Question of the Day - 12 March 2015

It's a little while since we first received this query and some listings have appeared in the interim, but we also noted how these seem to have been slow in coming this year. We can't explain why, other than to posit that from our own point of view, being on the mouse-wheel of "special-event" listings seems to get ever-more onerous, with press releases already arriving about July 4, and even Halloween, when we've barely gotten "Super Sunday," Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, and Mardi Gras out of the way! Hence, you can perhaps appreciate the pain of those of us attempting to present comprehensive, yet discerning event calendars, when everyone and their dog claims to be hosting "parties" or "specials" that often turn out to be nothing more than over-priced beer buckets or predictable prix fixe-menu offerings. We'd wager that the research department at LVA is not alone in feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, and it's only March!

Another factor, which again we can cite from personal experience only, is that while some venues start trumpeting their wares months in advance, others seem to wait until the absolute last minute, maybe waiting until the competition has declared before settling on their chosen St Patrick's Day (or other event) celebrations.

All that said, we finally feel able to present the best of what we've heard about to-date, so here's our take on the more significant Irish-inspired festivities this weekend and beyond:

• Rí Rá Irish Pub inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Place will be partying from Sunday, March 15 thru Tuesday, March 17, with live music, giveaways, Irish dancers, a bagpiper (is that a promise or a threat?!), and authentic Irish grub. The party starts at 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, with an early noon kickoff on St Patrick's Day itself.
• New York-New York is party central. For starters, they're turning the fountain green, then the new Shake Shack will be serving special limited-edition "When Irish Fries Are Smiling" crinkle-cuts topped with horseradish cream, scallions, and crispy applewood-smoked bacon (not even slightly Irish, but they sound good!) Fri. 13 thru Mon. 17 ($4.50). Wash 'em down with some equally inauthentic chocolate-mint frozen custard, just because you can. The big party's at Nine Fine Irishmen, however, where the FREE festivities run March 14-17, with live entertainment and food/drink specials on the new Strip-front plaza.
• Rockhouse in the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian will offer green-colored adult beverages of various shapes, sizes, and prices on Tuesday, including green draft beers ($5); 64-ounce "super beers" ($27); 100-ounce "super yards" ($38 and is a "super yard" longer than a regular yard?!); 80-ounce beer guitars (also $38), and $5 Irish Car Bombs (the most offensively named cocktail of all time?)
• O'Sheas continues its legendary St. Paddy's Day Block Party at The LINQ, with music, balloon artists, stilt walkers, leprechauns, beer pong, giveaways, and a whole lotta green beer, from noon on Saturday through whenever on Tuesday (if you can handle it).
• McMullan's Irish Pub (by the Orleans on W. Tropicana) will feature not one, but two stages with live music on March 17, from 4-11 p.m. (outside) and from 2 p.m. onward (inside).
• Crazy Horse III topless gentlemen's club will throw a "Shamrocks and Shots" party on Tuesday, with $5 Jameson shots before midnight.
• J.C. Wooloughan Irish Pub at JW Marriott hosts a St. Patrick's Day Blowout on 3/17, featuring a special Irish-themed menu, along with drink specials, swag, and live Irish and rock music courtesy Holes & Hearts (1-6 p.m.) and Finnegan's Wake (7-11 p.m.)
• Downtown always gets down for St Patrick's Day, with a weekend-long FREE St Paddy's celebration on Fremont Street, including live bands and other entertainment, plus drink specials galore. On 3/17, the new Downtown Events Center hosts the annual Las Vegas Valley Firefights St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fremont Street, from noon, followed by other family-friendly firefighter fun. Gold Diggers lounge/club at the ice cream floats, $4 Bushmills shots, half price Guinness/Harp specials and, naturally, a Naughty Leprechaun Bikini Contest at midnight. The Fremont Country Club hosts the St Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Smackdown, presented by Midgets Unleashed, featuring "the ultimate in midget wrestling" on 3/17. Tickets are $21 ($22 for guests aged 18–20 because... No, we don't know why). Triple George on 3rd Street will feature a "green-themed" menu, with entertainment from Ryan Whyte Maloney and Cali Tucker.
• Henderson hosts the annual Southern Nevada Sons & Daughters of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival on Water Street on Saturday, with festivities including a carnival, car show, an Irish whiskey-tasting contest, and lashings of live entertainment. In addition, Emerald Island Casino goes all-out on 3/17, with hors d'oeuvres, Irish coffee, cake, and party favors. Corned beef and cabbage will be available for $9.99 from 11 a.m-8 p.m., plus the Super Bonus Multiplier Wheel of Cash will be doling out free cash every 20 minutes, from 2-9 p.m.
• In the Miscellaneous category, M Resort's Spa Mio is offering 20% off all green-colored retail products throughout the entire month of March., while from 3/14-17, American Apparel in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Ho is offering customers 25% off all green and orange apparel.