Bar Crawls Buzz
With Cinco de Mayo less than a month away, we here at Joonbug wanted to learn about the history behind the holiday. We were surpised to find out that Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, like so many of us thought (Independence Day is actually celebrated on September 16). So why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
Back in 1862 in the Mexican state of Puebla, the French Army and Mexican militia were engaged in a brutal battle. Cinco de Mayo honors the victory of the Mexicans over the French Army. Today, the holiday is primarily celebrated in Puebla but because of the important Mexican population in the US, it is also widely celebrated around the country.
If you're bar-crawling this year for St. Patty's, you're going to want to gear up. Yup, I'm talking head-to-toe green, if it's at all possible. There's no excuse - buy a Hane's shirt and go crazy with green and orange magic markers if you must. Believe us, having a white shirt, a couple of markers, and a few too many beers leads to a pretty entertaining shirt that you can keep as a precious souvenir of your best (and possibly drunkest) St. Patrick's Day to date. Whether you're the designated babysitter/driver or the life of the party ripping shots of whiskey from the ceiling fan, we've got something for you. The following is a list of supplies that are sure to aid in your drunken fun on the day of the Emerald. Pick and choose, or just wear them all - after all, it's the one day of the year when there's no such thing as "too much green." Savor it.
What's even cooler than the Irish accent is the slang Irishmen incorporate into their daily conversations. As we will soon be celebrating St. Patrick's Day, it is only befitting to learn some new lingo to toss around as you celebrate with a pint of plain. Read on for some slang that will come in handy during your St. Patrick's Day bar crawl.
alco= someone who is always drunk, example: Dude, I can't have a normal conversation with Patrick anymore. He's a total alco.
bolloxed= totally drunk, example: I'm way too bolloxed to be standing up.
I love reading quotes- a person could be talking for hours, but only be remembered for one little line which can be turned into something so meaningful and profound when taken out of context. They're not quite Martin Luther King's "I have a dream...", but these quotes about drinking and alcohol are just as memorable, and a little more humorous:
“Beer is the reason I get out of bed every afternoon.”
--Anonymous
“A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts.”
--Steve Fergosi
It is easy to go up to a bar and order a Budweiser. I am sure most people who go to bars end up ordering the same type of drink every time. And, that’s alright. But, the people who do so should realize that they are missing out.
There are so many types of beer available, but sticking to the tried-and-true is the easiest. You know how it’s going to taste, how much it’s going to cost, that it’s essentially a no-brainer. That being said, it’s important to go outside of the box, and explore the other, lesser known, but infinitely times better, drinks.
Bar crawling is like running a marathon. With all that drinking and "crawling" from one place to the next, nourishment and replenishment is key. Make sure to gobble down some hearty food, before and after the journey.
Before Drinking:
No one wants to go out with someone who's starving and becomes instantly intoxicated and sick after the first drink. Don't be that person.
Grab something that will thickly coat and protect the inner lining of the stomach, the place where alcohol is absorbed. Dairy products, such as cheese and a glass of milk, lubricate the belly in a way that allows for some absorption (and thereby drunkeness), but not a toxic amount. Carbohydrates, such as pizza, bread and pasta are also great contenders.
It's that time of year again! This holiday, indulge in another time honored St. Patty's tradition—the Shamrock Shake, the green, mint-flavored milkshake sold at McDonald's during the month of March. If you're watching your waistline, the green color should automatically put your mind at ease. Green = Healthy. (Shamrocks are practically salad material). And don't forget that the Shamrock Shake is minty—no need to brush your teeth afterwards. It's not available at all McDonald's, but we have a recipe so you can make your own Shamrock Shake.
Shamrock Shake
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup half & half
- 1/2 teaspoon spearmint extract
- 8 drops green food coloring
Blend on high until well mixed, pour into two tall paper cups, and drink through long straws for an authentic experience.
Come St. Patrick’s Day, cities around the world will be hosting tons of pub crawls. Local bars will become a veritable buffet of partying and unique pub crawl events. The only thought to mull over is how hard you want to party and how creative you want to get. Well, we’re here to put things in perspective by showcasing just a few of the most bizarre pub crawl events across the globe.
The Zombie Pub Crawl
Let’s start off simply. The Zombie Pub Crawl is exactly as advertised. Attendees make themselves up as gruesomely as possible and hit bar after bar in search of a few drinks to go with those brains they’ve been gnawing on. This type of pub crawl has been popular across the U.S. ever since Minneapolis created the Frankenstein lovechild of the Zombie Walk and a night of drinking with friends. While not an exclusively Halloween-oriented event, the Zombie Pub Crawl is most often planned in those crisp young autumn months. It is loads of fun for those participating and those just passing by as the army of zombies kick back a few cocktails. Bars that really get into the spirit often have free make-up artists on location at the start of the pub crawl route and serve up gruesomely themed drinks to go along with the event. With the popularity of Zombieland and The Walking Dead, it looks like the tradition is going to keep going strong for years to come.
