Date: Feb. 28, 2021
WALLY’S WINE & SPIRITS WILL OPEN AT RESORTS WORLD
Established in 1968, Wally’s Wine & Spirits with successful establishments in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica will open its first location outside Southern California at Resorts World Las Vegas this summer. The exclusive location at new Resorts World will blend a restaurant, wine bar and specialty gourmet market, creating a one-stop tasting and shopping experience.
Wally’s has created a multi-faceted concept marrying the brand’s time-honored retail wine shop with a restaurant and social wine bar. Wally’s will present an unrivaled culinary concept in Las Vegas boasting more than 8,000 labels of wine, spirits, beer and specialty gourmet food items from around the globe, available for sale or to enjoy as a sit-down experience. Wally’s Las Vegas location will also offer over 125 wines-by-the-glass as well as an extensive list of spirits, cocktails and more to sip on site in a warm, convivial environment.
The two-story venue will feature a spacious main dining room surrounded by 12 feet tall wine racks showcasing Wally’s impressive beverage collection; a terrace with seating overlooking the resort’s 50-foot diameter LED globe; twin bars with stone countertops; an open display kitchen; a retail market with glass cases containing selections of cheese and charcuterie; and a lower-level cellar with two private dining rooms.
LA’S RANDY’S DONUTS IS COMING TO VEGAS
Randy’s Donuts from Los Angeles, which was founded in 1962, plans to open seven locations in the Las Vegas Valley. Owner Mark Kelegian and his family purchased the company from the original owner in 2015 and have been expanding it globally. The company bought a vacant drive-thru restaurant at 2170 S. Rainbow Blvd. and plan to open it later this summer and vacant land at Blue Diamond Road and Cameron Street with a store expected to open by year’s end. The remaining five outlets will be a mix of stand-alone and casino based.
Many folks recognize Randy’s Donuts by the original location, which is a 24-hour landmark in Inglewood, Calif., because of the giant doughnut on the roof, which has appeared in movies, music videos, and television. The Blue Diamond location will have a 20-foot doughnut, but it will be on the ground.
Randy’s Donuts are made by hand every morning. Kelegian said they make their own flour, so their doughnuts are fluffier, airier and larger.
THE PLAZA CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR
The Plaza Hotel & Casino officially opened on July 2, 1971, in downtown Las Vegas as the largest hotel and casino in the world. It has enjoyed a storied history over the last five decades as an iconic destination, which continues evolving, elevating downtown culture, and enhancing the guest experience. The Plaza will celebrate its 50th anniversary with exclusive promotions and special events throughout 2021.
SUN IN PISCES IS NEW SHOP AT FERGUSONS DOWNTOWN
Latina-owned crystal shop, Sun in Pisces, has opened its first brick and mortar store at Fergusons Downtown located at 1028 E Fremont Street. Guests can shop for one-of-a kind handmade jewelry, smudge bundles, and high-quality crystals and minerals to manifest light and happiness into their lives.
‘ABSINTHE®’ OPENS AGAIN AT CAESARS PALACE
The immensely popular show “Absinthe®” following state guidelines will return to its center-Strip tented home at Caesars Palace on Wednesday, March 17 with performance at 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The show is setting aside a limited number of VIP tables at every show. At $1,000 per table, a party of two will be able to sprawl out with comfort in the Impresario’s Reserve section and receive a bottle of Dom Perignon.
ENTERAINMENT POPS UP AGAIN AT MGM RESORTS
In accordance with revised state guidelines, MGM Resorts will return David Copperfield, The Australian Bee Gees and Terry Fator’s shows to the stage this month.
Emmy Award-winning illusionist David Copperfield will appear again mesmerizing audiences in his David Copperfield Theater at the MGM Grand on Sunday, March 21 with his stage production “Live The Impossible.”
“The Australian Bee Gees” will be back in the Thunderland Showroom at the Excalibur beginning Monday, March 15. This tribute to the Bee Gees is a multi-media concert event with a contemporary perspective featuring state-of-the-art sound and superb lighting.
Famed ventriloquist and “American’s Got Talent” winner Terry Fator will headline his new show, “Terry Fator: Who’s the Dummy Now?” for a limited engagement at New York-New York starting Thursday, March 18.
The company’s other resident shows that have already returned include Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in Studio A & B Ballrooms at MGM Grand, comedian Carrot Top in the Luxor Theater, alluring female revue “Fantasy” in the same showroom at the Luxor, and the sexy male revue “Thunder From Down Under” in the Thunderland Showroom at the Excalibur.
NEW ‘ALL MOTOWN’ SHOW OPENS AT ALEXIS PARK
On March 5, the new production show “All Motown” opens inside the Athena Showroom at off-Strip Alexis Park featuring an all-female cast, The Duchesses of Motown, performing the top songs that defined a generation from the Motown discography. Performances are at 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Tickets start at $44.95, call the Ticket Kite Box Office at 702-483-8056.
The Duchesses led by Tonja Jones along with Gwen, Tai, and LeAna, are known for singing Motown songs with a splash of Doo-wop. They were formerly part of the Las Vegas casts “Forever Doowop,” “Forever Motorcity,” and “Timeless” performing for many years to sold-out shows. “All Motown” returns the Duchesses to their roots in a revue of the music of top-selling Motown artists, including Martha and The Vandellas, Mary Wells, Gladys Knight, The Marvelettes, The Supremes, and many more in this new 75-minute tribute show.
“All Motown” joins a lineup of different shows at Alexis Park including “The Big Little Variety Show, ”“Amazing Magic” starring Tommy Wind as well as BurlesQ, “Rock Candy Male Revue, ”“Jokesters Comedy Club, ”“Alain Nu - The Man Who Knows,” and “Late Night Magic.”
CARVANA IS VENDING MACHINE WITH CARS
It’s an eye catcher for sure! Located next to the I-15 freeway is Carvana best explained as a large glass vending machine with cars. The new structure is 11 stories tall with a 39-vehicle capacity. Carvana is a new way to buy and sell used cars online with an option for customers to pick up their car and watch it come down the glass tower.
The company is adding a Las Vegas twist to their new and first Nevada location. Upon arrival, customers will be handed a coin to insert into a slot machine, which will activate the vending process. Carvana has car vending machines in more than 10 states around the country.
Carvana is located at 3720 Morgan Cashman's Way next to the I-15 and off Spring Mountain Road. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ELLIS ISLAND HOLDS ST. PATRICK’S DAY BREWER’S DINNER
Ellis Island’s head brewers, Michael Key and Eddie Leal at The Front Yard are holding a St. Patrick’s Day Brewer’s Dinner on Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. The guided multi-course dinner and beer pairing will offer dishes including Reuben Egg Rolls, Fried Brussels Sprouts, Shepherd’s Pie, and more. Guests can purchase this epicurean experience for $65 with a 15% gratuity collected on event night. Tickets for Ellis Island’s Brewer’s Dinner are available on Eventbrite for guests 21+. Social distancing will be enforced between tables with a maximum of six guests each.
THE STRAT WILL GO GREEN FOR ST. PAT’S DAY
The STRAT will light its entire 1,149-foot tower green on Wednesday, March 17. From the casino to the top of the tower, the resort will celebrate the day with ambient Celtic music, authentic Irish fare, beer specials and more that day.
PT’s Wings & Sports will serve deviled green eggs and ham; Irish corned beef nachos; a shot of Baileys Irish Cream combined with Jameson Irish whiskey served with a Guinness stout; and Sean Patrick’s Irish Red beer served with a shot of Jameson Irish whiskey. STRAT Café will offer corned beef and hash, corned beef and cabbage, and Guinness draft beer.
At REMIX Lounge local Irish band, The Celtic Rockers will feature ambient music beginning at 8 p.m. and shots of Jameson Irish whiskey, and Bailey’s Irish Cream combined with Jameson Irish whiskey served with a Guinness stout.
Green beer will also be served throughout the night at PT’s Wings & Sports, STRAT Café and REMIX Lounge.
LANDINI’S PIZZERIA WILL OFFER ST. PAT’S DAY PIZZA
Landini’s Pizzeria at 9440 W. Russell Road will feature green pizza in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day with the San Patrizio pizza available on Wednesday, March 17. Landini’s specialty San Patrizio pie will be topped with chicken, spinach, onions, artichokes and dollops of house-made pesto sauce. The green-topped pizza is $25.50 for the 18-inch pizza and $17.50 for the 12-inch when dining at the restaurant or for carryout.
Additional green-inspired favorites include the Rustica Pie, topped with Brussels sprouts, pancetta and balsamic glaze; and the vegetarian Michelangelo, made with spinach, olives, green bell peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes; among others.
Landini’s is family-owned by Leo Landini, a Florence, Italy, native, and his wife, Christine Landini. Signature pizzas are available whole and by the slice. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
COSMOPOLITAN HOSTS HOOPS & HOPS COLLEGE BASKETBALL VIEWING
The 10th Annual Hoops & Hops College Basketball Viewing Experience will return to The Cosmopolitan, Friday-Saturday, March 19-20. The tournament action madness will happen inside The Chelsea. The resort’s 40,000-square-foot concert venue will be transformed into the ultimate sports-viewing space, featuring wall-to-wall stadium-style projection screens and three betting stations within an on-site sports book.
This year, Hoops & Hops offers two distinct experiences: Reserved Sofa Seating starting at $450 per person and Reserved Stadium Seating for $300 per person.
Additional tournament madness viewing experiences will be available at the Race & Sports Book, The Pool Marquee, The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, CliQue Bar & Lounge, and Holsteins Shakes and Buns.
POOLS ARE OPENING AT RESORTS THIS MONTH
Happily, for visitors especially folks coming from cold climates, many Las Vegas resorts are opening their pool areas this month. In addition to regular lounge chairs cabanas and daybeds are available to rent.
Mentioned last week The Pool Marquee at The Cosmopolitan opens each Friday-Sunday beginning March 5. At the resort, the Boulevard Pool is currently open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and beginning Monday, March 22 hours will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. The Chelsea Pool will open Friday, March 12 with the same hours.
The pool season begins at Treasure Island Friday, March 5. The TI Pool and Island Pub will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On March 15, the daily hours will change to 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
MGM Resorts’ destination pools across Las Vegas began welcoming guests on March 1. Resorts with pools opening include Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara, MGM Grand with 6.5 acres of featuring four swimming pools, three whirlpools, cascading waterfalls and a lazy river, Mandalay Bay with an epic wave pool, Delano, Four Seasons, The Mirage, Park MGM, New York-New York, Luxor and Excalibur.
The resort-style pool set amongst lush gardens at the JW Marriott will open starting Wednesday, March 10 with hours daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Non-hotel guests can also enjoy access for $10 per person 16 and over and $5 per child ages 6 to 15.
PT’S TAVERNS CELEBRATE ST. PAT’S WITH IRISH BITES AND BEVERAGES
PT’s Taverns are going green for St. Patrick’s Day with authentic Irish cuisine, beer specials, shots and more on Wednesday, March 17. All 64 taverns in the Las Vegas Valley will celebrate the lucky day with PT’s Sean Patrick’s Red brew or PT’s Hualapai IPA served with a shot of Screwball peanut butter whiskey, priced at $6.
Authentic Irish fare will be available exclusively at Sean Patrick’s and while supplies last offer guests complimentary St. Patrick’s Day T-shirts.
SHADOW CREEK TO HOST INAUGURAL BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has announced the inaugural Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play will be hosted in Las Vegas by Shadow Creek May 26-30, 2021. The tournament will feature 64 players competing head-to-head for a $1.5 million purse at the exclusive golf course owned by MGM Resorts International and available only to guests of the company’s resorts. The 64-player field will be divided into 16 groups of four players, with three days of round-robin matches deciding the final 16-player bracket. From there, the tournament will proceed in single elimination matches to determine the two players who will face off in Sunday’s Championship Match.
VIRTUAL POKER TOURNAMENT WILL BENEFIT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
The first Play 4 JA Virtual Poker Tournament will be held to benefit Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, which is dedicated to providing financial education to students K-12. Hosted by the World Series of Poker On-Line, the two-day event will include an “all things poker” discussion and Q&A session with poker experts in addition to the poker tourney.
On March 13 from 2-3 p.m., “Poker Brat Saturday” will feature the original “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth, a 15-time World Series of Poker champion, best-selling author and arguably the world’s best cash money poker player. Poker pros Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme will join him. Following the trio’s session, John Kim, one of the best Las Vegas tournament poker players, will provide tips and insight on what to expect during the virtual poker tournament the next day.
The Texas Hold’em tournament on Sunday, March 14 at 2 p.m. is open to participants 21 years or older and in Nevada during the event. There is a $100 buy-in and $50 re-buys. Fifty percent of the entry fees will go to the prize pool and remaining fees to Junior Achievement. All play will be simulcast on the WSOP website.
