“BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW”
DATE: Sunday, April 24, 2016
BY: Jackie Brett
VEGAS COLUMN
D LAS VEGAS OWNERS ACQUIRE MORE FREMONT STREET REAL ESTATE
Derek and Greg Stevens, owners of the D Las Vegas, Golden Gate and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, are continuing to invest in the downtown development by purchasing the land adjacent to their newly owned Las Vegas Club, which is currently occupied by three Granite Gaming Group properties including Mermaids and La Bayou casinos, and adult entertainment Topless Girls of Glitter Gulch. Granite Gaming Group will continue operations of each venue until their anticipated closing date of June 27.
On March 15, the brothers were awarded the winning bid for Clark County’s Bridger Building on 3rd Street, which they purchased for the internal growth of their company.
‘ZARKANA’ SET TO CLOSE APRIL 30 AT ARIA
The time has arrived due to expansion for Cirque du Soleil’s “Zarkana” to close on Saturday, April 30 at Aria. The announcement was made last year that the show would close so that the theater can be turned into a four-story 200,000-square-foot expansion to the resort’s convention center. Construction should begin in May and be done by Februrary 2018 for an estimated cost of $154 million.
SUNCOAST OPENS LEGENDARY DU-PAR’S DINER
Southern California’s established and legendary 75-year-old diner brand – Du-par’s Restaurant and Bakery – has opened at the Suncoast with its signature buttermilk pancakes, made-from-scratch pies, and much more. Du-par’s is the latest new dining concept to debut at Boyd Group’s Suncoast, following last November’s opening of Brigg’s Oyster Co.
Du-par’s diner-style restaurant chain was founded in 1938 at the Los Angeles Farmers Market by James Dunn and Edward Parsons, who combined their surnames to create the brand title. The chain was purchased in 2004 by an investor group led by W.W. “Biff” Naylor, the son of noted California restaurateur “Tiny” Naylor. The relationship between the Boyd and Naylor families dates back to the late 1950s in Las Vegas, when Tiny Naylor worked with Sam Boyd at The Mint Casino downtown. Naylor oversaw the property’s food and beverage operations for several years, while Boyd served as vice president and general manager of the property until the late 1960s.
THE PATIO AT MRKT AT ALIANTE WILL OPEN FOR LUNCH
Aliante on Monday, May 2 will debut a stylish new outdoor café, The Patio at MRKT that will be open through the warmer months Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, and serve an array of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrées. The Patio at MRKT will include an exclusive exterior entrance, separate from the casino, for ease of entry and exit.
THRIVE CANNABIS MARKETPLACE HOLDS FIRST FRIDAY PREVIEW EVENT
THRIVE Cannabis Marketplace, downtown’s newest and largest medical cannabis dispensary, will host a one-time-only opportunity for the public to visit the facility and learn about the benefits of medicinal marijuana on Friday, May 6 from 4-9 p.m. The event will feature food and drink, live entertainment, raffle prizes and free parking. There will be no cannabis products on the premises that day so everyone can tour the 10,000-square-foot facility. THRIVE will open for business on Friday, May 13.
SPEEDVEGAS AND SAMBALATTE FORGE A PARTNERSHIP
Sambalatte, the Las Vegas-based coffee bar and lounge experience will open its new location at the $30 million SPEEDVEGAS motorsports complex this summer. The new space will serve as SPEEDVEGAS’ café, offering Sambalatte’s coffee and tea experience paired with a collection of breakfast starters, sandwiches, salads and soups. SPEEDVEGAS’ Sambalatte will also offer coffee tastings with a Q-Grade (quality) certified specialist. The décor will feature their signature comfort-meets-industrial chic ambience.
ORLEANS ARENA HOSTS ‘SECOND CHANCE PROM’ CONCERT
Celebrated 1980s and 1990s musical artists will perform some of their greatest radio dance hits at the Orleans Arena for “Second Chance Prom,” a concert presented by SUNNY 106.5 on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from $35.
The lineup includes: multi-platinum-selling artists En Vogue; Exposé the first girl group with seven back-to-back Top 10 Billboard hits; 1980s teen pop sensation Tiffany; American family band The Jets; R&B band Club Nouveau; Oregon natives Nu Shooz; Timmy T who rose to fame with his 1991 single “One More Try;” and a surprise special guest to be announced.
‘AMERICAN IDOL’ CHAMP DAVID COOK WILL PERFORM AT SUNSET STATION
“American Idol” champion David Cook is returning to Las Vegas for a performance at Sunset Station. Cook, who won season seven, will perform Friday, May 20 at 8 p.m. inside Club Madrid. Tickets are $20, $30 and $40.
After auditioning for “American Idol” on a whim in 2008, Cook wound up winning the competition and later released his self-titled major label debut album, which sold more than one million copies. His most recent album“Digital Vein” was released in 2015.
ARTLIVE! WILL BE HELD AT THE SMITH CENTER
The event artLIVE! philanthropic affair will take place on Thursday, May 12 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The Smith Center with five active stages and more than a dozen acts and for the second year will be emceed by entertainer Clint Holmes. The event includes various artistic presentations, a silent auction, a fashion show, music, dance performances, food and beverage as well as signature art presentations brought together by several local artists and fashion designers.
Two local community entities representing both art and fashion will be honored; art collector and philanthropist Patrick Duffy and Saks Fifth Avenue. Some of the event’s Madison mannequins are currently on display at locations throughout Las Vegas. Tickets are $150 and $35 for students.
SAN GENNARO FEAST MOVES TO CRAIG RANCH REGIONAL PARK
The 37th Annual San Gennaro Feast will take place Wednesday-Sunday, May 4-8 at Craig Ranch Regional Park and feature 70 restaurant food booths, 60 amusements rides, flume ride, 80-foot petting zoo, pony rides and piglets, midway games, arts and crafts booths, and continuous live music. Tickets are $10 and free for children 54 inches and under. Parking is free.
JOE NICHOLS WILL HEADLINE COUNTRY IN THE PARK AT MOUNTAIN’S EDGE
Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community and 95.5 The Bull are sponsoring the 10th annual Country in the Park on Saturday, May 7 from 2 to 8 p.m. The free concert and festival will be headlined by country’s Joe Nichols at 6 p.m. and feature rising country star Brett Young at 5 p.m. Local country rock band Thrillbilly Deluxe will kick off the show from 2-4 p.m. in the community’s amphitheater in Exploration Park. Other activities will include: a beer garden, food vendors, booths, exhibits, kids activities, and more. Picnic baskets, chairs, blankets and well-behaved leashed pets are welcome but not alcohol, coolers and glass.
ARIZONA CHARLIE’S DECATUR CELEBRATES ITS 28TH ANNIVERSARY
Arizona’s Charlie’s Decatur will celebrate its 28th anniversary on Friday, April 29 with free cake and champagne for all guests at the casino’s main entrance from noon–6 p.m. The resort was named after a real-life member of Buffalo Bill’s Rodeo deemed Arizona Charlie. The western-themed hotel rightfully is proud of its Ron’s Steakhouse, which is the recipient of six Open Table Diner’s Choice Awards and named after former Las Vegas mayor and the hotel’s sole manager, Ron Lurie. It also has the only 24-hour bingo in town.
IT’S TIME FOR 21ST ANNUAL RACE FOR THE CURE®
Registration is open for the 21st Annual Race for the Cure® will be held Saturday, May 7 at 8:15 a.m. at the Fremont Street Experience (FSE) to raise money to fight breast cancer. Survivors and their guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast inside the Pretty in Pink Cafe starting at 6 a.m. with festivities on the Third Street Stage beginning at 6:45 a.m. For the sixth year, MGM Resorts International is sponsoring Kids for the Cure®, a kids activity area at 4th Street and FSE. Entertainment at the race will be provided by a variety of singers and dancers, most notably, the dance troupe “Jabbawockeez” and the cast of “Rock of Ages.”
DREAM FLIGHT EVENT WILL BENEFIT MIRACLE FLIGHTS AND CHILDREN
The Dream Flight fundraising charity event Hangar Party being held on Saturday, May 14 at the Cirrus Aircraft Hangar, Atlantic – Executive Terminal from 6-10 p.m. will feature live musical performances, celebrity appearances, an open bar, pop-up nightclub, celebrity chefs, restaurants and much more. Each purchased ticket will enter a guest into a drawing to win a seat on “The Dream Flight,” which will be a foodie tour weekend June 2- 5 via a Cirrus Aviation private plane that will head to San Francisco, Seattle and back. General admission is $199.
SPRINGS PRESERVE LOADS UP MAY WITH FESTIVALS
The ‘Ohana Festival, a family-friendly celebration of Hawaiian and Pacific Islander culture, will be held at the Springs Preserve on Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Highlighting the importance of ‘ohana (family) in Pacific Island cultures, the event will feature food, live music, performances by local hula schools, an outdoor luau with kids games, and more. Admission is $5, and children, ages 2 and under are free.
The annual all-you-can-eat Ice Cream Festival follows on Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature stations serving ice cream sundaes, novelties and root beer floats, plus live entertainment by Chimps on a Blimp face painting, storytelling, a pirate magic show, carnival games, a bubble play station and more. At 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., the Kids Cactus Ice Cream Lesson will help kids discover the science of making ice cream, learn about the edible parts of a cactus, and create their own ice cream flavor, cost is $3. Festival admission is $10 for adults, $8 for children 3-12, with ages 2 and under free.
The seventh annual Brews & Blues Festival will offer beers from regional, national and international brewers. Each ticket includes a sampling mug and unlimited beer samples. This event on Saturday, May 28 from 4-8 p.m. is for ages 21 and older only. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 day-of (if available), $75 VIP. Springs Preserve members receive $5 off.
CBS Radio has the SUN. POOL. FUN. (SPF) concert celebration is returning on Sunday, May 15 and featuring Iggy Azalea, Alessia Cara, Lukas Graham, Fifth Harmony, Kygo and Mike Posner at The Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
The Park on the Strip will host its first art event celebrating local artists April 27-29. A live District Artz Guerrilla Artist Show will feature seven artists painting live on Guerrilla Kages, tri-sided eight-foot tall, six-foot wide canvases. These talented artists will be onsite creating artworks from 4–10 p.m. Admission is complimentary.
First Friday from 5-11 p.m. will feature “Art through the Ages” for the May 6 event and include a Farmer’s Market curated by the Intuitive Forager. Five artists will be live painting in costume and in the style of historic artists – meet “Frida Kahlo,” “Vincent Van Gogh” and more. Art Beyond the Paintbrush will focus on a group of artisans (weavers, scribes, carvers, quilters) who interact with the crowd.
Triple George Grill will host a special prix fixe five-course Sonoma County wine dinner on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The evening will conclude with a 9:30 p.m. performance by jazz singer Laura Shaffer. Cost is $110.
In honor of winning the prestigious 2016 Sports Bar of the Year award at the Nightclub & Bar Awards, Lagasse Stadium® at The Palazzo® is hosting a series of celebration beer-pairing dinners April 27 ($55), May 4 and 11, as part of a three-week celebration. Scott Pajak, Lagasse’s Stadium Chef de Cuisine and champion of Food Network’s hit TV show “Chopped,” is presenting the upscale casual fare; call 702-607-2665.
Commonly referred to as the CES of booze, the recent 73rd annual Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Convention opened with Christie Brinkley and a ribbon cutting while she promoted her new line of Prosecco, Bellissima. After the opener, the crowd moved to the Augustus Ballroom to see actor Channing Tatum unveil his new vodka, Born & Bred.
The Southern Nevada Wildland Fire Awareness Half Marathon and 5K Run will be held May 1 from 8 a.m.–noon at the new Spring Mountain Visitor’s Gateway at Mt. Charleston. All proceeds will be donated to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Cost is $40 and includes a tech t-shirt, goodie bag, finisher’s medal, snacks and refreshments. There will be a variety of fire engines and educational displays.
Andre’s Restaurant & Lounge at Monte Carlo is offering a $110 five- and $135 seven-course tasting menu with a choice between one of two items in each pairing. Wine pairing is an additional $95, call 702-798-7151.
Wine Amplified “Plugged-In” tickets at the new T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, April 30 to see Billy Joel include an intimate wine tasting with more than 14 wines in a private VIP area before the show.
On Sunday, May 1, Wine Amplified will be back at The Joint inside the Hard Rock with superstar Eric Church. “Plugged In” tickets will include 14-plus wines in a designated area on the showroom floor.
The Stratosphere in honor of its 20th anniversary, will be offering a trifecta of specials for locals on Sunday, May 1, which will include complimentary access to the Observation Tower, $20 entry for two to the buffet, and $20 unlimited ride pass to experience the X-Scream, Insanity and Big Shot rides.
Life Time Athletic Green Valley in Henderson from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday is offering the club’s happy hour specials: $6 and $8 appetizers, $6 select cocktails, $1 off tap and bottled beer, and $2 off wine by the glass. There’s entertainment Friday-Sunday nights. The pool is open daily to Life Time members at no cost and to non-members for $20 per guest.
Shake Shack at New York-New York is continuing their effort to Stand For Something Good® by partnering with Children’s Heart Foundation in Southern Nevada. Plus, both Shake Shack locations have a new local bakery partner, teaming up with The Cupcakery for two of the specialty concretes only available in Las Vegas.
CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATIONS
The new Dog Haus Vegas on Paradise Road will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with happy hour and drink specials on Thursday, May 5. They will feature $5 tequila shots and happy hour all day. Happy hour food and drink specials include dog, burger and corndog sliders, fries and tater tots for $1.25 each, along with two-for-one craft beers and red and white Haus wine.
TREVI Italian Restaurant inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace has a tequila cocktail for toasting to Mexico. Stronger than margaritas will be the Mariachi Mule made with two ounces Sweet Heat Tequila, four ounces Crabbie’s Ginger Beer and fresh squeezed lime for $12.
Social media personality and international model Jessa Hinton will host Tacos & Tequila’s “Sexy de Mayo Très” fiesta in honor of Cinco de Mayo from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 5.
MOTHER’S DAY PROMOTIONS
On Mother’s Day a “Moms Fly Free” promotion will be held at Vegas Indoor Skydiving on Sunday, May 8 from 9:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. All moms who visit will fly free and receive a complimentary Mother’s Day cupcake courtesy of The Cupcakery, with the purchase of one single flight at retail price. Single flight tickets are $75, with repeat flights on the same day $50.
On Mother’s Day, Walker Furniture will be giving a free box of See’s Candies to mothers who visit the showroom on May 8. No purchase is necessary. There’s a limit of one box per mom while supplies last. Visitors can also register for a chance to win the $1,000 Room of Dreams Give-a-way.
KENTUCKY DERBY INSPIRES COCKTAILS
La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway at Wynn will celebrate Kentucky Derby tradition with a signature “Kentucky Mule,” debuting on Saturday, May 7. Rich in Kentucky whiskey flavor, the drink is made with Eagle Rare Bourbon Whiskey, Fever Tree ginger beer, mint leaves and lime wedges served in a chilled copper mug for $16.
Aliante will serve a Julep cocktail featuring basil and gin in honor of the Kentucky Derby at MRKT Sea & Land, and drink specials including $2 beers and $3 Traditional Kentucky Woodford Reserve Mint Juleps all weekend long at the Race & Sports Book, May 5-8.
