Procrastinator's Guide to St. Patrick's Day in H-Town: Seven shamrock shindigs

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, it’s time to break out your green and head to the best parties in town for copious amounts of beer and whiskey. From an all-day blues jam session to a celebration that starts the booze flowing at 7 am, here are seven shamrock shindigs to hit up this Friday.

Kenneally’s 34th Annual St. Patrick's Day Party
There's always a crowd at Kenneally’s annual St. Patrick's Day party (11:30 am-2 am; $8 per person). We're certain it's due, at least in part, to the lively entertainment. This year's lineup includes Irish step dancers and bagpipers, blues band Luther & The Healers, and country-Americana group, The Trey Clark Band. The menu boasts Irish stew with home-made Guinness bread and corned beef sandwiches, not to mention the bar’s signature thin-crust pizza (2111 S Shepherd Dr.; 713- 630-0486).

Midtown's 7th annual Biggest St. Patrick's Festival
This blowout fest ups the ante on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, offering three days of partying at three different Midtown hotspots: Irish Cowboy, 3rd Floor, and Pub Fiction (March 17-19 from 11 am-2 am; $20 per person for a three-day pass). Expect tunes by Shinolah rock band, The Local Strikes cover band, DJ Qwest, DJ Nicky Z, and more. Crawfish and green beer can also be yours for an extra cost. (2300 Louisiana St.; 713-900-2500).

Patty's Day Pop Up
Chef Jason Kerr and local confectioner Eat My Pralines are making us look at St. Pat’s Day fare in a whole a new way. The duo will serve up (6 pm) hot poutine (fried potatoes topped with cheese curds, corned beef, and stout gravy; $8), beer-steamed sausages on a bun (with pickles and greens; $7), Brussels madame (crispy cabbages with shaved Parmesan, fresh local egg and spicy green aioli; $6) and pistachio honey pralines ($3 each or two for $5) at Lil' Danny Speedo's Go Fly a Kite Lounge. It’s all perfect for soaking up the beer and frozen shandies. (823 Dumble St.; 713-505-1151)

Fitzgerald's All-Day Blues Jam
Fitzgerald’s is set to hold an all-day blues jam in the venue’s parking lot (12 pm-2 am; tickets: free entry). What’s more, you can score $4 beers by Saint Arnold’s, eats from several food trucks, and hand-crafted goods from artists and artisans with proceeds benefiting the Down Syndrome Academy. (2706 White Oak Drive; 713-862-3838)

St. Paddy's Day Shindig at Eight Row Flint
Drink up at Eight Row Flint on St. Pat’s Day (12 pm-2 am). The Heights-area bar's Irish specials include Guinness beer $4) and flights of Jameson Whiskey ($12). Also on special for $4 apiece are Miller High Life tallboys (16-oz) and ¾ shots of Jameson. Slainte. (1039 Yale St.; 832-767-4002)

St. Patrick's Day Festival at Lucky’s Pub
Get the celebration started early with Lucky Charms cereal and breakfast tacos at 6 am at Lucky’s Pub. Be ready to roll at 7 am when the bar opens and the booze starts flowing. What more could you ask for? How about bagpipers, three stages with 10 bands and 6 DJ's, and food by The Burger Joint, Waffle Bus, Pappa Charlies Barbecue, Coreanos served throughout the day. The party goes until 2 am (tickets: $10-$100 per person). Go the distance. (801 St Emanuel St.; 713-522-2010)

Griff's 52nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Party
Eight bands, including Zydeco Dots, Celtic rockers Murder of the Stout, and The Tomes rock and roll band, will hit the stage at Griff’s (11 am-2 am; tickets: $10-$15 per person). The Montrose staple will also have face painters, bag pipers, Irish dancers, and plenty of green beer, and corned beef and cabbage (3416 Roseland St.; 713-528-9912).