“BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW”
DATE: Sunday, March 13, 2016
BY: Jackie Brett
VEGAS COLUMN
PAUL ZERDIN WILL OPEN NEW SHOW AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” Season 10 winner Paul Zerdin and his sharp-tongued puppet characters will open an all-new, headlining residency production show in the PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood on Saturday, April 30. Tickets range from $42 to $97.
Zerdin has been called the “ventriloquist for the ‘South Park’ generation.” He is known for his unparalleled technical ability and comedic timing. This master ventriloquist will be bringing his whole gang including Sam, Baby, and belligerent old man, Albert. The show will be performed Tuesday through Sunday at 7 p.m. and beginning on June 11 a 4 p.m. Saturday matinee will be added.
Interesting note, when Zerdin opens, he and Terry Fator at The Mirage will both be winners of “America’s Got Talent” with Fator taking the honor on Season 2. Also Zerdin’s show is being produced by Base Entertainment, which also produces the previous season’s “America’s Got Talent” winner, Mat Franco, at The LINQ.
KENT HARMAN AND CHEF MIKE MINOR WILL OPEN BANDITO
Former Border Grill “dream team,” Kent Harman and Chef Mike Minor will open a new restaurant Bandito Latin Kitchen / Cantina on E. Flamingo Road near Paradise Road late this year or in early 2017. Managing partner Harman said the restaurant will be open for lunch, dinner and late night and specialize in serving Minor’s creative take on Latin and Mexican dishes, which will be infused with a variety of roasted, smoked and slow-cooked meats that he has been perfecting for the past two years on his TruckU food truck. Scratch-made will be the mantra at Bandito.
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT PLANS ROOM ENHANCEMENTS IN LAS VEGAS
Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: CZR) plans to upgrade more than 4,800 hotel rooms this year at four of its Las Vegas resorts. At the end of 2016, following the completion of this series of room renovations, Caesars Entertainment will have updated more than 10,000 hotel rooms in the last three years.
Resort upgrades include the transformation of the original tower at Caesars Palace to create the Julius Tower as well as the refurbishment of the resort’s Augustus Tower. Additional room upgrades will include Planet Hollywood, Paris and Harrah’s.
DOG HAUS VEGAS OPENS FIRST OUTLET IN NEVADA
Dog Haus Vegas, the California-based concept known for its gourmet hot dogs, sausages, burgers, and one-of-a-kind creations, will open its first location in Nevada at 4480 Paradise Road near the Hard Rock on Friday, March 18. The grand opening celebration that day will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a free Haus Dog.
Menu selections include: seven hot dog creations featuring beef skinless dogs served on grilled Hawaiian rolls; the Scott Baioli; The Hangover Burger; and the Pig Lebowski. The restaurant is 2,500 square feet and has a patio. Happy hours will be daily from 3 to 6 p.m. and 1 to 4 a.m.
FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE HOSTS DOWNTOWN HOOPS TOWN
The 7th Annual Downtown Hoopstown is currently taking place through April 4. The four blocks underneath the Viva Vision canopy are lined with college banners and flags transforming Fremont Street Experience into a college basketball destination with special events including: nightly sexy production show “Hardwood Hotties” featuring “American Idol” Season 6 Finalist Haley Scarnato; an interactive High Hoops Zone with $1 shots; the world’s largest NCAA bracket; and a special basketball-themed show displayed on the Viva Vision canopy.
BOSTON WILL CELEBRATE 40TH ANNIVERSARY AT DOWNTOWN VENUE
Renowned rock band Boston will celebrate its “40th Anniversary Tour” at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC) on Friday, July 15 with special guest Dennis DeYoung, founding member of the famous rock band Styx. Tickets start at $49.50.
Boston became an iconic classic rock fixture when they joined the music scene with their self-titled album “Boston” in 1976. With more than 17 million copies sold, “Boston” generated rock staples such as “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” and “Smokin’,” still in heavy radio rotation today.
‘MARRIAGE CAN BE MURDER’ STARTS MIMOSA-MURDER SUNDAY BRUNCH
The “Marriage Can Be Murder” interactive show at the D will start slaying audiences with a Mimosa and Murder Sunday Brunch beginning April 3 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets start at $83.20 with a three-course meal, tax, and server gratuity included in the price. The Mother’s Day edition on May 8 will treat ladies to a special gift with their ticket purchase including a rose and glass of champagne.
BILLY IDOL ADDS ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES AT HOUSE OF BLUES
Billy Idol’s first round of shows start this week on March 16 at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Already more dates have been added for Idol’s first-ever residency. Added dates are: Aug 31; Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9-10; and Oct. 12, 14-15, 19, 21-22. Tickets for “Billy Idol: Forever” start at $79.50.
The show features Idol, his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, and the rest of his band performing songs from Idol’s extensive catalog. In 2014, Simon and Schuster published Idol’s entirely self-written autobiography, “Dancing With Myself,” which was an electric, brutally honest account of his journey to fame.
ROCKHOUSE ADDS STAND-UP COMEDY TO ITS ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
Last week, Rockhouse Las Vegas at The Venetian added stand-up comedy from Bonkerz Comedy Club at 8 p.m. four nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday. Rockhouse transforms into a comedy club for an hour of laughs with a talented rotation of comedians. Dinner and a Show packages are $50, with dinner hour from 7-8 p.m. and comedy from 8-9 p.m. General admission tickets for the show are available at the door for $20 plus a two drink minimum. Due to March Mayhem games, Bonkerz will be blacked out March 17-19 and 24.
In addition, Rockhouse also features live music during their Sunday Rock Brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as nighttime entertainment every night of the week, including live bands, Rockstar Karaoke and live DJs.
DAVID CROSS VISITS HARD ROCK WITH ‘MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’
Award-winning comedian David Cross is returning to the road after a five-year break with a stand-up comedy tour “Making America Great Again!” that will stop at The Joint at Hard Rock on Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.95.
Cross last toured in 2009 with a solo stand-up show in support of his “New York Times” bestseller, “I Drink for a Reason.” The comedy show was filmed at Boston’s Wilbur Theater for a special, entitled “Bigger and Blackerer.” His previous comedy special, “David Cross: The Pride is Back,” aired on HBO in 1999.
Among his many credits, Cross is one of the stars of the Emmy-winning comedy series, “Arrested Development,” and one half of the creative duo with Bob Odenkirk behind three-time Emmy-nominated sketch comedy series, “Mr. Show with Bob and David.”
SPRINKLES CUPCAKES CELEBRATES TWO YEARS AT THE LINQ
Sprinkles Cupcakes at The LINQ will celebrate its two-year anniversary on Monday, March 21 with gifts, giveaways and a social media contest. On March 21, anyone who whispers “Happy Birthday!” before 3:21 p.m. will receive one free cupcake; the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM will disperse one gift card to win free cupcakes for a year; and the best photo using the hashtag #SprinklesTurnsTwo will also win free Sprinkles Cupcakes for a year.
Sprinkles Cupcakes, founded by Candace Nelson, a judge on Food Network's “Cupcake Wars,” opened “the world's first cupcake bakery” in Beverly Hills and generated “the haute cupcake craze.” Sprinkles at The LINQ opens daily at 10 a.m.
‘EL CHAPO’S GREAT ESCAPE’ IS ON DISPLAY AT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum’s new temporary display “El Chapo’s Great Escape” detailing the 2015 prison escape of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán will be on view for five months. The display’s centerpiece is a detailed scale model tracing Guzman’s elaborate escape route through tunnels dug beneath his cell inside Mexico’s Antiplano federal prison. It depicts the 32-foot vertical tunnel descending from his prison cell and the horizontal tunnel running 4,921 feet away from the prison, along which Guzman rode a specially modified motorcycle. The model also illustrates how another vertical tunnel carried him up through the floor of another building, where he met his associates and got away. Access to the new display is included in regular admission to the museum.
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS WILL BEGIN AT HUNTRIDGE SHOPPING CENTER
On March 25, the Huntridge Shopping Center will start Food Truck Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. An eclectic collection of local food trucks will be setting up shop in the parking lot at 1120 E. Charleston Boulevard. Food Truck Fridays are free and open to the public, though the food trucks will be charging their normal prices for food and beverages.
PUNK ROCK BOWLING & MUSIC FESTIVAL SET FOR LATE MAY
Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival was started in 1999 as a way to bring the independent music community together for an annual party. It has since grown into a five-day festival in downtown Las Vegas that will attract bands from around the world. The event includes three days of outdoor festivals May 28-30, five nights of club shows starting May 26, a two-day bowling tournament, hotel pool parties, art exhibit, and The Punk Rock Poker Tournament.
B&B RISTORANTE FEATURES HOUSE-MADE CITRUS ‘CELLOS’
This spring, B&B Ristorante at The Venetian is serving an array of authentic, citrus-infused “digestivos” with house-made “cellos.” Many aficionados are acquainted with limoncello, a popular after-dinner digestivo made with lemon zest, simple syrup and vodka. However, B&B Ristorante is also featuring Limecello (lime), Pompalmocello (grapefruit), Arancianello (blood orange), and Riservacello (Buddha’s hand). Guests can either indulge in one flavor at a time or select a flight of three for $16.
All of the citrus liqueurs are handmade by B&B’s bartending staff from organic and regionally-sourced citrus. The process takes two months per batch to extract the essential oils from the citrus zest. This chilled after-dinner drink originated in Italy but is growing in popularity in the United States.
ABOUT TOWN NEWS AND EVENTS
We knew “Island Heat” ended at Kahunaville at Treasure Island and now know that after 15 years the whole restaurant is closed.
Back by popular demand, Sicilian tenor Gene Ferrari will appear again at the Italian American Club on Saturday, March 26 at 8 p.m. with the 12-piece Mariano Longo Orchestra. Ferrari has opened for such stars as Don Rickles, Pat Cooper, Dom DeLuise, Jackie Mason, Rich Little, Jay Leno and David Brenner . Tickets are $25, call 702-457-3866.
The second Bunny Trail returns to Tivoli Village in partnership with 98.5 KLUC on March 20 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The family friendly event will feature an Easter egg scramble at 10:30 a.m. for ages 2-12 in the children’s play park, along with face painting, bounce house, climbing wall, live music, petting zoo, pictures with a live Easter bunny and more.
Desert Companion and KNPR will partner with Tivoli Village and its restaurant tenants to host its first Pub Crawl on Thursday, March 24 from 6-9 p.m. Attendees will be able to travel from Kabuki, Cantina Laredo and Brio partaking in trivia while enjoying curated cocktails.
Cantina Laredo inside Tivoli Village will hold its quarterly four-course Tequila Dinner on March 19 created by Executive Chef Damon Workman. A representative from Cantina Laredo and Don Julio will be available to guide guests through the cuisine and cocktails, proper pairing practices and the history behind producing Don Julio, the world’s original handcrafted luxury tequila. Seats are $49.99.
MGM Grand is being featured in the final two episodes of Bravo’s “Top Chef, Season 13.” The next episode will air Thursday, March 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
XS Nightclub, the nightlife venue at Wynn, will celebrate its 7th anniversary with Grammy-winning artist Diplo on Monday, March 21. Since opening in 2009, XS has welcomed more than 5 million guests and has been named No. 1 nightclub by “Nightclub & Bar” for five years.
Aliante will present its second Italian cooking demonstration hosted by Chef Francesco de Furia of Bistro 57 on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. The evening will feature an interactive cooking lesson with each dish of the four-course menu being served to the guests upon completion. Cost is $50, call 702-692-7265.
Honey Salt at 1031 S. Rampart Blvd is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with its Farm Table four-course dinner on Tuesday, March 15.
The inaugural Spring Wine Walk will be held at Downtown Container Park on Saturday, March 26 from 3-6 p.m. There will be five stations set up throughout the park with all attendees being treated to a number of reds, whites and bubbles. Tickets are $20-$25
Dennis Bono, recording artist and host of “The Dennis Bono Show from Las Vegas” is celebrating 16 years of broadcasting his weekly national variety/radio show at South Point to more than 30 radio stations nationwide. The show is recorded before a live audience every Thursday at 2 p.m. in The Showroom. Complimentary tickets to attend the live taping are available Wednesday and Thursdays at the box office.
Comedian/ventriloquist Michele LaFong and her puppets will be featured in an episode of “Sin City ER,” which will be the first of several airings to run exclusively on the Discovery Life Network on March 18 at 7PT/9C, with repeats and airings on other networks thereafter.
The Shade Tree’s fundraising HERO 5K fun run/walk in place of the annual Walk of Hope will be held Saturday, March 19 with early registration at 8:30 a.m. and the run and walk at 10 a.m. downtown at Llama Lot, 152 N. 9th Street. There will be a special appearance by Jabbawockeez and everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite super hero or real-life hero costume.
Wet‘n’Wild will hold its “Dive For A Change” Rally, a season kick-off event designed to help create a movement of kindness and anti-bullying amongst school-aged children on Saturday, March 19 from 8-10 a.m. The rally will feature 11 local charities, speakers from Project 150 and The Center, live entertainment and a relay race where community children will help charities compete for a $1,000 prize. The first 1,000 people to line up at the park gate and attend the rally will gain free entry to the park for the day.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
There will be St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 17 and special menus offered all over town and too many to list. Here are just a couple different ones.
The Minus5 Ice Bar at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place and Monte Carlo will honor the special shamrock-inspired holiday by giving guests a complimentary house shot if they are 21 or older, wearing green and purchase an entry to Minus5.
O’Sheas BLOQ Party at The LINQ will kick off at noon with a parade with bagpipers, leprechauns, stilt walkers and more and will return at 6 p.m. with an even bigger nighttime celebration. Inside O’Sheas, partygoers will be treated to live music from Roxy Gun, The Hooligans and Darby O’Gill late into the night. Additionally, the LED Drumline will perform at the promenade at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Tilted Kilt is also joining the party and will feature live music, along with drink and food specials. The High Roller will turn green that day.
At the Grand Bazaar Shops™ there will be activities. From noon to 5 p.m., a leprechaun will wander the center distributing appropriate festive party gear including beads, hats and gold chocolate coins. There will be a caricature artist, face painter and games such as high striker and corn hole, as well as complimentary digital photos.
From noon to 11 p.m., beer enthusiasts will receive a Grand Bazaar Shops souvenir green beer mug (while supplies lasts) and discount on their first beverage at the center’s Fuel Bar featuring flair bartenders or just-opened Island Time Floats, with any minimum purchase of $25 at any Grand Bazaar Shops store.
Sammy Hagar’s rockin’ Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will host a patio party with live music and a bevy of lucky specials. Rhumbar at The Mirage will introduce its new St. Patrick’s Day cocktail, Who’s Your Paddy. Rhumbar will also offer $5 specials on green beers, Guinness and shots of Jameson Irish whiskey or Bailey’s Irish Cream.
