Maybe you haven’t heard, but St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago is kind of a big deal. There are many ways to celebrate, and thankfully, you don’t have to be Irish to partake. Whether you’re into more of a traditional celebration or just want an excuse to start drinking before noon, Chicago has got you covered. Here’s your guide to unleash your inner leprechaun:

The Chicago River Dyeing. Saturday, March 13th at 10:45am

Every city has green beer, but only Chicago has a green river. Resulting in an accident over 40 years ago where a chemical reaction caused the river to turn it’s now trademark kelly green, Chicago has been keeping up this festive tradition ever since. . Line up early to get your spot along the Columbus Avenue and Michigan Avenue bridges for the best view. And speaking from experience, dress warmly and be patient. The dye does take awhile to flow completely downstream, so depending on where you are, you could be waiting quite some time for the river to completely transform into all of its shamrock splendor.

Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Saturday, March 13th at 12pm

Everyone loves a parade. And if Irish dancers and bagpipes are your thing, then be sure to stop by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade kicks off at Balbo and Columbus and ends in front of Buckingham Fountain. This event is a magnet for families, so if you’re looking for a rowdy party akin to the former Southside Irish Parade, look elsewhere. Most of your time will be spent dodging strollers and trying not to step on the little ones running underfoot.

Traditional Irish Bars, Pubs, & Restaurants. Saturday, March 13th

The novelty of green beer never gets old, which is why you’ll see Chicagoans flocking to every restaurant and bar decked out in varying hues of green. With most people slaving away 9-5 on the actual St. Patrick’s Day, most bars and restaurants throw their parties the Saturday before. So, with a Sunday ahead of us to recover, we all get to pretend we’re Irish and celebrate our newfound heritage by gulping pints of Guinness, tossing back shots of Jameson, and chowing down on bangers and mash. So skip out on your typical weekend haunts and opt for a more authentic establishment to enhance your St. Patrick’s Day experience.

• Mystic Celt, 3443 N. Southport Avenue: Irish food, green beer, bag-pipers, and Irish dancers transform this spot into a mini-Dublin. Doors open at 9am, but plan on getting there at least a half-hour early as there will be a line forming way before that. Great bar, but from experience, order your drinks two-at-a-time or else you might be left with green with green beer envy.
• McFadden’s, 1206 N. State Parkway: Make sure you get to bed early. This Gold Coast spot opens its doors at 7am for the festivities and will keep you busy all day long with Irish Car Bomb contests, giveaways, and various forms of Irish entertainment.
• Irish Oak, 3511 N. Clark Street: This Wrigleyville pub boasts traditional Irish food on their menu year-round, so you can only imagine that they give St. Patrick’s Day the red carpet treatment.
• The Kerryman, 661 N. Clark Street: Always packed on the weekends, so St. Patrick’s Day will be no exception as this bar promises a “modern Irish” experience to patrons.
• Irish Eyes, 2519 N. Lincoln Avenue: Many an Irish eye will be smiling as they make St. Patrick’s Day mischief in this Lakeview dive-bar. Have a drink and dance a little Irish jig to their live music.
• Hidden Shamrock, 2723 N. Halsted Street: Their website hails them as “the oldest Irish Pub in Lincoln Park,” and with a name like that, you better believe this place will (sham)rocking on the 13th.
• Paddy Long’s, 1028 N. Diversey Parkway: Those of you donning “Who’s Your Paddy” shirts will fit nicely at this bar that prides themselves on serving up a little bit of Ireland all year-round.
• Johnny O’Hagans Restaurant & Irish Pub, 3374 N. Clark Street: If you want your Guinness served by real Irish bartenders, here’s the place to have a pint and some shepherd’s pie.

Strange Cargo, http://www.strangecargo.com

No, you can’t come here to quench your thirst, but you should swing by prior to the St. Patrick’s Day festivities to make sure you’re properly outfitted for the big day. Strange Cargo allows you to customize your St. Patrick’s Day look by choosing one of their Irish-themed prints to be screened onto a t-shirt style of your choosing. Best of all? You can order online and pick it up later in the store – just beware of their funky hours.

Photo Credit: Lynn Karlstrom

Are you on the prowl for a new or different job? Or, are you just looking to make more friends with similar interests? Attending networking events can be the easiest way to do either! If you’ve been thinking about putting yourself out there, but don’t know where to start, look no further. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best upcoming networking events and groups in the Chicago area listed by interest.

If you’re into social media, a great place to find the most up-to-date list of Twitter-related networking events, or “Tweet Ups,” is Chicago Tweetups. They keep an extensive calendar of events and they’ll gladly add your event to their list!

If you’re into helping others, the people over at Networking for a Cause host events with the purpose of bringing together those who are interested in non-profit organizations. With an average price of between $10-20 per event, you get a lot for your time and one great cause, usually local, benefits from your money. Check out their Facebook Fan Page for updated news and events.

If you’re into the environment, every Wednesday, the people at Go Green Management host a networking event where you can mingle with other environmentally conscious people and businesses. The next event isn’t until the 2010, but you can sign up for a yearly membership early. The cost is well worth the 40+ events you’ll be entitled to and the company you’ll enjoy. Event and membership details are here.

If you’re into technology, you need to check out Tech Cocktail. Their mission is to offer community-powered projects and events  in under-served technology communities. Best of all, Tech Cocktail welcomes everyone who’s into technology, not just the elite iPhone application developers. Details are here.

If you’re out of work or looking, Out of Work Chicago hosts monthly events where you can network with everyone from recruiters, to headshot photographers, to consultants who will help you write a better resume or put together an interview outfit. Find upcoming events here.

If you’re into a little bit of everything, Windy City Social has a networking event for you. WCS connects Chicago professionals to each other and events around the city, ranging from Interactive Social Media and Online Marketing events, to wine tastings, to hikes and bike rides. With the diversity of their events, you’re sure to find one that suits you. Find updated events here.

Now that you know where to go, is there a right or wrong way to act when you get there? Below I’ve listed a couple of small, but valuable, tips that can help you get the most out of the networking events above, should you decide to attend.

Take notes: If you exchange business cards with someone, take a few seconds to write a small note on it, so when you DO follow up (and you better!), you have something personal to write instead of the generic, “Nice meeting you. Hope we can connect again soon.” The more you remember about your conversation the better. Which leads me to my next tip.

Don’t drink too much: A lot of networking events have free booze, and, quite frankly, sometimes it’s hard to turn down. You don’t have to turn it down. Just know your limit, so that when you send a follow up email, or get one, you actually remember who you’re communicating with. That “Who the hell IS that?” feeling can be just as bad after a networking event as it can after a night out at a bar.

Thank the host/coordinator: If you spent all that time planning a snazzy event for other people to benefit from, you’d want a thank you too, right? Your momma raised you better than that.

Now that you know where to go and what (not) to do, I’ll see you at the next event!