Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Bay Style

It's the day when we all put on green whether it is our color or not.  We also look for a reason to go for drinks after work and have two options as we belly up to the bar: Irish coffee or green beer.

The Bay Area is showing its Irish pride today with several St. Patrick's Day-themed events.

There may be no better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than by toasting rock and roll's pride of the Irish. 

But because Bono was too busy saving a whale somewhere, the U2 cover band Zoo Station kindly agreed to step in and perform at The Independent, 628 Divisadero St. in San Francisco tonight at 8.

In the South Bay they don't mess around when it comes to the day of the Irish. The Usual, 400 S. First St. in San Jose, starts its Drunken St. Paddy's Day at noon with 10 bands, food and drinks. And the party doesn't stop until some cries "uncle."

If you like rock music and you enjoy having a bad day then Jesse Grant's Have a Bad St. Patrick's Day party and album release celebration is right up your alley. The singer will host disgruntled Irish folk from everywhere at Kimos, 1351 Polk St. in San Francisco, at 9 p.m.

If by this evening you are looking to become an honorary anything other than Irish, head down to Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/presents/season/2009/world_stage/gg.phpat 8 for a performance by Brazilian pop star Gilberto Gil.

Don’t press your Luck of the Irish when it comes to drinking and driving. There are plenty of alternatives to getting drunk behind the wheel.

A designated driver is the most obvious solution. But, what if the designated slips and becomes the overserved?

Tonight you can call 800-AAA-HELP and AAA Northern California will send out a tow truck for free. The driver will tow your car, pick up you, your friends, if there’s room, and drive you home if you're within 5 miles. That free service runs from 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. tomorrow.

Berg Injury Lawyers out of Alameda will pick up your cab tab tonight if you mention their name to the driver. Veterans Cab in Alameda, Oakland and Berkeley and Luxor Cab in San Francisco are the participating taxi companies.

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