The 68th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will commence on Sunday, March 17th, 2019 in downtown Holyoke, MA. Parade weekend is one of the largest gatherings in Western Massachusetts, drawing in people from all across the region. As February comes to an end-- we’re all starting to feel that undeniable itch for warmer weather, outdoor beer fests and a shamrockin’ good time!

Every year, Western Massachusetts becomes the place to be as you’ll find us locals on the prowl for the best neighborhood hotspots, where everyone knows your name, to celebrate all things GREEN!

However, we understand how the numerous parties, parades and beer pairing events can be a bit overwhelming. Lucky for you, we’ve narrowed it down and put together an easy, on the go, listing guaranteed to get you into the Celtic spirit!

Amherst, MA - The Harp, a well known Irish pub where you enter as strangers and leave as friends. Relax to a wide selection of live music and a satisfying drink menu.

Northampton, MA - McLaddens, the pub that has a staggering 160 plus varieties of whiskey and one of the finest & most diverse beer selections in all of New England. If you’re looking for good ole’ Irish fun, McLaddens is your haven.

Holyoke, MA - Brennan’s Place, come and celebrate for a cause with the Celebrity Bartender Media Challenge! TONIGHT February 28th from  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Western Mass News, Rock 102 and MassLive go head to head to see who can raise the most for the Leprechaun Plunge (sponsored by ChikMedia)! This one is guaranteed to bring on the competition.

Springfield, MA - Nathan Bills, whether you need to unwind at a local eatery or just feel like grabbing a pint; be ready to party and make sure to check out their “MARCH MADNESS” extravaganza! A series of events to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all month long.

Let us know in the comments below your favorite Irish hotspots!

​Blog by Editorial Contributor Crystal Dunn

So we’ve all been there; we’re casually scrolling through our Instagram feed as a way to disconnect and BAM! We get an ad. And WOW, that ad is always on point. “How does Instagram speak to my soul?” you ask yourself. Well, they use targeting, cookies and voodoo, but that’s a post for another day.
 
For me personally, I always hesitate to make a purchase via an Instagram ad due to countless horror stories of Chinese Doll clothing posing as a human wardrobe. (We’ve all been there, yes? Just me?) So I wanted to take the guesswork out of it for my Chiks. I spent one week buying a product a day based on Instagram ads that were presented into my feed. Here’s what I found…

Monday
Amazon Wardrobe: Everyone knows Amazon is the bees knees, let’s not kid ourselves. New vacuum? Amazon. Selfie light? Amazon. Kid’s party supplies? (No, I don’t have kids) Amazon. But, clothes? Who knew? I purchased a handful of items from the Amazon Wardrobe collection and have to say, they are on point. Now, not everything that came in was a keeper, so if you’re the type of person who doesn’t return things when they don’t fit, avoid shopping on Amazon. You have to be willing to take the good with the bad here. The best piece of advice I can give when it comes to AW is read the reviews. Check for sizing discrepancies and reports on quality. Listen to other ladies who have been there, done that, and you’ll be golden! Items range anywhere from $10-$100 and if you choose Amazon Prime, they’ll arrive in two days. 

Tuesday
Misses Kisses: Ladies: gird your loins, the tatas are out. My friend recently referred to this as the “black magic of bras.” The Misses Kisses bra is intended to hold the girls up while being backless and strapless. Not gonna happen, right? Wrong. I am a full 32c when it comes to bra size and this thing is a damn miracle. It may look like an iron maiden torture device, but it’s remarkably comfortable and actually stays in place. The larger the breasts, the better this item works (really, go look at their feed). Girls rocking smaller than a B cup unfortunately will not find this product useful, but if you’ve ever purchased a cute jumper (like the one pictured below) or a dress that doesn’t allow for a bra, this is the solution. I chose to use the optional strap because I was paranoid about it snapping off, and cannot be happier with this purchase. It’s not cheap, coming in at around $100, but worth the investment if you own anything low cut and strapless.

Wednesday
Red Dress: To be honest, I’ve been seeing Red Dress ads for months and was always curious. The price tag is a bit higher than Amazon, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and fit of this line! I ordered a handful of items (including the jumper featured below) and loved every piece. The camo print overalls were soft and flexible. The gray and white striped top was loose fitting, flattering and silky smooth. You’re going to pay a bit more than you would say, Forever 21, but it’s well worth the investment as the clothes won’t fall apart first wash. Simply put, Red Dress is quality comfort a girl can get behind. 

Thursday
Sun Basket: Stop everything you’re doing and go sign up for Sun Basket now. The end.

But seriously, this is the 4th meal service I have subscribed to and as someone who is a “flexitarian” (I eat mostly vegetarian, but also eat fish) this is a home run. The meals are easy to prepare (I’m a HOT MESS in the kitchen) quick, and healthy. And when I say healthy, I mean stealth health: you don’t notice because the flavors are on point and you always feel full. My favorite part of this company is the app they have to control your meal service. Unlike others, they send you text alerts reminding you to choose meal choices and offering you to skip weeks with no penalty. It’s the easiest meal service I’ve ever signed up for and I’m totally hooked. If you tend to be conservative with your food and are afraid to try new flavors, this may not be for you. But if you’re open to ingredients you can’t pronounce AND want to feel like a master chef, this is the choice for you.

P.S. text me and I’ll get you $40 off your first order. Seriously, text me. 

Friday
City Lips: Full disclosure: before I review this product, I must admit, I get my lips filled. And honestly, there’s no substitute for some beautiful Juvederm filling out your pout. I WILL NEVER GO BACK. But, if you’re not ready for the needle, then City Lips is a great substitution. This thicker-than-average lip-gloss has kept my lips hydrated and soft throughout these harsh winter months. If you put it on before bed, you’ll still have moist lips when you wake up (this presents a problem for me since I have 5 fur-babies and often wake up with cat hair stuck to my mouth, but I digress…). It lasts for hours and never gets sticky or gross. Plus, the pretty sheen keeps your lips looking irresistible. 

Saturday
Happy Healthy Hippie: Time to get serious. Anxiety and depression are both mental health issues I deal with on the regular (me and everyone else, right?). Launching a business is one of the most stressful life decisions I’ve ever made and at the end of 2018, shit got dark. My life is everything I want it to be, but I was going to bed AND waking up in a full-blown anxiety attack: couldn’t breathe, heart racing, thinking I was about to drop dead. I see a therapist, but have never taken more than an Ativan, here and there, as needed. A little over a month ago, as I sobbed on the treadmill at the gym, I realized something needed to change; I started looking up medications for my condition. I have never been a pill popper, but I knew deep down that if something didn’t give, I would end up in the mental institute within the year. In pops the Happy Healthy Hippie. After a quick run through of reviews and in-depth research of the ingredients, I clicked ORDER NOW and eagerly awaited the arrival of this herbal supplement that people all over the country claimed cured depression and anxiety. Folks, it has been a month and I haven’t had a single anxiety attack. I am crying as I type this. I take 2 of these pills daily and cannot say enough about this product. I’ve convinced half of my family, my husband and friends near and dear to me to give it a try and not one person hasn’t agreed with me. Whether you’re a chronic worrier, or someone who’s experiencing a light case of SAD, these herb-based, St. John’s Wort filled, pills are lifesavers.

Sunday
Finishing Hair Cream: Admittedly, I am not one to wear my hair up very often. For some reason a topknot turns me into Gollum from Lord of the Rings. But I wanted to give this product a try to see if I could control the hideous fly-aways that leaves me feeling wind blown and ragged. This product is GREAT for fine or super soft hair. For my course, thick hair, it took a bit more to get it to work. It’s light and absolutely does not weigh your hair down, as it claims. There’s no hard hairspray feel, and no greasy mousse feel when you use it. But for thick-haired girls, you’re going to have to reapply throughout the day. Luckily, its mascara sized and can easily be thrown into a purse. If you’re looking for a hairspray alternative to control your beautiful bun, this is a great workaround. 

-Boss Chik Meghan ​ 
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Got a product you want Meghan to review before you buy? Email us! Send a note and a link to [email protected] and we’ll get on it, Chik.