Date: Dec. 27, 2020
HOPE PREVAILS
While 2020 has been a devasting year for the world, it is important to embrace the new year 2021 with hope. Like all tourist destinations, Las Vegas has felt the impact of COVID-19. In March, literally shutting down the Strip was like running into a brick wall. Suddenly life had changed. Slowly hotels and casinos have opened but mostly with many limitations. Events, conventions, buffets, concerts, etc., were cancelled and New Year’s Eve will be different without the massive fireworks and people gathering in the streets.
On the bright side Las Vegas is looking ahead and will be ready when the situation changes. Next year Resorts World, a mega-resort where the Stardust once stood, will open. The convention center expansion will be complete along with other projects.
Among this year’s crowning accomplishments were the mid-year opening of the domed Allegiant Stadium, home for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League, and downtown’s newest casino-resort Circa.
CIRCA DEBUTS HOTEL TOWER AND LEGACY CLUB ROOFTOP LOUNGE
Circa Resort & Casino has officially opened its 777-room hotel tower and rooftop lounge, Legacy Club. Paying tribute to Vintage Vegas through its design and old-school hospitality, these new amenities mark the official completion of Downtown’s newest resort construction introducing the tallest tower north of the Strip. Circa’s uniquely tapered 71-degree tower provides some of the best unobstructed views of the city.
Standing 458 feet tall, the hotel tower and Legacy Club round out Circa’s world-class offerings including the world’s largest sportsbook; a 365-day/year pool experience, Stadium Swim; several original food and beverage concepts; a two-story casino and more. Circa’s first hotel guests have been gifted with a limited edition 18k gold plated bar, decorated with the resort’s logo and opening date. The bars are available for purchase in Circa’s gift shop for $125.
The rooms and suites feature Art Deco style and furnishings and celebrate Downtown’s history and art scene through works curated by DAC Art Consulting. Featured artists include Jelaine Faunce, Deidra Wilson, Schinn Loong, Sarah Scherf, and Adolfo Gonzalez with Yesco.
For a retro Vegas trip, Circa’s high-style Bunk Bed accommodations are the ultimate throwbacks. Suites and pads feature two plush bunk beds to sleep four people and large bathrooms. Commanding the top of the hotel tower are Circa’s six Founders Suites with luxe accommodations.
Sitting on the 60th floor of Circa’s hotel tower is the indoor/outdoor 8,400-square-foot Legacy Club with 360-degree views of Las Vegas complemented by craft cocktails, an upscale lounge, expansive outdoor terrace with fire pits, and eclectic “electro swing” music.
Legacy Club’s dramatic entryway houses a series of custom metal busts of legendary Vegas pioneers including Jackie Gaughan, Benny Binion, Jay Sarno, Kirk Kerkorian, Sam Boyd, Steve Wynn, William Bennett, Bob Stupak, Barron Hilton, and Howard Hughes, as well as Frank Fertitta, who will be added in the coming weeks. Adorning the walls is an artistic collection of painted portraits of each of the gentleman, as well as a black-and-white photograph of Las Vegas power couple Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Oscar Goodman.
An additional attraction at the club is a captivating display of 1,000 ounces of pure gold. A ticker atop the display of Circa-branded gold bars will show their combined value based on the current price of gold.
Guests will arrive at the Legacy Club via dedicated elevators and must be 21 and older. The dress code is elegant casual. The venue is open Sunday through Wednesday, 4 p.m.–2 a.m. and Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m.–4 a.m.
DJ VICE WILL PERFORM FOR KISS OFF 2020 EVENT
In lieu of the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular, Las Vegas will end 2020 with a livestream countdown to midnight with an Only Vegas virtual celebration and special live performance by longstanding Tao Group Vegas resident DJ, artist and producer, Vice.
DJ Vice will lead the virtual festivities and perform his genre-bending, innovative music as the clock counts down to midnight and into the early moments of 2021. The Kiss Off 2020 event is not open to the public but can still celebrated virtually online on Dec. 31 at 11:30 p.m. PST at VisitLasVegas.com, YouTube and Facebook.
Fans of Las Vegas can also enter the “Kiss Off 2020 Sweepstakes” for a chance to win one of four trips to the destination in 2021, along with sharing what they are most looking forward to in the new year. Prize packages will include airfare, a 3-day/2-night stay, activities, as well as culinary experiences for the winners and their guest at participating properties and attractions, including Aria, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan, Dig This, Maverick Helicopters, The Mob Museum, Park MGM, Pink Jeep Tours, Sun Buggy Fun Rentals, Treasure Island, The STRAT, Vegas Indoor Skydiving, Westgate, and Wynn.
RIO REOPENED WITH CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT GIVE BACK
The Rio reopened a couple days before Christmas with a contactless drive-thru distributing 20,000 frozen turkeys and cookies to Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas team members. On Dec. 22, the day the resort resumed hospitality and gaming operations, Penn & Teller, Piff the Magic Dragon, as well as performers from “Chippendales,” “WOW – The Vegas Spectacular,” “X Burlesque” and “X Country,” joined Caesars Entertainment Regional President Gary Selesner and Senior Vice President and Rio General Manager Steve Ellis for the holiday distribution.
“In two weeks, Penn & Teller will celebrate their 20th anniversary at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino,” said Penn Jillette. “As the longest-running headliners in Las Vegas, part of that success is owed to our amazing colleagues at the Rio, and we are pleased to join today to thank them and all of my hard-working Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas co-workers.”
The Rio finally ended a long nine-month closure and was the final Caesars Entertainment property in Las Vegas to reopen. After the holidays Jan. 3, the hotel will accommodate weekends stays, Thursday-Monday, while gaming will be open seven days a week. While restaurants and bars are open so is the KISS by Monster Mini Golf family attraction.
In addition, the Rio debuted the newly branded William Hill Sports Book, with new customer offerings including self-service sports betting kiosks and an expanded betting menu featuring LIVE InPlay Wagering.
‘X BURLESQUE’ WILL RETURN TO FLAMINGO
In compliance with applicable government directives, “X Burlesque” is offering a special VIP experience beginning Jan. 7, 2021. Shows will occur Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, with performances at 7 and 10 p.m. with limited capacity. Only 30 tickets are available for each performance.
Two tickets are priced at $199. Guests will receive one bottle of champagne, one signed poster, and a Q & A with the cast after the show. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster or by phone at 702-777-2782. Guests must be 21 years or older.
The long-running revue appears inside the X Burlesque Theatre at the Flamingo. “X Burlesque” has performed in Las Vegas for more than 19 years and played more than 9,000 shows since it opened at the Aladdin in 2002. Since then, the show’s sexy ladies have worn more than 40,000 pairs of eyelashes onstage and have gone through more than 11,000 tubes of Christian Louboutin red lipstick, giving each dancer the signature sultry look for which the cast is known. More than 50,000 rhinestones have also been used to adorn the dancers’ shoes and boots.
“X Burlesque” is produced by husband-and-wife duo, Angela and Matt Stabile. Provocative, daring and scintillating, the revue brings adult fantasies to the stage in a production show led by a troupe of gorgeous dancers. Over the years, many celebrities
such as Diddy, Tony Braxton, Wayne Brady, Sammy Hagar, Nicolas Cage, etc., have attended the “X” rated show, hence the seductive name.
The L.A. Comedy Club of Las Vegas has been serving up laughs since 2007. The club is housed in The STRAT’s 160-seat Dragon Room with performances nightly at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. It has won several awards and earned the reputation of being “the younger rebel brother of Improv,” by “Casino Player Magazine,” which named L.A. Comedy Club as Best of Las Vegas 2016. General admission is $39.95 and VIP $59.95.
January club headliners include Adam Hunter; Patrick Garrity; Thai Rivera; Kiry Shabazz; JC Currais; and 10 p.m. shows - Thursday-Monday with Butch Bradley and Tuesday-Wednesday with Friends, and Bret Ernst’s and Friends.
In addition, to thank essential workers for all that they do, The STRAT is offering a buy-one-get-one room offer for all essential workers with free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival. Offer is valid for travel through June 30, 2021.
TREASURE ISLAND OFFERS TURKEY LEGS
At Treasure Island, turkey legs are returning to the Golden Circle Sportsbook and Bar starting Saturday, Jan. 2. Back by popular demand, turkey legs will be available every Saturday and Sunday. The 26 oz. roasted turkey legs will be $10.95 each while supplies last. With more than 12,000 square feet of space, Golden Circle can house more than 750 occupants for a multitude of sporting events from around the world featured on a massive video wall. Additional featured amenities include a full bar and 24/7 sports betting. During current COVID-19 restrictions, tables are limited to parties of four and reservations are required.
VEGANS, BABY PROMOTES VEGAN DINING MONTH WITH PARTNERS
Dining in Las Vegas may often be considered decadent; however, conscientious plant-based offerings are becoming more prevalent. “Veganuary” is an international campaign encouraging people to go vegan for the entire month of January.
Helping encourage people to go vegan this January, Vegans, Baby is bringing back Vegan Dining Month for the 4th consecutive year in Las Vegas. Returning with new and longstanding restaurant partners, this initiative is a great way to support local Las Vegas restaurants while exploring delicious plant-based meals.
Vegans, Baby’s monthlong celebration of vegan-living is a partnership between restaurants offering special vegan menus designed to give vegan and vegan-curious diners the opportunity to get to know chefs and restaurants, and for restaurants to learn more about the plant-based demand and expand their options. This year diners will have the opportunity to take plant-based meals home with expanded take-out options from participating restaurants. In addition, ghost kitchens are in the mix, from Mexican to cannabis-infused cupcakes.
More than 20 Las Vegas restaurants are participating including Elizabeth Blau’s Honey Salt, Bronze Café and The Juice Box, Guerrilla Pizza, Hussong’s Cantina, Lucino’s Pizza, Tacotarian and more. A full list can be found on Vegan, Baby’s website.
In 2020 Vegan’s, Baby’s Vegan Dining Month raised more than $6,000 for various animal-oriented nonprofits. This year, every participating restaurant will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the local organization PLAN - Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Founded in 1994, the organization brings together more than 30 diverse and potentially competing organizations into one cohesive force for social and environmental justice in Nevada.
Diana Edelman founded Vegans, Baby in 2016 and has emerged as the face of plant-based dining in Las Vegas and the leading plant-based restaurant consultant in the city. She spent a decade in the travel blogging world before switching gears to work in elephant rescue in Thailand. Edelman travels the world to meet chefs and try vegan food, as well as speak at events focusing on travel, tourism, veganism, and entrepreneurship. She is a partner with the prestigious James Beard Foundation and curates their Vegas Vegan Dinners at the James Beard House. Edelman is also a partner with downtown’s Life is Beautiful event, curating the all-vegan Farm Stand.
SIGHTING
Before Christmas, Dueling Axes located inside AREA15 welcomed celebrity chef Todd English for its grand opening event. English arrived around 7 p.m. and mingled with patrons. He posed for photo opportunities and partook in some competitive axe throwing.
English spearheads “The Best” pop-up food experience at AREA15, with plans of launching a fully interactive food hall there early next year. Todd English’s Olives also plans a return at the highly anticipated Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, slated to open in 2021.
