Though I love St. Patrick's Day (I'm 100-percent Irish, at least in my heart), I'm always disappointed by the bar scene on this "holiday." Every year, I think it's a good idea to join my friends for a drink on St. Patty's; every year, I walk away irritated and smelling of the beer some idiot spilled on me. I'm almost glad I have a City Council meeting to attend tonight.

Here's why:

5. The bars are so packed on St. Patrick's Day that it takes 10 minutes to walk from the door to the bar and another 20 minutes to get a drink. Then what? There's barely enough room to raise your glass.

4. Forget about eating, because there's no way you're getting a table unless you get there at noon. And if you get there at noon, by the time the real party begins later in the evening, you'll be as drunk as those guys starting a brawl in the corner.

3. Those guys starting a brawl in the corner could care less about St. Patrick's Day and what it means to the Irish. Every day is St. Patrick's Day for them; it's just that once a year, their beer is green.

2. Some of the bars have great live music on St. Patrick's Day. But guess what? Most of them have the same great live music the other 364 days of the year, minus the massive crowds and beer-crusted floors.

And the top reason I don't like going out on St. Patrick's Day:

1. The celebration ultimately ends with many people deciding to get into their cars and drive after drinking. So if you're "having the craic" tonight, please have a designated driver, call a cab or use public transportation.