Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day In the Holmdel-Hazlet Area

HOLMDEL, NJ — St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday this year. Restaurants will be marking the day with special menus and beers - and lots of Kelly green.

Diners should keep in mind that police in area towns are increasing patrols to keep everyone safe.

Here are some restaurants going all out for the holiday in the Holmdel and Hazlet areas and in Red Bank:

• Houlihan's at the Commons in Holmdel, 2136 Route 36, becomes the "Lucky Hou" all weekend. There is a special menu through Sunday, March 19. Besides the standard fare, there is a Bailey's Irish Cream Pie, and of course, green beer.
• Dublin House, 30 Monmouth St., Red Bank. The restaurant defines Irish food and entertainment all year long - not just for St. Patrick's Day. The Dublin House is about 175 years old, having been moved and remodeled several times in its history. This weekend the menu is from the restaurant's St. Patrick's Day menu only. And you may catch bagpipers playing in front of the historic site this weekend.
• Maloney's Pub & Grill, 119 Main St., Matawan, through March 18 Irish specials served in addition to the regular menu, while supplies last; special holiday menu only on March 17, no regular menu offered.
• Brass Rail in Matawan, 89 Route 79, Matawan: They have live music every Friday and Saturday but this Friday the live music starts at 5 p.m. They have a special St. Patrick's Day menu, too.
• MJ's in Middletown, 1005 Route 35, Middletown: Friday, March 17; $6 Jameson Irish whiskey shots and $5 Guinness pints plus Irish-themed chef's specials such as homemade corned beef and cabbage, Reuben-style potato skins and corned beef sliders.
• More far afield is The Loaded Spoon in Freehold Township, which will have its official grand opening March 17. The restaurant is at 108 Schanck Road at Renaissance Plaza where iPlay America is located. There are special dishes and drinks you can enjoy all weekend. See a full story on the new restaurant, where you will also see links to the menu.

A little Irish music

For something different, consider the Octopus Music School's Irish Music Celebration at the Octopus Music School in Red Bank.

Teacher Jeff Cerzosie will host a night of Irish and Celtic music history with performances from OMS students and teachers. Repertoire will include traditional Irish music classics as well as more modernized music made famous by Irish musicians and songwriters.

Tickets are $7.50 per person. Email [email protected] for purchase. The event is Saturday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Octopus Music School is at 1009 Chestnut St., Red Bank.

Catch a parade or other amusements

Didn't see a St. Patrick's Day parade yet? There's one this weekend in Highlands:

• March 18: Highlands St. Patrick's Day Parade; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Huddy Park, 329 Bay Ave. #325,Highlands.
• March 19: Free Family Fun, St. Patrick's Day Arcade Party, Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Bev & Wally's Arcade, 46 Beachway Ave., Keansburg.

Fasting for Lent?

Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, a sacrifice that recognizes Jesus’ death on the cross on a Friday.

Catholics in the area are part of the Diocese of Trenton, and have a dispensation from the bishop that will allow then to eat a traditional corned beef dinner on Friday.

The Diocese of Trenton granting the dispensation but asks that those using the dispensation transfer the Friday abstinence obligation to another day of their choosing in Lent or perform a work of charity or some exercise of piety to fulfill the spirit of the obligation, the diocese says.

Local Editor Carly Baldwin contributed to this report.