Get Your Irish On!   

Celebrate all day long at Kildare's Irish Pub with DJ Mat and DJ Hef and live performances of Irish music, dancers, and pipers! Get your VIP Pass that includes a free t-shirt, no cover charge, and more. The St. Patrick's menu includes Colcannon soup, corned beef & cabbage, Guinness salmon, Bailey's cheesecake, and more. Visit www.kildarespub.com. 

Carolina Brewery wil host a St. Patrick's Day Party with live music from Puritan Rodeo. Stop in for the homemade, nitrite free Irish Beef Brisket! For more information visit www.carolinabrewery.com. 

Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery is offering those honoring the luck o' the Irish with drink specials on Jameson, Irish Car Bombs, and green beer, with no cover charge all night. For more information visit www.topofthehillrestaurant.com. 

The Front Porch Bar and Grill is celebrating the day with drink specials. St Patrick's Ale $3.00, Melon balls $3.00, and PBR $1.50 Plus great food specials! Visit www.thefrontporchbarandgrill.com. 

Stop by The Chocolate Door and pick up some specially-made St. Patrick's Day items including pistachio yoghurt cupcakes, Irish sodabread cupcakes, Guinness Stout truffles, and chocolate stout cupcakes! Visit www.thechocolatedoor.com.

Living Kibera Exhibit & Opening Reception 

Living Kibera brings the community of Kibera, a slum on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, to life on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill at the Global Fed Ex Education Center. The opening reception on Thursday, March 17 from 6PM to 8PM, includes interactive activities for adults and children to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture of Kibera. The exhibit, running until July 15, features art created exclusively by Kiberans in a variety of mediums including photography, drawings, poetry, paintings, textiles, hand-made objects, and video. Visit www.global.unc.edu for more information. 

Music on the Porch with The Allen Boys 

The Center for the Study of the American South (CSAS) hosts The Allen Boys on Thursday, March 17 from 5PM to 7PM on the front porch of the Love House and Hutchins Forum. This event is free and open to all. The Allen Boys, NC's only touring Sacred Steel band, kicks off the ArtsCenter's Southern Sacred Steel Conference. Sacred Steel is infectious, uplifting, steel-guitar fronted music. COMING SOON: CSAS is hosting John T. Edge, founding director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and a very well-respected food critic, on Wednesday, April 6 where he will be giving the annual Charleston Lecture. After the lecture, join CSAS for a fundraising dinner with food prepared by a Who's Who of great local chefs - details here. For more information about these great events visit  www.uncsouth.org. 

Baby's Song Time at Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe 

Bring your little ones to Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe on Friday, March 18 from 10AM to 11AM for this bi-weekly event. Children will enjoy playing instruments, making instrument crafts, and song singing.  Located in the Courtyard on West Franklin Street,  Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe seeks to bring our community together with love, warmth and hospitality over delicious, healthy food. Vimala's works towards environmental and social justice; accessibility through affordability; and sustainability at every level. For more information visit www.curryblossom.com. 

Chapel Hill Comics MONSTER SALE 

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the annual Chapel Hill Comics Monster Sale, in which traditional pricing methodologies are taken into due consideration and then ignored! Stop by the store on Friday, March 18 from 11AM to 7PM for incredible savings - now is the time to stock up on items for yourself, and gifts for loved ones! Clearance Books are all 50% Off; thousands of comics priced at $1 EACH; Graphic Novels/Books/Manga/Comic Sets/Used Graphic Novels all Buy Two, Get One Free; UGLYDOLLS/ Squishables/Mr. Toast all 10% Off; and much, much more. Visit www.chapelhillcomics.com for details.

 NOW SHOWING at the VARSITY: UNC Basketball Games

The Varsity Theatre will be showing all of UNC's games in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament starting on Friday, March 18 when the Heels takes on Long Island University. Tickets are $5. For more information visit www.varsityonfranklin.com.  GO HEELS!

CAVE AID II   

In 1986, The Cave held it's first fundrasier, CAVE AID, to buy a PA. Now, 25 years later, it's time for CAVE AID II to raise money to restore and back up the current PA, that's held together with duct tape and string! So, the Cave is throwing a party! Come to Chapel Hill's oldest music venue and support the club that has always supported the music. $5 cover - additional donations appreciated!

Friday, 3/18/11 -Penny Prophets, Titanium Rex, Studio Gangsters, Burke

Saturday 3/19/11 -Puritan Rodeo, The Pneurotics, Turntable Graveyard, Blood Red River

Sunday, 3/20/11- Bird & Arrows, New Town Drunks, Pinche Gringo

After-Work Specials at La Residence

Enjoying drink specials on La Residence's outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy the wonderful warm, spring weather! And don't worry - if that nasty cold weather creeps back, the patio is heated! TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY La Residence offers HALF-OFF bottles from the wine list; and all draft beers for $3. Chef Justin Cole has brought some items from the Dining menu and prepared a Patio Menu featuring lighter fare. Justin's work with COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE of Orange County (CSA) should get exciting as more fresh produce comes into season. Come Enjoy al fresco dining and the Lighter side of La Rez starting at 5pm. For more information visit www.laresidencedining.com. 

Community Health Fair at Hargraves Center

On Saturday, March 19 from 10AM to 2PM, everyone in the community is invited to join local health organizations as they offer FREE on-site health screenings and health care information along with entertainment, food, and prizes! The health fair will be held at Hargraves Community Center, located at 216 Roberson Street. For more information contact the NC-HCAP Health Careers Club at (919)966-2264 or visit www.unchealthcareersclub.com.  

Women In Astronomy: Star Families Show 

Find out how female astronomers have made a big impact on what we know about the universe. In recognition of Women's History Month, this Star Families Show on Saturday, March 19 at 9:30AM highlights the science and successes of astronomers like Henrietta Leavitt and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. This engaging program series is designed for learners ages 7-12 and their families. General Public: $20/family; Morehead Members: $15/family -$2 for each additional family member after the first four. To register or for more information visit www.moreheadplanetarium.org. 

Call for VOLUNTEERS:  

Mala for Susie's Miracle Fund    

On Sunday, March 20 from 1:30PM to 4PM, Franklin Street Yoga Center is celebrating Susie, a puppy found burned in a Greensboro park who is now a spokesdog for abused animals around the state, with a mala - 108 rounds of sun salutations honoring the Vernal Equinox and the changing of laws in NC to support animal welfare! Money raised go towards Susie's Miracle Fund to help other abused animals when they are surrendered so they don't have to be euthanized. Just this year Governor Perdue signed "Susie's Law," requiring tougher penalties for people convicted of animal cruelty. Donations: Checks made payable to United Animal Coalition/Susie's Miracle Fund.  The studio will accept credit card donations on behalf of the fund and then make a donation. For more information visit www.franklinstyoga.com. 

Birdhouses on Parade at The Carolina Inn 

Spring is the season for birds in the garden and for the 10th Annual Birdhouses on Parade at The Carolina Inn. From Sunday, March 20 through Sunday, April 24, the Inn be displaying one of a kind birdhouses and feeders crafted by North Carolina artisans. Drop by anytime to see these wonderful creations.  There will also be teas, special meals, music, egg decorating and more. The birdhouses will be on display daily from 10 am - 8 pm.  For information, call (919) 918-2711 or visit www.carolinainn.com.  

Robin Lin Photography Special Offer

To support the amazing work of Doctors without Borders, Robin Lin Photography is offering a special deal: from now until October 31, 2011, there will be NO portrait session fees, in return for a minimum donation of $35 to Doctors Without Borders. Why $35?  According to Doctors Without Borders - A $35 donation can provide two high-energy meals a day to 200 children.  For all donations made over $100, customers will receive a matted 11×14 print (valued at $100)! Some restrictions apply. Robin Lin Photography is located at 157 East Franklin Street, Suite 7. For complete details visit  www.robinlin.com.

 Spanky's Beer Dinner with Lonerider Brewing Company

Spanky's Restaurant is hosting a western-themed beer dinner with LoneRider on Wednesday, March 23. Courses include Sweet Josie Brown Ale paired with a Deviled Egg Trio, Shotgun Betty Hefeweizen paired with roasted tomato and corn gazpacho, and much more. Call 919-967-2678 or email spankys@spankysrestaurant.com to reserve your spot! $40/person plus tax and tip. 

Visit www.spankysrestaurant.com.       

FREE Valet Parking Downtown!

Participating Businesses: 411 West Italian Cafe, Bonne Soiree,Carolina Brewery, Elaine's on Franklin, Mediterranean Deli & Catering, La Residence Restaurant & Bar, Lantern Restaurant, Talulla's Restaurant, Vespa Restaurant, West End Wine Bar, Cypress on the Hill , Mint Restaurant, FRANK: Franklin Street Arts Collective, R&R Grill, Salon 135, SANDWHICH, Spanky's Restaurant, Top of the Hill Brewery & Restaurant.

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 What does economic development in downtown Chapel Hill look like? Click on the photo and see!

 The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is charged with leading and managing downtown through partnership efforts; marketing and promoting the assets of downtown; improving the visual appeal of downtown; and rebuilding downtown as a mixed use center of retail, service, professional, governmental, institutional, and residential uses. Visit www.DowntownChapelHill.com! Contact us at 967-9440 or partnership@downtownchapelhill.com.