Question of the Day - 15 March 2013

Oh, nothing much -- St Paddy's isn't really a big deal in Las Vegas.

Just kidding! Green Beer Day, as it tends to be known in these parts, is one of the biggest annual excuses for a city-wide celebration we can think of (not that we need an excuse around here) and this year it seems to be bigger than ever. From bar crawls to bikini contests, beer specials to bagpipes, and beer pong to body painting -- and whether you're in an Irish pub or a Tequila bar makes no difference, because everyone's in on the action -- here, in no particular order, other than the one in which the press releases piled up on our desks, is our guide to the biggest parties and promos taking place in Las Vegas this St. Patrick's Day (using "day" in its loosest sense -- it's pretty much a long-weekend affair).

• J.C. Wooloughan Irish Pub at the JW Marriott will be celebrating from March 14-17 with food & drink specials, traditional Irish bagpipers and dancers, plus the Guinness and Jameson Girls, live music, happy hours, and more (there's more?). No cover March 14-16 ($20 on March 17).
• House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay is going Celtic (why not?) with live performances on March 16 and 17 from bands including The Chancey Brothers, Celtic Connection, Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones, Emish, and Searson. The party starts at noon and tickets are $45, which includes an all-you-can-drink beer garden.
• New York-New York is tapping into its Irish roots with the annual Celtic Feis -- a Gaelic arts and cultural festival -- inside Nine Fine Irishmen and on the Brooklyn Bridge, from March 15-17. Admission's free on Friday and Saturday, $25 on Sunday, which includes one free pint of Guinness or a shot of Jameson. (All guests 21+ and wearing a kilt on St. Patty's Day will receive complimentary admission to Celtic Feis and The Bar at Times Square.)
• A St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival will be held March 14-18 in downtown Henderson. The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. on March 14 with a carnival in the Henderson Events Plaza, while the Parade will be held on March 16 from 10 a.m. on Water Street, followed by a car show at noon.
• Rí Rá in the Shoppes at Mandalay Bay Place is celebrating all-week long with live music, Irish food, drink specials, and more.
• Flogging Molly will be performing at the Boulevard Pool at Cosmopolitian at 9 p.m. on March 16.
• Rhumbar at the Mirage will be serving $4 green beers, $5 Guinness and Black & Tans, $3 shots of Jameson/Bailey's Irish Cream, and $6 Irish Car Bombs on March 17, plus a variety of festive hookah flavors (that well-known Celtic tradition) will also be available, including Apple Martini, Spearmint, and Irish Cream.
• Silverton casino is hosting a 'Skip the Strip' St. Patrick's Day Party, with $30 all-you-can-drink at all casino bars from 2 p.m.-6 p.m., plus a "St. Pabst Day" Beer Pong Tournament, and an Erin Go Braugh Mug Challenge at Shady Grove Lounge.
• It's Senor Patrick's Day all weekend at Senor Frog's inside TI, with $19 two-for-one green draft beer yards, $26 two-for-one "Lucky" green margarita yards, $8 Guinness draft beers, $12 Irish Car Bombs, Karaoke, live music, and contests throughout the weekend.
• Cabo Wabo Cantina inside the Miracle Mile Shops is celebrating Baja-style with $4 green Wabortias and green beers, live music, and food specials, on March 17.
• Rockhouse inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian is offering $5 draft beers, $20 64-ounce Super Beers, $35 80-ounce Guitar Beers, $38 100-ounce Super Yards, and a special St. Patty's Day frozen Pina Colada (another Irish staple), all in the holiday's signature green hue.
• The 5th Annual St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl kicks off on Fremont Street at 2 p.m. There's no cover but you must RSVP in advance to attend. The event will feature more than 16 hours of bands and live entertainment, plus drink specials at Golden Gate, the D, Fremont, Binion's, Four Queens, Golden Nugget, Hennessey's, and others.
• The Palms weekly the GBDC party will have a special St. Patty's edition, with a hosted Miller Light bar from 1-2 p.m. and sounds by DJ Mark Stylz and Alie Layus.
• March 15-17 Quinn's Irish Pub at Green Valley Ranch will feature $4 draft beers, $5 Thin Lizzy shots, Red Leprechauns, and Irish Car Bombs, and live music. No no cover.
• Jack's Irish Pub inside Palace Station will be serving $3 Jameson shots and $5 Irish Car Bombs March 15-17, plus free shows by Nick Materra all weekend.
• It's the 10th Annual St Patrick's Day Party at Three Angry Wives pub March 17, featuring an outdoor beer garden, street food by Fukuburger and Sausagefest food trucks, cash and prize giveaways, and live music all-day long. Admission's $10 at the door.
• The D downtown is reverting to its former Irish roots as Fitzgeralds, just for the weekend, and encouraging guests to kiss or rub the Blarney Stone that's found a new permanent home in the 2nd-floor Vue Bar. After kissing the stone, gambling guests can test their new luck by trying to earn festive green t-shirt that reads "I Got Lucky at the D" from their table-game and slot play, throughout the month of March. There will also be live entertainment Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights on the Third Street Stage, plus festive drink specials at LONGBAR on Sunday, including $5 Dirty Girl Scout Cookie shots and Irish Car Bombs, plus the obligatory $4 green beer.* Those looking to party till the top o’ the mornin’ can choose the Smoking Irish Fog – a secret recipe served in a 44-ounce goblet.
• McMullan’s Irish Pub will host a Grand Irish Festival -- a three-day celebration of all things Irish, all weekend, including live entertainment with the Celtic Crown Dancers and traditional Irish band Beeswing. The pub's food and drink menus include more than 40 Irish whiskeys and traditional Irish fare (check out the Irish nachos, which are neither Irish nor nacho, but who cares? They're really good!)It's free to attend March 15-17, with a $20 cover on Sunday.
• Hennessey’s Tavern on Fremont Street is partying through the weekend, starting Friday night with live music and the opening of its St. Patrick’s Day beer garden. Sunday’s debauchery will feature entertainment by the Las Vegas Firefighters Pipe and Drum Corps, eye candy courtesy of the body-painted Jameson girls, and beer pong in the bar’s Claddagh Room (skip the Bud Light this time and sink a few cups of Guinness!). It's free before 7 p.m. each night through the weekend, then a $5 cover kicks in. Entry to the beer garden is free.
• Lavo at Venetian is "Irish-ifying" its weekly Champagne Brunch, so ditch the bubbly for Guinness on tap (or combine them as a yummy Black Velvet) with an open Guinness bar from 2-3 p.m., or check out the specialty cocktails made with Bushmills Irish Honey. Brunch is served from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. March 16 and it's the final one of the season, so go out with a bang.
• CollectiveZoo.com is hosting its second annual St. Patty’s Day Bar Crawl downtown (let's hope downtown revelers don't accidentally end up on the wrong pub crawl, if there is such a thing -- see above). The night kicks off with bus transportation to the El Cortez from all corners of the valley and there will be a social-media scavenger hunt for prizes throughout the tour, so don't forget your smartphone. There's limited space on each bus, but a critical mass must be reached for each party bus to take part, plus ticket prices (currently at $30/person) increase as less spots remain, so sign up without delay!
• Naked Pool at Artisan will be hosting a Teenie Weenie Green Bikini contest on March 17th. There's no cover and tops are optional. Free Artisan thong with entry (naturally), plus drink specials including $5 Guinness and $8 Hennessy.
• If its corned beef and cabbage you're craving, there's a St. Patrick's Day-inspired weekend feast at Aliante, with traditional Irish-inspired* menus being served at Bistro 57; MRKT Sea & Land; Salted Lime (*e.g., green carnitas); and the Medley buffet.
• Pubcrawls.com is hosting anothre a three-day series of Pub Crawls this St. Patty's Day weekend (yikes, it's getting crowded out there) from March 15-17, with daily registration at Senor Frog's at TI, and drink specials including $1 domestic drafts. Registration starts at $15 for one day and once you sign up you'll receive a map of all the participating bars around town.

However you choose to celebrate, we wish all our readers a fun -- and safe -- St. Patrick's Day. Sláinte!