The happy and sad times of September are upon us...parents are happy that the kids are back in school, while the kids are sad that school is back in session. Businesses are happy that the convention season is about to begin, but businesses have been very sad because of the beating they have taken because of the economy. I think that most of American is happy about the pending election, but also very sad that official campaigning has begun, and we'll have to endure the next couple of months of campaign ads.

The economy has hurt us all. Tourism and gaming are down in Las Vegas...people don't want to pay for the gas that it will take to get across the desert. The foreclosure rate of homes in the city has been staggering. The budget cuts in the schools have been unconscionable---parents are being asked to pitch in and buy the supplies for all of the classrooms...it seems that even paper and pencils have been eliminated from the state budget.

The economy has taken its toll on the shows in town as well. Over the summer, there have been about a dozen strong shows that have closed... "Spamalot," "Hats," "Toxic Audio," "Second City," Gordie Brown, Ronn Lucas, Rosanne Barr, "Ooh La La," and even "The World's Greatest Magic Show," just to name a few. There have been a bunch of smaller shows as well...some that opened and closed so quickly that they never even merited a mention.

Of all of the shows that are going away, I think that I'll miss "The World's Greatest Magic" the most. It was a great show in an unfortunate location, and in spite of tremendous ticket offers, was never able to draw the crowds that it needed. It made a tremendous run at it, but when the going got tough, people decided not to venture over to the Greek Isles...it is a shame.

The only positive note on all of this is that more shows are offering discount tickets and half price tickets than ever before...It is a great time to get a good bargain on show tickets.

There are a couple of shows that will be opening in the near future that will hopefully spark a lot of interest...Donny and Marie Osmond will be the newest headliners in the Flamingo Showroom. Beginning Sept. 9, the duo will delight audiences of all ages with their iconic style of entertainment, the 90-minute extravaganza will highlight Donny & Marie's greatest hits in a multimedia spectacle presented on a custom designed stage with multiple video screens and a large cast of dancers. This will mark the first time in 29 years that they will have performed an extended residency engagement in Las Vegas.

The Cirque du Soleil production of "Believe," starring Criss Angel will open at the Luxor in October...tickets have now officially gone on sale, and the show promises to in fact be...unbelievable.

The trends of fall in Las Vegas are very much the same as elsewhere in the country---it's time to get back to work, summer break is over. The pools and pool parties are starting to close, and the big business of conventions is on the horizon for our city. We finally get a break from the summer heat and fall (which is one of the best times of the year,) is upon us.

The NFL is getting started---which means that sports books across the city will be happy, and thousands of wives will be seeing shows, as thousands of husbands are watching and betting on the games.

Olympia Weekend...the most prestigious event in the world of bodybuilding, returns to the Orleans Arena, September 25 through 28, 2008. Mr. Olympia is a bodybuilding competition held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB). Winning this event is considered to be the highest accolade in the professional bodybuilding field. Fitness enthusiasts from around the world will take part in Mr. Olympia, Ms. Olympia, and Fitness and Figure Olympia Championships.  

In keeping with the storied tradition of the Binion's legacy, Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel has unveiled a new version of the famed $1 Million Display that, over the last five decades, has brought millions of visitors for a chance to pose with $1 million. Binion's new $1 Million Display holds exactly one million dollars and is structured in a pyramid design of acrylic glass boxes filled with cash denominations ranging from ones to one hundred dollar bills. The new display is only one of many changes taking place at Binion's during the remodeling and refurbishment of the property. The $1 Million Display is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Photo subjects must be 21 or older...(which is a shame...I got my picture with the million dollar display when I was 12.)

"V-The Ultimate Variety Show" is celebrating its sixth year in production. "V" originated at the Venetian in 2002 and moved to the V Theater in 2003 when producer David Saxe bought the theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

August 16th was the 31st anniversary of the death of Elvis Aaron Presley. Still very much alive in Las Vegas, homage was paid to him by of fans at the statue of him in the lobby of the Las Vegas Hilton.

One of the best family events of the year is the 29th Annual San Gennaro Feast, they promise to be bigger than ever with more Italian entertainment, food, music and carnival rides. This huge Italian Festival is expecting over 150,000 attendees. The Feast will be held at 4245 Grand Canyon Drive and West Flamingo Rd., in the Grand Canyon Shopping Center, Sept. 9 through Sunday Sept. 14. The State Fair-sized carnival featuring more than 60 spectacular rides and game-midway will accompany the Italian Festival the biggest we ever had.
...and right after the Italian festival is the Greek Festival.

The Magical Forest at Opportunity Village is now looking for volunteers. It takes 70 – 90 volunteers a night to run the event, and it is one of the great celebrations in our city. To get involved contact Debbie Smith at 702-880-4081 or write her at: smithd@opportunityvillage.org

Mexican Independence Day is now celebrated in Las Vegas, and September is jammed with some of the brightest and most notable Latin artists around.

September is a busy time with a lot of great headliners coming into town.

The first week of the month has:
Cher
Caesars Palace, Through Oct 5
Steve Dacri: Impossible Magic
SIX TABLES RESTAURANT, Through Nov 30
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Hotel, Through Oct 1
UNLV Football
Sam Boyd Stadium, Through Nov 22
Bob Dylan
Hard Rock Hotel Sept 1
Judas Priest
Palms Casino Sept 1
Motorhead w/ Misfits, Airborne, Vallient Thor, Year Long Disaster
Mandalay Bay Sept 4
Alice Cooper, "Psycho Drama"
Orleans Hotel Sept 5 - Sept 7
Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters
Hard Rock Sept 5
Brian Culbertson
Santa Fe Station Sept 5
Collective Soul
Hard Rock Sept 5
David Allan Coe
Cannery Casino Sept 5
David Brenner
Suncoast Hotel Sept 5 - Sept 7
Harvest Festival Art & Craft Show
Cashman Center Sept 5 - Sept 7
NHL Rookie Exhibition Game - Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks
Orleans Hotel Sept 5
SCORE Primm 300
Primm, NV Sept 5 - Sept 7
Shinedown w/ Red & Jet Black Stare
Mandalay Bay Sept 5
Vicki Lawrence
South Point Casino Sept 5 - Sept 7
Petula Clark
Cannery Casino Sept 6
Skid Row
Sunset Station Sept 6
Young Dubliners
South Point Casino Sept 7

The Second week brings:
2008 High Roller Reining Classic
Mandalay Bay Sept 9 - Sept 14 Free
Brian Wilson
Buffalo Bill's Resort Sept 9
Cracker
Hard Rock Sept 9
Donny & Marie Osmond
Flamingo Sept 9, 2008
The Temptations
Orleans Hotel Sept 11 - Sept 14
Billy Idol
Hard Rock Sept 12
Gabriel Iglesias
Monte Carlo Sept 12 - Sept 13
John Davidson
Suncoast Hotel Sept 12 - Sept 14
Lady Antebellum
Green Valley Ranch Sept 12
Log Home & Timber Frame Expo
Cashman Center Sept 12 - Sept 14
Luis Miguel
Caesars Palace Sept 12 - Sept 15
Mary Wilson
South Point Casino Sept 12
Paul Rodriguez, Frank Lucero, Manny Maldonado & Gene Pompa
Treasure Island Sept 12
Polo Polo
Mandalay Bay Sept 12
Ray Romano & Brad Garrett
Mirage Sept 12 - Sept 14
Shawn Barker - A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Santa Fe Station Sept 12 - Sept 13
Sister Hazel
Sunset Station Sept 12
Al Green
Buffalo Bill's Resort Sept 13
Alan Parsons
Santa Fe Station Sept 13
Amanda Miguel & Diego Verdaguer
Las Vegas Hilton Sept 13
An Evening with Jaguares
Mandalay Bay Sept 13
Casamayor vs. Marquez
MGM Grand Sept 13
Enrique Iglesias and Aventura
Mandalay Bay Sept 13
Eric Burdon & the Animals and Rare Earth
Cannery Casino Sept 13
Eve 6
Sunset Station Sept 13
Jesse McCartney w/ the Higher
Mandalay Bay Sept 13
Las Vegas Mariachi Festival
Planet Hollywood Sept 13
Neville Brothers
Green Valley Ranch Sept 13
Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook Expo
Cashman Center Sept 13 - Sept 14
The Black Crowes w/ Special Guest Howlin Rain
Hard Rock Hotel Sept 13
The Marriage Experience
Cashman Center Sept 13 - Sept 14
Rodeo De La Decada Tour
Thomas & Mack Center Sept 14
Toadies
Mandalay Bay Sept 14
Alejandro Fernandez

The third week of the month features:
Mandalay Bay Sept 15
Placido Domingo
Planet Hollywood Sept 15
Sonora Show
Mandalay Bay Sept 15
Terry Fator
Las Vegas Hilton Sept 15 - Sept 17
Vampire Weekend
Hard Rock Sept 15
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks
Orleans Hotel Sept 16
Nina's Night Out featuring Jessica Simpson
Palms Casino Sept 18
The Bangles
South Point Casino Sept 18
Boyz II Men
Orleans Hotel Sept 19 - Sept 21
Home Decorating & Remodeling Show
Cashman Center Sept 19 - Sept 20
Janet Jackson
Mandalay Bay Sept 19
Jay Leno
Mirage Sept 19 - Sept 20
Michael Lington
Santa Fe Station Sept 19
Paul Williams
South Point Sept 19 - Sept 21
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Hard Rock Sept 19
The Fab
Cannery Casino Sept 19 Free
Time Out for Women Conference
Cashman Center Sept 19 - Sept 20
Tony Bennett
Las Vegas Hilton Sept 19 - Sept 20
Tower of Power
Suncoast Hotel Sept 19 - Sept 21
6th Annual Hoodie Awards - presented by Steve Harvey
Orleans Hotel Sept 20
Billy Ray Cyrus
Cannery Casino Sept 20
Children of Bodom w/ Between the Buried In Me and The Black Dahlia
Mandalay Bay Sept 20
Foreigner
Buffalo Bill's Sept 20
Keiko Matsui
Green Valley Ranch Sept 20
Kid Rock
Palms Casino Sept 20
Knock Out Kings of Comedy
Planet Hollywood Sept 20
Lindsey Buckingham
Hard Rock Hotel Sept 20
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 350
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept 20
Seal
Green Valley Ranch Sept 20
Common & N.E.R.D.
Mandalay Bay Sept 21

The fourth week of the month presents:
Arena Mountain-X Bike Competition
South Point Casino Sept 24
Trapt
Mandalay Bay Sept 26
Foo Fighters
Hard Rock Hotel Sept 25 - Sept 26
Atmosphere w/ Blueprint and Abstract Rude
Mandalay Bay Sept 26
Bobby Rydell
Suncoast Hotel Sept 26 - Sept 28
Bonnie Tyler
Cannery Casino Sept 26
Cecilio & Kapono
Four Queens Sept 26
Jay Leno
Mirage Sept 26 - Sept 27
Mr. Olympia
Las Vegas Convention Center Sept 26 - Sept 28
Richard Marx
Green Valley Ranch Sept 26
Roger Williams
South Point Casino Sept 26 - Sept 28
The Osmond Brothers
Orleans Hotel Sept 26 - Sept 28
Beauty Health & Fitness Expo
Cashman Center Sept 27 - Sept 28
Charlie Murphy
Mandalay Bay Sept 27
Great American Model & Talent Search
Cashman Center Sept 27
Little Anthony & The Imperials
Tropicana Resort Sept 27
Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche
MGM Grand Sept 27
Louis C. K.
Hard Rock Hotel Sept 27
Soul Express
Santa Fe Station Sept 27
The Lettermen & the Vogues
Cannery Casino Sept 27
Wine Amplified Festival featuring the Gin Blossoms & Sherwood
Mandalay Bay Sept 27
Queensryche
Mandalay Bay Sept 28

And the last week into October will bring:
Chicago
MGM Grand Oct 2 - Oct 15
Indian National Finals Rodeo
South Point Casino Oct 2 - Oct 5
Las Vegas Bikefest 2008
Cashman Center Oct 2 - Oct 5
Acoustic Alchemy
Santa Fe Station Oct 3
Dana Carvey
Orleans Hotel Oct 3 - Oct 5
Hollywood All Stars
Cannery Casino Oct 3
Mindless Self Indulgence
Mandalay Bay Oct 3
Sheena Easton
South Point Casino Oct 3 - Oct 4
Beach Boys
Buffalo Bill's Resort Oct 4
Chelsea Handler
Palms Casino Oct 4
Disney Playhouse Live!
Orleans Hotel Oct 4 - Oct 5
Norm MacDonald
Mandalay Bay Oct 4
Ray Romano & Kevin James
Mirage Oct 4 - Oct 5
Santana w/ the Salvador Santana Band
MGM Grand Oct 4
The Guess Who
Cannery Casino Oct 4