In our fair city, March 17 is only the culmination of our Saint Patrick celebrations. Many Irish American revelers greet the day with relief, since this March was overflowing with events.

The frolics began March 1 at the United Irish Cultural Center, where United Irish Societies President Liam Frost hosted its Grand Marshal dinner honoring Mayor London Breed. On March 16, Breed is scheduled to lead a legion of pipers, step-dancers and Irish wolfhounds along Market Street for the society’s 168th parade — the nation’s longest-running St. Patrick’s Day parade west of the Mississippi.

At the dinner, Breed, the city’s first female African American mayor, noted this year’s theme, Women Breaking Barriers, by sharing her reflections on the similarities between the African American and Irish American communities.

“Some of the history of how our ancestors journeyed to America is unfortunate and tragic. And once here, both communities faced discrimination evidenced in signs reading ‘Whites Only’ or ‘No Irish Need Apply,’” she said.

“But when we landed in this city — like early labor leader Kate Kennedy, who fought for equal pay for equal work — we knew there was hope and possibility,” continued Breed. “Today, I stand before you as mayor of San Francisco because of that opportunity.”

The mayor’s grand marshal duties included numerous appearances draped in her official green, white and orange sash alongside the Irish Societies as they spread shamrock cheer to veterans, nursing homes and even more dinners.

Also in this mix were timely tributes to other Irish Americans and Irish natives: John Ring , Riordan High School development director, was named Hibernian of the Year at the Hibernian Newman lunch benefiting the S.F. Archdiocese campus ministry programs. The Triple I (Irish-Israeli-Italian) Society sang the praises of Martha Cohen ( the mayor’s director of special events), radio host Ronn Owens and SFPD Deputy Chief Ann Mannix at its St. Patrick’s Day lunch. And Colin Ryan , the Americas co-head for Goldman Sachs, was honored at the Ireland Funds’ annual dinner.

But one of the most heartfelt cheers rose on March 8 at City Hall when Breed, joined by Mick Flynn, the lord mayor of Cork, Ireland, and local Irish American leaders raised the flag of the Irish Republic, declaring March “Irish American Heritage and Friendship Month” in San Francisco.

The lengthy list of speakers included Irish Consul General Robert O’Driscoll, who was also celebrating the recent birth of his first child.

“My wife ( multimedia journalist Caoimhe Ní Chonchoille ) and I named him Cuan , which means ‘bay’ or ‘harbor’ in Irish. My term here is up in about two years, and I imagine in about 10, my son will wonder where he’s actually from,” shared O’Driscoll. “I’ll tell him he’s from one of the great cities in the world: a city made great by Irish and Irish Americans who worked to build this special place, from laying down the streets to protecting those streets. I’ll say, ‘Son, you’re damn lucky to be an Irish San Franciscan.’”

Asian Art + Fashion: Welcoming the sold-out crowd of supporters March 7 at the Asian Art Museum’s Art + Fashion gala, director Jay Xu advised the crowd he was keeping to theme.

“By the way,” he said, with a laugh, “tonight I’m wearing Blanc de Chine.”

The glamorous soiree (led by chairwoman-museum trustee Michele Alioto and sponsored by jeweler Bulgari) featured a Dan Haute Couture fashion show that followed a McCalls dinner set in a swanky tent next to the museum.

This fashion theme also celebrated the museum’s current exhibition, “Kimono Refashioned,” a beautiful survey showcasing 150 years of kimono-inspired ensembles from the Kyoto Costume Institute.

Roaming the galleries during cocktails, guests marveled over exquisite creations spanning from the Victorian Age to the digital era, including those created by such European designers as Coco Chanel and Paul Poiret along with contemporary Japanese pieces from designers Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo.

“Fashion is self-expression. It’s identity; it’s a language of communication and an artistic one at that,” toasted Xu. “With this exhibition, we’re adding a major new dimension at the Asian Art Museum.”

The gala raised more than $1.5 million for museum exhibition and education programs — a number goosed by the online auction of one-of-a-kind couture created by designers Andrew Gn, Ashdeen, Blanc de Chine, Juun.J, Shiatzy Chen, Tolight and Victor Tung.

Xu also spoke on the museum’s new 13,000-square-foot, $90 million expansion, made possible by donors such as Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang and his wife, museum trustee Akiko Yamazaki, that is being overseen by architect Kulapat Yantrasast and is expected to be completed this summer.

“This expansion will transform our visitor experience and make Asian art essential for all,” said Xu. “Whether it was made thousands of years ago or is a cutting-edge, contemporary expression, connecting art to life is an essential part of who we are.”

Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicle’s society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow