NORMALLY TEMPERATURES NEVER reach 100 degrees until the month of June…and in classically typical Las Vegas style, on June 1st temperatures reached 100 degrees for the first time this year…and yes, it is true, it is a dry heat; and yes, that does make it more tolerable. While many parts of the country have humidity levels in the 70, 80, and 90 percent range; Las Vegas usually has a percentage around 7. This is good and bad—it is standing in a convection oven, rather than a sauna. Without lotion, the dry air will suck out any moisture that you may have in your body, and you will burn faster here than a day at the beach. Summer in Vegas is hot…pools and parties are the main tour de force for the season, and the entertainment usually brings a lot of wonderful surprises throughout the few months ahead. Schools are out all over the country. College-aged persons will come to Vegas and try to emulate the commercials and the mystique of this town—usually without the success and panache for which they would hope. Sometimes these folks think that normal rules of society don't apply to this town…trust me though; drunk and disorderly and drunk driving will still get you thrown in jail. Families will come in, have a good time, but find that there is less and less that the entire family can do on the Strip. (Actually, there are a lot of things that the family can do, but most tourists don't venture away from the casinos to find them.)

Las Vegas is my home. It is known as a party town, as Sin City, as the Mecca of gambling, as the Entertainment Capital of the World, as the oasis in the desert…but as a whole, it is a town like any other. The rest of it is good PR that gets you to come here and spend tourist dollars. People don't seem to understand that. I have been asked in which hotel I live (as if houses were not a part of the overall landscape of the city). I am often questioned how I could possibly raise a daughter here. I have been asked if drinking and gambling are a part of my daily life.

The corridor of gambling is centered on the Strip, and the Strip (while formidable) is only a small part of a much bigger city. Like most people, I live in a house in a real neighborhood, and this is a great place to be raising my daughter because she has more opportunities to see art, artist, theatre, and entertainment here, than almost anywhere else on the planet, and no, I'm not a gambler.

But I digress…
Entertainment abounds in Las Vegas, and June is a busy month…

KVBC News 3 anchor Nina Radetich, Star 102.7, and The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort have joined together to present the 4th annual Nina's Night Out on Thursday, June 7, 2007. The annual fundraiser for the Rape Crisis Center will feature multi-platinum singer/songwriter Avril Lavigne, performing tracks off of her new album, The Best Damn Thing. Avril will perform at The Pearl, the new concert theater at the Palms. Ticket prices range from $50–$115. To date, Nina's Night Out has raised over $250,000 for the Rape Crisis Center.

Legendary entertainer Clint Holmes, a favorite on the Las Vegas stage, previews his autobiographical musical "Just Another Man" beginning June 1, exclusively for Las Vegas audiences, inside the Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV. The show, a look at the life and career of an extraordinary talent, will eventually travel to London, before hopefully premiering on Broadway. "Just Another Man" is based on the true story of Holmes' parents—his father an African-American jazz musician and his mother, a classically trained opera singer from Great Britain. It begins in 1944 and covers six decades. "Just Another Man," is presented by the Nevada Conservatory Theatre. The show plays through most of the month.

"Simply Ballroom" has closed at the Golden Nugget. This misplaced show fulfilled its six-month contract, and now it is gone…and the following day, "Defending the Caveman" has opened. The one-day turn around was easily accomplished for this one-man show that defends the men in the world of relationships. There are a lot of empowering stories for women, but very few for men…an no, we are not perfect (and we don't really even try to be,) but we are mostly lovable…and this play take a look at the lighter side of relationships from the male point of view. It has had a lot of success across the country, and we send out our best wishes for its success here.

Matsuri is starting its run at the Sahara.

Hans Klok (with Pam Anderson) has begun its run at Planet Hollywood.

CineVegas will be holding its annual film festival at the Palms again this year from the 6th to the 16th. This even has grown every year, and draws some of the top names in the entertainment industry to Vegas. It has become one of the major "Hollywood" events here in Las Vegas.

The Greatest show on Earth is once again in town, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be at the Orleans Hotel from the 21st to the 24th. It is a great event for everyone.

As far as headliners and concerts this month…

Hans Klok "The Beauty of Magic" w/ Pamela Anderson
Planet Hollywood | May 17, 2007 - Jul 12
The stage spectacular will combine the illusions of Klok, fresh off his sold-out European tour with …
Howie Mandel
MGM Grand May 28, 2007 - Jun 13

The first week of the month…
Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Orleans Hotel Jun 1 & 2
James Darren
Suncoast Jun 1 to 3
Ray Romano
Mirage Jun 1 & 2
The Killers
Hard Rock Jun 1
5th Annual Best in Show
Orleans Jun 2
Jazz in the Park: Jimmy Scott
Clark County Amphitheatre Jun 2 Free
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Buffalo Bill's Resort Jun 2
Lang Lang
Lake Las Vegas Jun 2
Neal McCoy, Jamie O'Neal, More…
Cannery Casino Jun 2
Ohio Players
Boulder Station Jun 2
The Higher w/ the Cab and You In Series
Mandalay Bay Jun 2
The Sax Pack
Green Valley Ranch Jun 3


The second week will have:
Ultimate Flair Bartending Championship
Harrah's Las Vegas Jun 4 to 7
Alejando Sanz
Palms Casino Jun 6
Ball4Real - Streetball World Tour
Orleans Hotel Jun 6
CineVegas
Palms Casino Jun 6 to 16
Citizen Cope
Mandalay Bay Jun 6
Avril Lavigne
Palms Casino Jun 7
National Barrel Horse Association Super Show
South Point Casino Jun 7 to 10
The Faint w/ Services and the Berg Sans Nipple
Mandalay Bay Jun 7
Brad Garrett
Mirage Jun 8 & 9
Count Basie Orchestra
Cannery Casino Jun 8 & 9
Dion
Suncoast Hotel Jun 8 to 10
John Mayer w/ special guest Ben Folds
Mandalay Bay Jun 8
Peter, Paul & Mary
Orleans Jun 8 to 10
Rick Springfield
Green Valley Ranch Jun 8 & 9
The Roots
Hard Rock Jun 8
True Colors
MGM Grand Jun 8, Featuring: Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip and The Misshapes with host Marga …
Unwritten Law
Hard Rock Jun 8
Chubby Checker
Whiskey Pete's Jun 9
Jazz in the Park: Bill Frisell
Clark County Amphitheatre Jun 9 Free
Jewel
Springs Amphitheatre Jun 9
Keith Urban w/ special guests the Wreckers
Mandalay Bay Jun 9
Lindsey Buckingham
Hard Rock Jun 9
Under the Skin Tour
Morrisey
Palms Casino Jun 9
Nevada Opera Theatre: The Merry Widow
University of Nevada Las Vegas Jun 9
Ottmar Liebert
Boulder Station Jun 9
The Motels
Santa Fe Station Jun 9
USA Wrestling World Team Trials
Las Vegas Convention Center Jun 9 & 10
Chayanne
Planet Hollywood Jun 10
Los Lobos
Four Queens Hotel Jun 10

The third week will have:
Bloc Party
Palms Casino Jun 13
Static-X w/ Otep, Invitro & Otherwise
Mandalay Bay Jun 13
An Evening with Tesla
Mandalay Bay Jun 14
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Jun 14 to Jul 4
Diana Krall
Las Vegas Hilton Jun 14 to 17
Taste of the Nation
Las Vegas Convention Center Jun 14
Bill Maher
Hard Rock Jun 15 & 16
Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
Cannery Casino Jun 15 & 16
Flyleaf w/ Kill Hannah, Sick Puppies & Resident Hero
Mandalay Bay Jun 15
Gerald Albright
Suncoast Jun 15 to 17
Jay Leno
Mirage Jun 15 & 16
John Conlee & Janie Fricke
Santa Fe Station Jun 15
Ky-Mani Marley
Hard Rock Jun 15
Mark Wills
Boulder Station Jun 15
Smothers Brothers
Orleans Hotel Jun 15 to 17
The Police
MGM Grand Jun 15
An Evening with Jaguares
Mandalay Bay Jun 16
David Cassidy
Buffalo Bill's Resort Jun 16
Goo Goo Dolls w/ Lifehouse
Palms Casino Jun 16
Grand Funk Railroad
Green Valley Ranch Jun 16
International Fight League
Las Vegas Hilton Jun 16
Reggae in the Desert
Clark County Amphitheatre Jun 16
Featuring the Wailers, Third World, Don Carlos, the Itals & For Twenty Daze.
Roger Waters
MGM Grand Jun 16
Tex Mex Festival - A Freddy Fender Tribute
Orleans Hotel Jun 16
Father's Day
Sun, June 17

The fourth week will have:
Gershwin Sings Gershwin
Suncoast Hotel Jun 20, 2007 - Jun 22
Johnny Winter
Four Queens Jun 20
Donny Osmond
Orleans Hotel Jun 21, 2007 - Jun 24,
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Orleans Hotel Jun 21, 2007 - Jun 24
Axis of Evil Comedy Tour
Hard Rock Jun 22,
Brandon Bennett's Elvis My Way
Suncoast Hotel Jun 22, 2007 - Jun 24
Quest for the Best: In a Fect vs. Next Movement
Cannery Casino Jun 22
Ray Romano
Mirage Jun 22, 2007 - Jun 23
Sevendust
Mandalay Bay Jun 22,
The Commodores
Mandalay Bay Jun 22,
USA Martial Arts World Championships
South Point Casino Jun 22, 2007 - Jun 24,
A Flock of Seagulls, Missing Persons & Naked Eyes
Cannery Casino Jun 23
Clint Black
Sunset Station Jun 23
Englebert Humperdink
Buffalo Bill's Resort Jun 23
Hatton vs. Castillo
Thomas & Mack Center Jun 23
Keiko Matsui
Boulder Station Jun 23
Three Days Grace & Breaking Benjamin
Hard Rock Hotel Jun 23
Tiger Army Record Release Show w/ the Dear and Departed
Mandalay Bay Jun 23
Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale
Palms Casino Jun 23
Fall Out Boy
Palms Casino Jun 24

Encore Performing Arts Showcase
Red Rock Casino Jun 25, 2007 - Jun 28
Deftones
Palms Casino Jun 26
Hawthorne Heights w/ From First to Last, More…
Mandalay Bay Jun 28
Brian McKnight
Orleans Hotel Jun 29, 2007 - Jul 1
Dino, His Son Remembers starring Ricci Martin
Suncoast Hotel Jun 29, 2007 - Jul 1
Hollywood Allstarz
Cannery Casino Jun 29, Former members of Bonham, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne & Dio.
Paulina Rubio
Palms Casino Jun 29
Peruvian Horse Gold Rush Classic
South Point Casino Jun 29, 2007 - Jul 1, 2007 Free
Steve Winwood
Hard Rock Jun 29
Comedy Explosion
Orleans Hotel Jun 30
Featuring: Rickey Smiley, DL Hughley, Don DC Curry, Lavell Crawford, Dominique
Gwen Stefani
MGM Grand Jun 30
Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone & the Turtles
Cannery Casino Jun 30
Lauryn Hill
Red Rock Casino Jun 30
LeAnn Rimes
Mandalay Bay Jun 30
Miss Vietnam Global
Mandalay Bay Jun 30
Soul Asylum
Boulder Station Jun 30
Three Dog Night w/ the Warren Brothers
Lake Las Vegas Jun 30,
Stars on the Lake with Fireworks

And the last week of the month will include…
Spotlight West Coast National Dance Finals
Green Valley Ranch Jul 1 to Jul 7
Widespread Panic w/ The Crystal Method
Planet Hollywood Jul 3
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Mandalay Bay Jul 4
Lewis Black
MGM Grand Jul 5 to 11
Lionel Richie
Caesars Palace Jul 5 & 6
Coming Home Tour
Blake Shelton
Boulder Station Jul 6 & 7
Charlie Murphy w/ Freeze Luv
Mandalay Bay Jul 6
David Spade
Mirage Jul 6 & 7
Jim Belushi & the Sacred Hearts
Orleans Hotel Jul 6 & 7
Smash Mouth
Las Vegas Hilton Jul 6 & Jul 7
The Platters featuring Sonny Turner
Suncoast Hotel Jul 6 to 8
Fireworks in the Cage
Orleans Hotel Jul 7
Lee Greenwood & Crystal Gayle
Buffalo Bill's Resort Jul 7