The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2005 - 11
Students drink to St Patty's
Day in local bars, clubs
Bartender John Brant cleans the bar at Connor O'Neill's.
March 17, 2005
By Rachel Kruer
Daily Staff Reporter
For St. Patrick's Day, Business senior Greg Bel-
off has a simple objective in mind.
"I plan to drink until I can't stand up," Beloff said.
Days in advance, Beloff said he already devised a
strategy to achieve this goal. He said he would start
his day by arriving at Connor O'Neill's when it opens
at 7 a.m. Beloff said he would then move on to the
Brown Jug around 9 a.m. where he would continue
downing pitchers of dyed-green beer. Eventually,
Beloff said he would swing by a couple of his after-
noon classes in a questionably sober state. Straight
from class, Beloff predicted he would continue his
celebration of St. Patrick's Day by attending a house
party down the street from him. Beloff included a
refreshing nap in his rigorous schedule to rest up for
a long night ahead at Rick's American Cafe.
Beloff explained that, in his opinion, St. Patrick's
Day offers the ultimate excuse for students to con-
sume alcohol.
"It's the biggest college holiday - it has no
meaning, but it's just an excuse to drink. I'm not
even Irish, but there's not many reasons around to
drink and dress up in green," Beloff said.
Beloff is by no means alone in his methods of cel-
ebration. University students who have similar aspi-
rations for St. Patrick's Day have plenty of options
at their disposal.
Ann Arbor bars, nightclubs and restaurants,
expecting an influx of University students, have all
prepared for the rush today.
Many of these bars and restaurants will be serv-
ing the St. Patrick's Day beverage of choice - dyed
green Miller Lite beer.
Jessica Johnson, manager of the Brown Jug, said
last St. Patrick's Day the restaurant went through at
least 10 barrels of dyed green beer. To put this in
perspective, one barrel is analogous to at least 3,978
ounces or 339 12-ounce beers.
Good Time Charlie's Manager Jeff Sipple said
his restaurant would be fully staffed all day - with
80 people working as servers, managers, hosts and
busers - to accommodate the anticipated crowd
from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sipple also said the bar plans to give out free
buttons and shirts throughout the day. He added
there will be drink specials for green beer and
Dublin Iced Teas.
Dominick's bartender Ben Connor-Darrie said
he will be working today from the bar's opening at
10 a.m. until close at 10 p.m.
Connor-Darrie said he expected to generate high-
er tips today.
"I expect to make better tips than usual. It will be
busy, and the more people drink, the more generous
they become," Connor-Darrie said.
Jon Robinson, resident DJ and part owner of
Necto Night Club, said he expects to fill the club
to capacity, but acknowledged that as a venue open
later at night, many students will start drinking
earlier in the day and be tired out by the time they
arrive at Necto's "St. Patrick's Night" bash.
He added that club-goers will be able to resume
their drinking with 50-cent Miller Lite beers from
opening at 9 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
"They come usually already hung over. It's a
weird atmosphere - people come completely sleep
deprived. Maybe they just took a nap at 5 p.m., but
then they're ready to start again," Robinson said.
Owner of Studio Four Reese Mangray said that
in the club's three-year history, St. Patrick's Day has
consistently been one of the club's biggest nights.
St. Patrick's Day festivities, combined with the bar's
already established Thursday night popularity, will
bring a good showing, Mangray said.
Mangray also said that there will be a six-dollar
cover charge, green drink specials and DJ Clutch
will be playing.
The Department of Public Safety said it has made
specific preparations for how to handle inebriated
University students.
DPS spokeswoman Diane Brown said DPS will
be participating in a county-wide task force -
coordinated by Sheriff Daniel Minzey - to look
for drunk drivers today. She said the task force is
composed of representatives from different juris-
dictions that specialize in enforcing order during
holiday chaos.
Even though this specialized task force will be
deployed, Brown said she felt confident that there
will not be any more drinking incidents today
than usual.
"DPS hasn't encountered significantly more
problems during St. Patrick's Day in previous years
than any other party weekend. Yes, it is noticeable
a lot of people party on St. Patrick's Day. However,
there is not a drastic increase in crimes committed,"
Brown said.
Brown cited drunk-in-public charges, public
urination, drunk driving and disorderly conduct as
crimes that are expected to occur, but she said these
are in no way different from the legal transgressions
that occur on other weekends.
Central Campus North Campus
324 S. State Pierpont Commons
214 S. Main
South University
Next to Ulrich's
Busch's Shopping Center
on South Main
Kroger Shopping Center
at PImouth and Nixon
Packard and Carpenter
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$2 an siz late H
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