Liquor of the Irish: St. Patrick's Day Bar Guide

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THE THING ABOUT St. Patrick's Day is that the term "happy hour" almost ceases to apply. It's more like "happy several hours" or "happy day." Or possibly "happy worst Wednesday of your working life."

Nevertheless, D.C. loves St. Patrick's Day, and since all the parade festivities took place over the weekend, all you can really do now to celebrate is drink. Here are a few places you can go after work to get in on the spirit.

First of all, you want an authentic Irish pub. But if you can't afford a plane ticket, you'll have to settle for the Dubliner, which we were once told "smells just like the pubs in Ireland." Good enough for us. There will be Irish music and general rowdiness from 10 a.m. onward — but there's also a $10 cover charge, so make sure you have cash.

If that cover ruins your Irish cheer, try James Hoban's in Dupont Circle. The folks there will be serving kegs and eggs starting at
8 a.m. and more Irish food later on. There's no cover charge; just good, old-fashioned beer-for-breakfast fun.

If you're really looking for a miserable, call-in-sick Wednesday morning, try the Rock and Roll Hotel's ominously named Party Till You Puke event. PBRs for $3, $4 Jameson cocktails — including the "Irish Honey," which involves Wild Turkey bourbon, Jameson and a whole lot of headache the next day — and no cover charge will probably have young people flocking here. The free shuttle back from H Street at 2 a.m. is going to be messy.

» Dubliner, 520 N. Capitol St. NW; 202-737-3773. (Union Station)
» James Hoban's, 1 Dupont Circle; 202-872-1122. (Dupont Circle)
» Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE; 202-388-7625.

Photo by Margaret Thomas/The Washington Post