March 2021
Happy Anniversary! …well, sort of… We mark the milestone of one year under lockdown conditions from the Covid-19 pandemic. A year ago, we never imagined that things would last this long…a few weeks, a couple of months…surely by the fall… It’s been a year. Throughout the summer, a lot of people still thought it was all fake; “come on…do you actually know someone that’s been infected?” Mostly “no,” responses have now turned into mostly “yes” responses. The world has been touched, and we will all be forever changed by this past year. The entertainment industry in Las Vegas has been decimated by this. We have started to see some entertainment coming back. As restrictions are lifted, more and more shows are finding ways to safely come back, but it is still only a fraction of what was offered a year ago…but we now see hope. We see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is still a moving goal line, but the end is in sight…vaccines are starting to be effective.
I hope that everyone got something out of this past year. Ten months ago, I told my daughter that she was being given the gift of a gap year and to make it count. I’m very proud to say that she has, and I’m also happy to say that I’ve been no slouch either. It’s actually been a very productive year for me…financially, it’s been pretty horrific, but that too shall pass.
Springtime in Vegas is the best time in Vegas. The average temperature in Vegas for the month of March is 76 degrees and rarely falling below 58 or exceeding 86. Nationally, March is the least productive month of the year…because they all want to be in Vegas! All of these distractions make it so easy to not be productive. It’s springtime!! We have just shaken off the winter and we are ready to play…so why not play in Vegas? March is one of the best times of the year to come to Las Vegas.
Daylight savings starts March 14th, and the vernal equinox is on the 20th, which is the official start of spring.
And things are coming back…people are being allowed back into arenas, shows, restaurants, etc. There is still limited capacity, but it is coming back. Hockey, March Madness, NASCAR, and shows are all on the horizon. There are reasons to come back to Vegas.
Springtime has been celebrated by every country and culture for as long as there have been countries and cultures. As the earth regenerates itself after the winter, we feel that sense of renewal as well. Something inside us just wants to bring life and freshness to our lives. We clean things out…repair, plant, and grow things. Our modern day celebration centers around young adults making pilgrimages to warm climates to celebrate the sun, drink spirits, and engage in fertility rites and rituals….this is also known as Spring Break. And Las Vegas is one of the chosen destinations for these modern day festivals.
Spring brings us hope and celebrates life.
In Ireland, It’s St. Patrick's Day! St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, and many people don't realize that the serpent was actually a metaphor for the early Pagan faiths of Ireland. St. Patrick brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle, and did such a good job of it that, for a while, he practically eliminated Paganism from the country…and now, in celebration; we drink!
Every aspect of March seems to be about celebrating life. Spring Break…let’s drink! St. Patrick’s Day…let’s drink green beverages! NASCAR, March Madness…well, you get the idea.
March was named for Mars, the Roman God of war and a mythical ancestor of the Roman people by way of his wolf-suckling sons, Romulus and Remus. March has historically been the perfect month for both farmers to resume farming, and warriors to resume warring…almost all major US-NATO led military operations since the invasion of Vietnam have begun in the month of March, i.e., Vietnam (initiated March 8, 1965), Iraq (March 20, 2003), and Libya (March 19, 2011) all follow the trend.
March contains a lot of interesting celebrations…March 3rd is I Want You to be Happy Day, and If Pets Had Thumbs Day. The 4th is Employee Appreciation Day, Holy Experiment Day, and Hug a GI Day. The 5th is Multiple Personality Day, the 8th, Be Nasty Day; the 9th, Panic Day; and the 11th Worship of Tools Day – us guys can relate. National Pi Day is the 14th - Why today? Because 3.14 is the value of Pi. The 15th is the Ides of March, Dumbstruck Day, and Everything You Think is Wrong Day. The 16th is Everything You Do is Right Day; the 17th, Saint Patrick's Day; the 18th, Goddess of Fertility Day, Supreme Sacrifice Day; and the 20th is Extraterrestrial Abductions Day, and Proposal Day. The 22nd is National Goof Off Day; the 26th, Make Up Your Own Holiday Day; the 27th, National "Joe" Day; the 29th, Smoke and Mirrors Day; and finally, the 30th is I am in Control Day.
"It's time to make some green!" said The Gazillionaire this morning while emerging from his underground bunker to prepare for the reopening of ABSINTHE® by Spiegelworld. Gaz and the Green Fairy will bring their signature splash of color back to The Strip this St. Patrick's Day when ABSINTHE® returns on Wednesday, March 17. Spiegelworld remains committed to providing as safe an environment as possible for its guests, performers, and staff at ABSINTHE by maintaining extensive protocols, as outlined in its Health & Safety Plan. Ongoing health and safety efforts include, but are not limited to:
· Reduced audience capacity in parties of two to six at sufficiently distanced cabaret tables spaced 25 feet away from the performers' main stage, per the governor's entertainment moat mandate.
· Upon arrival, guests are asked to participate in a brief verbal health screening and no-contact temperature check before being ushered to their color-coded pod in the outdoor courtyard. Audiences are brought in and out of the venue by color section to avoid congestion at entrances and exits.
· Masks are required to be worn by all artists, staff, and patrons while indoors and outdoors. Guests may briefly remove their mask while actively drinking but are otherwise asked to keep their face covering on.
· A cashless, QR code-based cocktail service eliminates lines at the bar.
ABSINTHE's world-famous spiegeltent, including seating areas and all frequently touched surfaces, is sanitized before and after every performance.
Due to high-demand, Meow Wolf has announced the extension of hours at Omega Mart, its sought-after second permanent installation in Las Vegas. The extended hours are a response to the popularity of the exhibit and will be in place starting this week to help accommodate the increased interest in tickets while adhering to current state guidelines for capacity. Omega Mart is "America's Most Exceptional Grocery Store," combining eye-popping art with a rich, detailed narrative brought to life by over 325 creatives. The exhibit features 4 vast themed areas and 60 additional unique environments, including installation-filled rooms, terrains, and portals to other worlds. World-renowned musical and visual artists such as Beach House, Brian Eno, Amon Tobin, Shrine, and Android Jones are among the 50+ collaborators who worked to create this mind-bending experience. Implementing safety practices and protocols to protect employees, guests and the community while combating the spread of coronavirus is Meow Wolf's main priority.
In accordance with revised state guidelines, MGM Resorts will return two shows to the stage this Friday while Brad Garrett's Comedy Club and Thunder From Down Under, already welcoming guests, will adjust seating capacity.
MGM GRAND
David Copperfield – David Copperfield Theater
Performances scheduled to begin Sunday, March 21
Brad Garrett's Comedy Club – Studio A & B Ballrooms
Guests must be 21 years of age or older.
LUXOR
Carrot Top – Luxor Theater
With three decades of comedic performance in his rear-view mirror, Carrot Top is one of the most popular, recognizable and successful comedians in the nation. Utilizing a one-of-a-kind style, the resident show is ever evolving and has become a Las Vegas staple.
FANTASY – Luxor Theater
Guests must be 18 years of age or older
All-time Best of Vegas (2020): Best Female Revue, FANTASY has remained one of The Strip's top productions since its premiere 20 years ago. Popular among singles and couples alike, the always-evolving, sexy production showcases 15 high-energy numbers set to today's top music.
EXCALIBUR
The Australian Bee Gees – Thunderland Showroom
Performances scheduled to begin Monday, March 15
The Australian Bee Gees Show – A Tribute to the Bee Gees is a multi-media concert event with a contemporary perspective featuring state-of-the-art sound and superb lighting. It is the definitive live celebration of five decades of memorable music written by the Brothers Gibb.
Thunder From Down Under – Thunderland Showroom
Guests must be 18 years of age or older
Australia's Thunder From Down Under is the world's No. 1 male revue show – not only performing in Las Vegas nightly, but also touring in dozens of countries worldwide. The longest-running and highest-grossing male revue in the history of Las Vegas provides a sensual adventure for guests, using state-of-the-art lighting, amazing costumes and perfected choreography.
NEW YORK-NEW YORK
Terry Fator – New York-New York Theater
Performances scheduled to begin Thursday, March 18
Famed ventriloquist Terry Fator will perform his new show, "Terry Fator: Who's the Dummy Now?," for a limited engagement. Fator, a Las Vegas Strip performer of more than a decade, became a household name in 2007 when he won Season 2 of "America's Got Talent" with his unique brand of entertainment that combines singing, comedy and unparalleled celebrity impressions.
For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: lvol.com.
Igoshows.com is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production. The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.