Pugs, although not a conventionally handsome breed of dog, have a substantial following in the valley.

The Southern Nevada Pug Rescue, a newly formed nonprofit organization, is on a mission to rescue homeless, neglected, sick, injured or unwanted pugs, rehabilitate them and place them in a loving valley home.

It's been hard work, but in some ways starting their own business was a piece of cake for three former casino executive assistants. Taking their cue from the recent popularity of cupcakes, Pamela Jenkins, Laura Santo Pietris and Dawn Kalman opened The Cupcakery, 9680 S. Eastern Ave., on Jan. 23.

The Southern Belle -- a red velvet cake smothered with cream cheese frosting -- is expected to be a big seller for Valentine's Day. The partners will decorate the cupcakes with names, heart candies and more at the request of customers.

In 1720, Johann Sebastian Bach returned from a journey with fellow musicians and his employer Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen to find that his wife, Anna Barbara, had died and was buried while he was away. Specifics are unknown, but Santa Barbara, Calif.-based author Joseph C. Mastroianni thinks Bach wrote the incomparable "Chaconne" after he received news of his beloved's untimely demise.

"If you listen, you can hear the love, the passion and the anger," said Mastroianni, who built his book "Chaconne the Novel" around the music.

You probably won't notice the televisions flickering or patrons chatting at the next table.

You might not even notice the staff as they quickly clear plates and refresh drinks.

Every year about this time, Summerlin gets hit with a snow storm. No, honest, it does.

That's because the Summerlin Council hosts Summerlin Snow Day, a day of sledding downhill and attempts at building snowmen. It is strictly for Summerlin residents.

If the Ultimate Sports Resort goes up as proposed in North Las Vegas, it will virtually double the city's property assessment, according to the developers' numbers and Nevada Department of Taxation figures.

Ultimate Sports Entertainment Inc. is working to put together a financing package for a $4 billion project that will feature two sports arenas, an aquatic center, three multi-use facilities, a driving range, a bowling alley, an ice rink, batting cages, climbing walls, virtual reality games, as well as 17,000 parking spaces, 5,500 hotel rooms, 500 luxury condominiums and a 150,000-square-foot casino complete with a 50,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed non-smoking area.

Of all the issues raised at a recent meeting to determine the main concerns of residents in an East Las Vegas neighborhood on Jan. 28, the need for sidewalks and better traffic controls topped the list.

The Eastside ACORN chapter meeting at the East Las Vegas Community Senior Center attracted about two dozen residents from the area bounded on the west by 14th Street, on the north and south by, respectively, Bonanza Road and Charleston Boulevard, and on the east by Eastern Avenue. ACORN stands for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

At least once a month, strains of Zydeco, folk and Cajun music resonate from Borders Books in the Canyon Pointe Shopping Center, on West Charleston Boulevard near the Las Vegas Beltway. It's probably the only place in town to hear unique arrangements to songs like "Russian Lullaby," "Singing in the Bathtub" and "Jalapena Lena."

The three musicians performing there are a family group known as Patriozeb. The name is a catchy way to bring all their names together as one.

Marvin Mangum didn't want to open just any old furniture showroom.

The Anthem resident envisioned a unique space with an eclectic mix of furniture -- picked by whim rather than overall mode -- easily incorporated with a gourmet coffee shop.

Today marks the 68th time Carl and Margaret Plack have celebrated Valentine's Day together as a married couple in love. So it's not too surprising that after getting it right all these years, Carl has opted for a hiatus in 2006 with Margaret taking it all in stride.

That's not to say the retired Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Co. construction worker isn't going to do something special, anyway.