An Irish Night

Everybody knows St. Patrick’s Day is the finest holiday on the calendar­—especially for those of us lucky enough to be in Boston, the Ireland of the Americas, for tonight’s grand event. It’s also a great day to put a touch of the Blarney on your tongue with liberal amounts of St. Paddy’s greatest gift to the Irish: whiskey. But even if you can’t tell your Paddy from your Poteen, FM will help you find the craic tonight. Just follow the pub-filled road (Mass. Ave)! And remember: Paddy is a disparaging term for “Irish person,” Poteen means “illegally distilled Irish whiskey,” and craic (pronounced “crack”) means “a good time.” Also: “Too much of anything is good for nothing. Too much good whiskey is barely enough.” Remember that, too.

The Plough and Stars

912 Mass. Ave.

Pionta Ghuinness (Pint of Guinness): $4.

Gloine uisce (Glass of whiskey): $5-7.

The Plough and Stars is a Cambridge standard, the oldest Irish pub in Boston (or so the locals say). Walking in, it’s easy to see why it’s still around. The place just smells like a pub, a sublime combination of wood, beer, and stew. Those who take a seat at the bar join the company of such serious thinkers and major drinkers as Van Morrison and G-Love and Special Sauce. Tread softly if the conversation turns to politics, though: “the Plough and Stars” was the standard of the Irish Marxists and secessionists not too long ago. Soft lantern lighting creates a cheerful, cozy ambience around the all-wood bar. The paneled walls are lovingly decorated with pictures of musicians, Guinness Bowl posters dating back to the sixties, and ads for Sean O’Casey plays. The Plough will be packed on St. Paddy’s Day, with plenty of frothy pints of Guinness and smooth shots of Jameson’s to help keep the snakes away. Irish roast salmon, Irish stew, and corned beef and cabbage make their way onto the menu for the big event. But the bathrooms are labeled in Irish Gaelic, so remember: Mná is for women, Fir is for men. The Plough is just a short jaunt down Mass. Ave. from Harvard Square, and definitely worth the trip.

The Phoenix Landing

512 Mass. Ave

Pionta Ghuinness: $4.50.

Gloine uisce: $6.

Don’t let the name fool you: The Phoenix Landing is about as Irish a pub as they come. The owners named the establishment for the mythical bird that rises from its ashes in blazing glory ­— a common symbol for Ireland’s rebirth after the Anglo-Irish War. The interior of the Landing is bathed in a warm red and features authentic wooden walls. The Galway-born bartender, Niamh (rhymes with ‘Bev’—no joke), told of the St. Paddy’s Day festivities: an honest-to-goodness bagpipe band will follow a showing of the John Ford classic The Quiet Man (John Wayne is just dreamy in his dramatic roles). The Landing is a fun place and its omnipresent Irish paraphernalia adds to the atmosphere. Of special note are the carved figurines of hurlers and Gaelic footballers declaring “Players please on every ground.” The bar also features an impressive sound system (the better to hear the pipers, of course) and a large flatscreen TV. The Phoenix Landing is a block or two south of the Central Square T station, and should be a stop on any Cambridge pub crawl this March 17th.

The Asgard

350 Mass. Ave.

Pionta Ghuinness: $4.75,

Gloine uisce: $5-20.

The Asgard isn’t claustrophobic enough to be a real Irish pub. And even worse, it’s part of a chain. But with its high ceilings and large windows, the pub looks like a

cross between an Old Irish drinking hall and the inside of a ship (The Asgard was a boat used by Irish nationalist gun runners). The bartenders are friendly, the lighting is comfortable, and there’s a performance space that will be taken up by Celtic rock band One Side on the 17th. But be warned: The Asgard feels like a chain restaurant, with Irish accessories that might fool a Yank but would

never dupe a Dubliner. That said, the Asgard does have a fabulous stock of Irish beers and liquors, supplementing ol’ standbys Guinness and Jameson’s with Smithwick’s (new in this country) and Tullamore Dew. The Asgard will surely host a great St. Paddy’s Day party, but those looking for a more authentic experience might want to end their night in a smaller, independent pub.