(Photo by Hew Burney | SpyOnVegas.com)

We can believe there’s a leprechaun. We can believe there are two leprechauns. We can even believe that there are two juggling leprechauns. But a leprechaun with a mullet? Not buying it. Unless there’s an Irish Whitesnake concert coming up.

By Jason Scavone

Double cheeseburger, hold the Kangol. (Photos by Denise Truscello)

Flamingo headliner George Wallace crushed out the first ceremonial Smashburger (7541 W. Lake Mead Blvd.) yesterday as Mayor Oscar Goodman proclaimed it, in absentia, Smashburger Day. Of course he did. The official Vegas 365 is starting to look like the Vatican calendar. It’s only a matter of time before St. Madison’s Day. Also there for the opening was Chumlee from Pawn Stars. The joint officially opened to the public today, and they’re bringing in Later Days to play on the patio at 10:30 Saturday morning.

By Jason Scavone

Just the essentials: Goofy hat. Bow tie. Beer. Pug dog.

With days of heavy drinking (I realize today is a Wednesday — I hope that doesn’t stop most of you), you have to be prepared for anything that can happen. Everyone has blacked out at least once, and during that time, the awesomest things in your life happened. If you could just remember those secrets you discovered, you’d probably be wildly popular and fantastically wealthy right now. That’s why we drink. To return to that state of excellence.

The life lessons I’ve learned from St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago are lessons that will stay with me forever: $5 and begging and pleading will get the nice South Side parade shuttle driver to pull over the entire bus for a girl to pee; taking a Vicodin for a headache after drinking all day is not smart (and on that same note, it’s really awkward to throw up in the girl’s bathroom sink when the line is out the door and the girls have nowhere else to look but at you, vomiting); and I might want to cut back on drinking a tad if my mother calls every St. Patrick’s Day morning to tell me not to get so drunk and fall in the Chicago River and die. She’d be very sad if that happened. But, this is a plus to moving to the desert — that risk is long gone. (Ed. note: Unless you have a predilection for buying Southwest tickets while blacked out. In which case, game on!)

The lesson I’m passing on to readers today: If you throw up in a sink – or anywhere – today, be prepared. Carry these survival essentials for whatever the Irish throw your way today. Probably snakes. Those dudes seriously, seriously hate snakes: Click for more words and pictures »

By Stephanie Sims

You remember when you’d buy Nerds and get two flavors in one box? This is basically like that.

McCormick & Schmick’s (335 Hughes Center Drive) has a pair of fine Irish traditions today. Other than slurring the words to “Wild Rover” and hating the British, we mean. You can drink something green, or you can drink something with Guinness and Baileys.

The restaurant already did its sixth annual St. Cabby’s Day this morning, where the town’s drivers could come in for free breakfast. Tonight, the 11th annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration starts at 5 p.m. with Irish food, live music from Gary Queen — and a pair of Irish-themed drinks.

First up is the Leprechaun Kiss, a necessary accessory for those who forgot to wear green. Or a bowler hat. Or carry around that In the Name of the Father movie poster. Take fresh lemon juice and add simple syrup, sour apple schnapps and vodka, then shake and strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a mint leaf. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

“Thriller” zombies: two-for-one.

What better way to honor the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death than by selling off some of his creepy, creepy stuff. Sure, the big prize is the red “Beat It” jacket for the three-day auction that starts June 25, but there’s some other choice swag up for grabs. Including: A white glove from the Victory tour, the ’80siest T-shirt ever, this thing and, naturally, a shady painting of a little boy. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

And with just a quick coat of black dye, becomes your Thanksgiving Sexy Pilgrim outfit.

Finally, someone’s doing something to make miniature, money-hoarding trolls the sexy little creatures they ought to be. Blush at Wynn Las Vegas is tossing $2,500 in cash in prizes to the hottest leprechaun to sport green lingerie tonight for Erin Go Bra-Gh 2. It’s getting your St. Patrick’s Day started the right way — the way that involves a bunch of green lingerie. Actually, that’s how we prefer to start our Memorial Day and Labor Day, too. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Not just something you hallucinate after drinking! (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

You just can’t spell Irish without (H)olly Mad(I)(S)on. Crap. We’re a couple letter short. Regardless, Madison is taking on Lucky the Leprechaun in a beer pong battle of the … titans? Er. We’ll re-word that later. O’Sheas is staking its claim as the Strip’s Irish paradise again this year (by which we mean they have an uncontrollable love of the accordion and a terrifying dearth of potatoes) with an all-day festival starting at noon. DJ Irish will be on the turntables while live music starts at 1 p.m. with Joshua Tree. Kings Of Kenmare go on at 3 p.m., Limey Bar at 6 p.m., the Sin City Sinners at 9 p.m. and Irish go-gos all night from 6 to 11 p.m. You can also win your way to the World Series of Beer Pong with a $40 satellite tournament. As if you weren’t going to drink 10 cups of cheap beer anyway. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

It’s one of the few times anyone can get excited about potentially going to Indianapolis. (Photo by Al Powers | SpyOnVegas.com)

The Mountain West is catching some national press for its impressive showing with four teams in the NCAA tournament — more than the ACC, the Big Ten and Pac-10. In a related story, the Ivy League is getting ready to brag about how many schools reach the National Regatta Tournament.

UNLV starts on its quest to return to those 1990-91 glory years tomorrow at 4:10 p.m. when they face Northern Iowa in Oklahoma City. From 4 to 7 p.m., Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 10 percent of food sales to the Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic benefiting the American Cancer Society. The third annual golf tournament, hosted by the Mountain West’s basketball coaches, will be May 23 to 25. The event starts with May 23’s Party at the Palms at 7 p.m. in the Hardwood Suite, where fans can mingle with the coaches. Two days of golf follow at TPC Summerlin and Southern Highlands.

By Jason Scavone

Pictured: What’s in Angie Harmon’s immediate future. (ImagesOfVegas.com)

Former Giants cornerback Jason Sehorn stayed at a Lago suite inside Palazzo this weekend, coming downstairs to spend some time at Lagasse’s Stadium and Carnevino. It’s still sad that the most memorable Giants corners of the last 10 years or so are Sehorn, because he married Angie Harmon, Sam Madison, who was decent but a specialist in sort-of-anachronistic man coverage, and R.W. McQuarters because he had crazy Predator hair.

Meanwhile, Kristinia DeBarge was spotted at the Miracle Mile Sugar Factory with her mom buying up lollipops, including the Birtney Spears signature pop. DeBarge opened for Spears on the Circus tour.

By Jason Scavone

I think we have a contender for the star of the Big Boss Man biopic. (Photos by Erik Kabik)

The Grammy’s Best New Artist, the Zac Brown Band, headlined The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel Saturday night along with a bunch of Georgia musicians and home cookin’ for an eat-and-greet with the fans. Among those were Sonia Leigh, Levi Lowery, Joey & Rory and Nic Cowan. For the Georgia musicians, we mean. Not the food. The Joint would probably frown on that.

The Zac Brown Band is also up for four Academy of Country Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year for The Foundation, Single Record of the Year for “Toes” and Top Vocal Group. Brown himself is up for individual awards as a producer for Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year. The awards are coming up April 18 in town. He and bandmate Jimmy De Martini should really be up for Best Crazy Mountain Man Beard of the Year, too.

By Jason Scavone