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► Update: Michigan's attorney general has a holiday week warning for bar owners: Letting in more than 250 patrons on St. Patrick's Day, or any other, could cost their license.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," Dana Nessel told reporters in her Lansing office, Crain's Detroit Business reports.
A popular Corktown restaurant in Detroit took just such an extraordinary measure. Mudgie's Deli and Wine Bar closed indefinitely at 4 p.m. Sunday "to help discourage and prevent the spread of the COVID19 coronavirus within our community," owner Greg Mudge posts on Facebook. "Let’s protect one another and flatten the curve. Stay healthy. We hope to see you soon."
Partiers at Nemo's on Michigan Avenue. (Photo: Violet Ikonomova)
At her briefing, Nessel said the attorney general's office will go after the liquor licenses of "bad apples" that ignore the governor's executive order Friday barring over 250 people in most shared spaces.
"They are subject to losing their liquor license later, and that's a pretty extraordinary reason to follow the law," Nessel said Sunday.
"And we hope that will incentivize them to do the right thing."
Original article, Sunday morning:
We've lost our schools, symphony and sports leagues, but St. Patrick's Day traditions survive -- mostly -- at a stressful time.
Coronavirus fears thin the crowds in Corktown and at a legendary Monroe Street pub, but more than a few revelers choose suds over social distancing.
"Yes, we are open ... for four days of Irish fun." (Photo: Facebook/Timothy Montemayor)
Health concerns quash this weekend's biggest event -- Sunday's parade along Michigan Avenue -- but a four-day St. Patrick's Day Crawl flows on. "The party will be on as scheduled," posts Nancy Whiskey's, a North Corktown bar. "In an effort to keep everybody safe, we will be doing our part to protect everyone by not serving any Corona. Come on down."
Partying also rolls inside and outside the Old Shillelagh in Greektown, where a pair of parking lot tents may test the limit of how many people (250) the governor allows in "a single shared space" under an executive order Friday. "We need everyone to do their part," she tweets Sunday afternoon.
"Yes, we are open," Old Shillelagh says Saturday afternoon on Facebook, where a Friday post also promotes events through Tuesday. A recorded phone message invites listeners to "join us this St. Patrick's Day for four days of Irish fun ... [in] two huge heated tents." It's the bar's 29th annual St. Pat's blowout.
► Update: Evan Mignogna, a reader in Detroit, posts on Facebook just before noon Sunday: "I'm at Old Shillelagh now and it is dead."
The business at 349 Monroe St., which opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday, acknowledges in the social post that it's a tense time: "The well-being of our customers and staff ... has been at the center of our conversations throughout our St. Patrick’s Day event planning." Then come four sentences about sanitizers, wipes, hand-washing and staying home if sick.
Separately, it encourages fearless frolic: "Get here early and let’s get the party started," says an event listing for Tuesday. "Drink specials, Dancing and DJ giveaways all day and night." Deadline Detroit requested a comment Saturday via phone message and a website form, and will add any response.
'Selfish and reckless'
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan Detroit's this week urged people to avoid gatherings where they have to be within six feet of others, guidance that's ignored at bars. A nationally prominent Flint physician, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, tweeted Saturday night: "This is not an extension of spring break."
In the District of Columbia, the local Alcoholic Beverage Control Board revoked permits for three pub crawls that had been scheduled Saturday.
Group revelry also dismays New York Times columnist Charlie Warzel, who writes this weekend:
"Packing the bars is selfish and reckless during this pandemic. It will speed up the spread of the virus, increasing the suffering for older and more vulnerable people and for the medical workers who will be caring for them. ...
"Many younger Americans seem unfazed by the pandemic. ... It appears American night life is continuing without much interruption."
Yet in Corktown, a spirit of quaffing rather than quarantine prevails as "four days of partying" proceed.
"With the cancellation of the Parade Day, many people believe Corktown is closed for business, but that couldn't be further from the truth," posts the Corktown Business Association. "Corktown is open and ready for you to come down Saturday-Tuesday for our St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl! Support our small businesses and celebrate St. Patrick's Day in a safe way."
The merchants' group adds a mild wave-off: "If you feel you're at a health risk or are not feeling well, please consider staying home." Consider.
Among crawl participants are McShane's, Nancy Whiskey, Bobcat Bonnie's, Cork & Gabel, PJ's Lager House, Mudgie's, Mercury Bar and Nemo's.
Medicinal whiskey?
"Please do not be alarmed," posts Cork & Gabel. "Remember, back in the day doctors prescribed whiskey as a medical treatment. We have LOTS of whiskey. Come get your treatment from us and let's make the best out of this."
The Gaelic League Irish American Club of Detroit, another Michigan Avenue destination, posts reassurance and recognizes why hesitation exists: "Every step necessary to provide a risk-free environment has been taken. However, if you feel you are at risk, please join us when things improve."
$20 at Old Shillelagh
At McShane's Pub & Whiskey Bar, nearby on the avenue, owner Bob Roberts posts: "We have chosen to remain open because of messages from guests about empty grocery store shelves. We knew we could provide an important and effective means of delivering food to people who needed it."
In the eyes of Times columnist Warzel, though, gatherings like those this weekend in Corktown and Greektown are short-sighted. "If low-risk people don’t socially distance, then the entire containment process is not effective," he writes under the headline: "Please, Don’t Go Out to the Bars Tonight."
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