Warm weather helped bring out the “wearing of the green” St. Patrick’s Day at Palmer Place.
The iconic La Grange establishment continued a long-standing Village tradition by hosting its 39th Annual Shamrock Fest honoring St. Patrick’s Day.
“It was a great turnout,” Dave Tarman, who, with his wife Leslie, recently bought the Restaurant and Bier Garden from the Palmer Family. “St. Patrick’s Day here was everything people described.”
March 17’s entertainment included students from the Mulhern School of Irish Dance, followed by the Dublin Duo of Chicago musician Paul Strolia, The Shannon Rovers, a Chicago-based Irish Pipe Band, and the six-piece band, The Redmonds.
But the village actually took the whole week to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, with many shops and restaurants hosting Irish-themed games and activities.
Palmer Place itself kicked off the festivities on the previous Saturday and Sunday, with singer-storyteller Tom Sullivan and Power pop ban Evil Burrito on Saturday, and Irish Folk/Rock band St. Stephen’s Green on Sunday.
The Tarmans took over operations of the restaurant from the Palmer Family Jan. 18, but were already involved before that.
“The planning for this day started even before that,” Dave Tarman said while the Paul Strolia Duo was performing. “And we were in the middle of the Covid surge.”
Tarman said that there had not been many changes to the restaurant yet.
“We haven’t had time to make any changes,” he said. “It will be months before we do anything significant.”
Tarman did mention one possibility was to “shrink the menu a bit” pointing out that the 16 varieties of burgers could well be one place to start that shrinkage.
He said there would still be live music at Palmer Place, if not as often as previously, then certainly for special occasions, saying “we’re looking forward to a great summer.”
Tarman said that the coming months would see some changes in business procedures, including the latest modern technology allowing waitstaff to place orders digitally from the floor.
Tarman has been encouraged by the La Grange community.
“People have been so supportive,” he said. “The community support has been incredible. Business has been good.”
Tarman singled out the Palmer brothers, Steve and Phil, for special praise in the way that helped the transition and the planning for the St. Patrick’s celebration.
“They have been a huge help,” he said.
More Top Picks Best Router Fences For Precision Joinery
Steve Palmer recently left the Board of the La Grange Business Association and was honored at a recent reunion of past LGBA presidents.
“It was a tribute to Steve, a recognition and celebration of his contributions to the LGBA,” Nancy Cummings, LGBA Executive Director, said recently.
Cummings was happy with this year’s turnout for St. Patrick’s Day.
“St. Patrick’s Day is a big boost for both shops and restaurants in La Grange,” she said. “It drives a lot of foot traffic downtown.”
Cummings noted that although the country seemed to be recovering from the pandemic, La Grange businesses still had challenges.
“Some are still feeling setbacks and this celebration is a great way to give them a boost,” she said.
Kathy Spinelle recently moved to La Grange Park from another Western suburb, and as she sat in Palmer Place Thursday, she couldn’t rave enough about La Grange.
“I’m in love with the area,” she said, using a movie reference to make her point. “I almost feel like I’m in Pleasantville.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.