Mar 17: Green Eggs

Sure, you can get silly roaring drunk on St. Patrick's Day. Or you can celebrate more sanely with a real Irish breakfast. Actually, I've done both things on the same Paddy's Day, now that I really think about it. But I'm here to make the case for the breakfast. After you've eaten, you're on your own and I'd rather not know the details. Seriously, there's nothing quite like a big meal that includes eggs, Irish bacon and sausage and grilled tomato to get your green on. My favorite spot for this is McGuire's Hill 16 in Fort Lauderdale, which has been serving up tasty Irish meals for nearly two decades now. Starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 11 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, McGuire's will offer this traditional breakfast for $10.

Not a bad deal considering it's only their busiest day of the year and everything - I mean, they put up tents at this place and sell tickets every March 17. Everyone wants to get in and everyone is more than happy to pay for the privilege. It gets rowdy. But it's a lot more laid back during the breakfast hours than later when the bands are wailin' Guinness-fueled versions of "The Rising of the Moon" or something.

So how is it that I happen to know songs such as "The Rising of the Moon?" I'd like to say it's because I have Irish ancestors, which I do. But the truth is that I know these songs from many, many well-spent hours at Irish pubs, especially McGuire's. I've been going there since it opened - it was and is my favorite South Florida pub. There are lots of good ones, of course, and I've devoted many, many other well-spent hours discovering them too. But to me, McGuire's is the real deal. The staff usually is friendly, which honestly is about as much as you can expect at an Irish pub. I say that with affection. The food is good and the drinks are generous. More than this, though, the atmosphere at McGuire's is comfortable, homey, and genuine somehow. When I was married, my wife and I went there at least weekly for years, calling it our "cheap therapy." We only split up after we stopped hanging out at McGuire's, in fact. Hmmmm. Anyway, this local favorite is located at 535 N. Andrews Avenue and I think you'll have fun if you try it, whether on Paddy's Day or another time. If you go for breakfast and wait long enough, you're sure to hear "The Rising of the Moon," by the way. But by then, you're going to need a taxi to get you home.