Celebrate St. Patrick's Day the REAL Way
Details
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/7/b/6/event_85414742.jpeg
St. Patrick's Day in America began as a celebration of cultural pride for the Irish immigrants who provided the labor to help build our nation during the Industrial Age. In modern times however, St. Patrick's Day celebrations have largely degenerated into a crass commercial onslaught of cheap green decorations, cartoon leprechauns, lilting nonsense, loud music, rowdy crowds, and green beer (ugh) consumed in vast quantities by people with little knowledge of the original traditions.
Fortunately, we have a great opportunity nearby to celebrate Irish heritage in a much better way. We can learn about the contributions and lifestyles of early Irish immigrants by exploring their neighborhood and the B&O Railroad Museum in southwest Baltimore. And then we can go across the street to an authentic historic Irish pub to hoist a few pints and eat some tasty food.
Exploring Irish History in Southwest Baltimore
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/5/c/c/event_85414252.jpegWe will start by meeting up at the B&O Railroad Museum to learn about the importance of trains during the 19th century. We'll also learn about the B&O's impact as the first operating railroad in the U.S. (running 13 miles to Ellicott City), as well as the influential role it played by employing Irish immigrants. The entrance fee to the museum is $16. There is free parking onsite for museum visitors. Check out the B&O Museum here:
http://www.borail.org/default.aspx
Next, we'll walk one block over to the Irish Shrine on Lemmon St. to see how early railroad laborers lived. Baltimore experienced an avalanche of newly arrived immigrants between 1840 and 1850. A large percentage were Irish, coming to America to escape the Great Hunger, Ireland's famine of 1845-1853. They settled in southwest Baltimore and promptly went to work for the vibrant Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
The Irish Shrine is part of a larger history-rich community, unusual because it is still intact, consisting of the places where the Irish lived, worked, worshipped, and were buried. Visitors can make the Irish Shrine part of an Irish Heritage walk, combining the B&O Railroad Museum, Irish Shrine, St. Peter's the Apostle Church, and the Hollins Street Market. The Irish Shrine is a unique, non-staffed interpretive site that includes a house furnished to depict daily life for the Irish immigrant living in the late 1840s (visible through a clear back wall), a garden, and other exhibits. A brief history of each of these key places can be found by clicking the links on the history page of the Irish Shrine below:
http://www.irishshrine.org/history.htm
If time permits, we will walk two blocks over to check out the Hollins Street Market, which dates back to 1836 and is still going strong today. We'll also check out St. Peter the Apostle Church and Cemetery.
Patrick's of Pratt Street Pub
http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/0/e/8/event_89420712.jpeg
Our final stop will be for refreshments and food at Patrick's Pub. It's conveniently located on the corner directly across Pratt St. from the B&O Museum. Patrick's is an authentic Irish pub that was started in 1847, and has occupied its current location since 1862. The same family has owned and operated the pub for 155 years, and the latest owners have carefully restored all the original furnishings and decor.
The first owners of Patrick's ran a "quirky" establishment that opened at odd times when they felt like it. Interestingly, they refused to open on St. Patrick's Day because they didn't want to see the Irish making fools of themselves on a Holy Day. These days, Patrick's has a reputation for excellent food and service, although they no longer serve Irish food.
http://www.patricksofpratt.com/Broadband.ht... (http://www.patricksofpratt.com/Broadband.html)
On St. Patrick's Day, the pub expects to open around noon and go late. Pub staff told me there is room for 40 people in the bar, with more seating at outdoor tables. There will be crowds of revelers coming and going all day, but the staff said we should do okay if we get there before 4 pm and stake out our space. Reservations are not available on St. Patrick's Day.
So let's skip the downtown parade crowds and commercial madness to have an interesting day learning about the life of real Irish immigrants, and then honoring their memory by downing some beers at Patrick's Pub. Overall, it should be a memorable and rewarding experience that stands out as our unique celebration of St. Patrick's Day.
Please call Jake at 703-798-8435 with any questions. I hope to see you there!