It’s a lucky weekend to be in Bay Ridge!
Before the Celtic holiday gets going, you can indulge in some New Orleans-style hot jazz tunes courtesy of the Grand Street Stompers at Brooklyn Firefly (7003 Third Ave. at Ovington Avenue). The eight-member group puts a modern spin on songs that have filled the streets of the Big Easy since the 1920s. The free, two-hour event kicks off on Friday night at 8 pm.
And Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day! At the top o’ the mornin’, start with a jog along Shore Road and a post-run refueling stop at Bagel Boy (8002 Third Ave. at 80th Street), where you can buy a bright green bagel in honor of the saint who drove out the snakes.
After dressing in kelly colors — and digesting your green carbs — amble over to the Wicked Monk (9510 Third Ave. between 95th and 96th streets) where you can chow down on a signature St. Paddy’s Day meal of corned beef and cabbage, boiled potatoes and carrots, or shepherd’s pie, starting at noon. Then suck down some Guinness and stick around for the free Irish seisún, a jam session of traditional tunes from local Celtic musicians, which starts at 2 pm and runs until 10 pm.
On Sunday, work off your hangover and your hunger by strolling to Paneantico (9124 Third Ave. at 92nd Street) for its $6.75 loaf of Irish soda bread. And keep you Irish ears smiling with a visit to the appropriately colored Greenhouse Café (7717 Third Ave. between 77th and 78th streets), which will host a free, three-hour show of classic Celtic tunes by local singer Tommy Andersen beginning at 6 pm. And the cafe will serve a special holiday menu, so you can load up on one final meal of corned beef and cabbage before the weekend is out.
