BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: May 22, 2022
BY: Jackie Brett
‘RECKLESS IN VEGAS’ WILL OPEN AT SAHARA
“Reckless In Vegas,” with a distinctive sound will offer a modern twist on Vintage Vegas when it opens Thursday, June 30 at the Sahara. The show combines the imagery, comedic banter, glamorous showgirls and classic music from Sin City’s 1960s “glory days” with a contemporary rock band aesthetic. Tickets start at $50.
Members Michael Shapiro (band founder, lead vocals, guitar), drummer Jack E. Roth and Chris Nichols (bass, vocals) have created a high-energy show incorporating live performances of modern versions of songs by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis, Sonny & Cher, Frankie Valli, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash and Bobby Darin with dynamic production-show elements. “Reckless In Vegas” will appear in the Sahara Theatre on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8:30 p.m.
‘ROUGE’ IS HEATING UP THE STAGE AND THEATER AT THE STRAT
“Rouge,” the new show at The STRAT, is being billed “The Sexiest Show in Vegas!” The production features a provocative cast of 18 comprised of eye-appealing females and males in the same show making the journey of seduction and adult adventure more complete for the audience. While there is toplessness threaded throughout the show, it’s not a main focus. The nudity is interwoven in the show in a way it seems rather natural.
The show moves quickly with many costume, music and scene changes. Featured throughout the performance are dancers, acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, comedians, hand balancers and more. The interspersed specialty acts each introduce a new twist to their routines. The full-scale, erotic production has many inuendoes and brings the cast and audience together on over-the-top humor.
In the Las Vegas’ sexy adult shows genre, “Rouge” is a standout combing men and women together in a large-scale spectacle. The show should be a hit and in for a long run.
Performances are at 10 p.m. nightly except Monday with an additional show at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets start at $49 and The STRAT’s hotel guests can receive 30% off. You must be 18 years or older to attend.
CARLOS SANTANA EXTENDS HIS RESIDENCY AT HOUSE OF BLUES
Carlos Santana recently celebrated the 10th anniversary milestone of his residency “An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live” at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay. At a press conference, Santana’s manager Michael Vrionis officially announced a multi-year extension of the residency, and County Commissioner Justin Jones awarded Santana the Las Vegas Icon Award.
In addition, Santana received a special piece of artwork created by Las Vegas-based artist Justin Lepper to commemorate his 10 years. Also, on hand for the event, Steve Gold from Peace of Stage presented the artist and the House of Blues with a piece of the original Woodstock stage in honor of Santana, Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang who recently passed, and the notable Bill Graham who booked Santana at the historical festival. The stage piece will find its home amongst the walls of the music venue where other pieces of art and memorabilia line the walls.
One more note, since May 2012, with the sale of tickets, the Santana residency has been responsible for a donation of more than $230,000 to benefit both the Milagro Foundation and to House of Blues’ Music Forward Foundation.
AREA15’S ILLUMINARIUM WILL OPEN NEW OUTERSPACE EXPERIENCE
Illuminarium will officially be opening an all-new immersive cinematic attraction at AREA15 over Memorial Day weekend. SPACE: A Journey to the Moon & Beyond will take guests on an exhilarating expedition across the universe, where they can discover and explore the galaxy like never before. This adventure will run from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, May 26 through Sept. 5.
Only 12 people have ever walked on the Moon, now visitors are invited to join them at Illuminarium. Guests will have the opportunity to take a giant leap into the unknown as they tour throughout the solar system, including a technicolor flight through the nebula, seeing planets and constellations at an extraordinary scale and weaving through an asteroid belt close to Saturn’s rings. Guests will travel through time with a history of the journey to space, then observe a futuristic space colony, listen as astronauts prepare for blast-off and have a chance to personally kick up dust on the surface of the moon.
To further enhance the experience, Illuminarium will showcase a 22-foot-tall replica of the iconic NASA/Grumman Apollo Lunar Module, which was flown between lunar orbit and the Moon’s surface during the United States Apollo Program. Guests will be able to see the module replica first-hand.
Illuminarium is open daily at 11 a.m. with the last entry at 7 p.m. for daytime admission. Evening programming at Illuminarium begins nightly at 8 p.m. for adults 21+. Guests who are 21 and over can enjoy out-of-this-world cocktails on the moon during SPACE: After Dark Sunday through Thursday starting at 8 p.m.
RICK MICHEL BRINGS HIS ‘SINATRA FOREVER’ SHOW TO IAC
Rick Michel will present his “Sinatra Forever” show focusing totally on Ol’ Blue Eyes’ music at the Italian American Club (IAC) at 2333 East Sahara Ave. on Wednesday, June 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $65, which includes a buffet dinner served from 6:30 to 7 p.m., call 702-457-3866 for reservations.
Michel will share and interpret Sinatra standards with a 16-piece big band orchestra. This headliner showman has been called “the closest sound to Sinatra we have ever heard” by “Variety.” He’s performed and headlined in Las Vegas since 1981, been a Master Impressionist for more than 40 years, and been touring his “Sinatra Forever” show around the country as well as internationally with performances in Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico and Chile just to name a few.
TEYANA TAYLOR BRINGS HER FINAL TOUR TO HOUSE OF BLUES
R&B artist Teyana Taylor will make a stop at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on her final 18-city tour, “The Last Rose Petal 2…Farewell Tour.” She will make her stop in Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 6. Tickets start at $34.50.
Harlem native Taylor is a jack, and master, of all trades…singer, songwriter, producer, director, dancer/choreographer, actor, fitness guru, model and mother.
Her mantra made her an early favorite to artists like Pharrell, who she signed her first deal with and later choreographed videos for artists like Beyoncé and Jay-Z. In 2014, Teyana’s love for the arts and R&B made her the first woman signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint. Taylor went on to star in the internet-breaking video for Kanye West’s “Fade,” and scored her first MTV Moonman for “Best Choreography” at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. She released her third studio album titled "The Album" in June of 2020.
The superstar has film credits including her latest starring role in Paramount Pictures “Coming 2 America,” the sequel to the original 1988 romance comedy. She also can be seen starring in the music video for the popular song “Woman” by Doja Cat.
‘GEORGE MICHAEL REBORN, A TRIBUTE TO WHAM!’ TO PERFORM AT M
“George Michael Reborn, A Tribute to Wham!” starring Robert Bartko will visit the M Resort for a live performance inside the Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. With his live vocals, Bartko exudes the energy and passion of Michael in the 80s and 90s getting the crowd on the dance floor for “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and prompting standing ovations for his performance of “Careless Whisper.” Tickets start at $15 on the M Resort’s website or Ticketmaster.
A life-long fan of George Michael and the band Wham!, it was during Bartko’s early high school years people began to point out an incredible resemblance between them. Bartko was a singer in the drama club and his voice even sounded exactly like Michael’s. Throughout the following years, Bartko began imitating the star’s signature vocal stylings and dance moves while having a successful career as a solo recording artist and producer. Soon after the passing of his idol, Bartko began dedicating his talents to pay tribute to the late superstar with alive tribute show complete with an extensive George Michael wardrobe, dancing and live vocals. Bartko’s spot-on looks, vocal range, dance moves, crowd interaction, and charisma leave audiences cheering.
ANNUAL DJANGOVEGAS! WILL FEATURE THREE DJANGO JAZZ BANDS
DjangoVegas! will return to the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., Saturday, June 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. Curated by Mundo Juillerat, the annual musical celebration pays tribute to the roots, origins and established figures of hot club-style jazz. This year, the lineup includes legendary French guitarist Biréli Lagrène and his trio, She Sings She Swings, and The Hot Club of Las Vegas, Tickets are $25.
Lagrène was a Romani child prodigy on the guitar in his native Alsace, France, and was featured on his first record at age 13. Hailed from the beginning as the heir to Django Reinhardt’s jazz virtuosity, Lagrène started playing at age 4, learning from his father and grandfather. This award-winning artist has toured the world, recorded 26 albums and performed in seven films.
She Sings She Swings, best known for performing three-part vocal harmonies over Django-style jazz, is an all-female swing band based in Long Beach, Calif. They are inspired by French guitarist, Django Reinhardt, and American vocalists such as The Andrews Sisters, The Boswell Sisters and Ella Fitzgerald.
Local Django-style jazz band and festival alumni, Mundo Juillerat’s The Hot Club of Las Vegas, will perform once again. The band, which started as a passion project, performs Django jazz music past and present, as well as boleros, flamenco, rhumbas and more.
2022-23 LINEUP FOR UNLV PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCED
The UNLV Performing Arts Center (PAC) has announced the talent lineup featuring eight inspiring artists and ensembles for its 46th season 2022-2023. A full season subscription ticket package special offer, which is a 40% saving, is available through June 30, with packages ranging from $129 to $201 for all eight performances.
The season will kick off on Sept. 9 with the PAC debut of flamenco composer and guitar virtuoso Antonio Rey, winner of the 2020 Latin GRAMMY ® for Best Flamenco Album.
“Cirque Mechanics: Zephyr - A Whirlwind of Circus” on Sept. 24 presents an acrobatic experience with an emotive and exhilarating tale about choices for our planet and its resources.
Perennial favorite the Montreal Guitar Trio (MG3) will be back by popular demand on Oct. 7. This time with the California Guitar Trio (CGT) forming a doubly electrifying ensemble of six exceptional guitarists.
Over the holidays, “Mariachi Herencia de México: A Very Merry Christmas” will be the perfect addition to the holiday season on Dec. 10. The Latin GRAMMY ®-nominated group will perform Mexican and American favorites, including their hit “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Los Peces en el Rio,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “Mi Burrito Sabanero.”
With sell-out performances worldwide, Mnozil Brass, one of the world’s premier brass ensembles will perform for the first time at the PAC on March 3, 2023. Seamlessly blending technical virtuosity and comedic brilliance, this brass septet displays a wide-ranging repertoire and typical Viennese “schmäh” (loosely translated: a kind of sarcastic charm!).
Originally scheduled to appear at the PAC in May 2020, Grammy-winning pianist Emanuel Ax will take the stage on April 20. His mix of technical precision and lustrous lyricism has earned him a reputation as one of the most beloved concert pianists of our time.
The above artists will all appear at Artemus Ham Hall and Bokyung Byun and Meng Su in the 135-seat Black Box Theatre. Sought-after Korean guitarist Byun, 2021 winner of the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Concert Artist Competition, will visit on March 24. Multifaceted guitarist Su is slated for the season’s final performance and her first at the PAC on May 5. Su began studying the guitar at age five, and currently teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
THREE SQUARE’S LAS VEGAS RESTAURANT WEEK DATES ARE JUNE 6-17
Three Square Food Bank’s Las Vegas Restaurant Week will return to the valley June 6-17 uniting the culinary community and food aficionados for a 12-day epicurean event to combat food-insecurity. With approximately 200 participants, a website devoted to Las Vegas Restaurant Week where diners can view a list of participating restaurants and special promotions has been launched… RestaurantWeekLR.org. A fixed portion of each meal’s cost will directly support Three Square and the one in six Southern Nevadans who are food insecure.
More than 50 new restaurants across the valley are signed up to participate offering a variety of globally inspired flavors, including Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, Brazilian, Mexican and more. Participating restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe menus – for breakfast, brunch, lunch and/or dinner – at price points ranging from $20 to $80 with $4, $5 or $6 from each cover donated to Three Square.
Special promotions will also be offered by more than 20 participating foodservice businesses during the 12-day event. The wide variety of participants includes local bars and breweries, coffee shops and more, all offering promotions with a fixed portion of proceeds donated to Three Square.
ORLEANS ARENA HOSTS 2022 NINJA FINAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2022 Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association (UNAA) World Series Final Championships will return to the Orleans Arena, bringing top ninja athletes and challenging obstacle course events – including the World Ninja Athlete Games and Ultimate Obstacle Course Racing 3K Championships Thursday through Saturday, July 21-23. Tickets start at $21.56.
Throughout the year, athletes have been qualifying for the world championships at gyms across the world to get the chance to compete in the UNAA World Finals. More than 7,000 athletes competed for a chance to participate in the UNAA World Finals, but only 1,500 athletes have qualified.
NOIZU WILL BE HEADLINER AT ‘SECRET GARDEN’ PARTY AT AREA15
“Secret Garden” is an immersive full-venue experience party taking place at AREA15 in partnership with House of Leaves and featuring a headlining performance by Noizu on Saturday, June 18 starting at 9 p.m. General admission starts at $34.95, and VIP tickets at $49.95.
Fairies, forest sprites and woodland creatures are invited to wear their best costumes while dancing and frolicking through the ethereal world full of lush soundscapes. Guests will also enjoy bewildering art installations, roaming performers, delectable cocktails, sweets, treats and more.
Attendees can groove to the beat with a silent disco and three different stages of music underneath the glow of Oddwood’s tree, inside the projection-mapped Portal, and outside beneath the night sky in the A-Lot with sounds provided by Noizu, Cloverdale, Eli Escobar, Till Von Sein, Kaysin, Bumps, Local Singles, DJ Crykit and Robyn Lee plus a special guest to be announced soon.
FRESH52 FARMERS' MARKET AT INSPIRADA OFFERS SATURDAY MARKETS
The popular fresh52 Farmers’ Market at Inspirada has returned with the bi-weekly open-air market event being held every first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m.–2 p.m., all year long.
The market held in Solista Park at Inspirada in Henderson features artisan and organic goods from fresh52 vendors, including Picked Today Produce, The 5098 Bread Company, Best Hummus Ever, Bella Sauce, Yaqui Zen Kitchen, ERBS Vegan Kitchen and Luchkoff Patisserie, to name a few. Along with the freshest produce, fresh52 also brings artisan crafts like herbal and holistic oils, soaps, remedies, art and jewelry.
DOWNTOWN CONTAINER PARK HOLDS ‘OHANA DAY’ EVENT
Open-air marketplace Downtown Container Park will celebrate island culture and the Asian Pacific American community with a special edition of the park’s “Ohana Day” event on Sunday, May 29 from noon to 5 p.m. The day will be filled with live music from STI from 2–5 p.m., cultural dances from noon to 2 p.m., drink specials, and more. Attendees can commemorate the day with a photo in the Kona Brewing Volkswagen Van or help fellow revelers cool off in the Kona Brewing dunk tank.
SOUTH POINT PARTNERS WITH VITALANT TO HOST BLOOD DRIVE
South Point has partnered with Vitalant to host a blood drive in the Brunswick Room on Friday, June 3 from 10 a.m.-6 pm. Every donor will receive one free breakfast or lunch voucher for the Garden Buffet and each slot club member will receive 2,000 extra points. Donors will also receive a free order of fries from Shake Shack, redeemable at all Southern Nevada locations. For a limited time, COVID-19 antibody testing will also be available. Appointments encouraged online at donors.vitalant.org using the code SOUTHPOINT.
