St. Pádraig’s Day
I have always had a hate/hate relationship with St. Patrick’s Day. Now that I own a pub, the experience is a bit more complex. My previous perceived flaws in the day had less to do with crowds, excretions, and general baffoonery. It had more to do with the nationality-switch-em-up thing. Not being Irish myself, but being related to enough of them, I’ve often wondered why the frenzied zealot “I’m Irish” shtick. However, now that I DO own a pub and I am legally obligated to recreate an atmosphere that screams “a leprechaun exploded in here!!!” I have made peace with the day…sorta. While I have an even greater disdain for excretions and baffoonery, I enjoy the large crowds much more than I used to. At The Snug, anyway, the patrons seem a little more silly and a lot less horizontal.
It just took a little getting used to, that’s all. I’m thinking this, our third St. Patrick’s Day at The Snug, will be the smoothest to date.
March 17, 2007…1st Snug St Patrick’s Day. Will anyone come? Did I order too much Guinness? Did I order enough? Sure I’ll have a shot of Patron to settle the nerves. Where is everyone? Why isn’t my bartender Bob here? OK, yeah, another shot of Patron sounds like a good idea…make it a double. Jesus, I’ve hired too many people to work today. Patron, Patron, Patron, yada, yada, yada…I’m eating chicken quesadillas, wrestling green dye from a customer, impolitely comparing one sorry individual to Barry Gibb, but otherwise enjoying my maiden voyage.
March 17, 2008…2nd Snug St. Patrick’s Day. Learned valuable lesson about drinking on St. Patrick’s Day from previous year! Biggest blunder of ‘08 was to underestimate the increase in business from ‘07. Seemed quiet enough at first. Had time to run out and get Michelle some corned beef and cabbage. Chatted idly with BF and even sent him on his way telling him I’d be home soon. Before he made it to the bottom of Franklin Arterial, the wheels came off the bus and I called him in a panic to come back and help with washing glasses. Three hours before the rest of the staff was scheduled to arrive, Troy got dishpan hands, poor Sven rolled up his sleeves and went from Managing Partner of a PR firm to bar-back, and I repeatedly threatened Michelle with termination if she made one more martini. Once Brian and lil Andrew arrived, the evening wiled away peacefully…except for the cash register getting stuck shut around midnight!
March 17, 2009…3rd Snug St. Patrick’s Day. I’ll fill this in on Wednesday. Here’s hoping that everyone arrives with a designated driver, drinks plenty of water, and has a wonderful time!