Hail a Cop?

After several years in the taxi biz, the LAPD will no longer ferry revelers too drunk to drive on St. Patrick’s Day. Last year, 18 people took advantage of the free rides home, Officer Frank Zdroy said. “It wasn’t cost-efficient, and it gave the impression it was OK to drink” to excess, he said. Of course, partyers can always call a real cab.

Making Green: Imelda McCann says she’ll start off St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish meal and morning Mass. Then it’s off to Shamrock Imports, her Valley Village shop, to sell meat and cheese from the Emerald Isle. She also stocks Irish crystal and china. Last week, McCann says, she had to express-mail a pair of Aran sweaters to a Colorado couple in dire need of St. Patrick’s Day parade wear.

Pat Party: At Ireland’s 32, the Van Nuys pub named for the number of counties in Ireland, the celebration has been underway since at least Saturday afternoon. Tuesday, the pub will serve corned beef and cabbage all day, with live music by the Lads and other bands. “We’re pretty much at capacity from the afternoon on,” says bartender Bud Lawrence.

Dublin West: While Boston and New York have been the historic homes of Irish enclaves since the 1800s, the San Fernando Valley region has its share. According to the 1990 census, 238,264 residents of the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys are at least part Irish.