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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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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Valentine’s day is only 4 days away. Oddly, Neil Diamond’s classic song, “Turn On Your Heartlight” popped into my mind. Sure, it’s a bizarre choice when there are countless love songs out there to choose from…but then again, why not? Valentine’s Day is all about HEARTS! Maybe you’re a sappy romantic…maybe you’re someone who’s been obliged to recognize the holiday (due to the expectations of a certain significant other?), or perhaps you’re just one of those people who looks forward to those delicious chalky Sweetheart candies…there’s something for everyone to do on Valentine’s Day.

Here are the TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON VALENTINE’S DAY:

Number 10

Reenact your first date - Get nostalgic with your significant other. Women love it when their men remember the details of the past. It’s like celebrating an anniversary…but more festive!

Number 9

Enjoy a romantic dinner for two at your favorite restaurant…or try something new and interesting — how about chocolate fondue at The Melting Pot? If you’re not too embarrassed about PDA, you can lick the chocolate off one another!

Number 8

Indulge your significant other with a massage, or better yet — reserve a couples massage at your local spa.

Number 7

Cuddle up and watch a romantic movie like Atonement, Juno, or P.S. I Love You.

Number 6

Share a bottle of champagne at a local wine bar — it’s the perfect time to pop open the bubbly!

Number 5

Spend time with your family and make Valentine crafts and cards or sweets with your kids!

Number 4

Reserve a hotel room and take a romantic weekend getaway!

Number 3

Get out of the house (even though it’s a weeknight) for some entertainment and treat yourselves to a night out on the town! Try a comedy show, symphony performance, or art exhibit!

Number 2

Want to satisfy that huge craving for chocolate? Visit a Chocolate Factory for a delectable tasting of all kinds of confections!

Number 1

Most importantly, just spend time with your loved one — focus entirely on one another for the entire evening and have a fun!

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

*Flickr Photo credit: Sweetheart Candies by Thorne Enterprises

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Although most of us celebrate the new year on January 1st, there is plenty to celebrate according to the Lunar New Year calendar. On February 7th, we’ll welcome The Year of the Rat by announcing: “Gung Hay Fat Choy” (Cantonese) or “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Mandarin) with hopeful wishes of prosperity.

The color red, a symbol of “good luck,” can be found everywhere on Chinese New Year. Grand festivities and lively celebrations are a cultural tradition. For those who can visit a Chinatown (located across the country in major metro areas), it’s not difficult to miss the startling sound of firecrackers and the deafening clamor of the gong, cymbals, and drums, followed by the elaborate costumes worn by Chinese lion dancers. The lion dancers transfix their audience by moving to the rhythm of the commotion, which resonates throughout the neighborhoods as they chase away evil spirits and bring good fortune.

If you’re looking for something a bit more tranquil, try a Chinese New Year Tea Tasting at the Cha Ma Gu Dao Teahouse to peacefully ease into the new year.If you like community events with parades and floats, the Chinatown Street Fair is a must! You and your family can enjoy dance and music, and also experience ancient and modern Chinese arts such as calligraphy, kite making and acrobatics.

What about the United States Miss Chinatown USA Pageant? Who will be crowned this year at the Palace of Fine Arts on February 16th? For almost 50 years, young women from throughout the United States have come to San Francisco to compete for prizes and scholarships in the annual Miss Chinatown USA Pageant. The winners will become goodwill ambassadors for the Chinese community throughout the year.

If you’re hungry, wander through the Chinese enclaves and arouse your sense with different flavors, smells and aromas. Try a dim sum restaurant like Chau Chow Dim Sum for a tasty sampling of Chinese lunch dishes or indulge your family with an authentic 10-course banquet dinner feast at Empress Pavilion Restaurant.

If you’re really serious about Chinese culture and language, try taking a Mandarin language course or a 15-day study abroad trip to China. What better time to learn to speak the native tongue…especially with the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics just around the corner?

Go ahead and celebrate 2008 a second time around! It’s a great excuse for another New Year’s celebration…but this time with a cultural twist!

Photo/Video Credits: Flickr User: T.O. Wong - Year of The Rat, YouTube User: Kleinkill, Pageant: 2007 Miss Chinatown Court

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What do you typically do to get into the holiday spirit? Isn’t it time for a break? Set aside the home decorations and holiday food preparation for a moment and get out and do some fun activities with the family!

One of the favorite holiday traditions is illuminating the neighborhood with lights! Sure, everyone can deck out their homes to look like Clark Griswold’s house from the famous holiday movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but did you know that several parks also have holiday light displays with over 500,000 lights? Vasona Park has their annual “Fantasy of Lights” and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has their “Holiday Lights Extravaganza.”

Have you ever gone on a sleigh and horse drawn carriage ride? Seems like a magical experience like the episode from Sex And The City where Carrie and Alexandr Petrovsky soar through the snow in Central Park! Why not make it a reality? Although it could be a problem if you don’t live in a climate with snow, there’s always the horse drawn carriage minus the sleigh!

For those who like culture and the arts, enjoy the famed Nutcracker Ballet, watch the symphony orchestra featuring your favorite holiday classics, or go see a wintry theater arts performance.

Find time to relax and enjoy yourself this festive holiday season!

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