Smile and Go Green, It's St. Patrick's Week in Atlanta

St. Patrick’s Day greens are sprouting up all over town this week, from cabbage and green beer to emerald fountains and outdoor shindigs. No wonder shades of green are topping the Pantone color chart this season. We are so ready for the wearin' of the green and the cheer that goes along with it.

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Smyrna is Dublin’ down for two days of St. Pat’s festivities with the Smyrna St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Market Square this Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17. Mayor Max Bacon will be dyeing the fountain green, which makes for a nice photo op to go with the lineup of live music, a redhead contest, games and rides for children and adults, beer pong, cornhole, a 65-foot inflatable obstacle course - plus magically delicious foods, Guinness, Harp and Irish Car Bomb drinks. Friendly toward Irish setters and other pups looking to get in on the festivities. Buy tickets online for $5 or pay $10 at the door. The traditional Irish classics are also conjured up across town in the dining room and bar at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia Highland, including Guinness and Magners to mark St. Pat’s Day.

Midtown restaurants 10th & Piedmont, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern and Gilbert's Cafe & Bar are all part of the Communitas Hospitality family, and on St. Patrick's Day, they are coming together to offer the same food and drink specials in addition to their regular menus. Green $3 Miller Light beer, $6 Lucky Leprechaun cocktails that leap to your lips with Midori, vodka, OJ and Sprite, and plates of rib-sticking corned beef brisket with mashed potatoes, braised cabbage and Pommery mustard ($13.95) will all put a little Irish spirit in your step. Visit one or all three for a rollicking good time.

In Buckhead, Fadó Irish Pub colors the whole week green with activities and food and drink specials each day, building up to the St. Practice Day celebration on Saturday, March 16. Of course, the biggest blowout comes on St. Patrick's Day itself with a party that starts inside Fadó in the morning and spills out into the street by afternoon. Bookmark our blog for more detailed information on this biggie so you won't miss a drop of the fun or the chance to win the trip to Dublin, Ireland.

Looking for a way to sweeten up your St. Pat’s weekend? The charming cupcakes at locally owned The Little Cake Bakery come richly endowed in top-shelf ingredients, and are sized right for grown-up leprechauns. Stop in the shop this Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, to nab some slightly tipsy Baileys Irish Cream chocolate cupcakes and the regular menu’s Guinness cupcakes made with Guinness beer. The new spring menu is in play at the Buckhead bakery with different flavors each day. Stop in on Saturday for Guinness, s'mores, cookies and cream and strawberry varieties. At $2.50 each or 12 for $27.50, these little treasures won't eat much of your cash stash. Minis are $11/dozen. More prices on the website.

Color the Whole Week Green for 17th Annual St. Pat's Party at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

The largest St. Patrick’s Day party in Atlanta spans a fun-filled week that culminates in an annual celebration that spills out onto the streets around Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant in Buckhead on March 17. This year’s schedule is packed with seven days of live music, contests, charity events and food and drink specials.

First, sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win a four-day, three-night trip for two to Dublin, Ireland. The drawing will take place on Wednesday, March 20 and participants must be 21 and over to enter.

Start off the week of festivities on the right note on Monday, March 11 as Fadó hosts a traditional Irish music session at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, the pub teams up with Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits for an evening filled with the "water of life" Bushmills Whiskey and food pairings hosted by Master of Whiskey, Kevin Mulcahy. The event starts at 7 p.m. and costs $39.95 per person with limited seating; make reservations here. On Wednesday, March 13, it's top o' the trivia to you and your team for the St. Patrick's Irish Pub Quiz hosted by Quizmaster Rob starting at 8 p.m. With passes to the St. Patrick’s Day party available as prizes, you’ll want to feed your brain for that competitive edge. Authentic Irish food and beverages including corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, boxty, and pints of Guinness, Harp and Smithwick's will fuel you and your team to victory. Thursday, March 14 is "Lucky Pint" Night from 8-11 p.m. Order Guinness, and if your pint of the iconic Irish dry stout wears a sticker on its bottom, you'll receive free tickets to Sunday's party. Friday brings on shear delight in the form of the Fadó 12th Annual St. Baldrick's Event from 2:30-6:30 p.m. "Shavees" plop down in barber chairs to have a lot taken off the top while raising donations for the St. Baldrick's Foundation for curing childhood cancers.

The two-day "Lost Weekend" festival opens on Saturday, March 16 with "St. Practice Day." At 10:30 a.m., a full day of RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament viewing begins, and rugby fans will have a reserved viewing area for all three matches. At 6 p.m., the outdoor festival opens with traditional Irish rock music from Paddy & Marty, U2 cover band Desire and Irish dancers. A DJ steps in at 10 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are available online for $5 or $10 at the door.  Sunday, March 17 hails the giant St. Patrick's Day finale. Doors open at 7 a.m., and the party moves outside at noon for a street festival featuring live music, traditional Irish dancers and bagpipers. Desire, Andy Birdsall, Secret Sauce and Astral Freaks (Van Morrison cover band) keep the party rocking. Pre-sale tickets, (a fast sell out in 2012) are available now online for $10 or at the door for $15.  Guests also can purchase a two-day pass for Saturday and Sunday for $15 online. March 18? Sleep in.