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Raise A Glass And Say A St. Patrick's Day Toast — Here's A List Of Small Businesses That Can Help You Celebrate
As an experience, being an Extra in a feature film really doesn't have much going for it.
I've done it three times now and I can honestly say the most interesting thing that ever happened to me was making Joan Cusack laugh on the set of Where the Heart is. Generally once you show up on the set you're given a vague, one-sentence summary of what the scene is about but no real information at all as to how it fits into the overall story of the film. That's followed by hours of doing not much at all except trying to pass the time and stay out of the way until finally you come to a few moments of movement and excitement. Then you go home.
In my last gig I played a sound technician in a recording studio, bumping and nodding my head to the imaginary rhythm of a tune one of the characters wrote during a nasty little stay in prison and pretended to press buttons and turn knobs. It's not as easy as it sounds.
We'd just finished a take and the director spoke with each of the Extras making adjustments in movement and timing. I was on the end and listened as "Sir Richard" quietly went down the line, issuing instructions to start earlier or pause here, move this way or keep your hand out of the shot, until he finally got to me, looked me square in the eye, and said, "Brilliant."
That's the point Joan Cusack started cracking up. So it goes.
All that to say, being Irish isn't entirely unlike being an Extra. As an Extra, you're never really sure where your scene fits into the movie. As Americans, most of us of Irish decent don't really have an understanding of exactly how we fit into the broader story that is Ireland. It's there, in the background, but out of focus and usually pretty far away from the day to day. There are, of course, exceptions - those neighborhoods in Boston or New York where Corned Beef and Cabbage are standard fare and stories are still told of the Old Country. Communities where Irish flags hang in the windows and lineage can be traced to ancient times in Waterford or Ulster. But, for many of us, being Irish is something tucked away and thought about only time to time.
Until March 17th, that is. Then, everyone is Irish. That's the great thing about St. Patrick's Day - no matter who you are you're welcome to the party. It's a day where laughing and drinking, listening to pipes and dancing a jig is for anyone who wants to belly-up and have a good time. From Austin to Anchorage, Baltimore to Birmingham, enthusiastic celebrators walk around with green plastic derbies and wear stickers that read, "Kiss me, I'm Irish."
And let's not forget about the beer.
Whether you're a fan of the green variety or those a bit more traditional, St. Patrick's Day is the perfect excuse to sample a pint of nice, tasty beer. In honor of the Saint and the day, the following small businesses (less than 30 million in revenue) offer examples of brews and other assorted spirits you might want try when raising a glass and toasting your friends this year.
Beers, Lagers, and Ales
Flying Dog Brewery LLC
Based in Denver, Colorado, Flying Dog Brewery originally opened its doors in 1990 as the Flying Dog Brewpub in Aspen, Colorado. Flying Dog's seasonal, Heller Hound is slated for packaging March 7 with a release date soon after.
D.G. Yuengling & Son
Originally the known as the Eagle Brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the brewery became D.G. Yuengling and Son in 1873. A little more than 100 years later, the brewery was placed on the national and state registers as America's oldest brewery.
The Rheingold Brewing Co.
If you've got the little town blues, New York-based Rheingold Brewing Company can help melt them away. After closing its doors for more than twenty years, this local brewery began producing again in 1999.
Spirits
Fifth Generation, Inc.
So what does some guy in Texas know about vodka? Apparently, quite a bit. After an initial batch made with way too many peppers, Tito's Handmade Vodka came into its own. Based in Austin, Texas, this vodka is one for the books.
Hood River Distillers
Originally a producer of wine and brandy made from apples, pears, and berries, this Oregon-based distillery now produces a wide variety of spirits, including whiskey, gin, rum, schnapps, and more.
