Daylight savings time arrived this past Sunday taking us all a giant step forward to those long, lazy summer twilights.  Suddenly March seems more spring-like and the season’s first major holiday, Easter, is a mere two weeks away.

This week, St. Patrick’s Day provides us with the perfect excuse (as if we needed one) to enjoy our newly won extra daylight hour.  Drop by at your favorite pub  --Offshore Ale, David Ryans, Season’s or the Wharf to name a few -- to  find  each one’s unique take on St Paddie’s Day standards: green beer, corn beef and cabbage, and Irish music.

Also on the 17th, Dairy Queen reopens. This is as much a sign of a Vineyard spring as Friday night Lobster Rolls at Grace Church is a harbinger of summer.  Be ready for the sugar-saturated crowds of kids once school lets out, slurping their Blizzards, cones and frappes.

All across the Island restaurants have been reopening in a steady stream.  Mediterranean reopened earlier this month and perennial favorite Le Grenier will follow on March 25th. By the time Easter rolls around, we’ll be hard pressed to decide where to enjoy holiday brunch.

Dog lovers alert! Easter treats have arrived at Good Dog Goods in Oak Bluffs. They look so cute, even the Easter bunny might be tempted to take a nibble.