Irish Pub

The Restaurant and the Bar, a 20-year-old West Chester institution and a pioneer in the borough's downtown revitalization, will be sold and converted into an Irish pub, scheduled to open by May. The current owners, Gus and Rosemary Correa, said they were selling the establishment because their son, Carlos, did not want to take it over. Gus Correa, who will continue as owner of the D-K Diner on East Gay Street, would not be specific on the sale price but said it would be more than the $1.6 million he paid for it five years ago. The deal, which is expected to close by the end of January, includes the three-story building and its liquor license, an office, and five apartments.

'Tis St. Patrick's Day - a time for the wearing of the green and the drinking of the brown, but you just might have to look a bit harder for it this year in Philadelphia. Several Irish pub owners and even a Brit are boycotting products of the Guinness Bass Import Co., the American arm of Ireland's Guinness brewing company, because of its efforts to encourage the opening of new Irish theme bars. Some have been boycotting for months. More than 10 bars are involved, mostly refusing to serve brews like Harp and Bass, which is distributed here by Guinness.

Want to start St. Patrick's Day with a hearty meal, straight from the Emerald Isle? Try an easy recipe from Philadelphia's bona fide Irish pub, the Bards on Walnut at 20th Street. This serious breakfast sandwich requires a rasher (2-3 slices) of lean, flavorful Irish bacon, and a single banger (mild pork and cornmeal sausage). Have one of these in the morning, and you might want to skip lunch. BARDS' IRISH BACON 1 rasher Irish bacon 1 banger 2 teaspoons cooking oil 2 eggs Salt and pepper 1/4 cup mild cheddar cheese, shredded 1 large round roll (the Bards recommends a stirato roll from Le Bus Bakery)

Temple University opened the door for the sale of hard liquor on its North Philadelphia campus under a measure narrowly approved by the university's board of trustees yesterday. In a 10-9 vote, the board agreed to let the Irish Pub serve liquor at a new establishment it hopes to open in leased space on the Temple campus sometime next year. Temple President Peter J. Liacouras, whose vote in favor of the measure broke a deadlock in the board vote, said the plan would move forward only if Temple could negotiate a lease with the Irish Pub, which has been operating two taprooms in Center City and one in Atlantic City.

Mike Miller was in the Irish Pub less than 30 minutes when his car was broken into and a canvas bag containing his valuable law school books and class notes was stolen. Parked - illegally, he admits - under a street lamp at busy 12th and Walnut Streets, he figured he was more likely to get a ticket than get ripped off. But what surprised him more than the theft was that his books and notes were recovered with the help of 22 people - make that 22 strangers - who came to his rescue.

Another fun weekend at the Shore is here, and the club scene is hotter than ever. But if you happen to feel like chilling a bit, the Downtown Bistro at the Irish Pub (St. James Place at the Boardwalk, Atlantic City; 609-344-9063) has some cool offerings. The adorable outdoor patio, where even the trash cans are cute, recently became the site of weekly karaoke nights, now Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to midnight. (No cover charge.) T-shirts and souvenir mugs are awarded to everyone willing to get up and make complete fools . . . er, sing their favorite tunes.

What it is: Sligo, an Irish pub in Media. What we like about it: This pub - a tribute to the rugged County Sligo on the western coast of Ireland - just celebrated its first anniversary. It offers tasty Irish and American fare that adds to the smorgasbord of ethnic cuisine in this county seat. Enjoy the Irish music and warm up with savory seafood chowder ($4 a cup; $5.50 a bowl). Lunch fare on a recent weekday included tempting specials such as fresh oysters for $8. Like its namesake, Sligo, which means City of Shells, is known for its seafood and oysters.

For what's new at Brooks Brothers this season, those in the know don't bother making the trip to the preppie department store. They go to Carolina's. There, the button-down collars, the regimental-striped ties, the wingtips and the tassled loafers all meet after work for a glass of Chablis or a bottle of Corona Extra. While sipping their drinks, they compare horror stories about their seesawing stock portfolios and the politics in their law offices or banks. Carolina's, as all but the out-of-it know, is the Center City bar and restaurant popular with young urban professionals and their groupies.

TO NIKKI Carter (letters, Sept. 27, "A mother's angry cry") about the state of the black community: I can't agree more. Bill Cosby said the same thing, but the NAACP shouted him down - the very people supposed to make a difference. The government can't stop the crime or lack of caring about anything. The solution starts at home, then on our block, then in the neighborhood, the town and the city. It isn't even really a case of race, it's about right and wrong. How did students start going to school for everything but learning?

The sixth child of a fiddle player from Donegal and an accordion player from Tyrone who met at a Ceili dance, John McGillian seemed destined to be an Irish musician. He grew up in a household filled with Irish song and began playing traditional Irish button-key accordion music at age 6. These days, McGillian spends almost every Sunday performing at The Plough and The Stars, an Irish pub in Philadelphia. "It's traditional Irish dance music. No words, all tunes," McGillian, 30, said.