Mars a super favorite

Sure it would be great to close out Bruno Mars’ big year with him. But if you don’t get in, at least you don’t have to worry about his shelf life running out at midnight Tuesday.

The same appeal that made Mars a big score for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is likely to make him a perennial draw on the Strip beyond Sunday, Tuesday and the six more shows spread between February and August.

Two big dates fall before the 28-year-old’s Las Vegas return next year: a little thing called the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show on Feb. 2, and the Grammy Awards on Feb. 9.

“Locked Out of Heaven” — which Mars performed with Sting on this year’s Grammys — is up for the Grammys’ Song of the Year and Record of the Year (only in Vegas would a rival nominee for the latter, Robin Thicke, be performing “Blurred Lines” not two miles away on Sunday.)

“When I Was Your Man” is up for Best Pop Solo Performance and the nearly 2 million-selling “Unorthodox Jukebox” is up for Best Pop Vocal Album.

A new 4,200-capacity venue called The Chelsea promises a cozier experience than the arena concert Mars put on for 13,500 fans in August.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.