Vegas

It’s baseball awards season, with the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America announcing award winners for four straight days.

Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle was named the American League rookie of the year and Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart was honored as the National League rookie of the year on Monday.

Manager of the year awards will be revealed Tuesday, Cy Young and reliever of the year on Wednesday, and finally MVP on Thursday.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is a finalist for National League MVP. But Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is the favorite to win it, which would end Ohtani’s three-year MVP streak. Ohtani has won four MVP awards in all, two in the AL and two in the NL.

On Wednesday, MLB will also hold its own awards show, announcing All-MLB teams, and awards such as the Hank Aaron Award, the comeback players of the year, the Mariano Rivera & Trevor Hoffman Relievers of the Year, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year and the MLB executive of the year.

AFTER sparking engagement rumours just last month, Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood have taken things to the next level by saying they’re getting married.

The couple spent this week in Las Vegas to celebrate Pete’s 38th birthday, and couldn’t help but check out the city’s famous chapels.

In a video from the trip, Olivia and Pete are seen outside Little White Wedding Chapel – where stars such as Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and more have tied the knot.

Filming themselves, Olivia said: “1 like on this video and we get married.”

“1 like? F*** it, no likes. Let’s get married,” replied Pete as he kissed Olivia on the cheek and wrapped his arm around her – with the Love Island star giggling.

Fans in the comment section went wild over the clip as they begged the couple to tie the knot for real.

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“YOU BETTER NOT BE PLAYIN,” wrote one.

Another said: “aaaaarghhhhhhhh please let this be real”.

Olivia treated Pete to the holiday to Vegas as a birthday present, with the former Towie star turning 38 last Sunday.

The couple have since returned home, but they could have actually wed as Olivia admitted she was “50/50” on whether to share content from the wild trip when fans asked about the lack of updates.

Last month, Olivia sparked speculation she could be engaged when she was seen sporting a sizeable ring on her left hand at the Pride Of Britain Awards.

It’s not the first time Olivia and Pete have sparked engagement rumours – despite only hard-launching recently.

Back in August, the Loose Women star was spotted wearing a band on her ring finger.

In June, while appearing on Celebrity Gogglebox, Olivia revealed she would like to get married.

The star was joined by her mother Jennifer when the topic of marriage came up – and it appeared she has given it some thought.

Olivia jokingly said: “I’ve decided now I am going to get married a few times, or engaged, because I like the ring.”

WHAT happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas – right? Wrong.

A local taxi driver gave me a piece of wisdom: the only thing that stays in Vegas is the money you spend there. So it’s best to spend it wisely.

Las Vegas can be hard on your wallet but if you make the right blow-the-budget choices, while also finding cheaper or even free things to do, you can have the experience without going into the red.

It isn’t just a city, it’s sensory overload sat in the middle of a desert with fine weather all year round.

If you want a full Vegas movie moment, you can’t beat a helicopter ride.

Flying over the Strip at night is just amazing and the experience starts from £74.

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The city lights look insane, with the Sphere lit up below you and those legendary Vegas hotels buzzing with neon.

This is the kind of experience you’ll remember for ever and, with the money you’ve saved elsewhere, it’s a splurge that’s genuinely worth it.

For a slightly cheaper thrill, at £26 per person, the High Roller observation wheel is a must.

Do it at sunset to get the most incredible views, or at night to see the strip lit up in all its glory — and if you’re heading out after, you can opt for their Happy Half Hour, where cocktails are served to you on the big wheel.

The Neon Museum is also great value. You can stroll by a whole host of retired Vegas signs lit up and preserved.

From this month, there’s a new addition — a Formula 1 sign made for the inaugural 2023 event.

Catching a show at the astonishing Sphere will set you back £450 per person for decent seats.

But for a more intimate — and affordable — night out, The Party at Superfrico, in the Cosmopolitan hotel is perfect.

The two-hour show includes a live circus, burlesque and comedy acts, plus a glass of bubbly and a three-course dinner for £130 per person.

There are even things to do in Vegas that won’t cost you a penny.

The Bellagio fountains are an absolute must-see.

Exploring Fremont Street, the neon-drenched beating heart of Old Vegas, also costs nothing.

Famous for its cheap drinks, historic casinos and continuous outdoor party atmosphere, Fremont Street also has free live concerts, street performers and buskers.

That old-school charm abounds, too, at the Flamingo, one of the oldest hotels on the Strip.

And just when you think Vegas is all nights out, neon and noise, it pulls another card from the deck: The Valley of Fire.

As a keen hiker, this is one of the most stunning places I’ve been to.

A six-hour 4×4 Jeep trip with Love Hikes costs from just £74 per person.

You are surrounded by towering red rock formations on walking trails that make you feel like you stepped on to Mars.

Having worked up a hunger, it’s easy to also rack up high bills in Vegas’s fancy Michelin-starred joints. But there are value offerings, too.

If you want something quick and delicious, Tacos El Gordo is king. This family-owned chain has multiple locations across Las Vegas.

Melt-in-the-mouth meats are piled high on corn tacos, alongside chopped onions, coriander and a dollop of creamy guacamole sauce or salsa. And even better, they cost around £3 a piece. Three would easily make for a hearty meal.

Good Pie Pizza in the Arts District is another no-brainer for a quick slice that hits the spot. It costs from just £4.50 and is perfect to munch while you explore the local vintage shops and street art.

For brunch that feels like a meal and a show, Hash House A Go Go is great. Huge portions include their famous sage fried chicken and waffles. One plate easily feeds two, making this one of the best-value food options in town.

Kusa Nori at Resorts World was the ultimate plot twist. Forget overpriced hotel sushi, this place delivers super-fresh fish and huge portions. Or for even more savings, head to Happy Hour at the Bar and Lounge. from 4pm to 10pm. Sunday to Thursday. Enjoy sushi rolls and beers from £6.50.

And while you could quite easily not sleep while in Vegas, it is advised from time to time.

I split my stay between the Vdara hotel and the Conrad at Resorts World. These two hotels look like they belong in the movie Ocean’s Eleven, but don’t come with a crazy price tag.

Vdara is just off the Strip and, crucially, has no casino. It’s a lovely stay with great views, a gym, spa — and rooms that come with kitchenettes, which means you can save on breakfasts and snacks.

Conrad at Resorts World is a shiny, new and very Vegas hotel. Reminiscent of a shopping mall that decided to wear a tuxedo, it has slot machines, shops, a wellness centre, and a range of great restaur-ants, including Kusa Nori.

Book far enough in advance — midweek and in low-season between July and August and November and January — and you can snag rooms from just £46 a night.

Vegas will never be cheap but you can double the fun without going bust.

LAS VEGAS — The Strip is broiling on a recent afternoon, but it’s cool and dark inside Mary J. Blige’s dressing room at the Park MGM.

As a humidifier moistens the dry desert air, the 55-year-old R&B star sits on a sofa wearing a brown jumpsuit and matching gaucho hat; through the walls we can hear Blige’s band sound-checking for her My Life, My Story residency, which launched in May and will pick up again Friday night for shows through Oct. 31.

In some ways, Las Vegas is a funny fit for the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, who’s been transforming pain into music since her 1992 debut, “What’s the 411?” Yet her stay in this glittering showbiz mecca comes amid a season of flower-getting for Blige: Two years ago, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; two years before that, she played the Super Bowl halftime show and landed a nomination for album of the year at the Grammy Awards.

“It definitely feels like people are taking notice of the fact that Mary J. Blige is one of the most important performers in R&B history,” she says. “I opened up a lane that hasn’t been closed yet. Female after female after female after female continue to do what Mary J. Blige has done and still does.”

Who opened that lane with you?
Back in the ’90s, when we first came out, it was myself and SWV that were really, really strong. Then there was 702, then Jazmine Sullivan and SZA and Beyoncé, and now right down to Summer Walker, who’s singing her truth.

That’s how you define what you do.
I’m not a great singer because I can sing better than everyone — I’m a great singer because I sing from my heart. Bono gave me that jewel. When Hurricane Katrina happened, we were doing [U2’s] “One,” and Bono was like, “Don’t worry about singing on key — people aren’t moved by you singing on key. What makes you a great singer is how you make them feel.” Not all of us are like the eighth wonders of the world — Aretha Franklin or Chaka Khan or Whitney Houston. They have pitch-perfect and they have emotion.

I saw Chaka Khan the other night and was thinking about how, even now, you never know where her voice is about to go.
She’s Chaka Khan — there’s nothing else you could say, really.

Why’d you cover “Sweet Thing” on “What’s the 411?”
First of all, when I was growing up, my mother played “Sweet Thing” all the time — it was our favorite song. So when I got to Uptown Records, Andre Harrell, the CEO, he was like, “You should do ‘Sweet Thing.’” I was like, “I don’t wanna do ‘Sweet Thing’! Chaka Khan could really sing — I can’t sing like that.” But he said I could do it, so I went and did the song and they all went crazy over it. My fans who didn’t know Chaka Khan, they thought it was my song. Same with Rose Royce’s “I’m Going Down” — to this day, a lot of people don’t know that’s a remake. I was afraid of both those songs. But I wanted to sing “I’m Going Down” all my life because I heard the song when I was 5 years old from the “Car Wash” soundtrack.

Tell me about your routine in Vegas. You stay on the Strip or you have a house somewhere?
I have a house out here. I’m not staying here — this is a lot. So I go home after I finish my performance, and I get ready for my performance tomorrow: I rest, I drink water, I do whatever I need to do. Then it’s the same thing: I come here, go into glam, do my meet and greet.

Get the humidifier going.
I got a steamer that I actually pull on over my mouth. Then I do my warmups, relax, keep my mind clear of any nonsense.

How do you think about doing your thing in a town built on glitz?
Mary is not the slickest Vegas person. But you can let people see that you’ve evolved — that you wear gowns now.

Would 19-year-old Mary be surprised to see her future self in a gown?
Hundred percent. Nineteen-year-old Mary was all tomboy — all baggy everything. Right now, I barely want to wear a gown, this Mary right here. But I’ve actually grown to like some of it when it looks good.

Did you look at anyone else’s residency when you were putting yours together?
I saw two people’s shows, and I said, “That’s not it.”

Shows in Vegas tend to be on the shorter side. The casino wants people back out there gambling.
I got 90 minutes — it’s a lot of time. People are very happy, but they’re standing there like they want more. I’m like, “I did 90 minutes! I don’t know how much more y’all want from me.”

Silk Sonic’s residency here was a no-phones show, which Bruno Mars told me was his attempt to preserve the freedom to make mistakes. Does it bum you out as a performer to know that everything winds up on the internet?
I don’t care about that at all. Social media, it’s bull—. You know what’s gonna happen — you know they’re gonna say, “Oh, her jaw is swollen.” Whatever. As long as you live truthfully, what they’re recording doesn’t matter.

In a recent interview with Fat Joe and Jadakiss, you talked about keeping your romantic partner a “mystery man” to the world. I wondered how you came to the decision not to make everything available to the public.
Because for so many years it has all been available. What you know already is what you know — I’ll elaborate on that. But what you don’t know, you will never know. I think I’ve given a lot, and it’s important to have something for myself. Nowadays, people just take things and ruin it for you. So if you have something beautiful, hold onto it, keep it to yourself. You have to protect the person that you’re with as well, because they don’t deserve to get beat up for something someone else did. I protect the ones I love — I’m not having anybody speaking ill about my family or the man that I love. I’m too old for that. Early in my life, if social media was around in 1991, I’d have been on that s— all day, cursing and going nuts on people.

Mary J. Blige performs during halftime of Super Bowl LVI at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium in 2022.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

We were talking before about your accolades. Did the Rock Hall mean anything in particular to you?
It was important to me because those things don’t happen to us.

To Black women.
Yes. It happens to rock ’n’ roll stars every day, and they’re in their grave — there were people in their grave that they were honoring when I went. So when it happens to Mary J. Blige or Chaka Khan or Aretha Franklin, we have to honor that and raise it up. That’s a big deal.

Did Las Vegas feel like a place open to Black women?
I’m trying to think of what Black females I’ve seen do Vegas.

Mariah Carey was here. Toni Braxton had a show.
Yeah, but like me? But you know what I love? It’s time. And how I know it’s time is because my fans went up. When I made the announcement, they was going crazy — they still going crazy. I’m probably the first to open this door, and next it’ll be somebody else. You better believe they on their way. “Oh, Mary doing Vegas? I’m doing Vegas too.” That’s how it goes: “Mary did her hair blonde? I’m dying my hair blonde too.” That’s how my whole life has been, even actually before the music business.

Nosy question, but what’s an aspect of financial comfort that you especially enjoy?
Flying private — that’s the best one for me.

Getting to bypass the grind of travel.
That’s what I love about Vegas, because it’s not like tour. Tour, it’s a lot.

Are you soft now?
Probably a little spoiled.

Last one: Name an artist that meant a lot to you when you were young that might surprise people.
There were so many. I mean, Earth, Wind & Fire —

Everybody loves Earth, Wind & Fire.
But that “Way of the World” song — that really does something to me. We loved George Michael — George Michael was always one of our favorite artists. Duran Duran, come on. Oh, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” — Tears for Fears. And Hall & Oates! [Sings] “Private eyes, they’re watching you.” Ambrosia. The Eagles. I could keep going.

I didn’t expect you to hit me with Ambrosia.
They were so soulful — I just got goosebumps. And Queen. That’s one of my favorite movies — “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Who should play you in a movie about Mary J. Blige?
She wasn’t born yet.

Even as recently as a decade ago, Las Vegas hotel concierges and plenty of locals would have described the gap between the Strip and Fremont Street as something of a dead zone. This was a ragged corridor of old warehouses and auto shops, with more boarded-up storefronts than open doors.

“You couldn’t park your car and not worry,” remembers artist Gem Jaxx, who moved to Vegas in 2006 from Monterey County, Calif. “You couldn’t even walk the streets.”

Yet the idea of an arts district had been taking shape since the early ’90s, when the city identified an 18-block area south of downtown as ripe for creative development. Loosely framed by Hoover Avenue to the north and Colorado Avenue to the south, with Commerce Street and Fourth Street marking its west and east edges, this region became known as the 18b Arts District. First Friday, launched by a small group of artists and gallery owners in 2002, started pulling crowds into the neighborhood. Sometimes tens of thousands at a time, if only once a month.

The regular influx of visitors (combined with cheap rents and plenty of retail space) drew a wave of interesting tenants: antique dealers, secondhand clothing boutiques, microbreweries, cocktail bars. As the mix of businesses grew, 18b began to matter less as a set of boundaries and more as an identity.

“Very quickly it changed,” says Josh Kellman, president of the Arts District board. “Businesses here were saying, ‘Hey, I want to be in 18b.’ No one wants to feel like they’re outside the neighborhood.”

Today, the Las Vegas Arts District is a low-key alternative to the Strip for dining, drinks, art, shopping and beyond. Centered on Main Street, but with plenty to explore on neighboring Commerce Street and Casino Center Boulevard, it’s easy to spend an afternoon browsing vintage shops and gallery spaces, catch live music or a stage show, grab dinner, coffee and craft beer — and still have money left for tomorrow.

But the neighborhood is at a crossroads. After a tragic shooting happened earlier this month during First Friday, the monthly arts festival is now on hold as organizers and city officials consider how to move forward. Meanwhile, a proposed Business Improvement District intended to fund additional safety measures and neighborhood services has stirred debate over how to improve the area while preserving the independent spirit that made it a destination in the first place.

As questions swirl, fans of the Arts District hope it holds on to what makes it such a distinctive place. At a time when Las Vegas can feel increasingly engineered around sky-high bottle service, celebrity-chef tasting menus and cocktails edging toward $30, the neighborhood remains one of the places locals actually hang out and where tourists can experience Sin City beyond the slot machines. Here are 11 worthwhile stops on a visit to the creative hub.