GOING GREEN.

Byline: Fred Shuster

Staff Writer

OK, you've found something green to wear, worked up a hearty thirst and wouldn't mind a plate of corned beef and cabbage to go with the Guinness.

But you're not going to shell out a couple of grand for the cattle car to Dublin.

So how to celebrate a passport-free St. Patrick's Day on Saturday?

First, a little background blarney.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated for the patron saint of Ireland, and one of Christianity's most widely known figures, on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed the day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.

Green beer, parades and questionable fashion choices are American affectations. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a Catholic holiday -- and green is considered unlucky.

The leprechaun, a Celtic fairy, has become entrenched as a symbol for the day. But you really wouldn't want to run into one -- they're usually cranky little creatures (apologies to the Lucky Charms mascot).

Guinness is good for you! A few years ago, the American Heart Association found that the Irish beer with the black body and creamy head could be as effective as daily aspirin in reducing blood clots that cause heart attacks.

One of the best-known myths about St. Patrick is that he drove all the snakes from Ireland into the Irish Sea. Impossible -- snakes have never been native to the Emerald Isle.

The Big Apple becomes the Big Shamrock each St. Patrick's Day when around 3 million watch and 150,000 participate in the longest-running civilian parade in the country.

The Chicago River goes green each St. Patrick's Day. The tradition began in 1962, when pipe fitters poured 100 pounds of green dye into the river. Today 40 pounds are used, enough to turn the river green for several hours.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the U.S. when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York on March 17, 1762. Annual St. Patrick's Day parades, like the one in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, have become a show of strength for Irish Americans.

It's often said that everyone's a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day. But some are more Irish than others. The census shows 34.7 million U.S. residents claiming Irish ancestry, almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (4.2 million).

Here are the parades, music joints and pubs to celebrate the day o' the green. And because the high-spirited holiday takes place Saturday, you've got all day Sunday to nurse that hangover.

PARADES AND FESTIVALS

The Los Angeles St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday near El Pueblo de Los Angeles (Olvera Street) not far from Union Station. The procession travels south on Main Street past City Hall, continuing south on Main Street to Fifth Street, where it will turn west to the end at Hill Street, near Pershing Square.

The South Bay St. Patrick's Day Parade takes place Saturday in Hermosa Beach. The parade steps off at the intersection of Valley and Pier avenue at 11 a.m., proceeds west on Pier to Hermosa Avenue and then south on Hermosa, where it will disband on Eighth Street. There's also a festival Saturday and Sunday featuring a carnival, petting zoo, international food court, Irish dancing and music.

The fifth annual Canoga Park St. Patrick's Day Community March and Celebration begins at 1 p.m. Saturday in front of the Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way. The family event includes bands, bagpipers and storytellers. There will also be Irish antiques on display, balloons, prizes, raffle and surprises. [phone]; www.canogaparkcal.com.

PUBS, BARS AND BREWERIES

Robin Hood, 13640 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks. [phone]; www.robinhoodpub.net. Alas, no green beer here, but they will be serving corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew.

White Harte Pub, 22456 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. [phone]; www.thewhiteharte.com. No green beer, but the Guinness Girls will show up around 8 p.m.

Fox & Hounds, 11100 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. [phone]; www.thefoxandhounds.com. Daylong celebration with corned beef and cabbage, Irish music and the Guinness Girls.

Molly Malone's, 575 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. [phone]; www.mollymalonesla.com. Call it a St. Paddy's Day tradition: Molly Malone's opens at 6 a.m. and will be packed with thirsty, green-clad revelers within five minutes. But no green beer will be served.

Tom Bergin's Tavern, 840 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. [phone]; www.tombergins.com. Tom Bergin's calls St. Patrick's Day the "Irish Super Bowl." Each year, the Tavern's doors open at 5 a.m. to a line of Guinness-deprived Angelenos.

Weiland Brewery Restaurant, 400 E. First St., Los Angeles. [phone]; www.weilandbrewery.net. Beer garden with green beer, Irish food, drink specials and live entertainment.

Crown City Brewery, 300 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. [phone]; www.crowncitybrew.com. Green beer will be served.

MUSIC

Local heroes the Young Dubliners appear at 9 p.m. Friday at the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. [phone]; www.keyclub.com. Like the Chieftains, the Young Dubliners have been around for more than 20 years, blending Celtic sounds with contemporary rock.

Celtic singer Ken O'Malley and his band the Twilight Lords settle in for their annual daylong show of traditional Irish folk and rock Saturday at Ireland's 32, 13721 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by well-known singer-songwriter Colm Gallagher & Friends. [phone]; www.irelands32pub.com. No green beer, but Guinness on tap (and nobody's complained yet).

The Queen Mary Pub Crawl will shuttle people to three of Long Beach's Irish pubs -- Auld Dubliner, Gallagher's and Limerick's -- on an old-fashioned English double-decker bus, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. The final stop will be at the Observation Bar aboard the ocean liner, moored in Long Beach. Tickets are $59 to $89, which includes one pint of beer at each pub, snacks and a T-shirt. www.wantickets.com; click on Queen Mary Pub Crawl.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Celtic singer Jerry McClean at EB's Bar at Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St., Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Saturday. [phone]; www.farmersmarketbars.com. Green beer on tap.

IRISH COFFEE

2 ounces Irish whiskey

2 teaspoons brown sugar (OR to taste, as desired)

3/4 cup freshly brewed strong,

black coffee

Whipping cream

In a stemmed glass mug (to warm mug, rinse with boiling hot water first and drain well), combine whiskey, brown sugar and coffee. Stir thoroughly and top off with a layer of heavy whipping cream poured gently over the back of a spoon. Or top with whipped cream.

NOTE: 1 to 2 teaspoons superfine white sugar can be used instead of brown, if desired.

Makes 1 serving

IRISH CAR-BOMB

1/3 of a pint of Guinness

1/2 shot glass of Jameson Irish Whiskey 

1/2 shot glass of Bailey's Irish Cream

Place Guiness in a pint glass. Fill half a shot glass with Irish Whiskey and the other half with Bailey's Irish Cream. Drop entire shot glass with liquid into Guinness. Down the whole thing at once.

Makes 1 serving

BELFAST CAR-BOMB: Use brandy intead of Irish whiskey and follow the above directions.

Recipe from Dennis Christensen, co-owner Timmy Nolan's, Toluca Lake.

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) no caption (green beer)

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

(2 -- cover -- color) GREEN DAY

YOUR GUIDE TO CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK'S DAY

(3 -- color) YOUNG DUBLINERS

(4 -- color) IRISH COFFEE

(5 -- color) IRISH CAR-BOMB

(6 -- color) Guinness Draught