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For some, St. Patrick’s Day is like any other day, with the bars a little more full, and the streets unusually busy with drunkards in green hats. For others, it is grand fine day, when one’s heart fairly bursts with a powerful joy (and an even more powerful thirst), and the next pint is always on the table and a wee drop o’ the creature cures all ills. Just mind the vomit in the bathroom.

Alex
Where he presides:     Belmont Lounge, Union Square
Favorite drink:     Patron on the rocks
For me it’s not really a very good day because, you see, we don’t really get that full since we’re not like an Irish pub. I remember last year we set out a bunch of St. Patrick’s Day stuff, like little hats and streamers and stuff. And around four in the afternoon these three drunk guys came in — like ready to black out drunk, at four in the afternoon — and they took our streamers and threw them and broke a bunch of the hats and then one guy went and threw up in the bathroom. Then after one round of beer they all left and went off to some Irish pub to keep drinking. So, that didn’t work out too well.

Michael
Where she presides:     Mad Hatter Saloon, Murray Hill
Favorite drink:     Jameson
It’s a fucking safe night to be working. It’s one of the two nights of the year — St. Paddy’s and New Year’s Eve — that I’ve got no problem working behind the bar. Because I know that I’m safer back here behind the bar then I am out there with everyone else drinking. Everyone thinks you make a fortune on St. Paddy’s Day, but that’s not true. Nine out of ten bars have more staff working that night, so the money gets split more, there are more tourists in the city, so really you don’t make that much more.

Tom
Where he presides:     Desmond’s Tavern, Gramercy
Favorite drink:     Blackhouse
It all depends on where you’re tending bar. In this place it’s a fun day. We don’t have any messers coming in here — we’re off the beaten path, you see. I’ve been fortunate enough that most of the places I’ve worked at have been good like that. Just folks having a good time.
    
Hanmi
Where he presides:     PS 450, Gramercy
Favorite drink:     Jameson
It’s a great day for a bartender. You get great money that day. Everyone is drinking a lot and everyone is in good spirits. I’m from Boston where St. Patrick’s Day is huge. Everyone is out in the streets drinking. There’s probably more volume down here, but up there the whole town is out. Well, actually, the two are probably comparable, really. It’s just a good time. But Bostonians are always drunk anyway.
    
Ngoclan
Where she presides:     Savalas, Williamsburg
Favorite drink:     Gin and tonic
I would say it’s a good day to work, ‘cuz they’ll be a lot of people, a lot of money. I’ve actually never worked on St. Patrick’s Day before, but I would have say it would be good. I mean, bartending is never really a hassle, as long as you have a good crowd and people are drinking and tipping. I’ve never really had any problems with rowdy drunks. Mostly people get drunk and loud, but they’re just having fun. There are always a few people that might cause trouble, but they aren’t going to make a whole night bad. [Ed. Good luck gentle Ngoclan, good luck.]