'll have some green guac.
If you have a moment today, check out this English-Gaelic translator where you can learn to say "Happy St. Patrick's Day" or "I'll have the same as the man on the floor."
Slainte!
8 comments:
KJ, As fellow 413'ers, SAC and I can attest you haven't lived until you've been blitzed at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in beautiful downtown Holyoke. It's a lovely time where you get to see your tax dollars hard at work. Approximately 1/2 of the crowd is littered with drunk, illegal aliens buying fried dough and green beer with welfare money they've been collecting for generations. 2 great time honored traditions. Happy St. Paddy's Day.
KJ, just this morning, I tried to locate the 90210-era St Patty's day photo of us in Cancun, drinking Dos Equis poolside and sporting kelly green Girbauds with Shamrock stickers on our shirts. Brought to mind fond images of PG threatening to don a flesh-toned Speedo with sequined shamrock over his "privacy". [shudder]
Does anyone know if McD's brought back the Shamrock Shake?
Ahhh the drunken memories that suddennly come back at the mention of the wearing of the green. Speaking of the shamrock shake - if you really want to bring it back check out this website
http://www.tiktok.org/shamrock/
or
here's a make it at home recipe:
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1-1/4 cups milk, 2% lowfat
1/4 tsp. mint extract
8 drops green food coloring
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Stop blender to stir with a spoon if necessary to help blend ice cream. Pour into 12-ounce cups and serve each with a straw.
Enjoy everyone!
Hallelujah, JAL! I am thrilled to know that a special interest group has banded together for the sole purpose of bringing back my favorite McD's treat, that icy mint, frothy green "non dairy product" we knew and loved as the Shamrock Shake. Until McD's comes to its good senses and brings O'Grimacey and his beverage back to the people, at least I can go home and make one for myself with your recipe. Thank you, good man!
Bags: All I can say is that why we went to Cancun over St. Paddy's while in college.
LP & JAL: We'll have to whip up some Grey Goose Shammy Shakes on the Brookwood Road Lido deck as soon as it gets above 60 degrees.
I was on a cruise about 4 years ago over St. Pat's and while out by the pool in 85 degree weather the drink of the day was this green frozen icecream thing that tasted just like a shamrock shake with booze. fanfreakintastic.
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