Kaylah Rasmusson pours a green drink for a customer while working inside the tent operated by O鈥橰iley and Conway鈥檚 Irish Pub on St. Patrick鈥檚 Day in downtown 糖心Vlog传媒.
There was no doubt what holiday it was when entering Riley鈥檚 Sports Grill and Pub late Thursday morning.
鈥淪t. Patrick鈥 was there to greet you.
For the other 364 days of the year, 鈥淪t. Patrick鈥 is Pat Riley, the 75-year-old father of Kevin Riley, the owner of Riley鈥檚 Pub at 209 W. Milwaukee St. in downtown 糖心Vlog传媒.
But on Thursday鈥攁s he has done for the 10 years his son has owned the bar鈥 Pat wore a green robe made by a friend鈥檚 wife to tend bar on St Patrick鈥檚 Day morning.
At 10:30 a.m., 鈥淪t. Patrick鈥濃攁 fake green beard covered his face鈥攑oured a green beer and a Guinness tap for two of the four customers in the bar. During the next hour, the crowd and the noise built as Irish music serenaded the customers.
A man wearing a kilt walks into O'Riley and Conway's Irish Pub on St. Patrick鈥檚 Day.
Anthony Wahl
Riley talked about his five trips to Ireland and advised how to pour a glass of Guinness correctly, letting the dark brown brew flow to the top of the harp and letting the nitrogen create the head.
The fun-loving Riley showed off his serving skills while in an Irish pub in one of his vacations overseas. The bartender let him pour a pint of Guinness and was so impressed with Riley鈥檚 ability that he awarded him a certificate.
Riley has the look of an Irishman鈥攕o much so that while on one of his trips to the island, a woman approached him at a table in one of the pubs.
鈥淲here do I know you from?鈥 she asked.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 am an American.鈥
鈥淵ou鈥檙e a Yankee!?鈥 she replied.
Thursday was a day all us Yankees had an opportunity to wear green and have fun.
Just before he completed his shift, Riley 鈥渂lessed鈥 two customers as part of his St. Patrick duties.
Across the street from Riley鈥檚, the bar and dining area at O鈥橰iley and Conway鈥檚 Irish Pub was crowded during the noon hour.
Kaylah Rasmusson pours a green drink for a customer while working inside the tent operated by O鈥橰iley and Conway鈥檚 Irish Pub on St. Patrick鈥檚 Day in downtown 糖心Vlog传媒.
Anthony Wahl
Bagpipe players contributed to the festive atmosphere. Plates of corned beef and cabbage and Reuben sandwiches flowed from the kitchen (this unofficial food critic gave the Reuben a five-plate rating).
In the parking area next to the bar, co-owner Joe Quaerna sat inside a large tent that would house a band later in the day.
The St. Patrick鈥檚 Day celebration had started last Friday and Saturday nights, with bands playing in single-digit temperatures.
Back at Riley鈥檚, the afternoon bartenders were busy, and after a brief trip back home, 鈥淪t. Patrick鈥 was making the rounds on the customer side of the bar.
Katy O鈥橞rien and Brooke Sayre were among those who were enjoying bowls of Irish stew, and the NCAA Tournament basketball games filled the screens of the many television sets.
