BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: May 15, 2022
BY: Jackie Brett
STRAT WILL OPEN GEORGE LOPEZ’S CHINGON KITCHEN • ROCK & BREWS
The STRAT will become home to Nevada’s first George Lopez’s Chingon Kitchen, comic legend Lopez’s edgy authentic Mexican restaurant, and Rock & Brews, the booming restaurant and bar concept by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of rock band KISS. A late 2022 opening is planned for Chingon Kitchen and a late 2023 reveal for Rock & Brews. Both venues will be located on the main casino floor by L.A. Comedy Club’s new showroom.
The 9,000-square-foot, 240-seat Chingon Kitchen will entice passers-by with aromas of fresh tortillas cooking on an exhibition griddle and woodfired carne asada. Vibrant Chicano art will canvas the walls, setting the mood for street corn, queso, tacos, burritos and more. Signature cocktails will include several margaritas including the Chihuahua Margarita, Chingon’s famous frozen Impala Margarita topped off with Li’l Mexi Mexican lager from George Lopez Brewing Company. Founded in 2017, this will be Lopez’s sixth restaurant.
Rock & Brews will span 8,500 square feet just steps away from Chingon Kitchen. Rock & Brews will serve the best of American classics, including signature wings, oversized burgers, salads, sandwiches and BBQ. Founded in 2011, Rock & Brews now has 20 locations throughout the United States in California, Florida, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
RESORTS WORLD PARTNERS WITH ELEPHANT PARADE TO RAISE FUNDS
Elephant Parade®, the world’s largest touring public elephant art exposition raising awareness of and support for elephants, will take over Resorts World starting Memorial Day weekend and run through Labor Day weekend. The Strip’s newest resort will welcome a herd of 26 life-size baby elephant statues, personally designed by the resort’s partners and notable brands, to parade across the property for guests to enjoy, while also providing information on this extraordinary effort.
An initiative that started in The Netherlands in 2007, the art installation carries a strong conservation message to highlight the plight of wild elephants and explain the important work of Elephant Parade. With the help of Resorts World Las Vegas celebrity, retail and business partners, each elephant will be uniquely designed before arriving to the property. Thirteen predesigned elephants, with themes such as Betty Boop, The Big Lebowski, Cesar Millan and more, will also join the property’s inaugural Elephant Parade. Following the exhibition, the expertly painted statues will be auctioned off to benefit elephant welfare programs.
Elephant Parade has toured around the world, with Resorts World marking the first-ever display in Las Vegas. As a global destination welcoming guests from all backgrounds, the property felt a strong desire to bring this initiative to its guests and visitors alike, further spreading the organization’s message and combine art and education into one eye-catching display. In addition to the art pieces on display throughout the property, Resorts World will sell select miniature replicas of the elephants throughout its various retail stores.
MELISSA ETHERIDGE WILL VISIT HOUSE OF BLUES
Singer, songwriter and activist Melissa Etheridge is bringing her “One Way Out Tour” to House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Saturday, Aug. 20. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.50.
Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, “Your Little Secret,” which was distinguished by the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.
On Oct. 7, 2016, Etheridge released “Memphis Rock & Soul,” her first album since 2014’s critically lauded “This Is M.E.” She followed that up with the release of “The Medicine Show” in April 2019.
In June of 2020, Etheridge launched her own live streaming subscription and single ticket concert platform, Etheridge TV. She plays five new shows Tuesday-Saturday at 3 p.m. PT and did more than 200 live streams in 2020.
On Sept. 17, 2021, Ethridge released a new album called “One Way Out.” The nine-track album is a collection of songs she wrote in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that never made the cut…until now!
DRAI’S ANNOUNCES MULTI-YEAR RESIDENCY FOR CHRIS BROWN
Drai’s Nightclub will welcome music artist Chris Brown back to the Drai’s LIVE stage for a new multi-year residency starting Saturday, June 11. The Grammy Award-winning performer will make his stellar return with an explosive new production unlike anything in the history of Drai’s LIVE’s epic performances. Tickets are available now on Drai’s website.
Brown was one of the club’s first residents when he first took the Drai’s LIVE stage in 2015 and will be the first with a custom designed stage and production. Designed to bring Brown’s vision to life, the transparent two-level stage will bring him closer to his fans with an immersive, up close and personal experience. The R&B legend will perform popular hits over his 15-year plus career, as well as songs from his upcoming album, “Breezy” (TBC). Additional shows of his multi-year residency will be announced later.
Drai’s Nightclub is the only club in Las Vegas offering full-length concerts by today’s top-charting artists. Every weekend, the Drai’s LIVE concert series brings big names like Big Sean and Lil Wayne to the rooftop of The Cromwell. Drai’s Nightclub is now open from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday–Sunday.
ORLEANS ARENA HOSTS FREESTYLE EXPLOSION THROWBACK JAM
Top freestyle, pop and dance artists of the ‘80s and ‘90s will bring their greatest hits to the Freestyle Explosion Throwback Jam at the Orleans Arena on Saturday, June 11. Featured performers will include Stevie B., Lisa Lisa, Exposé, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Montell Jordan, Tag Team, Trinere, Cover Girls and Candyman. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets start at $31.65.
Singer-songwriter and producer Stevie B. was a freestyle pioneer in Miami, Fla., and burst into the music scene in 1987 with his smash hit “Party Your Body.” In 1990, Stevie B. released his platinum-selling albums, “Love & Emotion,” including his No. 1 hit “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)” and Top-15 hit “I’ll Be By Your Side.”
Hailing from New York City, Lisa Lisa took the freestyle and pop world by storm in the mid-1980s as a member of the band Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. She also released solo projects, including her 1994 album “LL77,” which included the hits “Skip to My Lu” and “When I Fell in Love.”
Formed in the mid-1980s, Exposé became one of the first groups in music history to have four Top-10 hits on their debut album, surpassing records. Exposé became the first female group to have seven back-to-back Top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including their No. 1 hit “Seasons Change.” After taking off 15 years, Exposé reunited and released their most recent hit “Shine On.”
COMEDIAN JEFF ROSS WILL HEADLINE AT VIRGIN HOTELS
Comedian, writer and actor, Jeff Ross, will take the stage at 24 Oxford inside Virgin Hotels for “Jeff Ross Roasts You” on Friday, June 24for two shows. Doors open at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Best known as “The Roastmaster General,” Ross is a regular on Comedy Central and has roasted the entertainment industry’s biggest names including Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis, Justin Bieber, Joan Rivers, Charlie Sheen and more. His television projects include “Roast Battle” for Comedy Central, a series which Ross produced and starred for three seasons, as well as guest-starring roles on “The Simpsons,” “Drunk History,” “Family Guy,” among others. His most recent comedy specials have turned roasting into social commentary, shedding light on some of the country’s most polarizing political issues. These days, he does stand-up, bringing his own brand of roasting to audiences.
RAP SUPERSTAR NELLY WILL HEADLINE POOL AT M RESORT
Multi-platinum, Grammy award-winning rap superstar, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and actor, Nelly will take the M Pool stage at M Resort for a performance on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. Nelly has continually raised the bar for the entertainment industry since stepping on the scene in 2000 with his distinctive vocals and larger-than-life personality. Tickets start at $25.
Nelly embarked on his music career with the Midwest hip hop group St. Lunatics, in 1993 and signed with Universal Records in 1999. Nelly entered the spotlight with the release of “Country Grammar” in 2000. The album landed Nelly four Grammy Award nominations and sold more than nine million copies worldwide.
The RIAA ranks Nelly as the fourth best-selling rap artist in American music history, with more than 21 million albums sold in the United States. On Dec. 11, 2009, Billboard ranked Nelly the number three Top Artist of the Decade.
3ICE BRINGS THREE-ON-THREE ICE HOCKEY TO ORLEANS ARENA
3ICE, an all-new independent, three-on-three professional ice hockey league in North America, is bringing its inaugural season opener to Orleans Arena on Saturday, June 18 at 3 p.m. and its playoffs and championship game on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $26. 61 on June 18 and $32.11 on Aug. 20.
3ICE is uniquely designed to give hockey fans the speed, skill and excitement they’ve grown to love since the three-on-three overtime concept was introduced in 2015. E.J. Johnston, a former IMG, Fox Sports and Getty Images executive, as well as the son of former professional player, coach and general manager Ed Johnston, founded the three-on-three professional hockey league.
The league consists of six teams, which will travel to tour stops and compete in a tournament where each game will consist of two, eight-minute halves using a running clock on a full-sized rink. Each team has seven players, including one goalie, and competes in a nine-week season that will feature six games each night. The bracket-style, single-elimination format will include three first-round games and two semifinal matchups, followed by a title game.
‘MARRIAGE CAN BE MURDER’ ADDS ADDITIONAL WEEKLY SHOWTIMES
“Marriage Can Be Murder,” Las Vegas’ longest-running fully interactive dinner theater experience, will be adding Mondays and Tuesdays to its schedule at “The Venue” inside The Orleans beginning Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. Show producers say audience demand for the show now rivals pre-pandemic levels. The new schedule will be nightly except Wednesday.
Celebrating 22 years as a Las Vegas entertainment staple, Eric and Jayne Post’s “Marriage Can Be Murder” is an interactive comedy-murder mystery with a three-course dinner served alongside the continuous performance of actors who are hidden among the audience. The highly immersive presentation treats audiences to an engrossing evening, with attendees serving as participants in a whodunit with questionable alibis, unusual suspects and surprise revelations. The plot, theme and actors change every three months, keeping the show fresh for returning guests.
The lobby and bar area currently open at 6 p.m. for guests to gather and enjoy a cocktail before the show. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for seating and start of salad service. The show starts at 7 p.m. and lasts two hours with two opportunities for mingling moments and bathroom breaks. Beginning June 20, the new lobby time will be 5:30 p.m., doors opening at 6 p.m., and show at 6:30 p.m.
Ticket tiers are regular $78.94, VIP $91.79, and RIP $109.21; all plus tax and fees.
TEMPTATION SUNDAYS AT LUXOR KICKS OFF 12TH SEASON
The Luxor’s Temptation Sundays, Las Vegas’ longest-run LGBTQ+ pool party, hosted the grand opening for its 12th season and debuted a new host, Eduardo Cordova. Temptation Sundays is running now through Sunday, Sept. 18 at Luxor’s North Pool, where tourists and locals alike can take part in The Strip’s only weekly all-inclusive pool party.
For an elevated experience, guests may book and reserve newly renovated seating options including padded chairs with umbrellas, daybeds or a cabana. Temptation Sundays’ cabanas include entry for up to eight guests, four plush lounge chairs and a mini fridge.
MARIO BARTH & ABOUT KINGS PERFORM BENEFIT CONCERT
Rock country band Mario Barth & About Kings are performing a benefit country rock concert at the Hard Rock Live on the Strip at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 27, which is free to active military and veterans in honor of Memorial Day Weekend. Military veterans and active servicemen and women can register for up to five free tickets each on aboutkings.com. Tickets for the public are $30, call 702-265-3642 to make reservations.
DJ Aero will perform from 8-8:45 p.m., followed by country singer Filmore from 8:45-10 p.m. Mario Barth & About Kings will take the stage from 10-11:30 p.m. Each person will receive a free drink.
The profits will be donated to the nonprofit 501c Coalition for Tattoo Safety to establish safety guidelines for tattoos.
Paid parking is available in the Showcase Mall parking garage next to the Hard Rock Live venue.
Mario Barth & About Kings recently returned from a concert in Berlin with 28,000 concertgoers and plan a seven-city tour in Europe this summer.
SAHARA ANNOUNCES SECOND EDITION EXCLUSIVE WHISKEYLABEL
The Sahara is debuting the second bottle of its exclusive whiskey label partnership series with Rare Character Whiskey Co. The extremely rare KRY-542 barrel—never released before and never to be released again—is a five-year and 10-month-aged, straight rye, 95/5 mash bill whiskey, distilled and bottled in Bardstown, Ky. Distilled by Bourbon Hall of Fame distiller Steve Nally, this bottle offers a particularly special corn unique to Kentucky made bourbon.
The limited-edition Sahara high-rye bourbon barrel is available at Chickie’s & Pete’s Crabhouse and Sports Bar, Casbar Lounge and The Tangier while supplies last. Whiskey enthusiasts can expect Sahara’s third barrel release of Rare Character Whiskey Co.’s straight Kentucky rye whiskey in the coming months.
‘BABY SHARK LIVE!: 2022 SPLASH TOUR’ MAKES STOP AT ORLEANS ARENA
Pinkfong and Round Room Live will present “Baby Shark Live!: 2022 Splash Tour,” a live concert experience, at the Orleans Arena on Sunday, June 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $27.50.
This one-of-a-kind, immersive concert experience will have fans of all ages dancing in the aisles as they join Baby Shark and friends for adventures into the jungle and under the sea to explore shapes, colors, numbers and more. The show will feature new and classic songs, including “Five Little Monkeys,” “Wheels on the Bus,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Monkey Banana” and the famous, RIAA Diamond certified children’s single “Baby Shark.”
Pinkfong’s global hit song “Baby Shark” climbed the charts and became the only RIAA diamond-certified children’s single. The “Baby Shark Dance” video has more than 9.6 billion views, making it the most viewed video in the history of YouTube. Nickelodeon is now airing “Baby Shark’s Big Show!,” a preschool television series starring the mega-popular Baby Shark.
THE STRAT OFFERS WINE SPECIALS ON NATIONAL WINE DAY
In celebration of National Wine Day, The STRAT will offer featured wine specials on Wednesday, May 25. At Top of the World with 360-degree rotating views, a selection will offer 25% off bottles of wine. McCall’s Heartland Grill will serve two-for-one glasses of wine; and PT’s Wings & Sports will offer two-for-one bottles of wine under $100.
NATIONAL BBQ MONTH IS MAY • NATIONAL BRISKET DAY MAY 28
Gilley's Saloon, Dance Hall & Bar-b-que inside Treasure Island is the place to be for National Brisket Day, May 28, and even in May for National BBQ Month. The award-winning bar-b-que restaurant is open for dinner offering a variety of dishes including a brisket sandwich. The brisket “filet” is also a must-have, slow-braised in apple juice and finished in mesquite smoker, topped with crispy onion straws. Other options include a BBQ pulled pork sandwich and baby back ribs.
SOUTH POINT OFFERS FREE BUFFET FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS
In honor of Memorial Day, the South Point is recognizing all active military and veterans by offering a free buffet for two at Garden Buffet on Monday, May 30from7 a.m.–9 p.m. Veterans and active-duty military can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at the all-you-can-eat buffet, which has cooking stations, soups and a salad bar, carving station and desserts. All veterans and military must present military ID or DD214 to redeem.
