Poet & Patriot Irish Pub

Despite its location in an oceanside tourist town, the Poet & Patriot is a classic local bar, where the regulars sit around reading the paper. It has the accoutrements of an Irish pub, including serious darts, Guinness and Harp, and pictures of famous Irishmen on the walls. But unlike your typical American "Irish-themed" pub, the Poet & Patriot looks and feels like a blue-collar bar. The tables are covered with Contac paper, Bud drinkers hang out to watch the Niners, and the whole bar is a smoking area. It's also got a Santa Cruz-ness to it, a sort of laid-back, former-hippie attitude. Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam are served on tap, as are Molson, Sam Adams, Elk Mountain, Murphy's Stout and Carlsburg. The Guinness is available both room temperature and cold.

The Poet & Patriot has three rooms -- a dart room, a music room and the bar room, with a long, maple bar. The live music may include folk, Celtic or light rock. The pub claims to host "easily the biggest and most authentic St. Patrick's Day celebration every year for Santa Cruz."

The Poet & Patriot is somewhat of a hangout for expatriate New Jerseyans, one of the owners having hailed from the eminent city of Elizabeth. Various pieces of Jerseyana line the walls, and the pub hosts a New Jersey Night in December, complete with a cappella singing contest. We would have liked to explore this connection further, but the owners weren't around when we visited.

During the 1989 earthquake, general partner Rick Warner told us, "one of our regulars got out of the place with a full pint in hand." This valiant effort has been toasted ever since.

Hours: Noon-1 a.m. Sun.-Thurs., Noon-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat.

More vitals: Premium and standard California wines. Darts supplies sold. Parking on lot in front, smoking throughout, fully wheelchair accessible.

January 1995