Patch Picks: St. Patrick's Day Parties

St. Patrick's Day celebrations kicked off over the weekend with a parade through Royal Oak and there are plenty more parties in store for the holiday on Thursday.

Here are a few of our picks:

1. Clawson: Black Lotus Brewing Company, at 14 Mile and Main, might be the hot spot for those heel-clicking partiers looking for signature craft beers, Irish food specials and live entertainment. The bar plans to be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day with musicians from the Celtic rock band Odd Enough performing.

2. Berkley: The  pub is going all out for St. Patrick's Day. The Woodward Avenue watering hole, which is painted in the colors of Ireland – green, orange and white, with a few shamrocks thrown in for good measure – will get the party started at 7 a.m. Bagpipers will set the tone throughout the day and special items such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish beef stew and Shepherd's pie will be on the menu. Green beer will be served inside and in a heated, outdoor beer tent. "You just never know with Michigan weather," manager Bo Burton laughed. "Keep your fingers crossed. The luck of the Irish maybe." This year it appears Irish eyes are smiling on us: St. Paddy's Day is expected to be partly sunny with a high near 60 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

3. Royal Oak: Duggan's Irish Pub, 31501 Woodward Ave., is a mainstay for St. Patrick's Day revelers. The lines will start before most are on their way to work and the partying will go on into Friday morning. The Woodward Avenue bar will open at 7 a.m. and serve a special menu of corned beef, lamb stew and Shepherd's pie. From 7-9 a.m. 99.5 WYCD-FM will broadcast live and from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. JJ Walker from 104.3 WOMC-FM will entertain the crowd. You haven't experienced St. Patrick's Day until you have partied at Duggan's. And if you are in the mood to try a couple of destinations, Four Green Fields, 30919 Woodward Ave., opens at 7 a.m. with bagpipes at 11 a.m.

4. Ferndale: The Irish festivities begin at 7 a.m. Thursday at , 22824 Woodward Ave., and continue until 2 a.m. The Irish pub will have Irish music all day, some of which will be live. Although it won't have green beer on tap, it has the green drops of food coloring if you really want it, so just ask. Also, all the Irish whiskey one can drink.

5. Troy: Big Beaver Tavern, 645 E. Big Beaver Rd., will kick off its St. Patrick's Day partying at 11 a.m. The bar plans to serve green beer and Irish stew, offer drink specials, giveaways, a live band performance and more. Big Beaver Tavern will end the festivities at its normal closing time of 2 a.m.

Next week's list: What is your favorite spa in town?