Date: Feb. 14, 2021
THE STRAT OPENS NEW HIGH LIMIT LOUNGE DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod is raising the stakes with a new high limit lounge, a lush room with eight table games and VIP amenities. The STRAT celebrated the opening of the new lounge and welcomed Chinese New Year with a traditional lion dance on Sunday, Feb. 14.
The 3,600-square-foot lounge is modern in design and feel, with triangular mirrors suspended from the ceiling. The lounge includes two double-deck blackjack games, one six-deck stand soft 17 blackjack table and five baccarat tables. Additionally, the room’s lavish VIP area provides attentive support by a casino host, tea service and additional amenities, plus five high-definition TVs around the lounge’s center columns.
The new lounge comes just one year after The STRAT celebrated a full remodel of the entire 80,000-square-foot casino, which encompasses 750 slot machines and 44 tables, including a baccarat pit. Designed to improve sight lines and the flow of traffic to enhance the overall guest experience, the casino has been completely transformed. From the carpet to décor, the colors were inspired by the sky, sun, stars and moon with shades of blue and amber. The STRAT also welcomes guests to take selfies.
HARRAH’S DEBUTS ARUZE GAMING’S ROLL TO WIN CRAPS®
Aruze Gaming America Inc.’s Roll to Win Craps® is now live at Harrah’s and first on the Strip. This hybrid table game by the global gaming company allows players to shoot live dice across a large LED playing field and place all bets electronically.
Roll to Win Craps was first installed at Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino, a sister property to the Las Vegas casino resort. There are nine units installed at Caesars properties across the United States.
Utilizing the same footprint as a traditional craps table, Roll To Win Craps’ bright LED panels display amazing graphics and eye-catching animations. Individual player stations accept cash and provide tickets, so no physical chips are needed for play. Players can place bets privately on their screen, and then see their virtual chips displayed on the main playing field.
Player stations contain an Easy Help feature, allowing players to select any bet area and instantly see key information about the bet, such as the odds, when bets can be placed, and how they can win. Designed to help new players become comfortable with the game of craps, Roll to Win Craps also announces the game stages, such as a Come Out Roll, on the main playing field and player stations.
For players already comfortable with betting on craps, Roll to Win Craps allows for easy bet placements and the ability to turn multiple bets on or off quickly. Bet amounts are also more flexible, as the calculations are automatic.
With no physical chips on the table, the touch points for players and dealers have been significantly reduced. Roll to Win Craps at Harrah’s Las Vegas has been outfitted with plexiglass dividers providing additional safety.
SOUTH POINT WILL OPEN NEW STARBUCKS THIS SPRING
South Point will open one of the world’s most recognized brands, Starbucks, at the property with a state-of-the art café location. The new Starbucks is currently under construction and will open in mid-April 2021.
The café will be conveniently located off the property’s main entrance, where Seattle’s Best was formerly situated. This week, the property is opening a Starbucks pop-up cart, which will be operating until the permanent location opens. The cart will be on the first floor near the Benny Binion statue. It will be open seven days a week 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m. and serve a selection of classic coffee and tea beverages and snacks.
ULTIMATE ELVIS JUSTIN SHANDOR PLANS SHOWS AT IAC
“The Ultimate Elvis” featuring Justin Shandor will be performing a dinner show at the Italian American Club (IAC) on East Sahara Ave. on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. following dinner at 6:30 p.m. His show features a band and dancers.
He will headline “Elvis Aloha” at the IAC on Sunday, May 23.
In August of 2010, Elvis Presley Enterprises held a contest in Memphis and invited the top Elvis tribute artists from around the world. Shandor came in first place and Graceland named him the “World’s Ultimate Elvis!” He is the only Elvis tribute artist to make the front page of “USA Today,” and was featured in an issue of French “Vogue” magazine. He appeared as Elvis in the “Million Dollar Quartet” show at Harrah’s.
FASHION SHOW LAS VEGAS HONORS THE LUNAR NEW YEAR
The Fashion Show shopping mall on the Strip is welcoming the Year of the Ox with cultural performances. A special blessing was placed on each anchor store as traditional lion and dragon performers paraded through the shopping center in hopes of a prosperous year, kicking off Fashion Show’s two-week long celebration of the Lunar New Year.
From now through the end of February, Fashion Show will continue its Lunar New Year festivities with the shopping center’s annual Lantern Garden Dance in the Great Hall featuring beautiful red lanterns swaying to traditional Chinese music. Guests can experience the magical performance every Thursday–Sunday at 1, 3, and 5 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 26.
In addition, shoppers will have the opportunity to receive complimentary Dropit passes and exclusive Fashion Show branded gifts at Guest Services when they spend $200 at the 2 million-square-foot shopping center. Guests are also invited to explore a variety of Lunar New Year specials offered at a dozen mall retailers.
CONSTRUCTION GOES VERTICAL ON MIXED-USE UNCOMMONS
While the pandemic has crippled Las Vegas and its economy, building projects are still in the works because the future looks bright especially with the health, safety, wellness and green merits of the Matter Real Estate Group’s UnCommons™ project, located at the corner of Durango Drive and the 215 Beltway in southwest Las Vegas. UnCommons has begun vertical construction on the first phase of the $400 million development. This visual milestone brings the mixed-use community one step closer to its opening in early 2022.
Once completed, the walkable stylized urban campus will be comprised of 500,000+ square feet of modern office space with market-leading design and technology, 830+ residential units, an entertainment venue, trendsetting restaurants and cafes that follow the good food movement, health and fitness studios, a multi-purpose conference center, a pedestrian trail and public art. Platform One, Vegas’ first neighborhood food hall showcasing the best of the local food scene, will introduce an innovative touchless food pickup mechanism for carry-out or delivery, as well as infrastructure to integrate health and safety.
Starting with the groundbreaking last August, Matter has carefully managed construction following strict health and safety guidelines. At the onset of the pandemic last year, Matter re-engaged Gensler, the architectural firm behind UnCommons, for a redesign integrating health and safety features set by the WELL Building Standard™. The features include near hospital-quality HVAC systems, operable windows and patios, touch-free access, abundant natural daylight, interior finishes made with materials to limit the spread of bacteria and additional sheltered outdoor seating. UnCommons will be the first project in Nevada that will be built to the standards for WELL Certification™, the highest third-party endorsement of a building’s performance and the health of its occupants.
UnCommons is also pursuing certification by Green Globes®, a nationally recognized green rating assessment, guidance and certification program. The revolutionary program recognizes sustainability goals for new construction projects, existing buildings and interiors to encourage improved environmental and health performance while reducing environmental impacts.
The celebrated mixed-use community recently achieved the Registered Green Globes Merit Award and Registered WELL Merit Award from the San Diego Green Building Council (SDGBC), which recognizes outstanding sustainable design in the 2020 SDGBC Sustainability Awards.
The mixed-use community has captured the attention of CBRE, the global leader in commercial real estate, which will be moving its Las Vegas headquarters to UnCommons. Attracted to UnCommons’ commitment to the health and safety of residents and employees, the Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company will occupy nearly 20,000 square feet encompassing an entire floor of one of UnCommons’ five office buildings.
ALLIED ESPORTS AND HYPERX RENEW NAMING RIGHTS AT LUXOR
Allied Esports, a global esports entertainment company and subsidiary of Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc., and HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, Inc., have renewed their exclusive naming rights agreement for Allied Esports’ global flagship property, HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas, located at the Luxor on the Strip.
Per the multiyear deal, HyperX will continue with prominent branding and signage inside and outside of the venue, as well as across all arena promotions, content and social media platforms. HyperX and Allied Esports will continue to partner on a variety of co-branded experiences and events at the arena focused on growing their gaming and esports communities, which is a $1 billion industry growing globally.
Since opening in March 2018, when it was named the Esports Business Summit’s Venue of the Year, HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas has hosted more than 500 events, including industry icons like League of Legends All-Star and Capcom Cup. Furthermore, HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas welcomed more than 300,000 visitors in 2019.
With its modular design, elevated main stage, two-story LED video wall and one-of-a-kind HyperX Hype Tunnel, HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas is the ultimate setting for players to test and showcase their skills. The arena’s weekly tournaments and broadcasts, including Frags featuring Fortnite and Saturday Night Speedway featuring Mario Kart 8, draw competitors from across the West Coast and have become a benchmark for community events and grassroots growth for up-and-coming players.
In addition, HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas’s versatile production capabilities continue to be at the center of many online esports and entertainment productions throughout the world.
DINING ITEMS
Delmonico Steakhouse at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian is now serving up a daily tasting menu. Chef de Cuisine, Daniel Tederous curates a special four-course tasting menu daily for a unique culinary experience. Starting at $85 per person, the daily tasting menu can also be upgraded to include wine pairings with each course starting at $55 per person. To find out what today’s tasting menu entails and make reservations, call 702-414-3737.
In time for Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of lent, Lawry’s The Prime Rib will be serving up weekly fish specials each Friday leading up to Easter. It’s traditional to eat fish every Friday during lent and Lawry’s is making it easier for all of those who celebrate with Friday fish specials, available for both dine-in and takeout. The specials for the next seven weeks include: Feb. 19 - Shrimp Scampi $32; Feb. 26 - Roasted Cod $29;March 5 - Chilean Cauliflower $37; March 12 - Salmon Fingerlings $36;March 19 - Shrimp Scampi $32;March 26 - Salmon with peas and carrots $35; and April 2 - Shrimp Scampi $32.To make a reservation or order takeout, call 702-893-2223.
Both El Dorado Cantina locations introduced Margarita Mondays for dine-in customers this week on Feb. 15 with a special offer on all signature margaritas. The house margarita is $5 and flavored margaritas $8 with the following selections: 9th Island (pineapple coconut), Cucumber Jalapeño, Mango, Prickly Pear, Raspberry, and Strawberry Mint.
WALK4FRIENDSHIP ANNUAL FUNDRAISER GOES VIRTUAL
The Friendship Circle Las Vegas, a nonprofit organization for individuals with special needs, will hold its annual Walk4Friendship Las Vegas community fundraiser on Sunday, March 14 at 11 a.m.to raise awareness and resources to create a more inclusive community nurturing people of all abilities.
This year, due to COVID-19, the event will be virtual. In 2020, the event raised more than $100,000 and had approximately 1,000 participants walk the 1-mile course.
All registered walkers will receive their “Walk Kit” including their free event t-shirt in advance via delivery or at a designated pick-up location. On March 14, the event will be live streamed on The Friendship Circle’s Website, YouTube, and Facebook pages starting at 11 a.m. with a video from local celebrities. Participants are encouraged to walk their own route, in their neighborhood or at a park, and post pictures and videos while tagging Walk4Friendship.
During the live streamed event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., registered participants can pick-up a free lunch and enjoy live entertainment at the Bet Yossef Community Center, 8551 Vegas Dr., Las Vegas.
Participation in Walk4Friendship Las Vegas is free, but to meet their fundraising goal, event organizers encourage donations and pursue corporate sponsorships.
PINKBOX DOUGHNUTS® INTRODUCES NEW SWEET TREATS
Pinkbox Doughnuts, which is open 24 hours daily, has introduced several new treats to its collection of more than 60 whimsical doughnuts. The colorful creations are available now at all three Pinkbox valley locations.
Newly added doughnuts include: Strawberry Bar $1.25; Pink Velvet Ol’ Fashioned $1.75; Dirty Twist $2.50; Sprinkle Face: $2.75; and Veegee, vegan carrot cake $3 at Tropicana location only. All doughnuts are available for pre-order on Pinkbox’s website and delivery is available through Postmates.
VEGAS HAS WINNERS
One lucky Las Vegas local hit the jackpot at Arizona Charlie’s on Boulder Highway recently and won $34,000 on a $4 bet while playing video keno.
A Caesars Rewards member won the Progressive jackpot of $325,651when he hit a Royal Flush playing Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em at Planet Hollywood this month. The winner was in town to celebrate his brother’s birthday and to watch the Big Game. He plans to take his jackpot home to help support two exciting new additions in his life having recently become a proud father and homeowner.
This progressive jackpot is linked across Caesars’ Nevada properties—making them the largest linked table network in the nation. With the largest network of linked tables, this allows for jackpots to grow quickly. Caesars Entertainment has created more than 850 millionaires since 1987.
BLUME KITCHEN SIGHTINGS
It appears Blume Kitchen & Cocktails in Henderson caters in the late hours to celebrities and VIPs. Last Saturday former NFL Seahawks wide receiver and sports television personality Brandon Marshall, alongside his posse arrived at the venue around 12:30 a.m. for dining on upscale American steakhouse cuisine and were spotted leaving around 3 a.m.
Early Sunday morning at 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 14, VH1’s “Love & Hip-Hop” TV personality Alexis Skyy paid a visit with close friends and toasted with multiple shots of Casamigos Reposado paired with table side hookah service.
New York City-based celebrity jeweler Greg Yuna was spotted partying at an adjacent table. Yuna is famous for his custom pieces, designed in NYC’s diamond district and recently created bling for rap superstar Saint Jhn, and is no stranger to undefeated boxing champion Floyd Money Mayweather, who frequents the nightspot.
Las Vegas local and “90 Day Fiancé” star Patrick Cornett was spotted DJ’ing inside Blume’s main dining room, where he enjoyed cocktails with his newfound significant other afterwards.