Blessed Drinking

If you still have a hangover from St. Patrick’s Day 2007, you can thank the Roman Catholic Church for giving you more time to recover this year. Because St. Patty’s 2008 overlaps with Holy Week, the Church has earmarked today for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Otherwise, Holy Monday would’ve become Holy Shit I’m Wasted Day. As a result, you’ll have plenty of chances to get bloody fluthered with the blessing of the Church. The Northland’s Annual Snake Saturday Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. at 14th Street and Swift and heads north to Armour Road with an armada of charity floats and high school bands. The Brookside St. Patrick’s Day Warm-up Parade takes shape at 2 p.m. at 65th Street and Wornall and heads north to 63rd Street. Don’t let the “fun family event” billing fool you; there’s no telling what can happen when clowns, floats, dogs, bands and horses mingle with Smithwick’s and Murphy’s. So go ahead and get good and gee-eyed, for Father O’ Sullivan’s sake. And if you’re still seeing straight come Monday, join the purists and the heretics at the downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade (11 a.m. at Pershing and Main).

Mon., March 17, 2008