St. Patricks Day Events!

Have you checked out our events calendar on http://www.leesburgfanpage.com/ ?    Lots going on in and around town today!

This and every Thursday is $3 Thursday at Tally Ho where you can watch first run movies for only $3 per person. 

Since today is the 3rd Thursday of the month it's also "Girls Night Out" in downtown Leesburg.... so come on it and pick up a program at any one of the local businesses who will be open late night and offering all kinds of specials.

But, if you're looking for something "different", you're in luck, we have a long list of great events that come but once a year....here are just a few....

You can't think St. Patrick's Day in Leesburg without automatically thinking about Spanky's Shenanigans on Market Street, where they invite you to "get your shamrocks off" there and to endulge in green eggs and beer, along with a full Irish menu, live music and free beads all day long.  What more could you possibly want?

Other best bets for St. Pats?  If you like the green beer scene, and don't want to miss a minute of March Madness, here are you best bets:   Bunkers Sports Cafe, & Sals NY Pizza, both on Market Street in Leesburg and Nicks Corner Grill in Brambleton (Ashburn). 

In Reston, just over the line into Fairfax County, Clyde's is hosting "The Running of the Leprechauns" beginning at 3pm, followed by Irish fun for all.... face painters, balloon twisters, a moonbounce, Irish music, dance and food. 

If that's not your style, maybe Grandale Farm has what you're looking for... you'll find no Green Beer there. They'll be celebrating St. Patricks Day with dinner specials, deals on good Irish Brews and "The Way Changers". 

The annual St. Patricks Day Party at the Carver Senior Center is pleased to be bringing in The Polka Dots who will perform a set of jaunty traditional tunes, and the Celtic School of Rythm will perform traditional Irish dance while partiers endulge in corned beef and cabbage. 

Check out info on these and other great events.... http://www.leesburgfanpage.com/.

A Different Perspective on St. Patricks Day

Did you know in the early days of America's settlement the Irish were considered the least valuable members of society?

In those days, building canals, bridges and the like were considered among the most dangerous and deadly of jobs.  So only the Irish were hired for those jobs, because the loss of a few Irish was considered a blessing. 

In fact, THAT is the route of the famous St. Patricks Day parades throughout the world.  It was the Irish Society of Boston that organized the first St Patricks Day parade in 1737 - not as celebration but as a political statement about how unhappy they were with their low social status and inability to get jobs here in America.

How far we've come that something that started as a protest and political outcry would become a celebration, not just in the US but throughout the world.

I look at our modern day St. Patricks Day festivities as celebration of how our society has evolved, how our civil rights have grown.   Back then, no one wanted to be Irish or they may be doomed to poverty. 

Now, on St. Patricks Day everyone claims to have a bit of Irish in them!  That change in attitude is something to celebrate!  God Bless America!

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Here in Loudoun, there are many celebrations.  Check out the link below for a partial list:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=377278850247&ref=mf
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A special thank you to Stacy Nicole Lincoln of SNL Photography who allowed me permission to use this photograph.  She is a talented local (Loudoun County) "on site" photographer who specializes in maternity and family photos.  Check out her work at: http://snlprophoto.com/

From Stacy:

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.

May your heart be as light as a song, that stay with you all year long.

For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way:

Good luck, good health and happiness,

For today and every day!