BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: June 19, 2022
BY: Jackie Brett
PLAZA UNVEILS FOUR PROJECTS FOR MAIN STREET FAÇADE AND DOME
Last week the Plaza downtown unveiled details for four large-scale projects planned to transform and reimagine its historic Main Street façade, including its porte-cochere, into a one-of-a-kind destination for cocktails, gaming, and dining.
Noting the Sand Dollar Downtown opened last month at the Plaza with its own entrance on Main Street, Jonathan Jossel CEO of the Plaza, detailed the four new projects: the animated Carousel Bar under the Plaza’s iconic dome; downtown’s first smoke-free, social media friendly gaming area, a rooftop patio at Oscar’s steakhouse, and the addition of Vegas-based Pinkbox Doughnuts. Construction on the four projects will begin later this month with completion expected by year’s end. The Plaza and Oscar’s will remain open during construction.
The project’s centerpiece will transform the porte-cochere under the dome into the Carousel Bar. Guests will enjoy cocktails among life-sized Vegas-themed elements, including moving carousel horses, spinning martini glasses, an oversized deck of cards, and a rotating ribbon of lights above the bar. The 2,500-square-foot outdoor venue will include an outdoor cooling system and seating for nearly 100 guests in booths, at the bar, and along its outer rail overlooking Main Street.
Adjacent to Carousel Bar will be downtown’s first smoke-free and social media friendly gaming space with the industry’s latest and most advanced slot machines. The nearly 2,500-square-foot gaming space will be for guests 21 and older and styled like the Plaza’s prior Studio 71 photo space with fun backdrops for selfies, group shots and Instagrammable moments.
Oscar’s patio will be created on the rooftop deck above the new gaming space and be accessible via the restaurant’s existing lounge. Offering the award-winning restaurant’s full dinner menu in addition to its extensive wine and cocktail lists, Oscar’s patio will be the first al fresco space for fine dining in downtown and able to accommodate approximately 225 people.
Pinkbox Doughnuts will feature an oversized 3D doughnut with sprinkles for an entrance. From a 16-foot-long glass doughnut display case, Pinkbox will sell its full line of more than 70 different flavors of doughnuts. Pinkbox will also launch an exclusive menu of spiked (alcoholic) doughnut milkshakes at the Plaza location.
The interior décor of the 1,200-square-foot store will mirror Pinkbox’s most recent locations across the valley with its pink floor stripes and 3D sprinkles, coffee spill and signature pinks drips on the walls.
BILLY IDOL ANNOUNCES FIVE SHOWS AT THE CHELSEA
The Cosmopolitan will welcome rock icon Billy Idol back for a five-show run, Nov. 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19. This announcement comes after a successful, sold-out residency at the resort in 2021 as well as standout Las Vegas shows in 2020. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 24 at 10 a.m.
For 45 years, Idol has been one of the faces and voices of rock’ n’ roll. First as the camera-ready front man for Generation X. Between 1977 and 1981 Idol emerged with three albums. In 1982, he embarked on a remarkable solo career, which integrated clubland throb, wide-screen depth and drama, rockabilly desperation, the bold and simple lines of punk, and rock’n’roll decadence. He has sold 40 million albums while scoring numerous platinum albums worldwide, nine top forty singles in the U.S. and 10 in the U.K. including “Dancing With Myself,” “White Wedding,” “Rebel Yell,” “Eyes Without A Face,” “Flesh For Fantasy” and “Cradle Of Love.”
Idol is joined onstage by his friend and collaborator since 1981, guitarist and co-songwriter Steve Stevens. For 40 years, Stevens has been Idol’s master blender of musical tones and textures.
DARIUS RUCKER WITH LINDSAY ELL STAR POOLSIDE AT RED ROCK
Platinum-certified country superstar Darius Rucker will return to Las Vegas, alongside special guest Lindsay Ell, for an outdoor performance at the Sandbar Stage at Red Rock Resort on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $80 and $100.
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Grammy Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. Since releasing his first country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and in 2014 won his third career Grammy Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his 9x Platinum version of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling country songs of all time.
Ell has made multiple appearances on the CMA Awards stage, including playing with Carrie Underwood and performing with distinguished country group, Little Big Town, alongside other powerhouse female artists in one the biggest moments of the 2019 CMA Awards where she was also nominated for Musical Event of the Year.
She is a 2x 2020 ACM nominee for New Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year.
NE-YO WILL PERFORM DRAI’S LIVE CONCERT IN JULY
Drai’s Nightclub at The Cromwell will welcome three-time Grammy-award winner Ne-Yo on Sunday, July 3 for his first ever Drai’s LIVE concert. Ne-Yo’s performance will be part of Drai’s 90s and early 2000s themed summer “House Party” series, which offers a throwback vibe. The R&B artist is expected to hype up the crowd by performing his smash hits and new single “Don’t Love Me.”
The 90s and early 2000s themed celebration is being held the first Sunday of every month through November. Grammy-nominated artists Fabolous and Jeezy will close out the summer “House Party” line up with full-length concerts on Sunday, Aug. 7. Headliners for the fall “House Party” dates will be announced soon.
Drai’s is the only nightclub in Las Vegas offering full-length concerts by today’s top-charting artists. Every weekend, big music names such as Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Meek Mill perform on the rooftop nightclub with the Las Vegas Strip as a backdrop.
RISING POP ICON CONAN GRAY CONCLUDES TOUR AT BROOKYLN BOWL
Platinum-selling singer, songwriter and Gen Z pop king Conan Gray will be concluding his biggest headline world tour at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas on Oct. 25. The tour will be his first in support of his anxiously awaited second full-length album, “Superache,” out this week on June 24. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 24 at 10 a.m.
Since releasing original demos on his YouTube channel at age 15, Gray has emerged as one of the pre-eminent pop superstars of his generation. In the summer of 2020, when “Heather” topped charts around the world, Sir Elton John publicly praised Gray for being the only artist on the Spotify top 50 to have written the song entirely on their own. With over 7 billion streams, he has attracted unanimous applause and performed on late night talk shows and “The Today Show.”
At the same time, Gray has earned the recognition of fashion arbiters, claiming a spot on “Best Dressed” lists from the likes of “Teen Vogue” and making a splash during his MET Gala debut. In 2022, he headlined a sold-out world tour, performed at New York’s legendary Radio City Music Hall, and appeared at Coachella.
BOB ANDERSON WILL APPEAR AT THE ITALIAN AMERICAN CLUB
Hall of Fame singer Bob Anderson will be back in Las Vegas for two nights performing his revamped show, “One More For The Road,” at the Showroom inside the Italian American Club (IAC) on Wednesday and Thursday, June 29-30 at 8 p.m. This is a completely new show and not his amazing “Frank. The Man. The Music.” show he headlined for 11 months at The Venetian/Palazzo.
This IAC performance will mark Anderson’s first appearance in Las Vegas since his sellout show at Carnegie Hall in New York a few months ago. Hall management was so pleased with the show he has been invited back for a second performance later in the year.
Anderson has re-designed his show going to his beginnings showcasing all the other entertainers especially singers he can impersonate. He will not just do a medley, he’ll perform at least two if not three complete songs each singer is best known for, such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy, or Tony Bennett. Anderson stands out from other impressionists with his mastery of each celebrity’s signature style and his level of detail.
Tickets are $76, which includes a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m.
CIRCA REVEALS VEGAS VICKIE NFT COLLECTIONS AND BENEFITS
Downtown Las Vegas’ Circa is rolling out the neon carpet for future holders of its Vegas Vickie NFT. The minting of this utility NFT will take place soon and launch with four original collections by prolific artist Jason “Borbay” Borbet of the iconic kicking cowgirl neon sign, Vegas Vickie. In addition to owning these distinctive digital collectibles, benefits include access to fun-filled VIP experiences at Circa including an invitation to Vegas’ first event exclusively for NFT holders, the Vegas Vickie NFT Summer Bash, Aug. 1-3.
Featuring four unique collections, each tier of the Vegas Vickie NFT will showcase the 26-foot. tall blonde cowgirl in various styles. This will range from the 1/1 sole digital copy of Borbay’s original painting plus a glass print of the work; 54 iterations of Vegas Vickie that resemble a full deck of cards (jokers are always wild!); 250 versions inspired by slot machine icons; and 2,500 works designed to emulate a poker chip.
Not only will the holders of the Vegas Vickie NFT possess a piece of timeless history, they also will be able to participate in a variety of perks at Circa and become eligible for ongoing gamification. Every level of NFT holder will be invited to party it up at the Vegas Vickie NFT Summer Bash three-day celebration. Additional details on the works and other utility features will be shared in the coming weeks.
Originally designed by Charles F. Bernard, Vegas Vickie took her place on Fremont Street in 1980, on the rooftop of Bob Stupak’s Glitter Gulch Casino. Circa owner Derek Stevens took her down in 2016 and sent her to Las Vegas-based sign company YESCO for a multi-year refurbishment. The sign now lives as a signature art piece in Circa’s lobby.
THE LITTLE VEGAS CHAPEL CELEBRATED EXPANSION
The Little Vegas Chapel, located within downtown Las Vegas’ Neon Gateway near the famed Arts District, celebrated the expansion and grand opening of its new ceremony venue, the Imperial Chapel. The newly constructed ceremony venue adds 800 square feet of space to the existing chapel and can host up to 24 guests.
Commemorating the venue’s opening taking place during Pride Month, City of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman officiated her first-ever celebrity LGBTQ ceremony, a commitment ceremony between Las Vegas headlining entertainer, Frank Marino, star of “La Cage,”“Divas Las Vegas” and “Legends in Concert,” and his longtime domestic partner, Las Vegas Entertainment Taskmaster Shannon “Alex” Schechter.
MILKCOW CAFE PREMIUM DESSERTS IS NOW OPEN IN TIVOLI VILLAGE
Milkcow, the premiere soft-serve ice cream concept originally from South Korea, opened its doors to the public Saturday, June 18 at Tivoli Village. To celebrate opening, Milkcow Cafe is offering 10% off any drink or ice cream now through June 30.
Milkcow is a premium dessert cafe with an emphasis on creativity and innovation. Milkcow ice cream is distinctive as it tastes milkier and creamier than a traditional soft serve. Milkcow was founded in 2013 as the first milk and honey concept ice cream brand. After seven years in development, Milkcow is now open in more than 15 countries with more than 50 locations. Milkcow has also developed its own drink line.
Milkcow Cafe Nevada is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
PALMS AND VEGAS TEST KITCHEN OPEN POP-UP RESTAURANT
More events are underway at the newly reopened Palms under new ownership.
This month, the Palms and Vegas Test Kitchen unleashed a pop-up Greene Street Test Kitchen to the Las Vegas valley.
Guests may enjoy a taste test of a wide variety of cuisine from local chefs every Friday and Saturday night, now through July 30. Chef Josh Bianchi lead the experience on June 10-11. This weekend June 24-25 and July 1-2, Makatas by Chefs Bryan Tejada and Gary FX LaMorte will present healthy, social and succulent Pinoy inspired dining. The remaining weekends in July will be Mamasan by Crystina Nguyen featuring fresh and saucy American Polynesian Chinese cuisine
Vegas Test Kitchen owner Jolene Mannina says the pop-up experience highlights a lineup of established chefs and a high-energy setting with live music and entertainment. She emphasized the Greene Street Kitchen is the perfect setting to showcase these culinary talents.
Pre-fixe dinners with a welcome cocktail are $59 per person and reservations are available at the Green Street Kitchen’s website.
ARTIST SIGNING AT THE SHAG STORE AT THE PALMS
The Shag Store inside the Palms will host a special artist signing event on Thursday, June 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. At the event, which is open to the public and requires no RSVP, artist Josh Agle, aka Shag, will personalize his limited-edition silkscreen prints entitled “Four Martini Lunch.” The print boasts 11 vibrant colors and measures 30 by 20 inches. Each print is hand signed by Shag and numbered with only 200 available.
Guests will have the opportunity to explore the artist’s second gallery and retail location, which opened at the Palms last month, while enjoying complimentary cocktails.
The Shag Store was founded in Palm Springs, Calif., in 2010.
Shag is a painter, designer and illustrator with a distinctive artistic style drawing from mid-century modern advertising illustration. His work depicting stylized urbanites is imbued with irony, attitude, and a sly sense of humor.
Solo exhibitions of Shag's work have been held globally. The artist has also designed projects for The Walt Disney Company, the Coca-Cola Company, and the Venetian in Las Vegas as well as a 100-foot-long mural in the Georgia Aquarium.
NIGHTMARE ON Q STREET WILL RETURN TO ORLEANS ARENA
Pacific Concert Group and Q100.5’s Nightmare on Q Street will return to Orleans Arena on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. featuring top ‘90s and 2000s hip-hop and rap artists.
Starring hip-hop icon, The Game, the concert will feature performances by special guests Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Too $hort, Digital Underground, The Luniz and A Lighter Shade of Brown.
The Game rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his major-label debut album “The Documentary” and found continued success with the 2006 follow-up “Doctor’s Advocate.” The Recording Industry Association of America certified “The Documentary” Double Platinum in March 2005.
Tickets start at $41.28 and can be purchased on the Orleans Arena website.
RENOVATED BELLUSSO STORE NOW OPEN AT GRAND CANAL SHOPPES
Bellusso Jewelers, the Las Vegas-based luxury retailer specializing in luxury timepieces and jewelry, is now reopened inside Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. Located across from The Palazzo casino floor, the newly enhanced location has opened with six luxury brands including A. Lange and Söhne, IWC Schaffhausen, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, and Vacheron Constantin, making for the first destination on the Strip to house these renowned brands in one place.
As the property opened its doors in 1999, Bellusso was one of the first retailers to make its debut inside The Shoppes and bring luxury jewelry offerings to the destination. Today, the retailer has transformed the space into an all-encompassing destination with five individual boutiques and one salon, all under one roof.
LV Luxury is a family business, founded in 1999 by Ezra & Alan Bekhor. They have five prestigious boutiques located along the Strip. Each boutique offers you an all-encompassing look at renowned and prestigious fine timepieces and jewelry brands.
