In honor of St. Patrick's Day, former Gov. Martin O'Malley will host a happy hour and concert for young professionals Thursday night.
O'Malley, in between visits to early primary states as he contemplates a bid for president, will perform with his Celtic rock band O'Malley's March and mingle with a 20-something crowd in Washington, D.C.
The holiday is personal favorite for O'Malley, who last year was inducted into Irish America Hall of Fame and often discusses his Irish heritage. For years, he has kept an antique "Irish Need Not Apply" sign on his desk, which he has described as reminder of the nation's progress against bigotry.
While he has not declared his candidacy for president, Maryland's two-term governor has positioned himself as a younger, technology-savvy alternative to the Democratic nomination's front-runner, Hillary Clinton.
Thursday's event, which requires tickets but is open to the public of all ages, is the latest in a series of "Young Leaders Council" events hosted by his political action committee O' Say Can You See, better known by it's nickname O'PAC. The event offers commemorative O'PAC koozies to attendees.
O'Malley is expected to both mingle with the crowd and play a concert despite breaking his elbow while weight-lifting five weeks ago. This weekend, he'll spend two days in Iowa speaking at local fundraisers, and on March 31 return to New Hampshire for his second trip this month.
Since leaving office in January, O'Malley has moved back to Baltimore where he teaches as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins and a public speaker.