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Category: Jackie Brett

BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW

 

Date: March 14, 2021

BY: Jackie Bret

 

‘IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH’ EXPERIENCE WILL DEBUT IN LAS VEGAS

 

                Lighthouse Immersive and Foster Entertainment are bringing their worldwide digital art sensation, “Immersive Van Gogh,” to the heart of Las Vegas for the first time ever in a secret location to be announced soon. The visually striking exhibition encourages guests to experience the awe-inspiring works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh through 500,000-plus cubic feet of immersive projections, 60,600 frames of video and 90,000,000 pixels. Ticket prices range from $59.99 and above; visit Immersive Van Gogh website.

The Las Vegas site will be the company’s ninth location, following the successful on-going and sold-out exhibits in Toronto, Canada, San Francisco, and Chicago, with additional productions scheduled to open this year in Los Angeles May 27and Dallas June 17. Immersive productions in Paris have been seen by more than 2 million visitors and were featured on the Netflix TV show “Emily in Paris,” episode 5. 
                The exhibit is a strikingly spectacular digital art exhibition inviting audiences to “step inside” the legendary works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, evoking his highly emotional and chaotic inner consciousness through art, light, music, movement, and imagination. Stunning towering projections illuminate the artistic genius, featuring a curated selection of images from Van Gogh’s 2,000+ lifetime catalog of masterpieces. Designed by creative director and Italian film producer ​Massimiliano Siccardi​, ​“Immersive Van Gogh” ​contains original, mood-setting music by Italian multimedia composer ​Luca Longobardi and ​Vittorio Guidotti as the art director.

                The hour-long, timed-entry​, walk-through experience is designed with health and safety as a priority. Capacity will be limited in accordance with the City of Las Vegas’ safety protocols. Additional safety precautions include touchless ticket-taking, temperature checks upon arrival, hand sanitizer stations, social distancing markers throughout the venue, and digitally projected social distancing circles on the gallery floors to ensure appropriate spacing. All guests must always wear a face covering.

 

ESTIATORIO MILOS OPENS AT THE VENETIAN

 

                The popular Greek seafood restaurant, Estiatorio Milos opens this week at The Venetian’s Restaurant Row. The 13,624-square-foot space formerly occupied by seafood restaurant Aquaknox has been redesigned. The restaurant by chef and owner Costas Spiliadis brings his Mediterranean-inspired seafood menu made with the finest ingredients, fish market, an extensive list of fine wines, and modern aesthetic to the resort. Milos is open for lunch daily noon-3 p.m. and dinner daily at 5 p.m.

                Complementing the Milos fresh fish market is a new produce market, where patrons can select from an array of fresh fruits and vegetables to accompany their meals. In addition, a raw bar features whole fish sashimi using the day’s fresh catch and a variety of sashimi and tartare preparations.

                The architecture echoes the essence of Greek Cycladic landscapes. With an open kitchen, bar, spacious dining room, “yogurt room” where yogurt is strained in the classical way through cheesecloth, and private dining rooms, the space is modern while reflective of its roots. Architect Alain Carle uses stone, wood, and Pentelikon marble – a key material in allMilos restaurants – to evoke the simplicity and emotion of Greece.

 

WICKED SPOON BUFFET SET TO REOPEN AT THE COSMOPOLITAN

 

                Wicked Spoon Buffet at The Cosmopolitan will return with breakfast and lunch service beginning Thursday, March 25. The award-winning buffet will once again offer its wicked twist on the traditional buffet experience, featuring familiar staples and imaginative seasonal dishes, alongside bottomless beverage packages Thursday-Sunday. Specialty holiday brunch will also return beginning Easter weekend on Sunday, April 4.  

                Reservations are encouraged in advance, with dining limited to two hours per party. Social distancing will be strictly enforced, where guests will be offered their selected dishes of choice.  

                Hours of operation and pricing are breakfast 8-11 a.m. | $38 adults, $19 children, and lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | $45 adults, $22.50 children. Bottomless Beverages: mimosas, champagne, bloody marys or bud light draft packages are $21 per guest.

 

ARIA HAS NEW SPRING HOT AIR BALLOONS LOBBY DISPLAY

 

                Aria’s new uplifting lobby display “Take Flight” features five hot air balloons floating under a “sky” made of vibrant shades of blue and turquoise fabric. Complementing the brightly colored balloons are six oversized birds soaring above a grove of Ficus trees and floral beds in hues of red, yellow, pink and orange. A photo moment is available allowing guests to immerse themselves inside one of the hot air balloon nests.

                Other springtime touches found throughout the resort include 15 smaller hot air balloons displayed in Aria’s North Valet Lobby. Each of the balloons are scaled down in size from their main lobby counterparts and they incorporate handcrafted seasonal symbols such as an umbrella with rain boots; a flower truck bursting with a colorful floral delivery; and a flowerpot filled with sunflowers, as well as 12 other fantastical designs.

                Additionally, an art installation designed exclusively for Aria and titled “Unexpected Convergence” by Living Edge, a local team comprised of artist Aundrea Frahm and floral artist Shino Mullen, is on display adjacent to the Aria Patisserie March 16 through May 31. Created with layered mirror acrylic resembling a glass lake that collides into a wave of jewel-toned silk floral, the installation evokes the crashing of seasons from winter to spring.

 

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL UNVEILS 2021 MUSIC LINEUP

 

                Las Vegas’ premier music, arts, culinary, comedy, and ideas festival, Life is Beautiful, has released its stellar lineup for the three-day celebration, which will take over 18 city blocks of Downtown Las Vegas Sept. 17–19. With more than 60 of the world’s most influential artists on the lineup, Life is Beautiful continues to showcase their commitment to unifying the community by providing fans with a diverse range of musical offerings that transcends genres and generations.

                Chart-topping artists set to perform over the three-day weekend include five-time Grammy Award-winning pop sensation Billie Eilish, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Green Day, psychedelic music phenomenon Tame Impala, award-winning rapper A$AP Rocky, electronic music star Illenium, and more. The full lineup can be found on the Life is Beautiful website. The 2021 lineup celebrates the artists, both established and emerging, who were the shining lights during our country’s darkest days.

                Life is Beautiful continues to be driven by its core mission to create a holistic experience which aids in positive community revolution and individual empowerment by collectivizing and inspiring through shared experiences driven by art and culture.

                General Admission 3-day tickets will be available for $330; VIP 3-day tickets for $685; VIP+ 3-day tickets for $1,495; and All-In 3-day tickets for $2,995 (tickets are plus taxes/fees). 

 

STONEY’S FEATURES LIVE JAZZ FOR THE FIRST TIME

 

                Stoney’s Rockin’ Country located at Town Square will introduce live jazz for the first time with two special performances on Sunday-Monday, March 28-29 by acclaimed jazz musicians Jeff Hamilton, Graham Dechter, and Akiko Tsuruga as the Jeff Hamilton Organ Trio. Musicians from Las Vegas Academy’s jazz program will serve as the opening act.

                Hamilton is revered as one of the most musical of drummers and has performed with the most famed stars in jazz…Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson, to name a few.

                Los Angeles native Dechter is an accomplished guitarist, composer and arranger and a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra since he was 19. 

                Hailing from Osaka, Japan, Tsuruga is a jazz composer, organist, and pianist with 10 albums as a leader to her credit. Her debut album in the U.S., “Sweet and Funky,” was selected as a “Best Album of 2007” by “DownBeat” magazine.

                Tickets start at $20. Brunch can be added on March 28 with doors opening at 2 p.m. or dinner on March 29 at 5 p.m. for an additional $32 per person, call 702-435-2855.

 

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

 

                Latin global superstar Maluma will return to touring with his Papi Juancho 2021 World Tour, and make a Las Vegas stop at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena this year on Saturday, Sept. 4.

                The Weeknd’s 104-date global After Hours World Tour will make a Las Vegas stop at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Along with the addition of 39 new tour dates, The Weeknd also released “The Highlights” in early February. “The Highlights” is a way to present some of The Weeknd’s most notable works in one place.

                Morrissey rescheduled his residency “Morrissey: Viva Moz Vegas” at The Colosseum at Caesars for five nights only in summer 2021. The new dates are Aug. 28–29 and Sept. 2, 4–5, 2021.

                “Absinthe®” reopens at Caesars Palace in its distinctive Spiegeltent this week March 17 with cabaret-style seating allowing parties of two to six to reserve tables set at least six feet apart. Performances are at 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For pre-show fun, the outdoor Green Fairy Garden with its spectacular Absinthe Electric Oak will allow for social distancing.

                Jabbawockeez has returned to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Performing “Timeless” five nights a week Monday and Thursday at 7 p.m. and Friday-Sunday at 7 and 9:30 p.m. From their first national television appearance on “America’s Got Talent” in 2006 to their win on MTV’s “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew” in March 2008, Jabbawockeez have proven themselves as global trendsetters. Tickets start at $49.99.

 

WINK WORLD ANNOUNCES WIG OUT WEDNESDAY, EXTENDED HOURS

 

                “Wink World: Portals Into The Infinite” immersive art experience at AREA15 features Wig Out Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday. Guests purchasing a neon wig from the Wink World gift shop during this hour long time period receive complimentary entry into the attraction. Neon wigs start at $13 which includes admission into the attraction as well as ChromaDepth 3-D glasses. Regular pricing starts at $18 for adults and $13.50 for children.

                In addition, hours of operation are extended: Monday-Thursday 3-10 p.m.; Friday 3 p.m.-midnight; Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

                “Wink World: Portals Into The Infinite” is a 1,500-square-foot experience created by Chris Wink, co-founder of Blue Man Group. Wink World is comprised of a series of six infinity-mirror rooms, with each one showcasing a stunning production number drawing upon Wink’s love of black light and other dazzling stage effects designed to inspire wonder. Wink has a penchant for transforming everyday objects into art or entertainment such as ceiling fans transforming into kinetic art and children’s toys like Slinkies and Hoberman Spheres elevated into a chorus line of dancers and entertainers.

 

FIVE IRON GOLF ANNOUNCES SPRING LEAGUE SEASON

 

                Five Iron Golf indoor golf experience at AREA15 is bringing league play to Las Vegas. Five Iron’s Spring League season kicks off on Monday, March 29 for golfers to enjoy seven weeks of friendly competition, drink specials, prizes and the chance to compete for an all-expense paid golf trip to Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.  

                League teams with four to six golfers play nine-hole rounds from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays on virtual courses. Scoring formats rotate weekly, starting out with an easy team scramble and ending with a much more challenging three-ball best ball.  

                After seven weeks of play, the top five league teams qualify for an eighth week of playoffs, ultimately awarding Five Iron Las Vegas’ net and a gross winning team with a two-hour, open bar event for up to 30 people. Las Vegas’ winning teams will face the winners out of Five Iron’s New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore locations in a virtual national championship for a chance to win the grand prize team trip to Pinehurst Resort.

                Teams are priced at $1,250 per season and individuals can sign up to be paired with other free agents for $270 per person, per season. By signing up, each league player receives one complimentary lesson and one club fitting from The Fitting Lab, a high-tech, low pressure club fitting company, featuring expert club fitters and the latest equipment from every major manufacturer.  

                Five Iron offers full bar service and elevated bar-bites from The Beast by Todd English. Weekly food and beverage offerings will be available for league teams. Teams can be reserved online, and more information is available at Five Iron’s website.

 

PELOTON BIKE EXPERIENCE OFFERED IN-ROOM AT NOBU

 

                One success phenomenon during the pandemic has been the stationary bike Peloton’s popularity. No need to suffer withdrawals, Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace is offering guests their own in-room Peloton bike for $75 a day. Orders can be made through Caesars Entertainment Inc.’s virtual concierge service, Ivy, with a $200 deposit. Plus, the hotel’s fitness center offers guests Peloton bikes free of charge.

 

NEVADA STATE MUSEUM IS REOPENING

 

                The Nevada State Museum on the Springs Preserve campus is opening again on March 20 after its COVID-19 temporary closure. The museum will be celebrating Women’s History Month this March with new biographies of Nevada women in its gallery sponsored by Bank of America. A new display about local educator and philanthropist Lilly Fong is among the current exhibits to see.

                The museum’s permanent gallery has been updated with new showgirl costumes and outfits from old Helldorado Days’ events held in Las Vegas. The museum store has been redone, showcasing new gifts and mementos. Museum hours are10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors will need tickets, which are on the museum’s website for a specific time and day.

 

FERRARO’S EXTENDS DINNER SERVICE

 

                Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, Las Vegas’ longest running, family-owned and operated restaurant since 1985, has been offering dinner service Wednesday-Sunday and this week has added Tuesday. The restaurant is located on Paradise Road across from Virgin Hotels opening at the end of this month. Hours are 5 to11 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

 

GOLDEN RAINBOW PRESENTS DRAG BRUNCH AT THE STIRLING CLUB

 

                Golden Rainbow is partnering with The Stirling Club to host a drag brunch show with some favorite local drag superstars on Sunday, March 21 from noon-2 p.m. A generous percentage of sales will benefit Golden Rainbow to provide critical services for families and individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. 

                Edie, known for her former leading role in Cirque du Soleil’s “Zumanity,” will host and perform alongside Vita Summers and Dusty Muffin from the Notoriety show “Faaabulous!,” decked out in fabulous costumes and singing live to show stopping numbers. Radio personality Nudia Hernandez will DJ. Tickets are $85 and include bottomless bubbles with a three-course pre-fixe brunch menu.

 

RICK HARRISON WILL LEAD 7th ANNUAL ‘PAWN STARS POKER RUN’

 

                Rick Harrison of History channel’s hit reality show “Pawn Stars” will lead his 7th Annual “Pawn Stars Poker Run” this year to benefit a new charity, The Hundley Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in need. Harrison selected a new charity this year; however, the proceeds from the run still benefit those families and individuals struggling with all the complications epilepsy brings into someone’s life and family.

                On Saturday, May 29, registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with kick stands up at 10 a.m. Harrison will lead motorcycle riders through Las Vegas starting at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop downtown on Las Vegas Blvd. Other stops will include the 105-year old historic Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nev., and the Porchlight Grille, as well as new participant, Backyard, located on Water Street in Henderson.

                The final stop will bring riders back to Pawn Plaza downtown for the official after party featuring a raffle, live band, and catering by Rick’s Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern. Participants will have their chance to win $2,000 for best hand and $1,000 for the worst hand, among other prizes. You can register online at Eventbrite.