Mark Whittington

Story Archive

Revitalizing urban centers, the developer’s specialty, is badly needed in Las Vegas: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; The Las Vegas City Council voted Wednesday to give exclusive rights for two years to a Baltimore developer to come up with a plan for an arena, entertainment district and casino-hotel on a 20-acre site that includes the current City Hall.
Cordish projects include sports-anchored developments: Company has developed six mix-use developments adjacent to sports facilities; Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009; The Baltimore-based Cordish Co. boasts that it's "one of the largest and most respected developers in the world."
Bob Dylan: Renewed love for a music icon: Friday, Oct. 16, 2009; Five things I know about Bob Dylan: He’s the voice of a generation. He’s written more great songs than I can remember. Some of the best versions of his songs were done by other people. He’s always on tour (his “Never Ending Tour” stops Sunday in Las Vegas). And Bob Dylan is weird. I gave up trying to figuring out what he’d do next — or why — early on. For years I’ve just been sitting back and enjoying the ride. If you are of a certain age, Dylan is a touchstone and his songs chronicle the phases of your life.
Double dipping with Jason Ricci: Monday, Aug. 3, 2009; Jason Ricci and his band blew into town, and blew me away – twice.
Over the decades, Clapton, Winwood have only gotten better: Sunday, June 28, 2009; Some things do get better with age. Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood had a ball Saturday night – and they took 18,000 fans at the MGM Grand arena along for the ride.
Point-counterpoint: Busch strikes a chord, and discord: Racing front-runner won the race, then smashed the prize; Saturday, June 13, 2009; NASCAR has an instigator and his name is Kyle Busch. Although the stock car sanctioning body will never admit it was right for him to smash the Gibson Les Paul custom guitar he received for winning last weekend’s Federated Auto Parts 300 into tiny bits (and pieces) in Victory Lane, it sure was a lot more interesting than watching somebody named Ricky or Rusty getting up there and thanking his sponsors.
Coco Montoya pays homage to Koko Taylor: Blues guitarist recalls how blues singer helped him out of a jam; Friday, June 5, 2009; Coco honored Koko Thursday night. Coco Montoya, who always draws a full house when he’s playing blues night at the Railhead at Boulder Station, stopped two songs into his set to say he was dedicating the night’s performance to Koko Taylor.
Welcome home, Carlos: Vegas’ new ‘resident’ star puts on a show for the ages at The Joint at the Hard Rock; Monday, June 1, 2009; Carlos Santana really could make this “residency” thing work.
After seeing Carlos and Co. blow through an almost two-hour set Thursday night that left me wanting more, Santana seemed an inspired choice for the first extended residency at the new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Santana cooks as Carlos brings supernatural sounds to the Joint: Friday, May 29, 2009; First impressions as Carlos Santana and his band settle into their residency at the Joint at the Hard Rock.
Allman Brothers Band makes new magic in Las Vegas: After 40 years, ABB continues to conjure up sonic wizardry; Monday, May 25, 2009; The Allman Brothers Band turned back the clock Sunday night at Red Rock. The band, touring to celebrate its 40th anniversary, put on a two-set, two-plus-hour show that reaffirmed its place in the musical firmament.
No rocker for Joe Cocker: Aging musician still cutting loose on 65th birthday; Thursday, May 21, 2009; Joe Cocker celebrated his 65th birthday Wednesday night -- with a little help from his friends.
Whodat? It’s your Las Vegas 51s: Friday, April 17, 2009; An e-mail conversation before the home opener:

Thinking of going to the 51s opener tonight -- if the weather holds up.
Tower of Power with the Lon Bronson All-Stars? That is hip: Horn-driven bands converge for 'hang of the century'; Friday, March 6, 2009; They answered the eternal question on Thursday night: What is hip?
Steve Berlin of Los Lobos: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009; Los Lobos seem the unlikeliest of rock stars. What band follows up its No. 1 hit by releasing an album in Spanish?
Defying definition: Los Lobos’ endurance partly due to band’s varying styles, influences; Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009; The last time Los Lobos played “La Bamba,” about 30 members of Ritchie Valens’ family joined the band on stage.
Penn Jillette helps Bronson band create Vegas magic: Foreigner's Domenick Allen also takes stage for show at Green Valley Ranch; Friday, Jan. 30, 2009; Now this is Vegas. “I’m a magician and I’m a juggler, so I’m going to sing for you,” says Penn Jillette, launching into a rambling explanation of how this song was written as the campaign theme for Timothy Leary’s bid for California governor, aborted when Leary ended up in jail.
Remembering Eartha Kitt: Friday, Dec. 26, 2008; Eartha Kitt died on Christmas Day. She was 81. The news took me back to San Quentin Prison on a New Year’s Day. Eartha Kitt was playing a concert at the California prison and I was a young reporter.
The Elevator: A look at the local sports scene: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008; Who’s headed toward the penthouse on the local sports scene — and who’s getting the shaft.
To watch or not to watch: Friday, Aug. 8, 2008; Sun staffers offer five reasons to watch the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and five reasons not to.
Of baseball and heartbreak: Monday, Aug. 4, 2008; Summer road trips mean searching unfamiliar radio stations, hoping to find baseball amid the hip-hop and country that crowd the airwaves.
Lessons from Big Leagues, and Little League: Monday, July 14, 2008; I thought I’d blown the job interview.
Las Vegas Philharmonic plays video game music: Friday, June 13, 2008
UNLV forward Matt Shaw out for next season with knee injury: Friday, June 13, 2008
'Shine a Light': Tuesday, April 15, 2008; If you remember when rock was young, you never dreamed you’d reach the point where you’d find yourself staring up at the 6-foot nose hairs of a geriatric rock icon on a giant screen as the walls rumble.
Review: Powerful performances make 'Fences' a grand slam: Friday, April 11, 2008; You have one last chance to catch a real jewel. Do yourself a favor tonight and check out the Ira Aldridge Theater Company’s production of “Fences.”
Unclear when fire-damaged Monte Carlo can be reopened: Friday, Jan. 25, 2008; Firefighters contained a blaze that raged for an hour today atop the Monte Carlo casino in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. At least 13 persons were injured.
THE OPENING LINE: Monday, Dec. 17, 2007; Sports should be an escape; games, a respite from real life.
THE OPENING LINE: Monday, Dec. 10, 2007; My memories of the game are hazy. I was just a kid.
Something old, something new: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007; Every music festival is a gathering of the tribe.
THE OPENING LINE: Monday, Oct. 1, 2007; During a recent trip to the Carolinas, my brother-in-law taught me a new way to see college football.
THE OPENING LINE: Monday, May 28, 2007; TRANSATLANTIC Memories of Bowie Kuhn
Audience treated to concert, Eloquent insights about craft: Friday, April 20, 2007; Wearing a black suit and those familiar thick-framed glasses, Elvis Costello walked on stage, picked up an old Gibson acoustic and again implored Alison to "take off your party dress."
Rubardt puts exclamation point on Phil auditions: Monday, Feb. 19, 2007; The echoes of Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony floated like blossoms on a warm breeze through UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall.
TAKE FIVE: RED, WHITE & BLUE BALLOON FESTIVAL: Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007; What: Red, White & Blue Balloon Festival
SYMPHONY REVIEW: Monday, Nov. 20, 2006; You get the feeling that the Las Vegas Philharmonic is enjoying auditioning for its boss's replacement.
TAKE FIVE: VEGOOSE: Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006; Vegoose blows into Las Vegas this weekend with an eclectic lineup of improvised music, trailing a gaggle of jam-band aficionados.
OPENING NIGHT AT THE PHILHARMONIC:: Monday, Oct. 16, 2006; The Las Vegas Philharmonic opened its season with a flourish.
TAKE FIVE: David Lee Roth: Thursday, July 20, 2006; When: 8 p.m. Thursday, doors open at 7 p.m.