First light for many people yesterday was spent in line waiting to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the bars with green beer, plastic hats and a lot of beads.

When the doors of the Phyrst, 111 1/2 E. Beaver Ave., opened at 7 a.m., the line was longer than manager Mike Fullington had ever seen.

"I was shocked. People started standing outside at 4 a.m.," Fullington said.

Fullington said there was a consistent number of customers throughout the day who enjoyed the festivities without any disruptive incidents.

At 7:45 a.m., the line stretched out the door to Pugh Street with people decked out in green and enduring below-freezing temperatures.

Tim Kistner (senior-professional golf management) was one of the first people to get in line for the Phyrst at 4 a.m.

"Last year we got rejected and I couldn't get in," Kistner said. "This year we wanted to be the first ones at the Phyrst."

Inside, patrons packed the Phyrst close to capacity and flooded the bar in search of green-colored beer and Irish Car Bombs while listening to live Irish-themed music.

Brad Moehler (senior-media studies) was also one of the first customers to brave the cold temperatures and darkness.

"I was too excited to sleep," Moehler said. "I only got like two hours of sleep."

Moehler said he wanted to come early because the first customers received special VIP passes, allowing them to come in and out of the bar throughout the day.

Geary Kochersperger (nondegree) said he arrived at the Phyrst at 5:30 a.m. Kochersperger and his friend Tom Patton (senior-aerospace engineering) decided to celebrate by wearing kilts.

"We got them in Scotland," Patton said, "but Irish people wear kilts, too."

Patton said he was mainly Scottish but that didn't deter him from celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

"It's any good excuse to wear a kilt," Patton said.

Kochersperger said that although he wasn't Irish, he still wanted to participate in the merriment.

"That's the beauty of being an American, you can be whatever nationality you need," he said. "Today I'm Irish."

Missi Lau (senior-public relations) said she had been waiting since 6:30 a.m.

"There's nothing like [an Irish] Car Bomb for breakfast," she said.

Lau said she was busy last year and did not go out to celebrate for the holiday. She added that she is not Irish, but she started to celebrate once she got to college.

Wendy Flynn (senior-advertising) said her family always celebrated its Irish background, but this is the first year she is legally allowed to drink.

"Everybody would be toasting, and there I am with my grape juice," she said. "I think it's great that I can go out and celebrate my heritage."

Ryan Onofrey (senior-economics), who arrived at the Phyrst at 6:45 a.m., said he is 25 percent Irish.

"It's green eggs at home and green kegs in here," Onofrey said. "This is the place to be if you're Irish."

Gary McGough (senior-labor industrial relations) said he and his friend decided to stay up all night.

"It's one day a year. Why not?" McGough said. "Last year I went to Café 210 [West] but this year, this is the place to be."

Patton said he planned on coming back next year to partake in the festivities. "We need to get here earlier so we can get here first," he said. "That's our goal."