Scenes from St. Patrick's Day: Ireland's Four Courts

Imagine if Tom Selleck were Irish ... (Fritz Hahn/washingtonpost.com)

1 p.m.: Ireland's Four Courts

The party's underway at Ireland's Four Courts in Arlington, where men in business suits are having pints of Guinness at the bar before heading back to the office. (Strangely, none of them wanted to give their names.) Enjoying a day off at the bar are a number of members of the Arlington County Fire Department, some of whom have been at the Four Courts since 10 a.m. "We're heading over to the Dubliner next," says Steve, who's donned a green Afro wig, dyed his mustache green for the occasion and even shaved his chest hair into a shamrock for the day. After that ... "We'll be out [at the bars] until they kick him out," says his friend Luke.

It's a good sign when the Tender Polman Band -- performing until 3, folks -- kicks into a fiddle-led version of "Black and Tans," one of my favorite Irish songs, and a few people start singing along. The Four Courts isn't too packed yet, but there's a tent out back to handle the crowds coming later today.