ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, March 17, 1997                 TAG: 9703180116
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1    EDITION: METRO 

THE SPENDING 'O THE GREEN

Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day? SmartMoney magazine has a light-hearted look at what some items for the big celebration will cost in five U.S. cities.

A copy of ``Irish Heartbeat,'' the CD by Van Morrison and The Chieftains, runs from $14.99 in Tulsa, Okla., to $16.99 in Virginia Beach, Va. A six-pack of Guinness stout ranges from $7.29 in Omaha, Neb., to $12.50 in Pittsburgh. A one-hour lesson in step dancing, the style of dance seen in the show ``Riverdance,'' ranges from $5 in Omaha and Pittsburgh to $70 in Boston.

And a pint of green beer costs from $1.75 in Omaha to $2.50 in Tulsa.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LENGTH: Short :   23 lines