The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces its roster of September happenings, including its public program “The Last Blanco: Escaping the Shadow of Griselda Blanco’s Drug Empire” and Frank Calabrese Jr.’s ongoing Family Secrets speaking engagements. Additionally, The Underground speakeasy and distillery invites guests to enjoy live music while celebrating National Bourbon Heritage Month.
THE MUSEUM’S SEPTEMBER PROGRAMS AND PROMOTIONS FOLLOW:
The Last Blanco: Escaping the Shadow of Griselda Blanco’s Drug Empire
Date: Thursday, Sept. 26
Time: 7 to 8 p.m. followed by a book signing.
Location: Inside the historic courtroom. To RSVP to attend, click here.
Cost: Free for Museum Members or with Museum admission.
Description: Michael Corleone Blanco grew up in the shadow of his mother’s drug trafficking empire. The son of notorious “Cocaine Godmother” Griselda Blanco, he witnessed unspeakable acts of violence and dealt with traumatic events that no child should ever experience. Griselda was linked to more than 200 murders and earned a reputation as one of the most feared figures in Colombia’s cocaine underworld. As her only surviving son, Michael has broken free of his mother’s dark legacy and forged a new path for himself and his family.
Speaker:
- Michael Corleone Blanco is the youngest son of Griselda Blanco, named after the Al Pacino character in “The Godfather” saga. He is one of the only surviving members of the Blanco cartel, having survived two cartel wars in different countries and becoming a well-known criminal himself. Blanco changed his life, becoming a father, business and brand owner and reality TV star on the VH1 show “Cartel Crew.” He is also the executive producer of the hit podcast series “The Real Griselda,” available on multiple streaming platforms. Additionally, he consults for popular networks such as Discovery ID, National Geographic, A&E and Tubi for countless documentary series based on his mother’s and his family’s life. He is the author of “My Mother the Godmother: The True Story of Michael Corleone Blanco, Son of Griselda Blanco.”
Family Secrets with Frank Calabrese Jr.
Dates: Wednesdays through Sundays in September; special hours here
Time: Top of every hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Organized Crime Today exhibition
Cost: Free with Museum admission.
Description: Reformed mobster Frank Calabrese Jr. had only ever hoped to escape the tumultuous and violent life he had been groomed for by his own father, notorious Chicago Outfit enforcer and hitman Frank Calabrese Sr. Knowing there was only one way out of the life – to ensure his father was never back on the street – Calabrese Jr. contacted the FBI from prison where he and his father were both serving multi-year sentences. To secure the evidence the FBI needed to charge and eventually convict Sr. for life, Calabrese Jr. agreed to wear a wire in the prison yard to capture intimate conversations with his dad. To further cement his father’s fate, Jr. convinced his uncle Nick Calabrese to also testify against Frank Sr. Nick’s testimony helped the FBI solve 18 murders, including that of enforcer Anthony Spilotro, whose death was depicted in Martin Scorsese’s 1995 movie “Casino.” Calabrese Jr. now appears weekly at The Mob Museum to speak and reflect on risking it all to escape the life he never asked to be a part of. Visitors are invited to join Calabrese Jr. Wednesdays-Sundays to hear his story of family, violence, addiction, greed and ultimately redemption. Calabrese Jr.’s telling of his life story leaves audiences stunned as he exemplifies the true cost of organized crime.
Walter White’s Last Ride Raffle
Date: Now through Sunday, Dec. 15
Location: Raffle tickets are available onsite at The Mob Museum and online at TheMobMuseum.org/raffle for those 21 years of age and older.
Cost: Tickets start at $5.
Description: For a limited time, the Museum presents the chance for one lucky winner to drive away in the 1977 Cadillac Sedan DeVille d’Elegance driven by Bryan Cranston as Walter White – aka Heisenberg – in the series finale of AMC’s hit series “Breaking Bad.” Proceeds from the raffle will support The Mob Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in delivering its mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime’s history and impact on American society through exhibits, public programming and educational outreach. Participants must be 21 years of age or older. Full raffle rules and details can be found at themobmuseum.org/raffle.
THE UNDERGROUND’S SEPTEMBER PROGRAMS AND PROMOTIONS FOLLOW:
National Bourbon Heritage Month
Dates: Throughout September
Time: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Location: The Underground Speakeasy
Cost: $40 for the American Influence Flight; $16 for The Marlow.
Description: Guests are invited to say cheers to National Bourbon Heritage Month. Featured bourbon sips include:
- American Influence Flight – Bourbon is an American spirit influenced by immigrant groups’ cultural traditions. Visitors are invited to experience the complexity and diversity of this corn-based whiskey known for its sweet and oaky flavor notes.
- The Marlow – Inspired by a bourbon lover with a soft spot for sherry, this secret twist on a classic marries the richness of velvety smooth textures to bring out one sexy sip packed with refreshing no-nonsense and a hint of sass.
Live Entertainment Calendar
Date and Time:
- Sunday, Sept. 1 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Dixie Flats
- Friday, Sept. 6 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.: The Rambler
- Saturday, Sept. 7 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.: Mr. Nobody with Michael Grimm
- Sunday, Sept. 8: from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Katrina Bree
- Friday, Sept. 13 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.: Coco Rigby and The Sidecars
- Sunday, Sept. 15 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Mr. Nobody with Michael Grimm
- Friday, Sept. 20 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.: The Volsteads
- Saturday, Sept. 21 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.: Amanda King & The Prohibition Three
- Sunday, Sept. 22 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Sandy Knight and The Knightcaps
- Friday, Sept. 27 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.: The Syn-Phonics
- Saturday, Sept. 28 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.: Coco Rigby and The Sidecars
- Sunday, Sept. 29 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Cheyenne Adams and The Dirty Business
Location: The Underground speakeasy and distillery.
Cost: Free entry. Entry available at the secret side door for visitors who know the password, published daily on Instagram Stories @MobMuseum_Underground and at themobmuseum.org/underground. Entry through Museum also available.
Description: Revel in the sounds of the Jazz Age with music in The Underground speakeasy. Featuring a rotating roster of talented performing artists presented in an atmosphere surrounded by Prohibition-era artifacts, The Underground offers an immersive 1920s-inspired experience like none other.
ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provides a world-class journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. The Mob Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through hundreds of artifacts and immersive storylines. Numerous interactive exhibits include a Crime Lab, Firearm Training Simulator and Organized Crime Today exhibit. The Museum is also home to The Underground, a Prohibition history exhibition featuring a speakeasy and distillery. The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of Tripadvisor’s “Top 25 U.S. Museums” and a 2024 “Travelers’ Choice” Award recipient; one of Las Vegas Weekly’s “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History” and “Best Museum” of 2021, 2023 and 2024; Vegas Magazine’s “Best Historical Museum” of 2024; one of National Geographic’s “Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas;” USA Today’s “Best Museum in Nevada,” 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for “Best Las Vegas Attraction” in 2021 and 2022, “Top Five Best History Museums in the United States” in 2021 and one of its “12 Can’t Miss U.S. Museum Exhibits;” named “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times and one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by FOX News. The Museum is a two-time winner of the Mayor’s Urban Design Award for Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Museum is open daily; visit the website for admission rates and operating hours. For more information, call (702) 229-2734, visit themobmuseum.org, or download the Museum’s free mobile app.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
www.Facebook.com/themobmuseum
www.Twitter.com/themobmuseum
www.Instagram.com/themobmuseum
ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND
The Underground is an immersive Prohibition history exhibition featuring a speakeasy, distillery and private VIP room in the basement of The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. Artifacts from the 1920s and 1930s tell the intriguing story of the Prohibition era, which not only saw a proliferation of bootlegged booze and the meteoric growth of organized crime outfits but also had a profound, lasting impact on society, specifically making way for modern cocktail culture. A seasonal cocktail menu gives guests the opportunity to try contemporary takes on classic Prohibition-era cocktails. The menu and atmosphere have landed the speakeasy on several “best cocktail bars in Las Vegas” lists. Distillery tours allow participants to learn about Prohibition and its impact on a variety of spirits and drinking habits while tasting a few of the Museum’s moonshines. The distilling program has received various accolades, including Best Moonshine at the 2020 International Whiskey Competition. Complimentary entrance to The Underground is granted at the secret side door to visitors who know the password, which is published daily on Instagram Stories @MobMuseum_Underground.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
www.Facebook.com/TheUndergroundAtTheMobMuseum
www.Instagram.com/mobmuseum_underground
