A toast to the Irish.

In Chicago, St. Patrick doesn't just get a day. He gets about two weeks. While this city's 10-plus day homage to the patron saint technically started last week with the South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade, it also picks up stride with the official city St.

Patrick's Day Parade and dumping green dye into the Chicago River. The weeklong extravaganza, sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey, the Plumbers Union 130 and 93XRT, started last Saturday and offered a contest that will giver one lucky Chicagoan a chance to help turn the river green.

Wednesday night at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville, the seven finalists were asked to pour dye into a pitcher of water, and whoever's turned green won. That wound up being Joshua Fletcher, a recently turned 27-year-old suburbanite who has worked at an Irish pub in the past. Fletcher will have the honor of helping the city turn the river green, but he said he hasn't decided exactly what he's going to do on the official St. Patty's Day (Monday).

Yeah, yeah. I know it's hip to hate St. Patrick's Day. The crowds suck. The debauchery is downright tiresome if you're at all sober after noon. I understand the St. Patrick's Day haters. Hell, I was one of them last year. It's the day after my birthday, for chrissakes. It hurts. It can get out of hand. But I'm not going to lie. When you hear those bagpipes, smell those potatoes and get a nip of that whiskey, it's hard to not put a smile on your face.

St. Patrick's week has officially arrived, folks, like it or not. This city is going to be drunk for the entire weekend, and likely well into next week. It makes no sense to fight it. If you can't get out on Saturday morning to celebrate, at least try to put a pint down on or before Monday, as you owe it to this place's Irish heritage. Chicago was built on Mick blood. Despite the political corruption and racial tension that has created/perpetuated over the years, we at least owe it a toast. — Jeremy Schnitker