On this past day of St. Pat, green-wearing, harp-playing musicians suddenly swarmed audience members heading for a show by the California Pops Orchestra at Foothill College's Smithwick Theatre. There’s no better hors d’oeuvre for a Big Band show than a surprise helping of “Danny Boy” and other Irish tunes. We hear there was impromptu jigging.

Word is the mobbers came from the Harpers Hall & Culinary Society. Pops conductor Kim Venaas, always ready for anything, cracked a few Irish jokes and the afternoon was off and running.

Pictured: Deb Knodel of San Mateo with a black carbon-fiber Irish harp. Photogs on the scene were Sam Huie & Jeoff Sheau.

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