BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Nov. 20, 2022
BY: Jackie Brett
BALLA ITALIAN SOUL HELD GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION ATSAHARA
Balla Italian Soul at Sahara celebrated its grand opening this month. Invited guests enjoyed welcome cocktails poured from an Aperol spritz cart parked in front of the restaurant, followed by expertly prepared small plates, fresh seafood and antipasti stations and a surprise live dance performance choreographed to embody the bella vita of Italy.
Balla’s James Beard Award-winning chef and owner Shawn McClain delivered remarks about the newest addition to the resort. The Strip window facing Balla, located off the casino floor, opens to a glass charcuterie station and a bar area with a bricked ceiling and brass light fixtures. An open kitchen lets diners see their food as it’s made, while a pasta window offers a glimpse inside the process. The main dining room is decorated with lighted olive trees, Italian photography, and bold murals, with seating for 120.
Balla joins Philadelphia’s Chickie’s & Pete’s and Chef Guoming “Sam” Xin’s the Noodle Den as part of the resort’s $150 million remodel. Newly dubbed “restaurant row” for the resort, Balla offers dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.
McClain has previously opened eight restaurants in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Detroit. The San Diego-born chef first came to Las Vegas 13 years ago when he opened Sage at Aria, which along with his Five50 Pizza Bar, both permanently closed at that resort. He also has his gastropub Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay.
FREMONT HOTEL WILL DEBUT ALL-NEW FOOD HALL THIS DECEMBER
Fremont Hotel and Casino will open its all-new Food Hall in mid-December, bringing six national, regional and local casual dining brands together in a new dining destination downtown. The grand opening is scheduled for Jan. 12. The 13,150-square-foot space will be home to six compelling brands Steak ‘n Shake, Huey Magoo’s, Roli Roti, CRAFTkitchen, Tomo Noodles and DUNKIN’®.
Roli Roti was America’s first gourmet rotisserie food truck founded in Berkeley, Calif., by third-generation Swiss butcher Thomas Odermatt. This is the business’ first location in Las Vegas.
CRAFTkitchen, founded in Henderson in 2015 by award-winning Chef Jaret Blinn, will serve breakfast, brunch and lunch menus at its second Las Vegas Valley establishment.
Founded in 1934 in Normal, Ill., Steak ‘n Shake will serve its well-known Steakburgers, yummy milkshakes, and fries.
Tomo Noodles will feature bold Asian-inspired dishes as well as boba teas, milk teas and slushes.
This location will be Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders first restaurant in Las Vegas and the western United States under franchisee Boyd Gaming. Huey Magoo’s – the “Filet Mignon Of Chicken®” – was founded in Orlando, Fla., by Matt Armstrong and Thad Hudgens.
DUNKIN’® is the world’s leading baked goods and coffee chain, offering more than 50 varieties of donuts and dozens of premium beverages. In 1950, Bill Rosenberg opened the first DUNKIN’ shop in Quincy, Mass. There are now more than 8,500 DUNKIN’ restaurants in 41 states across the U.S.
CHOPVALUE OPENS FIRST WEST COAST MICROFACTORY IN LAS VEGAS
ChopValue, a leading manufacturer of sustainable products utilizing the circular economy model, is opening its first West Coast franchise in Las Vegas. With Microfactories already in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia, this addition will be its first of many to come in the United States, as ChopValue works to create a micro-manufacturing network with a socially responsible approach.
Las Vegas native, Brooks Smith, will launch the first U.S. operation – a new ChopValue Microfactory. As a franchise owner, Smith has already aligned a recycling program with more than 100 Las Vegas-based Asian and Fusion restaurants, collecting over 5 million discarded chopsticks, which will undergo the proprietary ChopValue process and be remanufactured.
ChopValue was founded in 2016 by Felix Böck, who holds a Wood Technology & Industrial Engineering degree from Germany. Since then, the company has given more than 83 million chopsticks a second life, diverting them from landfills. After collecting the chopsticks from hundreds of restaurant partners, they are sorted at local Microfactories where the production process begins. The innovative material is transformed into sustainable products and custom solutions.
ChopValue’s Las Vegas Microfactory is now open for corporate business following the ChopValue showroom and retail hub which are set to open to the public in Spring 2023. ChopValue is located at 965 White Drive, Las Vegas 89119.
FLIGHT CLUB OPENS INSIDE GRAND CANAL SHOPPES AT THE VENETIAN®
State of Play Hospitality, operator of Flight Club in North America, confirmed their new Flight Club Las Vegas destination will open to the public on Monday, Nov. 28 at Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian®. The energetic social darts destination, which will be the largest Flight Club location to date and fourth in the U.S., will feature a unique design, 20 oches, dynamic dining options and more. London-based Flight Club was founded in 2015 to bring joy to pub-goers and has nine locations in the U.K.
Boasting more than 16,000 square feet, Flight Club Las Vegas will highlight its heritage with a vibrant and captivating design, reminiscent of British pubs and fairgrounds with a modern twist. The new destination will house 20 semi-private oches featuring traditional oak dartboards and comfortable, leather banquette-style seating for groups of all sizes. Adding to the experience, the anticipated venue will bring another ode to the British Fairgrounds, where darts were originally invented, with a life-sized carousel bar. As the centerpiece of the destination, the 27-seat bar will dazzle guests as bright lights embellish the expansive canopy while elegant drapery trims the space, adding to its charm.
The Las Vegas location will also feature striking interactive and imaginative art throughout the destination, providing guests with photo opportunities. In addition to its super-charged social gaming offerings and eye-catching design, Flight Club will provide three exclusive, semi-private spaces for guests and groups with endless capabilities and offerings in each.
Flight Club will be open daily Sunday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. A Happy Hour Menu will be offered Monday-Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.
BOBBY BONES MAKE HIS DEBUT AT ENCORE THEATER
Radio and television personality Bobby Bones will get “Comedically Inspirational” when he shares his passion for comedy and stories from his inspiring path to success for one-night only at Encore Theater on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m.
Bones has carved out a place for himself in every corner of the entertainment world. He is the host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio program “The Bobby Bones Show,” broadcasting to more than 185 stations. The award-winning show is a 2x CMA Award winner, 4x ACM Award winner and earned Bones the title of youngest-ever inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
On television, Bones’ breakout series for National Geographic, “Breaking Bobby Bones,” is streaming now on Disney+. He served as the official in-house mentor on ABC’s “American Idol,” won season 27 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and serves as host and executive producer of Circle Network’s “Opry.”
The media multitasker’s fan-favorite podcast, “BobbyCast,” which features candid long-form interview with top artists and industry figures has been downloaded close to20 million times.
RYAN BINGHAM WILL HEADLINE VIRGIN HOTELS
GRAMMY and Oscar Award-winning singer-songwriter, Ryan Bingham, with The Texas Gentlemen will bring a one-night-only performance to The Theater at Virgin Hotels during the National Finals Rodeo on Sunday, Dec. 4. Bingham and his band will perform beloved hits like “Sunrise,” “Bread and Water,” “Southside of Heaven” and others, and will be joined by special guest Corb Lund.
From the beginning of his recording career with “Mescalito,” Bingham defied easy classification. As a rising star, he ranged from Woody Guthrie-style folk songs and Spanish-language balladry to gritty hard rock. He was honored as the Americana Music Association’s 2010 Artist of the Year. Bingham has also won both an Oscar and a GRAMMY for “The Weary Kind,” the theme song he wrote for the film “Crazy Heart.”
ZOUK GROUP WELCOMES KASKADE AS 2023 RESIDENT PERFORMER
Zouk Group at Resorts World has announced multi-GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter, producer and remixer, Kaskade, as the newest resident performer at AYU Dayclub and Zouk Nightclub starting in 2023.
Most recently, Kaskade has teamed up with fellow producer deadmau5 to form Kx5. Their debut single “Escape” cracked the Top 40 and is the #1 Dance Single on Mediabase for 2022. The titan in the dance music world, Kaskade will kick-off his residency at Resorts World on Jan. 6, 2023.
THE LINQ PROMENADE’SHOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING EVENT
The LINQ Promenade, the entertainment, retail and dining district located at the heart of the Strip, kicked off the holiday season with a recent holiday tree lighting event. The evening’s festivities began with the cast of “Potted Potter,” the funny Harry Potter parody show performing at Bally’s, welcoming guests to the Promenade. Las Vegas comedian Farrell Dillion performing at the newly reopened Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at the Promenade did the countdown to lighting the 30-foot-tall holiday tree.
CADENCE HOSTS ITS FIRST FESTIVE HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Cadence, a master-planned community in Henderson, is partnering with the Vegas Viking Sons of Norway for the first-ever Cadence Holiday Bazaar. The event will be held at Cadence Central Park, 1015 E. Sunset Rd. in Henderson, on Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon to 7 p.m. This family-friendly event is open to the public with free admission and street parking.
The Sons of Norway from noon until 5 p.m. will host a holiday and Scandinavian-themed gift tent with hundreds of ornaments, decorations, jewelry pieces, cookbooks, shirts, and mugs available for sale. Sons of Norway’s 30-foot Viking ship will be on-site for attendees to climb aboard and volunteers will share Norse-kid friendly stories at select times throughout the day.
There will be photos with Santa noon to 2 p.m., photos and meet-and-greet opportunities with Elsa, Olaf and the Grinch as they stroll around the event, an opportunity to write and mail a letter to Santa, outdoor games and activities, and an under the stars viewing of the family favorite film “Frozen” at 5 p.m.
LUCKY DAY CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY
Lucky Day, Corner Bar Management’s vibrant tequila and mezcal bar at 516 E. Fremont St. Downtown, will host a fiesta evening with live music and limited-edition libations for its two-year anniversary on Monday, Nov. 28. Beginning at 8 p.m., guests may enjoy a hosted bar featuring three cocktails specially crafted for Lucky Day’s second anniversary while dancing to the rhythms of Mariachi Nuestras, an iconic Las Vegas mariachi band.
The trio of complimentary cocktail offerings will include Durazno Dulce, a mix of El Jimador, peach, ginger ale and cranberry; Chile Chido, made with Teremana, Ancho Reyes, agave and pineapple; and Lucky Paloma, a combination of Teremana, citrus, agave and Squirt. In addition, there will be signature libations from Lucky Day’s menu.
Lucky Day is open from 7 p.m. to midnight on Monday and from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. from Tuesday through Sunday.
GEORGE CLOONEY • RANDE GERBER HOST CASAMIGOS TEQUILA EVENT
Tequila titans George Clooney and Rande Gerber came together at Heartstone Kitchen & Cellar inside Red Rock Resort recently with close to100 members of the Casamigos Tequila team, the first gathering of its kind in more than three years. Though the longtime friends and tequila aficionados famously sold Casamigos for $1 billion to Diageo in 2017, they’re still passionately involved as the handsome faces of the brand they founded together in 2013.
Dressed casually in jeans and button-up shirts, Clooney and Gerber got behind the bar and poured shots of Casamigos tequila, toasting what will soon be Casamigos’ 10-year anniversary.
‘FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME’ CAST SURPRISES THEATER STUDENTS
Celebrated producer, actor and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, in Las Vegas for two appearances in his show “Freestyle Love Supreme” at The Venetian®, surprised more than 200 theater students at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts for a master class, joining the show’s cast and fellow co-creator Anthony Veneziale.
As the cast imparted their advice to the students, they stressed the importance of perseverance, practice and following your passions.
“Freestyle Love Supreme” performs Wednesdays–Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 7 and 10 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. inside The Summit Showroom. Tickets start at $57.45.
THE UNDERGROUND HOLDS REPEAL DAY PARTY
The annual Repeal Day soiree celebrating the end of Prohibition will take place at The Underground speakeasy and distillery inside the Mob Museum on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 7 p.m. for VIP and 8 p.m. for GA to 11 p.m. with live entertainment. GA tickets are $115/VIP $150. This will be a time to wear your finest flapper, pinstripe or 1920s inspired attire.
‘PARTICLE INK: SPEED OF DARK’ RECEIVES 2022 THEA AWARD
“Particle Ink: Speed of Dark,” the otherworldly, immersive experience, which has enjoyed a limited engagement Downtown and been extended three times, will have its final performance on Sunday, Dec. 4. This attraction in the Las Vegas Arts District at The LightHouse at 918 S. Main Street has received the prestigious 2022 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Immersive Live Experience category.
Revealing a rupture in the Particle Ink Metaverse, where the virtual world blends into the physical world, “Speed of Dark” invites visitors to explore an abandoned warehouse containing a portal into the 2.5th dimension. Each “Speed of Dark” experience lasts approximately one hour and takes place Thursdays through Sundays at 7 and 9 p.m. and Mondays at 7 p.m.
MATTER PARK @ WEST HENDERSON TO BE FACILITY FOR LAS VEGAS ACES
The WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces will head into their next season with a custom-built 80,000-square-foot state-of-of-the-art training facility at Matter Park @ West Henderson. Tasked by the team’s owner, Mark Davis, to develop a high-end training center rivaling top facilities for their male counterparts in the NBA.
This training facility has been developed to provide the best tools and equipment.
Located at 1379 Raiders Way in Henderson across the street from the Raiders Headquarters and Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center, the training facility is now in the final stages of construction and will welcome the Aces in early 2023. The facility will offer unprecedented accommodations for women’s professional sports.
The Aces training facility will in the front building at Matter Park @ West Henderson Phase II, which began construction in December 2020. Phase II encompasses 200,000 square feet and will bring an additional 12 acres and three buildings to the project. When completed, the $90 million development will span 37 acres with seven buildings offering office, flex and showroom space, in addition to warehouse and distribution space. Phase II of the development is fully leased by Davis and will be the site of future projects for his other team, the Las Vegas Raiders, along with other projects.
RITA DEANIN ABBEY’S WORKS DISPLAYED AT ARTEMUS W. HAM HALL
A special exhibit featuring the works of artist and beloved UNLV professor, Rita Deanin Abbey, is available to the public in the lobby of the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall for viewing before, during intermission and after all upcoming scheduled UNLV PAC performances through May 2023. Abbey, who passed away in 2021, served as a professor in the art department at UNLV for 22 years.
In collaboration with the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum, the exhibit includes 12 pieces from multiple series of Abbey’s extensive catalogue of works. She was a multidisciplinary artist known for her painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, porcelain enamel fired on steel, stained glass, and computer art. Abbey’s work is known for her abstract expressionism, figures, landscapes, and non-objective subject matter.
