In the 1960s, there was a popular ad campaign that proclaimed “You don’t have to be Jewish” to love a brand of rye bread. The ads featured photos of decidedly non-Jewish people, the most famous of which was a Native American, taking a bite out of a deli sandwich. Likewise, regardless of his or her heritage, pretty much everyone in Boston embraces St. Patrick’s Day.
There are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday, and they don’t necessarily require raising a toast to the patron saint of Ireland or donning green garb (although there will be plenty of both going on throughout the city). Among some of the highlights and suggested activities (all dates are 2013):
- The St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at West Broadway in South Boston. Expect lots of bagpipes and marching bands, plenty of colorful (mostly green) floats, and more than a few politicians parading past some 750,000 spectators.
- Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys will make its annual St. Patty’s Day swing through its hometown with shows on March 15 at TD Garden, March 16 at Brighton Music Hall, and March 17 at the House of Blues.
- Considerably less raucous than the Dropkick Murphys, the Celtic Woman will be bringing their soaring voices, lilting harmonies, and dexterous fiddling to the Citi Performing Arts Center on March 16.
- Speaking of Celtic, er, the Celtics, the boys in green will be facing the Charlotte Bobcats on March 16 at the TD Garden.
- If you want to head to an Irish pub, there are no shortage of them in our fair city, including M.J. O’Connor’s and Cuff’s.
- Drink, be merry, and eat some grub at any of the wonderful eateries featured in Restaurant Week Boston, which conveniently kicks off on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
Should you decide to order Irish corned beef and cabbage as you dine around Boston, may I suggest that it goes great with Jewish rye bread.
Photo: SouthBostonParade.org
Arthur Levine, who has been living in and enjoying the Boston area his whole life, is the HUBa HUBa blogger for the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. He particularly takes pleasure in sharing his adventures and finds with others. He has written about his Boston and Massachusetts journeys for Boston.com, the Boston Herald, the Cape Cod Times, the Providence Journal, and other publications. Some of Arthur’s favorite things to do around the city include checking out a new dining spot during Restaurant Week, catching upcoming movies at the Boston Film Festival, going to Fenway Park (although he has yet to see the Red Sox win a game there), taking in a summer show at the Bank of America Pavilion or at the Hatch Shell, and listening in as native Bostonians jabber using their unique patois.
