By Janette Turner

Do you recognize the location of the photo at the top of this column? If you guessed “a teacher’s desk,” then you missed the wine bottles and pull tabs in the background that define this space as Engel’s Pub. As you can see from the blackboard, the tavern is bringing in bag pipes on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. to celebrate St. Patty’s Day – and if you’re lucky, you’ll wedge your way in the door for your green beer baptism.

And read on for more events in the upcoming week.

Through Saturday: Celtic Cowboy BBQ offers sustenance

Celtic Cowboy BBQ is celebrating St. Patty’s week through Saturday with smoked corned beef brisket, homemade soda bread and Irish stew. Just make sure to get there early because once they run out of corned beef, the party’s over. See the smokin’ website for details.

Saturday: Edmonds Bookshop welcomes author Mary Daheim

Imagine being an author with a fan so dedicated he performs research for you. That’s the case for writer Mary Daheim, whose books inspired fan Tim Raetzloff to seek out the real town of Alpine that Daheim fictionalized. You can hear all about this fan worship at the Edmonds Bookshop, Saturday at noon, as both Daheim and Raetzloff will be there. For information on Daheim’s “Emma Lord” series, visit her website.

Saturday: ECA and Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy present Hair Fashion Show

Perfect hair is the Holy Grail for every woman, and Shoreline’s Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy is holding a fashion show to present the sleekest styles achievable. For details and tickets for the 6 p.m. Saturday show at Edmonds Center for the Arts, call Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy at (206) 542-1111.

Saturday: Lynnwood Convention Center hosts EWHS Auction

Folks attending the Edmonds-Woodway High auction on Saturday, 5-10 p.m., in the Lynnwood Convention Center will be supporting the school’s athletic teams, Parent Staff Organization, and the A.S.B. clubs and groups. If you’re on the fence about going, then ask yourself – would you rather be out drinking green beer or supporting our youth? No pressure. For more information and tickets, see the website.

Saturday:EdCC Black Box hosts improv show

If you’re looking to impress your date, then yell out “Hair Club for Men” to the improv performers of Unexpected Productions North in the Edmonds Community College Black Box Theatre on Saturday at 8:05 p.m. (Just kidding!) Tickets and details, here.

Sunday: St. Patty’s Day!

You were born with the luck of the Irish! Even if you’re Kenyan or Russian, you have a wee bit o’ Irish in you, or maybe it’s vice versa. Regardless, this is your passport to hit all the local watering holes. If you’re following the pipers on Sunday, they play 2:30 p.m. at Engel’s Pub and then you can see the Snohomish County Firefighters Pipes & Drums at Jack Murphy’s when 5 p.m. rolls round. Why so early? This is Edmonds, Danny Boy!

Monday: EPIC hosts minivan author Alison Krupnick

There are some things you can’t help but look forward to –such as hearing author/diplomat Alison Krupnick tell her minivan tales. Krupnick will visit EPIC in the Edmonds Library on Monday, March 18, at 11 a.m., after the 10 a.m. writing group. More information on this and other free literary events on the EPIC website.

Monday: ECA and CASCADE SYMPHONY present “ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME”

Cascade Symphony and Music Director Michael Miropolsky present “All Roads Lead to Rome,” on Monday 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds Center for the Arts with a 6:30 pre-concert lecture by KUOW’s Dave Beck. The evening’s featured soloist is violinist Brittany Boulding, Concertmaster and Soloist of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra and 5th Avenue Theater. For more information, see the story here. Tickets may be purchased via the ECA website.

Wednesday: ECA and Sno-King Music Educators present High School Band Festival

The Edmonds Center for the Arts will be the site for the Sno-King Music Educators’ presentation of the High School Band Festival on Wednesday at 8 a.m. This is a day-long private event.

Ongoing: Gallery North offers small works of art

Gallery North’s Miniature and Small Painting Show is in full swing and if you crave a peek from the comfort of your armchair, check out their video here. Of course nothing beats seeing the wee pieces in person.

Advance notice: Olympic Ballet’s “Giselle” April 14 & 21

The ballerina who grabs the role of “Giselle” must possess a fanatical desire to dance, and in Olympic Ballet Theatre’s upcoming production, the real-life principal dancer travels here from Ohio to perform the role. OBT’s Co-Artistic Director, Oleg Gorboulev, gave us a preview of the dedicated performers and work behind-the-scenes that bring “Giselle” to life.

My Edmonds News: Who are the principal dancers in this production?

O.G.: The role of “Giselle” will be performed by Jennifer Safonovs. She dances with Neos Dance Theatre Mainsfield, OH. Jennifer did adult Clara in OBT’s “Nutcracker” in December, and we are very pleased that she will be coming back.

My Edmonds News: Do you have a story about your dancers?

O.G.: Two of our dancers commute from Bellingham, WA: Kathryn Calderon & Rachel Stonedahl. Lauren Zakahi commutes from Mercer Island.

My Edmonds News: Is there anything else you would like folks to know about this production and OBT?

O.G.: With funding from Hazel Miller Foundation, Tulalip Tribes Foundation, and patrons who donated to the Costume Fund, we are building new costumes for the principal characters of Giselle and Alrbrecht, updating Willis costumes in Act II as well a few costumes in Act I, and making new props and adding elements to Act I scenery of the hill and bench (built by our volunteer Kevin Conefrey). We are improving our lighting capabilities. We are building six 12′ booms for 36 lights that will light dancers from the sides. We are proud to say that we have six male/boys out of the 12 male dancers cast that are students of Olympic Ballet School who participate in the production. I personally am very happy that the audience will see a large number of male dancers on stage!

More information on the show can be found on the OBT website.

Arts and entertainment reporter Janette Turner is your guide to local culture. In addition to covering visual, performing and literary events for My Edmonds News, Janette is President of EPIC Group Writers, a writing instructor, and a member of the Swedish Hospital Art Committee. (Photo by Jennifer McKinney).