Saint Patrick's Day celebration @ Rick's 2907 Main Street, Santa Monica.

Saint Patrick's Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated annually on 17 March, the death date of the most commonly-recognised patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.

Rick's will be celebrating Saint Patrick's day all weekend long.

Scott Kalvert, 'Basketball Diaries' director, dead at age 49

"The Basketball Diaries" director Scott Kalvert has been found dead at age 49.

Kalvert was found at his home and pronounced dead on the scene in Woodland Hills on Wednesday at 1:55 p.m. His death is currently being investigated as a suspected suicide. Kalvert was a well-respected music video director, who worked with artists such as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch ("Good Vibrations"), DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith ("Parents Just Don't Understand"), LL Cool J ("I'm That Type of Guy"), Salt 'N Pepa ("Shoop") and Cyndi Lauper ("I Drove All Night"). After working with Mark Wahlberg on the "Good Vibrations" shoot, Kalvert took a risk and cast the hip-hop star as a hot-headed hoops player alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1995 drama, "The Basketball Diaries." Kalvert went on to direct the 2002 Stephen Dorff crime movie "Deuces Wild." Kalvert most recently served as an executive producer on Nick Cannon's 2009 film "School Gyrls," in which Justin Bieber and Soulja Boy appeared as themselves.

ROMANCE RUMOR DU JOUR: LUPITA NYONG'O LINKED TO CANADIAN RAPPER

It's only been four days since Lupita Nyong'o took home an Oscar (and our hearts), but she's already being linked to someone new. And if the speculation turns out to be true, it's a match made in apostrophe heaven. Shortly after the Oscars, the actress, 31, was photographed outside a taping of "Live! With Kelly and Michael" sharing a hug with K'Naan, 36, a Somali-Canadian rapper.

Even more interesting: He was holding her award. We already know Nyong'o is a fan of his music, with her makeup artist recently revealing how the actress turned her on to K'Naan. Plus, he Instagrammed a barely there photo of the two of them a few months ago. But is something more going on? Right now, it remains unclear. Lupita's rep did not respond to our request for comment, and the K'Naan rumors are among many that have surfaced this season. First up was Lupita's alleged dinner date with fellow Oscar winner Jared Leto, who jokingly called her his "future ex-wife" during his Independent Spirit Awards acceptance speech. On Wednesday, they were photographed sharing a laugh during Paris Fashion Week. Meanwhile, the London Sun (aka the Grain of Salt Times) claims she has an "incredible connection" with her "12 Years a Slave" co-star, Michael Fassbender, who joins castmate Chiwetal Ejiofor as grist for the Lupita rumor mill. According to the tab, Fassy brought his mom to the Academy Awards to show Nyong'o that he wants to "get serious." Not so, says a source close to the pair, who assures Gossip Cop that the story is "100 percent false."

HOW and Why A High-Tech Jet Is So Hard to Find

The pervasiveness of consumer technology that can track our every move has left some people scratching their heads as to why something so much more technically advanced, like the Malaysia Airlines jet carrying 239 people, could just disappear from the sky.

Experts say the technology used to track an airplane like the Boeing 777 is state of the art, and leaps and bounds more sophisticated than anything you’ll find in a consumer device. But it could have the same weakness that consumer technology has. “GPS and tracking devices only work if they’re turned on or if they’re not destroyed,” said Scott Hamilton, aviation analyst for the consulting firm Leeham Co. No one yet knows what happened to Malaysia Airlines flight 370. Hamilton said it’s possible the pilot or someone else turned off the transponder, or that the plane was destroyed in a sudden, violent event that also knocked out the tracking system. There are also secondary radar systems, but Hamilton said those have some dead zones, particularly over large bodies of water. William McCabe, president of the aviation safety consultancy The McCabe Group, said it’s very rare in the modern era for air traffic controllers and others not to know exactly where an aircraft is at all times, because of the overlapping technologies and procedures designed to make flying safe. “It’s hard to know why that stopped,” he said. “Normally you can track an airplane extremely precisely, much more than a car.” Still, there has been some discussion about augmenting existing technology with even more advanced systems, such as technology that would transmit in real time all the detailed information experts usually find in a black box long after the catastrophic event.

Newtown shooter Adam Lanza's father: "I wish he had never been born".

The father of Newtown, Conn. school shooter Adam Lanza told a writer for The New Yorker that he and his ex-wife, Nancy, never suspected their son was dangerous. "Nancy Lanza had grown up a ‘live free or die’ New Hampshire gal, and she had a sense that guns were part of everyday life,'' author and journalist Andrew Solomon told Savannah Guthrie on TODAY Monday. Nancy, a gun enthusiast who was shot and killed by her son, kept several firearms in the house. The Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle that Adam used belonged to her. "I don’t think guns should be a part of everyday life, but I think they had no sense that Adam was dangerous. They thought he was peculiar, but they never thought he would hurt anyone. Peter, who taught him to drive, said he was the 'safest, most cautious, most rule-following person I ever met.''' In an article in this week's issue of The New Yorker, Peter Lanza spoke to Solomon, the author of "Far From the Tree," a book about how parents deal with children — including criminal children — who are different from them. Lanza told Solomon in the piece that he does not mourn the loss of his son. "He said...that he really felt that he wished Adam had never been born, and he said he struggled with coming to that, but what happened was so horrific he could only wish it away,'' Solomon said. It is the first time since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012, when Adam fatally shot 20 children and six staff members before killing himself, that Peter Lanza has spoken out. "He's haunted,'' Solomon said about Peter Lanza. "He wishes he could go back in time and fix what went wrong. He’s a kind, decent man, and he’s horrified that his own child could’ve caused this destruction." "He said he’d been contacted by so many victims’ families, and he said he finally thought his story was an important part of the puzzle and that he had a moral obligation to tell it,'' Solomon said. "That it might help the families, or it might help prevent another Newtown." Lanza has had several "heartbreaking" meetings with families whose children were killed in the shooting. "He said one of the families had said to him that they were ready to forgive Adam," Solomon said. "He said a family that lost their son, their only son. He said, 'If my trading places with them could ease their pain, I’d do it in a heartbeat.''' In the article, Lanza indicates that he believes Adam's diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome may have masked potential schizophrenia. "Adam had what was then called Asperger’s syndrome and what would now be autism spectrum disorder,'' Solomon said. "He had a certain amount of autism, and the autism made him as his father said, ‘very weird.’ Because they had a diagnosis, it didn’t occur to them that anything else was wrong. "Whenever Adam was being strange or peculiar, he thought it was just the Asperger’s, and he didn’t look past it. But Adam saw a huge number of psychiatrists and psychologists, and none of them detected hints of violence. (Peter) said he wishes he tried harder because he said, ‘Anything I did differently might have changed the outcome, and the outcome couldn’t have been worse or more evil, but at the time I didn’t see it.''' Lanza also indicated that his ex-wife, Adam's mother, Nancy Lanza, may have masked Adam's deterioration in the time leading up to the shooting. Peter Lanza had not seen Adam for two years before the shootings. "Nancy Lanza was always trying to give Adam a good day, and she didn’t think enough about giving him a good life,'' Solomon said. "She dealt with the crises as they came along, and she wasn’t open. She was trying to make everyone think everything was OK as her son got worse and worse." But Peter Lanza does not blame his ex-wife. "He very specifically doesn’t blame her,'' Solomon said. "He said, ‘I was trying hard. She was trying far harder. She did her best.’''

Arsenio Hall' Surges With Prince Appearance

Showing force during a highly competitive time in late-night, the host's Wednesday episode jumps 50 percent from recent averages and ties "Jimmy Kimmel" in the demo.

The Arsenio Hall Show got a healthy infusion of buzz on Wednesday night when the host sat down with Prince for almost the entire duration of his syndicated talk show. Prince Takes Over the 'Arsenio Hall Show,' Debuts New Funky Song Hall's late-night effort, renewed for a second season but recently a conversational afterthought with so much attention being paid to NBC's Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, jumped 50 percent from recent averages in the key adults 18-49 demographic. That puts him ahead of much of the later and smaller cable competition (Craig Ferguson, Chelsea Lately and Conan) and actually ties ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! Both broadcasts averaged a 0.6 rating. Among households, Hall grew even more. The show was up 56 percent from its February sweeps average, pulling a 1.4 rating in the overnights. That's the highest overnight Hall has earned since his September 2013 launch week. Though he recently stopped by Fox's New Girl, Prince's TV appearances are few and far between. In addition to a sit-down with Hall, Prince took audience questions and performed three songs.

Philip Seymour Hoffman's final starring role gets May release

The Oscar winner filmed God's Pocket in his native New York last summer and had been promoting

the drama, in which he stars as Mickey, a man who tries to cover up the accidental death of his crazy stepson, at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January (14).

The movie, directed by and co-starring Mad Men actor John Slattery, has now been given a 9 May release date in the U.S., while it will be available on video-on-demand on 14 May.

Hoffman had also been in the midst of shooting scenes for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Parts 1 & 2, in which he plays Plutarch Heavensbee.

The first Mockingjay film is scheduled for a November (14) release, with the sequel to follow in 2015.

Hoffman died from a drug overdose on 2 February (14), aged 46.

Affordable spring break destinations

                                                 BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI MINI VEGAS

I went to visit family in Memphis TN, and they took me to Biloxi. While in Biloxi we went to the casino. My mom doesn't gamble, so her and my daughter went for the ALL YOU CAN EAT SEAFOOD. I went to the SLOTS and won $1600 within 15 minutes. Fun place. Biloxi, located along the Gulf Coast, is one of the South's hidden gems. Back on the map after Hurricane Katrina's wrath, the city offers sun, sand, historic landmarks, and gambling aplenty. Unlike many spring break destinations in the South, you can get a hotel room here at spots like the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for a nightly rate of $100 or less. Even if gambling isn't your cup of tea, the hotel boasts a collection of music memorabilia that is definitely worth a stop. The greater Biloxi area is suffused with history, and much can be experienced free or cheap. The Historic Train Depot is home to the Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum and the Bay St. Louis Mardi Gras Museum (both no charge). Visit Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, for a minimal admission fee. The 51-acre estate is also home to a Confederate cemetery and the grave of Davis's father, Samuel. For a special treat, take a day trip to New Orleans, about 90 miles away.
                                                             
                                                                    Washington, D.C.

The nation's capital abounds with free activities that appeal to families and college students alike. The monuments and Smithsonian museums are always free, but the city takes on a special glow around spring break during Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival's three-week run features fireworks, a parade, and performances like the Blossom Kite Festival. Cherry blossom trees line the walkways around the Washington Monument, making this a destination not to be missed. The Washington Metro is the best bet for cheap transportation, especially when stacked against the cost of parking and/or renting a car. To get the best value, avoid peak times, weekdays from 5:00am to 9:30am and 3:00pm to 7:00pm. On Friday and Saturday nights, peak times include midnight up to closing at 3:00am. Accommodations and food are not particularly cheap in D.C. Budget hotel rooms within walking distance of popular landmarks cost about $150-$200 a night; lodging on the outskirts of the city goes for about $100 a night.
                                                                       
                                                                            Vermont

While many of us associate spring break destinations with warm and sunny, don't overlook deals up north. Vermont is chock full of ski resorts, organic farms, and maple syrup, a winning trifecta for an adventurous and cheap vacation. Skiers can find many resorts offering discounted rates through early spring. A "Kids Ski and Stay Free" package is available through April for families that ski and stay in and around Stowe. Lodging is discounted up to 25 percent at select hotels and adult lift tickets are reduced by 15 percent. Other special deals throughout the state during March and April include lift tickets as low as $25 and lodging up to 30 percent off. Vermont is famous for its maple sugar industry and March and April are peak syrup-making season. Spring break is your chance to indulge at destinations like Sugarbush Cheese and Maple Farm in Woodstock, a 90-minute drive from Stowe. You can visit the sugarhouse to see how maple trees are tapped and taste the end product. Many maple sugar farms in the state, including Sugarbush, are free to visit and provide a cheap, fun, and educational activity when you need a break from the slopes.
                                                   
                                                      Curacao, Southern Caribbean

An all-inclusive resort may be the ticket for keeping the tab manageable when travelling to a tropical locale, like Curacao. You know upfront how much you'll be spending and can expect few surprises. All your food, drink, and some recreational activities are included. Many resorts on this island also offer hotel and flight packages, which may save you even more. Run the numbers with airfare and without to ensure you're getting a deal. And when figuring out how far your budget will stretch, remember to factor in tips for the resort staff (cleaning service, room service, and the like). An all-inclusive resort vacation in Curacao works for a family or a couple. Look for marketing language like "adult only" or "family friendly" to help distinguish among the options. Many resorts also add in extras that increase the value. At Sunscape Curacao, for example, activities like windsurfing, kayaking, and rock climbing are part of the prepaid package, as are age-appropriate kids camps.

                                                                          Montreal

A trip overseas usually doesn't make for a cheap spring break, but some of the European charm can be enjoyed close to home. Head up to Montreal and stroll through the city's center, Vieux-Montreal (Old Montreal), where you'll walk on cobblestone streets surrounded by stunning architecture. Other free sites include Mile End, a neighborhood filled with artistic delights; Olympic Park; St. Patrick's Basilica; and TOHU, a venue for all things circus. While booking your lodging, check out cheap rental properties instead of hotel rooms. These cozy stops offer many more comforts of home than a hotel room and some can be yours for as little as $60 a night. Budget hotel accommodations start at about $50 a night; more upscale rooms near the city center go for about double that. Make the most of your Canadian sojourn by hopping the Montreal-Quebec City train for a starting price of $29 each way.

Drought drags on: Storms didn't quench Calif.'s thirst

Almost 95% of the state of California remains in a drought, the same as last week.

The storms that walloped California last week slightly eased the state's epic drought, but the state is still drastically short of moisture, the U.S. Drought Monitor reports. "Short-term benefits from the storms were mostly offset by still-large, three-year precipitation deficits, low reservoir levels and a sub-par snowpack," according to this week's Drought Monitor, a federal website that tracks drought across the country. The monitor shows that 94.56% of the state of California remains in a drought, the same as last week. However, the area of "exceptional" drought -- the worst category, in dark red on the map -- dropped from 26.21% to 22.37%. The "blockbuster" storm last week and weekend did avert a record-breaking season for dryness in California, according to meteorologist Brad Rippey of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, author of this week's monitor. The storm brought "drought-easing rainfall to coastal areas and beneficial snow in the Sierra Nevada," Rippey wrote. One spot in the central Sierra picked up 4 feet of snow from the storm, while reports of 2-3 of snow were common across much of the central and southern Sierra, according to the National Weather Service. "In addition, rain in California's agricultural regions temporarily eased irrigation requirements and aided drought-stressed rangeland and winter grains," he said. The storms accounted for more than 75% of the season-to-date precipitation in cities such as Burbank (which picked up 4.78 inches) and Los Angeles (4.52). On Feb. 28, Los Angeles — with 2.24 inches — experienced its wettest day since March 20, 2011. "However, spring and summer runoff prospects improved only slightly, as pre-storm snowpack values were near record lows and because drought-parched soils soaked up most of the available moisture," Rippey reported. "In addition, the storm moved too far south to provide optimal amounts of moisture in California's key watershed areas, with the heaviest precipitation occurring in coastal and southern California rather than the Sierra Nevada." While the worst of the drought is in California, much of the rest of the West and a large part of the Plains also are enduring some level of drought. Almost the entire USA east of the Mississippi River remains drought-free. Looking ahead for the next week or so, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) predicts that most of the western USA, including California, will experience warm, mostly dry weather. Long-term, the CPC also predicted Thursday a "50% chance" of a weak El Nino climate pattern developing later in the year. El Nino, a warming of tropical Pacific Ocean water, affects weather in the USA and around the world. Impacts in the U.S. sometimes include a calmer Atlantic hurricane season and additional precipitation for the West and South. However, an El Nino was predicted in 2012, yet never formed. Also, as noted by meteorologist Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services, El Ninos don't automatically deliver more precipitation to California: "Historical records for the past six decades for central California, including the Bay Area, show that during the 18 El Nino events, the rainfall has been above normal half the time and below normal the other half." Null wrote on his website.

Warrant: Ex-NFLer Darren Sharper acknowledged sex wasn't consensual

Ex-NFL star Darren Sharper and an acquaintance acknowledged that they had sex with two women in New Orleans "without their knowledge or permission," according to an arrest warrant released Thursday. Sharper, 38, who has been charged with seven rape and drug counts in connection with two alleged attacks in Los Angeles, was taken into custody again last week after New Orleans police issued the warrant for his arrest. He remains in a Los Angeles jail pending a court hearing Friday afternoon. Two women told New Orleans police that Sharper and his friend — identified as Erik Nunez, 26 — each had sex with them while the women “were under the influence of an unknown substance” on the night of Sept. 23. The women said they were “substantially impaired by the substance to a degree that both do not recall the entirety of the sexual intercourse,” the warrant said. Each woman said she “awoke from the stupor” to find Sharper on top of her, “completely nude,” according to the warrant. Both denied consenting to the sex, police said. Another person, described only as a “known acquaintance,” came into the apartment that night and found Sharper in his boxer shorts, the warrant said. The person then saw Nunez leaving Sharper’s room, also wearing just underwear. “Through further investigation by the Detective’s it was learned that Nunez and Sharper admitted to other known witnesses that he and Sharper had vaginal and/or oral sex with victim’s #1 and #2 without their knowledge or permission,” the warrant said. Blair Berk, a Los Angeles attorney representing Sharper, said reports that her client told others the sex was not consensual were “absolutely false.” New Orleans police obtained a warrant for their arrest on suspicion of aggravated rape, which authorities said carries a prison sentence of hard labor for life. An Orleans Parish district attorney’s spokesman said Thursday that it remained an open investigation and charges had not been filed. In all, Sharper is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting at least eight women in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Tempe, Ariz. A ninth woman has accused him of sexual battery in Florida. The five-time Pro Bowl selection was suspended from his job with the NFL Network after he was first arrested by the LAPD in January; he has since been fired. Charges have been filed only in the Los Angeles case, though officials in the other jurisdictions said their investigations remain ongoing. Tempe Police Sgt. Mike Pooley said his department had expected to present its case to prosecutors this week, but that could be delayed as they await lab results. Sharper has pleaded not guilty to the Los Angeles charges. "We look forward to the true facts being revealed in this case, and we are hopeful that Mr. Sharper will be fully exonerated before this case is concluded," Berk previously said. Court documents outline a disturbing pattern in the alleged incidents in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Tempe, which occurred between Sept. 22 and Jan. 15. Victims reported meeting Sharper — usually at a nightclub — then going back to his hotel room or home. Sharper allegedly offered the women shots to drink, after which they reported immediately blacking out. Many of the women woke up with little or no memory of what happened, but felt as though they had been sexually assaulted. The court documents initially said only one woman had been assaulted in New Orleans, but when police announced the arrest warrant, they said “new information” revealed the second victim.