Welcome to the Morning Buzz, a catch-up on interesting happenings around the city and country and a quick guide to what (and who) to keep your eyes on. We'll be here, first thing every weekday, to get you going. Here's what's buzzing this morning:
If you're looking to hunt down a few leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day, don't bother looking in the Irish Cultural Center (it won't be finished) or emptying your box of culturally offensive marshmallow cereal.
Instead, pack a net and head to Peoria, where a large group will attempt to beat the current Guinness Book of World Records for "Most Leprechauns in One Place at One Time."
Looks like we're running out of records ...
There will be no large call for short people, and we hear our favorite leprechaun, Cheuy, has other plans for St. Patrick's Day. But the first 700 people to arrive at Johnny Fox's Public House on March 17 will be given a leprechaun costume and a certificate of participation from the Guinness Book of World Records.
Plans are to break the current world record of 250 leprechauns (set by a group in Dublin, Ireland in 2011) at 4 p.m..
The booze fest has roots in Irish culture, though most true Dubliners and country folks skip the bar in favor of a loaf of soda bread.
In Phoenix, the three-day schedule of shenanigans includes the annual parade in Downtown Phoenix on Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m.. The parade route starts at Third street and Virginia and heads south from Sheridan to Moreland. The irish Faire is scheduled to follow after in Margaret T. Hance Park. The green beer will of course follow (and precede) the festivities at every semi-irish pub in the Valley.
Johnny Fox's, at 16100 North Arrowhead Fountains Center Drive, will be awarding one leprechaun-costumed participant an all-expense paid trip for two in Ireland for seven days, including airfare, and hotel accommodations. More info here.
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