Places in Kent prepare for St. Patrick’s Day with specials and longer hours

Who would honestly get up at 6 a.m. to drink beer?

On St. Patrick’s Day, it seems like the normal thing to do for many people.

“Between 6 a.m. and noon, bars are extremely busy,” said Amanda Jones, a bartender at The Loft. “Then we pick back up at night.”

Let’s just say St. Patrick’s Day is the Super Bowl for bars and pubs.

“It’s one of the better days of the year,” said Burke Podany, manager of Zephyr Pub.

Just like any other holiday, there are plans with friends, specials on drinks and Irish entertainment for the St. Patrick’s Day partier.

“I am planning on hitting downtown Thursday night for my friend’s birthday and Friday night for St. Patrick’s Day,” said Lacey Cope, senior family and consumer studies major. “I will probably do the original bar crawl, definitely Ray’s and Glory Days.”

The Loft has been having specials throughout the month of March, and they are opening at 6 a.m. for St. Patrick’s Day, Jones said. The Loft is featuring Irish liquor shots of Jameson and Bailey for $2.50 instead of $3.50, she said.

She also added Irish carbombs are being served. The drink consists of half a shot glass filled with Jameson and Bailey, dropped into a mug half filled with Guinness beer.

Pitchers of Budweiser can be found at Zephyr Pub for $5.

“We can make green beer if you want it, but not all the beer will be green,” Podany said.

Zephyr Pub will open at 9 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day.

If you’re looking for some Irish entertainment, Ray’s Place will have a bagpipe player performing throughout the day, according to manager Mike Watson.

And yes, they will have green beer too. Watson said they could make anything green.

“Come to think of it, we can even make cherry bombs green!” Watson said with a laugh. “We make sure to have plenty of green food coloring.”

Ray’s Place will also be serving some traditional Irish cuisine, such as corned beef and cabbage and corned beef Reuben. Watson said the restaurant opens at 11 a.m. tomorrow and will stay open until 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

But if you’re looking for a real St. Patrick’s Day experience, travel to Cleveland and visit The Claddagh Irish Pub in Legacy Village.

“There will be music all day long,” said general manager Jeff Gillbert. “During the daytime it will be traditional Celtic music, and during the evening, it will be mainstream cover bands.”

A traditional Irish breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. This includes a corned beef omelet, sourdough toast, rasher sausage and rasher bacon for $6.95.

“It’s a couple of items you don’t find in most places,” Gillbert said. An authentic Irish menu will be available from 9 a.m. to midnight, and the bar stays open until 2 a.m.

Gillbert said they also have the biggest selection of Irish drinks in Ohio, including Guinness and Harp. The “Guinness Man” will be passing out beer throughout the day.

Trinkets such as key chains and beads will be passed out along with T-shirts. Irish dancers and bagpipers will be performing all day, according to the Legacy Village Web site.

But if staying in Kent seems more appealing, it won’t be hard to find deals on St. Patrick’s Day. Even staying in can guarantee a good time.

“Friday, a group of us are probably going to Panini’s for kegs and eggs,” said Amy Sowa, junior leisure studies major. “Then we are going to probably go back to someone’s apartment or house and hang out there.”

Contact features correspondent Carrie Circosta at [email protected].