Question of the Day - 15 March 2007

Anything going on? Hmm, let's see. Drink specials all over the place, free music, Leprechaun look-alike and green Jell-o eating contests, roaming bag-pipers, beer pong on the Strip, and Carrot Top on the rampage? Yup, pretty much an average weekend here. Here's the lowdown, as currently confirmed (all events are on Saturday, unless othewise specified):

• On Friday, March 16 from 5 p.m.-midnight, and from noon-midnight on St. Paddy's Day itself, O'Sheas, which is proudly billing itself as the only Irish casino on the Strip, is hosting an outdoor block party in the street between itself and the Flamingo. The event will feature live entertainment, drink specials, giveaways, and a beer pong tournament with cash prizes.
• 41st Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival at Henderson Event Center & Amphitheater, March 15-18. Admission's free and activities will include carnival rides, games, food, live entertainment, specialty arts, glass blowers. And don't forget the beer pavilion. Thurs. & Fri. 4 p.m.-midnight, Sat. & Sun. 11 a.m.-midnight.
• It's also the 41st Annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner Dance at Fiesta Henderson, March 15 at 6 p.m. Admission is $50 per person, which includes cocktails, a buffet, beer specials, door prizes, a raffle, and a silent auction. Music by DJ Curtain & Irish Affair.
• There's a big St. Patrick's Day Festival out at Lake Las Vegas on March 16 & 17. Admission's free and activities include Irish dance performances, Irish songs and storytelling, traditional food, and crafts.
• Downtown Henderson hosts the 41st Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17 beginning at 10 a.m., with Carrot Top peforming the role of Grand Marshal. The parade begins at E. Ocean St. and will continue to E. Victory Rd.
• Fremont Street Experience is having a two-day celebration starting Friday March 16 at 6 p.m. with Graffiti playing on the 3rd Street stage. On Saturday March 17 at 2 p.m. they start the Leprechaun look-alike, Green Jell-o-eating, and Irish Jig contests. There will also be live music all day. Free.
• JET, the nightclub at Mirage, will be celebrating with their annual "Shamrocks and Shenanigans" night, featuring staff attired in the hottest green outfits available and a specialty green cocktail of the night. Doors open at 10:30 p.m.
• McCormick & Schmick's seafood restaurant (335 Howard Hughes Center) will be celebrating with holiday specials on Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17 starting at 5 p.m. each day. There will be live music, Irish drink specials featuring green beer, Guinness, Bushmills, and Baileys, not to mention traditional dishes like corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew. This year's celebration will also include a live radio remote with 97.1 The Point registering guests to win a meet and greet with Jay Leno.

  Plus, the restaurant will also fete the city's cab drivers with their 3rd annual "Happy St. Cabby's Day," offering a complimentary breakfast between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. to cab drivers. Plus, if a cabbie stops by anytime before 5 p.m., he or she can also pick up a special gift certificate, while supplies last.

• On St Patrick's Day, Fadó Irish Pub at Green Valley Ranch will feature various bands, including Finnegan's Wake at 3 p.m., Achtung Baby at 7 p.m., and Darby O'Gill and the Little People at 11 p.m., plus there will be food and drink specials all night.
• Jack's Irish Pub at Palace Station will be serving a special Irish menu all day and will also have drink specials and live music.
• Nine Fine Irishmen at New York-New York has 3 different bands play throughout the day, plus drink and food specials. Admission starts at $20 from opening time at 11 a.m. but expect the cover charge to go up during the day as the festivities proceed and the crowd expands.
• Sean Patrick's on W. Flamingo. Flamingo (across from the DMV) says it'll be too crowded with revelers to have room for any bands to perform, but they will have the traveling bag-pipers will stop in a few times during the day. Phew. Plus, there will be food and drink specials all day, naturally.
• JC Wooloughan's inside the Rampart will be having food and drink specials all day -- there's a $10 cover, which includes food. They're also joining forces with The Edge Lounge, jointly taking over a ballroom and turning it into a huge St. Patrick's Day bash, with bands the Wild Celts and Joshua Tree will performing Friday March 16 starting at 4 p.m. Thomas O’Keefe the bag-piper will also be there. Admission to the 3 room party is $20 and also includes food.
• Brendan's Irish Pub in the Orleans will have Killian's Angels at their party and music provided by Wild Celts. Admission's free and the music starts at 5 p.m.
• McMullan's Irish Pub next to the Orleans will have bands all day, starting at 1 p.m. Admission is $15 and activities will include Irish pipers and dancers inside and out.
• Hennessey's on Fremont Street will feature Finnigan's Wig performing at 8 p.m., plus food & drink specials all night. Also, the downtown St Patrick's Day pub crawl on Friday 16 starts out from here at 6 p.m. with the next stop at Jillian's at 7:15 p.m., then Beauty Bar at 8 p.m.; Atomic Liquor at 8:45 p.m.; winding up, if you're still on your feet by then, at the Bunkhouse Saloon at 9:30 p.m. It's $20 per person, which buys you drink specials and various other goodies, and only 100 tickets will be sold, so get there early.
• The St. Patrick's Day Dance at Charleston Heights Art Center takes place on March 17 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Admission is $12. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!