Why Las Vegas has Golden Knights Fever

Las Vegas waited so long for a major league sports team that the Las Vegas Golden Knights would have had plenty of fans here no matter how their first season went.  I don't think any of us locals imagined that our new team would blow away the competition and end up in the Stanley Cup Finals their first year, so we're eating up every bit of their success!

Last June, as in previous years I worked as a stand in on the NHL Awards, this time for NHL correspondent Kathryn Tappen. I participated in the rehearsal of the NHL Expansion Draft in her place. The Draft was to be televised live during the awards show. Here were all these draft picks from other NHL teams coming up on the board. All of these guys were about to be part of something completely new, a team, OUR team, named the Las Vegas Golden Knights. I wondered how these players felt, were they excited or wary of this new chapter in their careers?  Of course I didn't wonder for long as now they're having the season of a lifetime!

Me with Cathy, Beth, & Samantha, three generations of Knights fans!

One of the things I noticed early on was the way the Golden Knights embedded themselves in our community. And I don't just mean after the Route 91 tragedy. Even before that they were having open practices at their practice facility City National Arena, and holding some fan and season ticket holder events around town. The owners of the team must have known that the people of Las Vegas needed to feel like a part of this team and the players needed our support in return for the team to thrive. 

Yesterday morning, the day of the first Stanley Cup Finals, the Golden Knights tweeted as they sometimes do, a surprise open practice for up to 600 people.  My husband and I jumped in the car and checked it out as we live close by. The place was full of fans, a DJ playing fun beats and the Arsenal (the VGK apparel shop) was packed with people suiting up for the finals. I chatted with fans like Cathy, Beth and Samantha, a Grandmother, Mother and Daughter representing three generations enjoying the morning together, bonding all season over their love of the Golden Knights.  

Last September we also attended an open practice. Back then there was a feeling of excitement but also a bit of uncertainty. Las Vegas had wanted major league sports for so long, but how would it all work out? Well now we know. We know the feeling that other cities have had for decades. The excitement that a pro sports team can bring to a town and the good times and friendships its presence helps create. Whatever happens in the rest of the Stanley Cup Finals, Las Vegas is forever changed for the better.

Go Knights Go!  



NHL.com/goldenknights

Las Vegas Aces host their First Home Game

Tonight was the first ever regular season home game for the new WNBA Team, the Las Vegas Aces!

MGM Resorts International bought the San Antonio Stars last year and now they are our basketball team, the Las Vegas Aces.  The Aces play at the recently refurbished Mandalay Bay Events Center which spent $10 million dollars for a fresh update for our new WNBA team. The WNBA season runs from May through September, opposite of the NBA. 

The pre game tonight started with a welcome from fan correspondents Big D and CJ Simpson. You might recognize the name Big D as he's also the In Arena Host for the Vegas Golden Knights. Then the National Anthem was performed harmoniously by Boys II Men, followed by energetic dancing from the Aces' dance team, the Wild Card Crew. 

BUCKET$ and Me at half time

The Aces tried to generate some heat early on but their attempts fell short and the Seattle Storm quickly secured a lead of over 10 points that sometimes stretched to close to 20. At half time the Jabbawockeez performed a short routine and the Aces' new mascot BUCKET$ entertained the crowd.

The second half the Aces were able to close the point gap to 7 but in the end the Seattle Storm outplayed us and they won the game 105 to 98.

Boys II Men performed the National Anthem

The Las Vegas Aces are now 0-3 in their inaugural season. However the season just started and once they get that first win I have the feeling they'll ride the wave to a lot more. After all, this is a team that under their previous incarnations made it to the playoffs almost 50% of the time.

I'm excited to have another major league sports team here in Las Vegas, and don't forget...everyone loves Aces! 

Las Vegas Aces Inaugural Season roster includes Lindsay Allen, Kelsey Bone, Nia Coffey, Dearica Hamby, Isabelle Harrison, Moriah Jefferson, Kayla McBride, Jaime Nared, JiSu Park, Kelsey Plum, Carolyn Swords, A'ja Wilson, Tamera Young. Head coach is Bill Laimbeer.

lasvegasaces.com

Comedy Cellar Las Vegas

Over the past 36 years the Comedy Cellar, located in the basement of a restaurant in New York has become known for having some of the best comics on stage.

The careers of many successful comedians were launched at the Cellar such as Colin Quinn, Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer and Chris Rock to name a few. Whether or not their specific sets get many laughs on any given night, if they have talent they're given a time slot and the mic at the CC.

The Comedy Cellar is also known as a place where up and comers along with legendary comics drop by regularly to do a set and work on their act. On any given night you might see Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell, Leslie Jones or Tracy Morgan try out fresh material.

The Comedy Cellar recently opened a spot in Las Vegas on Flamingo Blvd at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino. The atmosphere has been designed to match much of the original Comedy Cellar, an intimate room with a small stage and a brick wall behind it just like it's namesake. Although unlike the original it's not actually in a cellar.

The show format the Comedy Cellar uses most often is to have several comedians a night that go on for about 20 minutes each, sort of like a comedy relay team.

Last night my sister Karen and I caught a show at our new desert Comedy Cellar. It started off with a host, in this case Mark Cohen who reminded me of Mark Linn-Baker in his Perfect Strangers days. Mark did a lot of audience banter starting with my sister and I, (that's what we get for sitting in the front row).

After Mark was Mia Jackson who is six feet tall even in flat black leather sneakers and successfully contrasted her statuesque physical presence with a soft spoken delivery. I enjoyed her stories about adventures in eating.

Next up was Brian Moses, who started off seeming to have almost nothing to say as if he was surprised to be on stage. We laughed though when he called Karen and I The Real Housewives of Reno. Brian did an intense set using the name LeBron James a lot. I'll leave it at that. The energy lightened up a bit with Jason Scoop who amused the house as he extolled the virtues of being ethnically ambiguous.

Following Jason was Des Bishop, who looked like a cross between a Ken Doll and GQ model and was as hilarious as he was, (to use a vintage word), dashing. Matteo Lane finished us off with his take on the ridiculous intensity of cooking shows and his love/hate relationship with Starbucks. 

Here's hoping the Comedy Cellar has found a long term home here in Las Vegas. 

An Afternoon with Billy Joel

I love a Sunday Matinee and I enjoyed this show.  It shared the story of Billy Joel's life and musical journey through stories, photos and of course, songs! This type of tribute performance is special because it's more than just a performer singing hit songs of an artist. It explores the life of the legend and provides a better understanding of them as a performer and as a person.

A song is more meaningful when you hear the story behind it. For example one of Billy Joel's most well known hits, Piano Man was written and inspired during the time he was waiting out the end of a record contract with a label he no longer wanted to be a part of. He performed during that period at a bar using the fake name Bill Martin. Uptown Girl and Tell Her About It were inspired in part by his beautiful ex wife Christie Brinkley and  Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel) came to him while reading bedtime stories to his daughter. 

Frank LaSpina and CB Goodheart

This stage biography was put on by Frank LaSpina and CB Goodheart.  CB did a beautiful job with Billy Joel's songs as lead vocalist and Frank was a spirited narrator of some of the highlights of Joel's life.

The next upcoming artist tribute will be held at Myron's Cabaret Jazz in Las Vegas on June 10, featuring Ray Charles: The Musical Stage Biography, performed by Dru Young. Additional shows this year will be July 1, August 5, September 9, October 7, November 4, and December 2.

Frank LaSpina is the founder of the Musical Arts Scholarship Program. This foundation provides singing and music lessons to talented children and young adults. For more info or to get involved email Frank at franklaspina@gmail.com

thesmithcenter.com/cabaretjazz

Getting Back on the Horse

When I was very young we moved into a new house in rural Minnesota that my father and grandfather helped build. Even though it was out in the boondocks it was a step up for us. Our family of six had been squeezed into a small place in a neighborhood outside of Minneapolis that was not the best place to raise children. My mother had another baby on the way and my parents did well by getting us out of there. 

Our new house in the country was on a spacious two acres, and although it had no farm we were surrounded by them. For me, the best part of all this were the horses! As a child, seeing horses every day became something I was used to.  Whether on the school bus or walking down our dirt roads our neighborhood was like my own personal zoo with horses behind every neighbor’s fence. Sometimes out of nowhere a horse would wander into our front yard or behind our garage to nibble on the grass. We’d tell mom and she’d start calling around to find out who was missing one of their herd. Awhile later someone would show up with reins and a bit and off they'd go. Local motorists had to be careful for horseback riders who shared our roads. These weren’t cowboys, just people exercising their animals.

One of my chores was to hang the wet laundry on the line in the backyard. The neighbor’s horses would walk up to the edge of their fence and stick their noses over the wooden rail, just watching.  I’d talk to them to help pass the time. They were good listeners. Sometimes I’d put some sugar on my hand and they’d lick it off.  We weren’t supposed to do that but I couldn’t resist as I was confident the horses wouldn’t bite me.

I was a happy kid when on a horse

People often wonder why girls like horses so much. I think it's because they're so strong but also very gentle. There's no such thing as a mean horse, a wild one maybe, but not mean.  

Occasionally my sisters and I would get a chance to ride one of our neighbor’s horses. Jennifer, who had a few somewhat wild steeds provided us access anytime we wanted as long as she was with us. We’d take them on long rides into the woods. It was fun but the hairs on the back of my neck would be standing up the whole  time because we rode bareback a lot. I couldn't show my fear though as Jennifer warned me the horse gets nervous and can sense when the rider is afraid. 

My other friend Sherry had well trained horses and she’d let me ride on the back of her horse with her sometimes. Sherry was an accomplished young rider and I felt safe with her...as safe as one can feel on a giant animal, that is. The last time I ever rode with Sherry was on her pony and it got stung by a bee and took off running in a full gallop like it was shot out of a cannon! She remained calm and got control again and then dropped me off the pony at the end of my gravel driveway so she could get it home and give it first aid. I was just glad I hadn't gone flying off the back!

When I finished high school and left my parent’s home, horses and farms were suddenly no longer a part of my life.  I never went back to the rural life but  when I visit my dad at that same house I always look out the car window for the neighbors horses behind those fences.

Recently I went hiking with my husband at Red Springs which is near our house in Las Vegas. We drove by a horse stable and when that familiar smell of leather and hay hit me I said “I’m going to ride a horse again. It’s time.”  Horses are one of the happier memories of my childhood, and riding one again is a gift I’m going to give myself.