BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Feb. 19, 2023
BY: Jackie Brett
SPECIAL NOTICE
This will be my second to last Brett’s Vegas View weekly column. The last one will be next week Feb. 26-March 4 because I’m retiring the column.
PROPER EATS FOOD HALL IS NOW OPEN AT ARIA
Proper Eats Food Hall is now open on the promenade level of ARIA. Offerings include Judy Joo’s Seoul Bird out of London, Wexler’s Deli out of Los Angeles, Portland’s Shalom Y’all and New York’s Egghead – each opening for the first time outside of their native cities. Additionally, several of Proper Eats’ concepts were created by industry trendsetter Clique Hospitality, including the company’s new sushi concept, Temaki, along with Easy Donuts, Proper Bar and Laughing Buddha.
The elevated food hall spanning 24,000 square feet is a distinctive design by Italian designer Alessandro Munge and along with furnishings reflect the personality of each concept. Welcoming guests into the space, a luminous curvilinear trellis canopy hangs above Proper Bar, accentuating the stylish setting for a vibrant social hub to meet for cocktails.
Proper Eats is open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. are Easy Donuts, Egghead and Wexler’s Deli. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. are Laughing Buddha, Lola’s Burger, Pizzaoki, Proper Bar, Seoul Bird, Shalom Y’all, and Temaki.
SEAL WILL BRING 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR TO THE VENETIAN
GRAMMY award-winning global icon Seal will embark on a massive 30th Anniversary Tour across North America this year and make a two-night stop at The Venetian® on Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3. He will team up with longtime producer and trusted collaborator Trevor Horn, who will take on the role of musical director for the run of shows. Additionally, Horn’s acclaimed new wave band The Buggles will be featured as special guest performers.
British singer Seal has sold more than 20 million records worldwide. Known for his distinctive and soulful singing voice, the award-winning superstar will present his hit songs like “Crazy,” and “Killer,” which went to number one in the U.K., and his most celebrated song, “Kiss from a Rose,” released in 1994.
KEITH URBAN WILL START 2023 RESIDENCY AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
Following a successful run of shows over the past three years at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, four-time GRAMMY Award winner Keith Urban will launch “Keith Urban: The Las Vegas Residency” on March 3 at the custom designed Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood. Performance dates are in March, June and July 1.
The global superstar has also won 13 CMAs, 15 ACMS, three AMAs, two People’s Choice Awards and celebrated nine consecutive gold, platinum or multi-platinum albums. The Australian transplant in the 1990s decided to pursue stardom. In 1999, Urban released a self-titled solo album, which set the table for his impressive career, which has produced winning albums like “Defying Gravity” and “Fuse.” He was a judge for Season 12 of the singing-competition show “American Idol,” and remained on the program through the end of its original run in 2016.
EAT YOUR HEART OUT WILL DEBUT AT DURANGO CASINO & RESORT
Opening at Durango Casino & Resort this fall, Eat Your Heart Out will be a culinary epicenter featuring eclectic cuisines and a lively communal dining experience. The new collection of highly sought-after outposts includes local favorites and beloved neighborhood restaurants from culinary-driven cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.
Eat Your Heart Out is an open space, with each outlet featuring its unique storefront capturing the personality of its original location. The design will showcase lush greenery, modern finishes with dine-in and counter-seating options and an outdoor patio seamlessly creating a vibrant social atmosphere.
Spanning 25,000 square feet, the eatery will be home to enticing culinary offerings from new-to-market concepts, including Los Angeles staple Irv’s Burgers, New York’s Prince Street Pizza, the Hawaiian-centric Ai Pono Café, James Beard award-winning chef Marc Vetri’s Fiorella replicating his popular Philly pasta bar, and Uncle Paulie’s Deli.
The new elevated food hall will have local favorites including Shang Artisan Noodle, Yu Or Mi Sushi, Nielsen’s Frozen Custard, Oyster Bar, Vesta Coffee, and DRNK, a lively bar at the center of the action.
AUREOLE WILL CLOSE MAKING ROOM FOR ‘TOP CHEF’ STARS
After more than 20 years, chef Charlie Palmer’s Aureole restaurant with the gravity-defying Wine Angels who floated to the top of a 10,000-bottle, four-story tower will close at Mandalay Bay on April 10. After a quick rebrand, celebrity chef brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio will debut their new concept on May 1.
The Voltaggio brothers are moving into the 9,000-square-foot space for a one-year culinary residency. The “Top Chef” stars and restaurateurs are launching a new temporary restaurant called Retro by Voltaggio. During the one-year residency, the brothers will host a family-style and high-energy dining experience aiming to capture the tastes, sounds, and feelings of the 80s and 90s. The brothers hosted dinners at Harvest at Bellagio last fall and in January. Chef Palmer has been a mentor to them.
COUNTRY STAR DUSTIN LYNCH WILL PERFORM POOLSIDE AT RED ROCK
Multi-platinum certified country superstar Dustin Lynch is returning to Las Vegas for a special performance at the poolside Sandbar Stage at Red Rock Resort Saturday, April 29 at 10 p.m. Tickets $50 and $75.
Since his Platinum breakout “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012, Tennessee native and Grand Ole Opry member Lynch has headlined packed venues and toured with Country’s biggest names like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, and Kane Brown this spring.
Lynch has achieved eight No.1s, four Top 5 albums, 10 Gold and Platinum certified singles, and tallied more than 4.04 billion global on-demand streams. Recently he released “Wood On The Fire” and wrapped the expanded Party Mode Tour. Lynch’s fifth studio album, “Blue In The Sky,” features Platinum, six-week No. 1 “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter),” Top 15 neon-buzzed single “Party Mode,” and “Fish In The Sea.”
WEAR BIKINI AT MINUS5º ICEBAR FOR 2-FOR-1 SPRING BREAK ADMISSION
Instead of a polar bear plunge, Minus5º ICEBAR has an interesting offer for spring break this year. Ladies brave enough to wear bikinis will receive two-for-one admission at the three locations on the Strip, including Mandalay Bay, The Venetian® and The LINQ Promenade. Guests can enjoy this limited time offer every Monday through Friday before 6 p.m. throughout the month of March.
With each ice lounge kept at a chilly 23 degrees Fahrenheit, bikini-clad visitors will keep warm with gloves and a parka provided for their visit. Offering a distinctively chill vibe and instagrammable experience, spring breakers 21 years or older can also enjoy cocktails served in glasses made entirely of ice. Each ice lounge also features more than 90 tons of ice with interactive ice sculptures and themed art pieces and wall displays.
COMEDIAN JORDAN CONLEY JOINS ‘AGT’ SHOW AT LUXOR
Stand-up comedian Jordan Conley, a Season 17 contestant on “American’s Got Talent,” has joined the cast as guest host of the high-energy, variety-style spectacular “American’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live” at the Luxor through May 21.
California native Conley honed his stand-up craft for seven years before making his way to the “America’s Got Talent” stage, where he won over the audience and viewers with his positive, high-spirited humor. His fast-paced performances earned him the Wild Card fan pick at-home voting which secured him a spot in the semi-finals and a standing ovation from Simon Cowell.
Comedian and Season 17 competitor Lace Larrabee will take the stage as guest host April 1-2. Larrabee brought her southern charm and sass to the stage with her hilarious jokes and made such an impression that she returned for the “Roast of Simon Cowell” during the Season 17 finale. Larrabee is the founder of Laugh Lab, Atlanta’s only all-female comedy school.
The show is performed in the Luxor Theater Wednesday, Saturday-Sunday at 6 and 8:30 p.m. and Thursday-Friday at 7 p.m. The show is dark Feb. 21–26. Tickets start at $49.
SAM HUNT WILL HEADLINE TWO NIGHTS AT RESORTS WORLD
Five-time GRAMMY-nominated Country music superstar Sam Hunt will take over the Resorts World Theatre for a limited two-night engagement on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22. The multi-platinum selling artist, known for his hit songs including “House Party” and “Body Like a Back Road,” will put on two unforgettable performances.
Georgia-born singer-songwriter Hunt, played football in high school and college before signing with MCM Nashville in 2014. Prior to his successful solo career, he was credited for writing singles for music celebrities Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Keith Urban and Reba McEntire.
“Montevallo” was Hunt’s debut studio album, which spawned five singles from the record and broke several chart records with number ones. The fifth single, “Make You Miss Me,” hit No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart, which made Hunt the first solo male artist to land four No. 1 songs on the Country Airplay chart from a debut studio album.
CELTIC FEIS CELEBRATION RETURNS TO NEW YORK-NEW YORK
The Strip’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration – Celtic Feis – is back this year and returning to New York-New York on Friday, March 17. The day-to-night Irish-themed party will run from 10 a.m. to midnight and feature live Celtic-inspired music and DJs on the Brooklyn Bridge, classic Irish food offerings from Nine Fine Irishmen, entertainment activations and more. Cover charges start at $10 per person.
During Celtic Feis, several local bands will rock the crowd including Celtic Chaos, Las Vegas Emerald Society Pipe Band, Sin E Ri Ra, Celtic Rockers and the Sticky Wicket Duo, in addition to DJ sets taking place throughout the day.
SOUTH POINT TRANSFORMS INTO COLLEGE BASKETBALL HEADQUARTERS
In celebration of college basketball’s biggest weekend, South Point will become the ultimate college basketball viewing experience Thursday-Saturday, March 16-18 for “The Most Massive Madness Party in Vegas” celebration. Doors open at 8 a.m. daily. Admission to the viewing parties is free for fans 21+ and parking is also free.
There will be seating for 2,000 fans on a first come, first served basis in the massive 80,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall. Available for fans will be twelve 20-foot screens with 12K projectors, food and drink specials, as well as betting windows and self-betting kiosks onsite.
DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN HOSTS NEW VISTA’S CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
New Vista's 14th annual “Brew’s Best” Craft Beer Festival will take place with an Irish flair at Downtown Summerlin® on The Lawn on Saturday, March 18 from 2 to 6 p.m. The longest running open-air beer festival in Southern Nevada returns with a “pitcher” perfect afternoon benefitting New Vista. There will be beer, food, sports, and more than 100 tastings from around the country.
Sponsored by Nevada Beverage Company, proceeds from the St. Patrick’s Day weekend celebration will directly benefit members of New Vista, providing services, training and housing to people living with IDD in Southern Nevada.
General Admission tickets are available in advance online for $40 and $50 at the door. VIP tickets are $50and $60 at the door. Each VIP ticket includes early access to the event beginning at 1 p.m. and extra liquid libations. Attendees much be 21+.
UNCLE KRACKER WILL HEADLINES PENNZOIL 400 PRE-RACE CONCERT
Multiplatinum singer-songwriter Uncle Kracker will help NASCAR fans get revved up for the Pennzoil 400 when he headlines the pre-race entertainment on Sunday, March 5 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a concert on the start-finish line.
The Michigan native and feel-good rocker will perform hits from each one of his albums and showcase songs that have made him one of today’s top post-rural artists in country music. He is expected to take the stage at the speedway at approximately 11 a.m.
Uncle Kracker was initially known for his role as DJ in Kid Rock’s legendary Twisted Brown Trucker band. His successful solo career began with his 2000 major label debut, “Double Wide,” which fittingly went double-platinum and yielded the No. 1 smash “Follow Me.”
Race weekend will kick off with the annual Hauler Parade on the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday night, March 2.
MGM RESORTS RECEIVES FIVE-STAR FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE AWARDS
MGM Resorts International has been recognized again by the globally renowned Forbes Travel Guide Awards with 15 Five-Star awards for world-class luxury experiences at several hotels, spas and restaurants in Las Vegas and China. In Las Vegas, this year’s awards recognize exemplary service at Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara, MGM Grand, and Four Seasons Las Vegas.
In Las Vegas, Skylofts at MGM Grand celebrates its 14th consecutive year as a Five-Star hotel property while ARIA’s Sky Suites proudly marks its 11th consecutive year for this important recognition.
The Spa at ARIA remains among Forbes Travel Guide’s elite collection of Five-Star spas, joined by The Spa at Vdara and The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.
In Las Vegas, Bellagio, celebrating its 25th anniversary later this year, maintains its reputation for excellence with two Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurants --Le Cirque and Picasso -- the only resort in the U.S. to achieve this accomplishment. Renowned French restaurant Joel Robuchon Restaurant at MGM Grand was recognized with Five-Stars for the 17th consecutive year.
