Despite the fact that the annual South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade is officially kaput, it still won't be difficult to get your Chi-Rish on in 2010.
But why wait until next year to celebrate? Timothy O'Toole's Pub in Streeterville (622 N. Fairbanks Court) and Gurnee (5572 Grand Ave) is throwing a series of halfway to St. Patrick's Day parties this weekend.
The festivities kick off when both locations pour $3 green beer and a serve up a complimentary buffet between 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday (Thursday only in Chicago).
A highlight promises to be the Best Leprechaun Costume Contest at 8 p.m. Friday at the Chicago O'Tooles, followed by a pub crawl to the Reagle Beagle, PJ Clarke's and Lizzie McNeill's.
Gurnee is offering live Irish music on Friday night and all-you-care-to-eat Guinness Beef Stew for $10.99 on Saturday, along with other traditional Irish food such as Potato Pancakes served with apple sauce and sour cream, Shepherd's Pie and Corned Beef on Rye.
Other spots with halfway events this weekend include the Abbey Pub (3420 W Grace St), with live music and Irish dancers on Thursday, and Joe's Bar (940 W Weed St) on Saturday with the Shannon Rovers Irish Bagpipe Band.
