BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Aug. 28, 2022
BY: Jackie Brett
LIGHTHOUSE ARTSPACE WILL HOST ‘IMMERSIVE NUTCRACKER’
Lighthouse Immersive, the innovators behind the blockbuster “Immersive Van Gogh” exhibition seen by more than 5 million people across North America, will bring holiday magic to Las Vegas this year. “The Immersive Nutcracker, A Winter Miracle” held its world premiere in Toronto in 2021 and was met with broad acclaim. The experience will premiere on Nov. 19 for the holiday season.
Produced in partnership with Storywall Entertainment, “Immersive Nutcracker” is now slated to premiere in 11 cities across North America this holiday season, including Lighthouse ArtSpace Las Vegas at The Shops at Crystals adjacent to ARIA. Tickets start at $29.99 to the experiential retelling of a young girl’s magical Christmas Eve journey and are on sale at immersivenutcracker.com.
“Immersive Nutcracker” uses the latest projection mapping technology to feature whimsical animated characters alongside footage of professional ballet dancers. This 30-minute immersive experience introduces children to the art of ballet and the accompanying captivating storytelling. Set to the sweeping music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, “Immersive Nutcracker” encompasses visitors in more than 500,000 cubic feet of projections composed of over 1 million frames of video, curating a grand immersive display that relays the tale of “The Nutcracker” from opening to finale. The projection features beloved scenes set to their classical scores like “The March of the Toys,” “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and more.
Producer Svetlana Dvoretsky emphasizes his production does not replace the classics production but provides a family-friendly experience paying homage in 360-degree, three-dimensional splendor to the story’s ballet roots.
DONNY OSMOND RETURNS TO HARRAH’S LAS VEGAS
Music icon Donny Osmond returns to the Las Vegas Strip this week for his award-winning solo residency inside Harrah’s Showroom.
Winner of Best Show and Best Headliner for the 2021 Best of Vegas awards, Osmond’s show is a dynamic, energy-filled musical journey of his unparalleled life as one of the most recognized entertainers in the world. Fans are treated to an exciting party as Osmond performs his hits “Puppy Love,” “Soldier of Love,” his latest single “Who” as well as the fan favorite and showstopping “Auto-rap-ography” – a rap song accompanied by milestone photos and videos from his impressive six-decade career. Osmond also does a full Broadway production of his classic Disney hit “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You” from “Mulan.” This show is a completely reimagined presentation and includes an audience interactive segment where anyone can request any song he’s ever recorded.
Osmond’s upcoming dates are Sept. 1–3, 6–10, 13–17, 27–30; Oct. 1, 4–8, 11–15; and Nov. 1–5, 8–12, 15–19.
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WILL OPEN AT THE FREMONT
FanDuel Group and Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) have announced plans to open a FanDuel Sportsbook at the Fremont Hotel & Casino early next year, which will be the first FanDuel-branded Sportsbook in the state of Nevada and 17th state with one.
The FanDuel Sportsbook at Fremont Casino will be part of Boyd’s ongoing $50 million expansion of the Fremont, which will significantly enhance the property’s gaming and dining amenities upon its completion early next year.
The FanDuel Sportsbook at Fremont Casino will be located off the Third Street entrance, near the Filament Bar. Stretching over 2,300 square feet, the sportsbook will serve as a one-stop-shop for fans to enjoy sporting events while placing wagers on the action. The sportsbook will be open year-round and feature four betting windows, two LED video walls (16’x9’), a 40-foot bar, 16 tables, two drink rails, seating for 76 customers, 14 odds/promo screens and seven IGT PlaySports self-service betting kiosks.
With the opening of the Fremont sportsbook, the Boyd-FanDuel partnership will expand to eight states, joining FanDuel Sportsbooks at Boyd properties in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Pennsylvania.
STANTON SOCIAL PRIME WILL DEBUT AT CAESARS PALACE
Caesars Entertainment and Tao Group Hospitality will introduce a new dining concept at Caesars Palace, Stanton Social Prime, from Chef Chris Santos. Stanton Social Prime is set to open this winter and will be located adjacent to OMNIA Nightclub.
This new concept will feature menu items from the original Stanton Social eatery in New York’s Lower East Side, which marked Santos’ first restaurant project and was known for its spectacular sharable dishes featuring prime meats.
Stanton Social Prime will join several impressive epicurean destinations at Caesars Palace including Amalfi by Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen, Nobu Restaurant & Lounge, Restaurant Guy Savoy and more.
QUICK ABOUT TOWN CLIPS
The Parlour is expected to open in October at 616 E. Carson Ave. downtown in suite 140 in space formerly occupied by Madero Street Tacos and prior food outlets. The new restaurant will be dine-in and drive thru offering coffee drinks, breakfast and lunch daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. This project is by Chef Antonio Nunez, who co-founded The Stove in Henderson, which offers breakfast and lunch.
Bally’s huge sign on the building came down last week to make room for the Horseshoe name to go up as Caesars Entertainment continues renovating the casino into the newly branded Horseshoe Las Vegas.
After 12 years, PBR Rock Bar is closing at its Miracle Mile Shops location. A new agreement could not be reached with the center saying the Country Americana brand was no longer a fit. Owner Jonathan Fine said they will look for a new location. PBR Rock Bar and Grill is a Professional Bull Riders-affiliated venue and very popular during the Professional Bull Riders World Finals and National Finals Rodeo events.
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo will be held Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Expo at World Market Center. The exhibition showcases hand selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses from all over the country with all things weird such as handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, funeral collectibles, preserved specimens, etc. Tickets $10 advance / $15 day of show / Kids 12 and under free.
‘PARADE OF MISCHIEF’ WILL RETURN TO DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN®
Downtown Summerlin® is announcing the return in October of the Halloween “Parade of Mischief” produced by BESTAgency. The family-friendly parade will fill the streets of Downtown Summerlin with mischievous mayhem every Friday and Saturday night in October starting Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. Other parade nights include Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29. The parade is free, open to the public and takes place along Park Centre Drive.
“Parade of Mischief is adding three new themed floats and casting more than 30 local youth as dancing zombies, ghosts, witches, wizards, wild creatures and more.
VEGAS SIGN CREATOR CHARLES BARNARD HOSTS VIRTUAL EVENT
The Neon Museum’s next Beyond the Neon Boneyard series entitled “Illuminating the Las Vegas Skyline: Charles Barnard” will be held online on Thursday, Sept. 22 at noon. The hour-long virtual presentation hosted by museum experts will focus on the artistry and design of the city’s skyline through the eyes of Ad-Art Art Director Charles Barnard, the mastermind behind the design of classic Las Vegas signs such as Vegas Vickie, Sassy Sally’s, the Plaza, and The Mirage.
The discussion will highlight how he used lights in a way and scale that had never been seen before. Barnard often referred to this new branding technique as “electric architecture.”
This virtual event is free to Museum Members and $10 for non-members. Registration is required and available online at the Neon Museum’s website. After registration, the presentation’s Zoom link will be provided.
VIRGIN HOTELS - RAIDER CODY TO HOST NIGHT BEFORE GAME PARTIES
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has teamed up with fan-favorite superfan Raider Cody to host “Black Out- Night Before Party” ahead of every Las Vegas home football game throughout the regular season. Fans of the silver and black will gather and celebrate Saturdays from 6 p.m.–midnight at Skybox, a sports and entertainment bar and lounge on Sept. 17, Oct. 1, Oct. 22, Nov. 12, Dec. 3, Dec. 17 and Dec. 31. Black Out parties will offer free admission for guests 21 years of age and older.
The 15,000-square-foot Skybox is located on the second level of the Ruby Tower with comfortable seating inside and outside on the patio overlooking the resort pool, over 200 HD televisions, multiple bars and more. Each event will feature DJ Mike Scott, surprise guests, football greats, and raffle prizes. Las Vegas fan-focused clothing brand Black Sunday merchandise will be available for purchase at the event.
CITY HOSTS NEA BIG READ BLUE ZONE COMEDY TOUR
The city of Las Vegas is holding an evening of stand-up comedy for adults from comics living with disabilities. The show begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Tickets are $19.50 at the center’s box office 702-229-6383.
The evening will be hosted by comedian/actor/author/film producer Tim Chizmar. The performance lineup includes: Brandon Ficara comedian/writer/producer/actor/business author/transformational speaker; Dillion Dilligaf with T.A.B. – humorist/writer/actor/producer; Alex KOOLAID Ansel – comedian;
Kallie Chris – comedienne/writer/editor/director; and Stick – comedian/actor/event host/writer. These comedians have been featured on “Comedy Central,” “America’s Got Talent,” “MTV,” “Showtime,” “HBO” and more.
The tour is made possible by a National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant. An initiative of the National Endowment of the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens understanding of our world, our communities and ourselves through the power of a shared experience.
‘DRACULA’ RETURNS TO KICK OFF HALLOWEEN SEASON AT SMITH CENTER
Nevada Ballet Theatre’s production of Ben Stevenson’s “Dracula” was a big hit in 2018 grabbing audiences from start to finish. Now, “Dracula” will return to kick off the 2022 Halloween season with performances Oct. 6-9 in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9. Tickets start at $35.95.
Stevenson’s “Dracula” fills the stage with eerie Gothic grandness from its over-the-top costumes and sets to the glorious love triangle at the center of the tale. Set to the music of Franz Liszt, this ballet world of sweeping movement, ingenious stage effects, and dark, rich coloring envelopes audiences in its haunting world of evil temptation and transfix you from first bite.
FREAK THE BEAT RETURNS TO FERGUSONS DOWNTOWN THIS HALLOWEEN
We The Beat, a Las Vegas-based collective pushing the boundaries of music discovery and concert production, has announced the return of the Halloween music festival Freak The Beat at Fergusons Downtown, Oct. 28 and 29. Back and bringing the funk bigger than ever, the groove-heavy, two-day lineup kicks off with a Channel Tres DJ set featuring support from Jared Jackson of Soulection on Friday, Oct. 28, and continues through the weekend with Yung Bae on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Hailing from Compton, Calif., celebrated musician and producer Channel Tres has perfected his signature sound – seamlessly blending West Coast rap and Chicago house, with a touch of soul and psychedelic funk.
Known as the man behind the rise of ‘Future Funk,’ Dallas Cotton, known professionally as Yung Bae, has acquired cult-like fame in the underground sub-genre.
The Fergusons Downtown outdoor concert space will be transformed into a spooky Halloween party destination, with boo-zy bar setups. Concertgoers are encouraged to come dressed up to get down in their finest Halloween costumes. Tickets for Freak The Beat are available on We The Beat’s website: single-day tickets start at $30 and two-day passes $50.
THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND HEADLINES AT SANTA FE STATION
The Marshall Tucker Band will perform in the Chrome Showroom at Santa Fe Station on Friday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39.50 to $59.50.
The band came together as a six-piece outfit in Spartanburg, S.C., in 1972 and they’ve been in tune ever since on live stages both big and small across the globe. The group’s mighty music catalog, consisting of more than 20 studio albums and a score of live releases, has racked up multi-platinum album sales many times over.
Lead singer Doug Gray sees no end to the road ahead for The Marshall Tucker Band, whose legacy is being carried forward by the man himself and his current bandmates, drummer B.B. Borden; bassist and vocalist Ryan Ware; keyboardist, saxophonist, flutist and vocalist Marcus James Henderson; guitarist and vocalist Chris Hicks; and guitarist and vocalist Rick Willis.
ANNUAL CAPE COD FARM TABLE DINNER RETURNS
Having recently returned from their annual summer family adventure to Cape Cod, James Beard nominees Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla are bringing back the popular Farm Table Dinner series with the successful Cape Cod-inspired dinner in conjunction with the fourth anniversary of their best-selling cookbook, “Honey Salt Food & Drink – A Culinary Scrapbook.” The dinner is set for Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. with festivities at their Honey Salt restaurant on S. Rampart Blvd.
Tickets on the Honey Salt website are $69 with an optional wine pairing for an additional $29. The cookbook will also be on sale for $29.95 and both Blau and Canteenwalla will be at Honey Salt for the dinner and signing copies.
BORRACHA MEXICAN CANTINA OFFERS TEQUILA TASTING EXPERIENCE
Borracha Mexican Cantina with a Dia de los Muertos-inspired setting at Green Valley Ranch is now offering specialty tequila flights including celebrity-backed brands, loved classics and high-end selections. Guests may pair their tequila flight with Mexican-inspired bites.
The tequila flight choices include The Celebrity featuring Kendell Jenner’s award-winning 818 Blanco Tequila; Adam Levine’s Calirosa Blanco; and The Rock’s Teramana Blanco, priced at $25. Offering an assortment of popular tequila options, Los Clásicos for $45 includes Herradura Resposado; Don Julio Resposado; and Casamigos Reposado. An elevated tequila tasting experience, The Boujee highlights Clase Azul Reposado; 1942 Reposado; and Dame Mas Reposado, priced at $75.
AREA15 INTRODUCES RADIANCE WELLNESS PROGRAM
AREA15 is introducing Radiance, a brand-new wellness program featuring a roster of rotating immersive experiences exploring the mind, body and soul. Combining ethereal music and immersive visuals inside AREA15’s projection-mapped Portal, Radiance currently encompasses three wellness experiences on a rotating schedule, including Yoga and Wellness with Dray, Frequency Breathwork, and The Sacred Lounge – A Conscious Community Experience.
Radiance at AREA15’s current schedule features Yoga and Wellness with Dray at 7 p.m. on Sept. 10, Oct. 4 and 8 in The Portal for $25 and you bring your own mat. Dray Gardner was once crippled by a life-threatening automobile accident and his doctor suggested back surgery, however, Gardner insisted on a more holistic approach.
Frequency Breathwork is at 7 p.m. in The Portal on Aug. 30, Sept. 13, 27, and Oct. 11. Tickets are $35.
The Sacred Lounge – A Conscious Community Experience will hold sessions beginning at 11 a.m. on Sept. 3, 17, and Oct. 1, 15 in the Sanctuary Lounge and projection-mapped Portal. Merriliz Monzon and Krystian Eklund teach creative pathways and dive deeper into mind, body and spiritual health. Admission is $33.
Upcoming sessions include: Elevate Your Wealth Consciousness on Sept. 3; Heart-Centric Living on Sept. 17; Living Limitless on Oct. 1; and Magnify Your Vision on Oct. 15. Visitors are invited to Sanctuary Lounge and Oddwood Bar after each Radiance Wellness Program event to mix and mingle. Featuring the brand-new “AL1V5” Beverage Menu(pronounced “alive”), Radiance attendees can savor wellness-inspired beverages and craft mocktails designed to replenish nutrients and provide refreshment after class.
