There’s an old saying that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. And the large number of festivities in the area should keep everybody wearin’ the green and enjoying the food and spirits of the holiday.
While you may not find the proverbial pot of gold, or even a rainbow to follow, there’s plenty of local Irish fun, food and music to be had.
In Kewanee, these establishments offer familiar Irish menus, ales and other drinks to tempt your palate. A few even include musical entertainment that will get your toes tapping and take you across the sea to the Isle of Green with a well-played tune or two.
The Shamrock on Boss Street opens at 10 am and will be serving green Jello shots, Irish car bombs, Guinness beer and hot plates of corned beef and cabbage.
Timeout Pub & Grub on East Seventh Street is serving up some special deals on Irish drinks and of course, corned beef and cabbage while supplies last.
Cookies Gaming Parlor and Bar on North Burr is offering half-price drinks all day long.
Jay’s Place on Third Street will have special green Bud Light 16 oz cans for the same price of a 12 oz.
Guppy’s on Lake Street is serving corned beef and cabbage from 1 pm to 5 pm with music by Isaac Wieser from 2 – 5. Wieser’s music is folksy and just the kind to get you feeling Irish.
The End Zone on East Third Street is also serving up some Irish fare, along with music by Top Secret Sociopaths.
Cerno’s Bar & Grill will be serving traditional corned beef and cabbage for the palate and Fiddlerock! will provide a St Patrick’s Day Jam at 1 pm with a selection of rock, pop, metal and country classics.
Also, the Downtown Eatery and Bakery on North Tremont is including corned beef and cabbage in its generous Sunday brunch from 8 am to 2 pm with carry-out orders available from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Baker Park’s 19th Hole restaurant is serving Reuben sandwiches with a side from open until 2 pm.
The Barnhouse Restaurant on Tenney is another place for corned beef and cabbage. They are open 24/7.
Should you prefer to enjoy a traditional Irish meal at home, give Sullivan’s Foods a call at (309) 853-1600 and order a takeout during the deli hours.
In Galva, the celebration starts on Friday, March 15, with corned beef and cabbage at Uncle Nolan’s served until 2 pm.
That evening, the Galva Arts Council will feature the Celtic band, Exorna, a favorite of local audiences for the last 10 years. The group is led by Victor McMulland of County Derry who, along with the Normal, Illinois-based Exorna, provide authentic, down-to-earth tunes that are loaded with humor and sentimentality. The group is keeping alive a truly vanishing art form using all traditional instruments. Doors open at 6:30 and the music starts at 7 pm at the Arts Council building on Exchange Street. Coffee and cookies are provided and monetary donations are appreciated.
On Saturday, the 16th, Crescent City Tap on Front Street has slow-cooked corn beef and cabbage on their menu, along with special drink offers that include Guinness and Jameson. Ryan Smith, acoustic musician, will provide entertainment from 8 pm to midnight.
The Colony Inn, in Bishop Hill has singer Kaiden Leezer performing country ballads from 3 pm to 6 pm. Along with the live entertainment, the Inn is serving green beer and cocktails.
Special Kneads Bakery on Exchange Street will have Irish soda bread, Irish scones and Shamrock sugar cookies for sale from 9 am to 2 pm (while supplies last). Stop in early to get these treats.
If your taste buds don’t tolerate the traditional Irish meal, the Galva American Legion is holding a trivia night to raise money for the After Prom activities. Loaded nachos and fun trivia is available for $10/person.
Another spot for those who prefer more regular fare on Sunday is P.L. Johnson’s in downtown Bishop Hill. There you can be Irish by partaking in some sweet treats such as mint chocolate chip ice cream pie, pistachio Jell-O Salad and home style green beans. They are open from 11 am to 2 pm. Reservations are not required, but recommended.
On Sunday, March 17, you can round out the weekend with more corned beef and cabbage from Mary’s Family Restaurant and Lounge on Route 34. Dinners served from noon to 6 pm, and reserving your order is necessary. Call (309) 932-2277 to make certain you get a meal.
Sunday evening, the Bishop Hill Commons is featuring the LaSalle, Illinois-based female trio, “The Morning Larks”, who play authentic Irish tunes guaranteed to bring out the Celtic in you. Potluck is at 6 pm and the music starts at 7. Donations are appreciated.
