Springtime in Las Vegas is a beautiful thing. The weather is perfect to the point that everything seems right with the world. March is one of the best times of the year to come to Las Vegas---it is great, and there are tons of things that are going on and happening throughout the month. This is no secret, though...a LOT of people make it to our city this time of year. There are hundreds of conventions; students from all over the country make Vegas their Spring Break destination; there is Easter; there is St. Patrick's Day; March Madness, NASCAR; pools are opening up, there are new shows and renewed shows.

Springtime brings a sense of renewal to the air. Since the beginning of recorded history, there have always been celebrations in the spring honoring that spirit of rejuvenation. It is the end of winter. Spring is about re-birth, life after death, and a fresh start after a cold period in our lives. All of these things that we naturally feel in ourselves could easily characterize the nature of entertainment in Las Vegas during March. This is the time to get new things going. In Vegas, just like in any other city in the country, Spring-cleaning will occur, and we'll have more garage sales than at any other time of the year.

Aspiring filmmakers now have a chance to springboard their careers through the Doorpost Film Project, a new contest that will offer monetary awards totaling $300,000 to a fresh wave of talent who produce compelling short films. Interested filmmakers may register online at www.thedoorpost.com; early registration closes April 1. Filmmakers may then upload their submitted films until May 1.

The comic magician Amazing Johnathan announced he is moving The Amazing Johnathan Show to the Miracle Mile/Harmon Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino beginning on Saturday, March 1. I have lost count of the number of showrooms that Johnathan has been in...his has to be one of the more nomadic shows in town. He starts out strong at every venue and then something happens, and he is looking for his next oasis.

Opening at Sahara's Congo Room (where Johnathan just left...) is comedian Roseanne Barr. She will bring her everyday humor and observations to the Sahara beginning March 1st (imagine that...) Barr holds honors as one of the highest ranked comics, landing at #9 on Comedy Central's list of 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time. Barr appeared last year at the New York, New York hotel turning a two-week gig into several months.

The legendary Cher confirmed a long-lived rumor that she will headline in Las Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace beginning May 6. She will be doing approximately 200 shows over a span of three years. Cher at The Colosseum, will feature countless chart-topping hits from the artist's unparalleled career. The show will be complemented by extraordinary choreography from Doriana Sanchez, state-of-the-art lighting and special effects and breathtaking costumes designed by the world-renowned fashion icon, Bob Mackie. With Bette Midler and Elton John already entrenched at the Colosseum, Caesars is certainly the place to be for legendary entertainers.

Barry Manilow is celebrating the third anniversary of his hit show, Manilow: Music and Passion at the Las Vegas Hilton. Manilow opened Music and Passion at the resort on February 23, 2005.

Another long time Vegas performer, Robin Sherwood, has suffered from kidney failure and is in need of a kidney transplant. It is once again time for our community to rally around another in order to help. The Robin Sherwood Foundation has organized a walk-a-thon to raise money. The walk will take place on March 8th. For anyone that is interested, please call 702.580.1856.

Master Mystifier Dixie Dooley returns to the Royal Resort this past month. He made front-page headlines in 1989 by hanging by his ankles upside down 100 feet above the ground and escaping from a regulation straitjacket in less than two minutes. The show promises to be filled with magic and laughter.

Sporting events will bolster the economy in Vegas this month. The race weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the 1st and 2nd will feature all of the big names of NASCAR. The Speedway fully expects to again sell out at this year's event. Over 140,000 fans will be on hand to watch the races---and big crowd always means big entertainment. The other big sports event is the March Madness tournament. Every sports book in town will be packed throughout the event. These events bring in a lot of people, and when the game is over, all these folks want something else great to watch.

There will be a St. Patrick's Day parade in Downtown Las Vegas, and every Irish Pub in the city will put on some sort of celebration.

Easter and the plethora of Spring Breaks always bring in a lot of people.

...In addition, remember that clocks spring forward March 9.

As far as all of the other entertainment goes...during the first weekend of the month...
UNLV Basketball
Thomas & Mack Center Through - Mar 8
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Men's Basketball
Bette Midler
Caesars Palace Through - Mar 16
Las Vegas may never be the same after the arrival of Bette Midler
South Point Winter Championship & Millionaire Classic
South Point Feb 24 - Mar 6 Free
Equestrian Event
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Through - Mar 18
2008 NASCAR Weekend
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Feb 29 - Mar 2
A Night of 1000 Guidos
Suncoast Feb 29 - Mar 2
Bill Engvall
Treasure Island Feb 29
Bravo! National Dance & Talent Competition
Cashman Center Feb 29 - Mar 2
Dave Attell
Mandalay Bay Feb 29
Evolution - A Tribute to Journey
Mandalay Bay 29
George Lopez
Las Vegas Hilton Feb 29 - Mar 1
Home & Garden Show
Cashman Center Feb 29 - Mar 2
International Fight League
Orleans Hotel Feb 29
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Orleans Hotel Feb 29 - Mar 2
Kevin James
Mirage Feb 29 - Mar 1
Kingston Trio
South Point Feb 29 - Mar 2
Marcia Ball
Boulder Station Feb 29
Peace Frog - Tribute to the Doors
Cannery Casino Feb 29 - Mar 1
Race Jam
Fremont Street Experience Feb 29 - Mar 1 Free
Rick Springfield
Green Valley Ranch Feb 29 - Mar 1
Wayman Tisdale
Santa Fe Station Feb 29
Bubbapalooza
Hard Rock Hotel Mar 1
Every Time I Die w/ From First to Last, the Bled & Human Abstract
Mandalay Bay Mar 1
The Sub City Take Action Tour
Kenny Rankin
Santa Fe Station Mar 1
RBD
Orleans Hotel Mar 1
Tennis Channel Open
Darling Tennis Center Mar 1 - Mar 9

The second weekend includes:
Gilberto Santa Rosa
South Point Mar 4
Linkin Park w/ special guests Coheed and Cambria and Chiodos
Hard Rock Mar 6 - Mar 7
Neil Sedaka
Orleans Hotel Mar 6 - Mar 9
W.A.S.P.
Four Queens Mar 6
Air Supply
Suncoast Hotel Mar 7 - Mar 9
Irish Passion
South Point Mar 7 - Mar 9
Jay Leno
Mirage Mar 7 - Mar 8
Pauly Shore and His Dad Sammy Shore
Orleans Mar 7 - Mar 8
A Family Affair
Ragus - Irish Passion
South Point Mar 7 - Mar 9
Regional Dance Tournament
Cashman Center Mar 7 - Mar 9
Viva! - Tribute to Santana
Cannery Casino Mar 7 - Mar 8
Euge Groove
Boulder Station Mar 8
Gipsy Kings
Hard Rock Mar 8
Journey
Planet Hollywood Mar 8
Live
Hard Rock Mar 8
Rascal Flats w/ special guest Kellie Pickler
Mandalay Bay Mar 8


The Third weekend has...
Mountain West Conference Basketball Championship
Thomas & Mack Center Mar 11 - Mar 15
Silverstein w/ The Devil Wears Prada & A Day to Remember
Mandalay Bay Mar 13
Bill Maher
Hard Rock Hotel Mar 14 - Mar 15
Bill Medley with Paul Revere & the Raiders
South Point Casino Mar 14 - Mar 16
David Spade
Planet Hollywood Mar 14 - Mar 15
Flogging Molly & the Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Mandalay Bay Mar 14
The Green 17 Tour
Lou Christie
Suncoast Hotel Mar 14 - Mar 16
Silver Dollar Circuit
South Point Casino Mar 14 - Mar 19 Free
Equestrian Event
Sinbad
Orleans Hotel Mar 14 - Mar 16
The Ides of March
Cannery Casino Mar 14
Crossroads of the West Gun Show
Cashman Center Mar 15, 2008 - Mar 16
Gogol Bordello
Four Queens Mar 15
Jerry Lee Lewis
Buffalo Bill's Resort Mar 15
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao
Mandalay Bay Mar 15
Moody Blues
Planet Hollywood Mar 15
Rattle & Hum - Tribute to U2
Cannery Casino Mar 15
Rattle and Hum: Tribute to U2
Cannery Casino Mar 15
The Gatlin Brothers
Boulder Station Mar 15
The Young Dubliners, the Fenians, Brother & Wild Celts
Hard Rock Mar 16


The fourth weekend presents:
Matchbox Twenty w/ Alanis Morissette and Mute Math
Palms Casino Mar 18
Elton John - The Red Piano
Caesars Palace Mar 19 - Apr 6
Chicago
MGM Grand Mar 20 - Mar 26
Don Rickles
Orleans Hotel Mar 20 - Mar 23
Bob Saget with special guest Jeffrey Ross
Hard Rock Hotel Mar 21
Brandon Bennett's "Elvis My Way"
Suncoast Hotel Mar 21 - Mar 23
Kruse International Spring 2008 Collector Car Auction
South Point Mar 21 - Mar 22
Magician Tim Cole
Whiskey Pete's Hotel Mar 21 - Mar 22
Misfits of Muscle
Tuscany Suites Mar 21 - Mar 23
Najee
Boulder Station Mar 21
Paul Williams
South Point Casino Mar 21 - Mar 22
Ray Romano
Mirage Mar 21 - Mar 22
Reggae Group - the Wailers
Green Valley Ranch Mar 21 - Mar 22
The Nelson Riddle Orchestra
Cannery Casino Mar 21 - Mar 22
Blue Oyster Cult
Boulder Station Mar 22


And the fifth weekend of the month has...
Ace Frehley
Mandalay Bay Mar 26
The Temptations
Orleans Hotel Mar 27 - Mar 30
Tom Jones
MGM Grand Mar 27 - Apr 9
Atlanta Rhythm Section
Gold Coast Mar 28 - Mar 29
Collective Soul
Mandalay Bay Mar 28
Jamz Cheerleading & Dance 2008 National Championship
Orleans Hotel Mar 28 - Mar 30
Jimmy Hopper
Suncoast Hotel Mar 28 - Mar 30
Las Vegas Big League Weekend: Mariners vs. Cubs
Cashman Center Mar 28 - Mar 29
Terry Fator
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 28 - Mar 30
The Limey Bar Stewards
Cannery Casino Mar 28 Free
Mopars at the Strip Party
Tony Orlando
South Point Mar 28 - Mar 30
Wanda Sykes
Planet Hollywood Mar 28 - Mar 29
2008 Extreme Thing Action Sports & Music Festival
Desrt Breeze Park Mar 29
Antonis Remos and Sakis Rouvas
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 29
Bad Religion
Mandalay Bay Mar 29
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Green Valley Ranch Mar 29
Chuck Negron
Cannery Casino Mar 29
Mopars at the Strip Event
Jonathan Butler
Santa Fe Station Mar 29
Joss Stone
Hard Rock Mar 29
Julio Iglesias
Buffalo Bill's Resort Mar 29
Las Vegas Philharmonic: The Music of Led Zeppelin
Planet Hollywood Mar 29
Margaret Cho
Palms Casino Mar 29
Monster Jam World Finals
Sam Boyd Stadium Mar 29
The Heritage Singers & Friends
Cox Pavilion Mar 29
The Music of Led Zeppelin: A Rock Symphony
Planet Hollywood Mar 29
Citizen Cope
Mandalay Bay Apr 1