St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for beer and good times with friends, but for two downtown pubs, it’s also a time for rivalry.
The Rose and Crown Pub on Seventh and Adams streets and Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery at CityScape on Central Avenue and Jefferson Street are hosting separate St. Patrick’s Day block parties this weekend. The Rose and Crown’s block party will charge no cover, while Tilted Kilt will be offering its block party at $20 per guest.
To stoke the competition, the Rose and Crown’s part-owner, Donny Phillippi, took to social media.
“If you want to pay $20 to get in to an establishment just to have girls in kilts who are paid to pretend they like you, you should think about a different type of bar where you get more ‘view’ for your $!!” read a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page last Friday. “If you want to get in for free, and party for less, with real people and real women attend the R&C’s St. Paddy’s day block party.”
Phillippi continued his remarks on behalf of the Rose and Crown into Wednesday night, mentioning “a festival held in the street.”
“We didn’t mean anything malicious by it,” said Manny Valdez, the kitchen manager at the Rose and Crown. “If you want to pay $20 to get a smile, you can by all means. But you can come here and get a real smile for free.”
Now in its fourth year, the Rose and Crown’s St. Patrick’s Day block party will encompass the back half of Heritage Square Park, fenced off, where bands will play live music. Corned beef and cabbage will be served from 8 a.m. until closing.
This year, organizers anticipate a better turnout than in years past.
Because the Rose and Crown has a neighborhood appeal, said Valdez, its block party will offer a unique experience for people who don’t usually come downtown.
Although the general manager at Tilted Kilt declined an interview, server and ASU student Hannah Shive gave her views on why the block party hosted at CityScape will be better.
“I’ve been to Rose and Crown, and it’s small, even if you block off that area,” said Shive. “Over here at CityScape, all the way from Tilted Kilt to the end of the block, it is going to be beer trucks and bars.”
Tilted Kilt opens at 8 a.m. with a traditional Irish breakfast. Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. and they will be offering $100 VIP passes for free drinks and access to premier seating for the bands, said Shive.
Its block party will also feature live music and entertainment. Proceeds from Tilted Kilt’s block party will benefit United Phoenix Firefighters Community Charities.
Contact the reporter at jonathan.alvira@asu.edu
