Monday, March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day! Once a year, it’s your chance to be Irish — so, adorn yourself with green from head to toe (and avoid getting pinched…unless you like that sort of thing - yow!)

St. Patty’s Day is all about shamrocks, green beer, leprechauns, and corn beef! There are festivals, like the Guiness St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Riverfront Park, NC where you can experience Irish music, dance, food, artisans, and booth displays.

For additional local festivities and parades, try the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Concert at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, CA, featuring Irish bagpipers, Irish bands, street performers, and floats. There’s also the Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Harrisburg, PA or the Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration in Grand Ledge, MI…just to name a few!

For those wild, late night party-goers, check out the Miller Lite ShamRock St. Patrick’s Day Block Party in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp District where thousands flock to the area to experience live music, hot DJs, great food and green beer with 40,000 sq ft of Astroturf (cool!) in the streets!

If you’re looking for a more sophisticated outing, enjoy the Thistle and Shamrock: California Philharmonic Pays Tribute to Celtic Culture performance on Saturday night to see the Cabar Feidh pipe band and Celtic dancers.

But, if you’re interested in something more low-key, you might want to head over to your nearby local pub for a tall glass of Guinness!

• Gene McCarthy’s Irish Pub in Buffalo, NY
• Kell’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in San Francisco, CA
• O’Shea’s Irish Pub in Charlotte, NC
• O’Donoghue’s Irish Pub in Scottsdale, AZ

And to depart with an Irish blessing:

“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you ever step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

Flickr Photo Credits: Shamrock by jciv and Leprechaun by OZinOH’s

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The San Francisco Zoo reopened the “Big Cat” exhibit to the public this past week, which was newly renovated after the fatal incident when the Siberian Tiger, Tatiana, killed a teenager and mauled two others last December.

After two months of being kept indoors, the SF Zoo’s lions and tigers have relocated to their new pen with raised walls, new glass barriers, electrified wires (to keep the animals from trying to escape). Fear not for your safety, the exhibit walls now meet national guideline standards and have been raised to the recommended height of 16.4 feet.

There are over 200 zoos and aquariums in the U.S. So, if you’re in the mood to go outdoors and get a rare glimpse of wild, exotic animals and endangered species, here are our top 5 recommendations:

1 . The San Diego Zoo is world-famous. It’s located just north of downtown San Diego, and is the place to see giant pandas. More than 4,000 animals are spread out over 100 acres. Other exhibit highlights include the new Ituri Forest with its hippos and myriad primates, and Australasia, which has the largest koala colony on this continent.

2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida spans over 500 acres with more than 1700 animals throughout the park. They even feature a ride on the Kilimajaro Safari that will take you throughout the kingdom, as though you were being taken through an African Savannah.

3. The Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington D.C. was founded in 1889 and is a part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. More than 2 million people visit the 163 acre campus every year. The zoo is perhaps best known for its Giant Panda exhibit, and it’s Cheetah Conservation Station and Amazonia, a simulated rain forest.

4. The Bronx Zoo in New York is the largest network of metropolitan zoos in the country with exhibits featuring over 4,000 animals. They’ve got lowland gorillas in their famous Congo Gorilla Forest, leopards in the naturalistic Himalyan Highland Habitat, and nearly an acre of indoor Asian rain forest with an impressive variet of the world’s most amazing wildlife.

5. The Saint Louis Zoo houses more than 17, 900 exotic animals and also features “behind the scenes” tours to see what it’s like to be a zookeeper, giving you a chance to see wildlife up close: penguins, giant tortoises, giraffes, legless lizard, and more. *Just be sure to schedule your tour 3 weeks in advance!*  Oh, and one other notable mention, admission is FREE!
Flickr Photo Credits - Sumatran Tiger by Nikographer, Panda Mei by Somesai, and Peacock Spiffy by Lab2112

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Marilyn Monroe’s seductive version of the “Happy Birthday” song sure gave a new meaning to the phrase, “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.” But on Monday, February 16th, we’ll be celebrating President’s Day to recognize the birthday of the first President of the United States: George Washington. It may be a good excuse to stay home from work/school or take advantage of President’s Day shopping sales…yet there are also many interesting ways to commemorate the man who has been repeatedly ranked by scholars as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history.

Celebrate President’s Day with a walk back in time to the founding of our nation. The Revolutionary War Walking Tour will take you through the streets of lower Manhattan to discover what New York City was like during the revolutionary era. Walk to the steps of Federal Hall, rally at the liberty pole and learn about the pivotal conflict in U.S. history.

Or, join fellow New Englanders at the Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, to honor the life and achievements of George Washington. You’ll toast the president, learn a 19th century dance, and help make a Washington cake!

Visit Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens near Alexandria, Virginia, which is the location of President Washington’s plantation home on the banks of the Potomac River. George Washington resided at Mount Vernon from the time of his marriage to Martha Washington to his death. Visitors can also visit their burial ground where wreathlaying ceremonies are held daily.

Mount Vernon is open seven days a week, 365 days of the year. You’re invited to discover Washington’s life and history, as you explore the mansion house and buildings, including the slave quarters, kitchen, stables, greenhouse, and gardens.

Photo credit (Portrait): Flickr User s0crates82

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The nominations for the 80th Academy Awards were finally announced last week, by Academy President Sid Ganis and Oscar winner Kathy Bates. Of course, we’ll expect to see the traditional glitz and glamour of A-list celebrities decked out in their stunning haute couture - sauntering along the red carpet and posing deliberately for the obsessive paparazzi. Without a doubt, The Kodak Theater at Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles, California will be the prime scene on Oscar night, February 24, 2008.

Unfortunately, not all of us can obtain a coveted seat to the awards show, but if you’re a fan…there are plenty of other ways to take part of the cinematic excitement:

Join Oscar Talk with Jan Wahl, the celebrated movie critic and film historian, who will dish the dirt about the upcoming Academy Awards on Saturday evening, February 2nd at Landmark Vineyards. Win prizes for playing movie trivia…and partake in a lively discussion about whether George Clooney or Daniel Day-Lewis should take home the golden statuette!

See for yourself the Oscar Nominated Short Films Program on February 21st which will contain many of the narrative live-action and animated shorts that are in the running for the 2008 Academy Awards. This is one special category that we don’t often get to see much of!

On February 23rd, the night before the Oscars, walk the red carpet to Oscar-winning music including favorites from Lord of the Rings, Titanic and The Sound of Music with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s: “Off To the Oscar’s” performance.

For those who like extravagant galas and like to be treated like a star, attend a gala event on the official Oscar night: February 24th! There’s the “Oscar Night America - Raleigh” event at Theater in the Park in North Carolina or “Oscar Night America - Buffalo” - both officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Hard Rock Cafe in Boston will be hosting The Ellie Fund charity gala for breast cancer with proceeds benefitting the innovative Care for the Caregiver program.

Take note that there are only 26 days left until the live telecast hosted by Jon Stewart! Be sure to stay tuned to see which of the lucky contenders will get to take home Mr. Oscar! Can we say cha-ching?!!?

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Super Bowl XLII is just around the corner in Glendale, Arizona, just west of Phoenix in the new home of the Phoenix Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium. The new digs are a replacement to the Cardinal’s long time home at ASU Stadium in Tempe and the 88 luxury suites and 25 acres of surrounding retail and entertainment make for the ideal destination for this year’s big game.

We all, perhaps, think of the Super Bowl not for the game itself but the commercials, half time show, and guacamole (it has been said that American’s eat more guac on Super Bowl Sunday than the rest of the year combined) but we at Zvents noticed that it isn’t about Sunday as much as as the amazing list of things to do in Phoenix leading up to February 3rd.

Catch Chris Rock, February 2nd, at The Best Damn Super Bowl Party Period as he performs at their after party live at Ultra Lounge at Prive Super House. If you are lucky enough to score tickets, go for the entire event which starts Thursday with Jenny McCarthy, Ludacris and Holly Robinson Peete of the Hollyrod Foundation who is in town for fashion show fund raiser, “Gridiron Glamour.”

If fashion is your thing (wait… this is a football game isn’t it?), players wives come together to host the Off the Field Fashion Show, a benefit for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital on February 1 from 10am - 2pm. The event gives attendees an opportunity to visit the new SouthBridge real estate and retail development in Scottsdale, said to rival Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive.

Rather party with the celebs? Just opened Taste Ultra Lounge is hosting Friday Night Lights on February 1st with Hugh Hefner, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, and Jamie Foxx making an appearance. The “Tao inspired nightclub” has been one of the hottest places to be in Arizona since its opening in October, 2007.

On January 31st, P. Diddy (or is it just Diddy now?) is hosting a block party outside mega club Axis/Radius in Scottsdale. This two-story dance club has been a Scottsdale epicenter for over a decade and continues to throw the best party in town. You might as well bring a sleeping bag (or Red Bull) to stay first in line for Snoop Dogg on Friday night, Kid Rock and Bud Bowl on Saturday, and (ahem) Girls Gone Wild after the Super Bowl.

If you get past the crowd and inside Axis/Radius on Thursday, you’ll find Nick Lachey hosting the Super Skins Kick Off Party while P. Diddy performs under the stars. We encourage you to find a moment of peace from all this hype and sign up with Nick for the Superskins Celebrity Golf Classic. Multi-platinum recording artist Nick Lachey and two-time reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson have partnered with Prime Cuts Productions to form the Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic prior to Super Bowl XLII. Proceeds from the event, a special Super Skins Online Auction and Super Skins Party, will benefit multiple charities including “The Nick Lachey Foundation” and ” The Jimmie Johnson Foundation.”

Believe it or not, we’ve just scratched the surface and we’re out of breath. Take advantage of Navteq’s Map Network Super Bowl XLII Event Guide which covers just about everything going on in Phoenix related to the game; otherwise, search Zvents for much more in town or stay tuned and we’ll share other opportunities to party in desert.

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