“BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW”
DATE: Sunday, May 29, 2016
BY: Jackie Brett
VEGAS COLUMN
LAS VEGAS SANDS PLANS TO BUILD 17,500-SEAT CONCERT VENUE
Seriously…Las Vegas Sands Corp. has announced plans to build a new 400,000-square-foot, 17,500-seat live music venue behind its Strip resorts in partnership with the Madison Square Garden Company. The indication is they would focus on offering a variety of live shows — including large concert tours, residencies and other productions — and a “unique seating design” putting all seats in front of the stage with options for luxury seating and “exclusive clubs and lounges.” The venue could be used for UFC mixed martial arts events as well.
In addition, Sands and Majestic Realty Co. are pushing plans for a $1.4 billion, 65,000-seat domed stadium that could potentially house an NFL franchise, most likely the Oakland Raiders.
MORIMOTO LAS VEGAS WILL OPEN AT MGM GRAND THIS FALL
Masaharu Morimoto, renowned Japanese chef and star of Food Network’s “Iron Chef America,” will open his contemporary Japanese restaurant Morimoto Las Vegas at MGM Grand this fall. Previously slated to open at The Mirage, the venue will instead relocate to the MGM Grand and take the location currently occupied by Shibuya. The new restaurant will feature exquisite design along with signature sushi creations and sensational cocktail offerings.
‘XAVIER MORTIMER'S MAGICAL DREAM’ WILL OPEN AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
French export Xavier Mortimer after gracing stages in more than 30 countries and most recently starring in Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson ONE,” is the first Cirque performer to launch a headlining show on the Strip. “Xavier Mortimer’s Magical Dream” will open in the Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood on June 6 and transport audiences into Mortimer’s dream world. Performances will be nightly except Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Mortimer is involved with every aspect of this production down to composing the majority of the music. The 70-minute show with more than 14 acts is directed by fellow Frenchman and international celebrity Alex Goude, whose show “Twisted” closed recently after a 12-week run at Westgate.
RED MERCURY ENTERTAINMENT MANAGES THEATER AT STRATOSPHERE
Red Mercury Entertainment has made a venue management agreement with the Stratosphere to bring shows and events to the Stratosphere Theater and run the box office beginning July 12.
The current Stratosphere entertainment programming includes “MJ Live” and “PIN UP™” starring Playboy’s 2011 Playmate of the Year® Claire Sinclair.
New to the resort will be “Spy escape & Evasion” opening Aug.17-18 and 19-20 with additional future seminars announced at a later date. This is a widely effective two-day seminar and training course taught by Ex-CIA agent Jason Hanson designed to keep individuals and their families safe from danger. Tickets are $1,499.95. Participants can also take part in a special VIP dinner and meet-and-greet with Hanson at Las Vegas’ El Dorado Cantina limited to 30 seats following day one of the two-day seminar for $250.
OIL & VINEGAR OPENS NEW STORE AT DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN
Locally owned and operated by sisters Catherine Shuman and Lisa Salgado, Oil & Vinegar, a Netherlands-based culinary boutique store specializing in gourmet food and cooking products from around the world, opened a new store in the Downtown Summerlin shopping center.
Guests of Oil & Vinegar located just outside the entrance to Dillard’s are encouraged to sample, taste and experience the store’s vast imported selection. Owners also recommend being original by throwing a private corporate team-building event or girl’s night out tasting party.
VEGAS’ OOGOOG PRODUCTIONS DEBUTS ‘DEALER’ FILM
Las Vegas’ full-service film development and production company, oogoog productions, will debut the anthology film “Dealer,” a quirky Las Vegas-based cinematic collaboration comprised of five directors that features four individual segments in one film, at the opening night of the Las Vegas Film Festival on Tuesday, June 7 at Inspire Theater downtown.
The movie was shot and filmed solely in the Las Vegas-area by UNLV alumni-turned-successful-supergroup of filmmakers. The idiosyncratic movie montage is centered around a blackjack dealer who is forced into becoming a drug dealer for a day with disastrous results.
SUNCOAST FEATURES SHIRELLES AND THE CHIFFONS DOO WOP CLASSICS
Shirley Alston Reeves, original lead singer of the Shirelles, and The Chiffons will bring nostalgic doo wop 50s and 60s classics to the Suncoast Showroom June 25 and 26. Tickets are available from $22.
New Jersey native Reeves made her debut in 1958 with the Shirelles, the first female pop/rock ‘n’ roll group credited with the girl group sound and hits such as “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” “Mama Said” and “Soldier Boy.” Reeves left the group in 1975 to work on a solo career.
The Chiffons, with then-original members Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett, Barbara Lee, and Sylvia Peterson, exploded onto the music scene in the early 60s with “He’s So Fine.” The Chiffons’ current lineup includes original member Judy Craig, her daughter Dawn Craig, and niece Jubilee Clark.
HONEY SALT OFFERS SPECIAL SUMMER FARM TABLE DINNER
Local dining spot, Honey Salt at 1031 S. Rampart Blvd., will hold a four-course Farm Table dinner on Tuesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. A Summer Picnic at Honey Salt created by Chef Robert Camacho will spotlight creative twists on summer grill favorites and farm-fresh summer fruits and offer an optional themed beverage pairing. The dinner is $49 and pairing $25.
FIRST HYDRO-FEST BEING HELD IN NEARBY PAHRUMP
The first ever industry-wide hydroflight event, Hydro-Fest 2016, featuring the best hydroflight athletes in the world of jetboarding, jetpacking and jetbiking will be held in Pahrump at the Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club June 10-12.The family-friendly weekend will be a hybrid of sport, competition, festival and fun. A lakeside hydroflight expo village will showcase all the latest hydroflight related products and services along with food and drink. Other beach related fun will include slack lines, beach volleyball, paddleboards, lifeguard-monitored swim area, bounce house, floating lily pads and huge floating water balls that will also be available. After the sun goes down on Saturday night, the expert flyers from Jetpack Invasion will be donning their state-of-the-art LED lightsuits to put on a flying laser light show.
SIX STATION CASINO RACE & SPORTS BOOKS RECEIVE RENOVATIONS
Station Casinos is renovating and enhancing technology at six of its Race & Sports Books across the valley. Green Valley Ranch Resort is now the third, Sunset Station will follow in early July, Santa Fe Station also in July and Palace Station in August with the upgrades. It was the changes at Red Rock last year that started the ball rolling and Boulder Station was the second to receive improvements.
15TH ANNUAL REGGAE IN THE DESERT FEATURES CARIBBEAN SOUNDS
Reggae in the Desert, Las Vegas’ largest Reggae festival, showcases Reggae music and the Caribbean lifestyle. The 15th annual music festival will be held on Saturday, June 15 from noon to 11 p.m. at the Clark County Amphitheatre and have a vendor village. The all-ages music festival features Capelton, Don Carlos, Israel Vibration, Fortunate Youth, Junior Marvin and New Kingston. Tickets on Ticketfly range from $35 to VIP at $120.
JERRY’S NUGGET HOLDS BINGO’S $7,250 STARS AND STRIPES BIG GAME
In North Las Vegas, Jerry’s Nugget Bingo Hall’s $7,250 Stars and Strips Big Game is set for July 2 at 9 p.m. Entry tickets go on sale June 5. For $25, entry includes one six-on pack, one Bonanza, and reserved seating into the 17-game event. Featured in the big game schedule are four $1,000 coveralls, 13 games with $250 payouts, and a 10-game warm up session paying $100 each (warm up games are not included with entry fee).
QUICK ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Maroon 5 will return for the fourth consecutive year to ring in a New Year. The group with Adam Levine will perform Dec. 30 and 31 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Multi-Grammy Award-winning and top-selling salsa artist Marc Anthony will perform at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood to celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 10 p.m. Tickets range in price from $105 to $301.
The Golden Nugget’s 52 Fridays Concert Series lineup for June in the Gordie Brown Showroom includes: Grass Roots June 3; Melissa Manchester June 10; “The Temptations Review” featuring Dennis Edwards and Martha Reeves and The Vandellas June 17; and Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals June 24.
The Arthritis Foundation will host its annual Voices for a Cure starring Terry Fator benefit event on Wednesday, June 8 at The Mirage. The exclusive $200 donors VIP cocktail reception with Fator will be from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by the show at 7:30 p.m. with general admission being $75.
Face The Funk, the brain child of award-winning composer Frank Klepacki, will present their funky tribute to The Purple One on the day of his birth at Brooklyn Bowl Tuesday, June 7 at 9:30 p.m. This band is comprised of an all-star lineup featuring musicians who have toured with such names as The Family Stone, Gladys Knight, and Celine Dion. Tickets are $7.
Las Vegas showman Tony Sacca is making a return engagement to the CasaBlanca in Mesquite an 80-minute drive from Las Vegas with a patriotic show “All-American Music: From Sea to Shining Sea” on Saturday, June 4 with special guest Genevieve Dew, along with the Sexy Saccettes and live orchestra conducted by Grammy Award winner Gary Anderson. General admission tickets start at $15.
Genevieve Dew performs on Wednesday nights from 8-11 p.m. at Trattoria Reggiano’s outdoor experience at Downtown Summerlin.
Sanders Winery Summer Concert Series in nearby Pahrump will present “The Unknown Comic” starring Murray Langston and “The Heidi Ho Comedy Show” starring Heidi Thompson on June 4 and “An Evening of Tom Jones” starring Steve McCoy on June 18. Tickets are $25 and $20 respectfully for the 7:30 p.m. shows.
The F.I.O.R.E. (Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events) club’s 12th Anniversary will be held on Monday, July 18 at the Italian American Club on East Sahara with special guest performer Gordie Brown.
“June Tunes” will be featured for Downtown’s June 3 First Friday event, including E320’s lineup of entertainment from 5–11 p.m. – DeBlanc Music, Rising Stars, Anna Duerden and Kerfoot & Dan – on the City of Las Vegas stage.
Lorraine Hunt-Bono and Dennis Bono are assisting in compiling a list of entertainers who live in Las Vegas and performed at the Riviera Hotel. Please email your name, contact information and year(s) performing there to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A photo is optional.
NEWS TIDBITS AND CLIPS
Officials for Moulin Rouge Holdings held a groundbreaking on the date the original historic property opened in 1955 for the potential new Moulin Rouge Las Vegas at 900 W. Bonanza Road opening in 2019. The budget for the development is between $100 million and $150 million.
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino held its “topping-off” ceremony last week for its nearly 18,000 square feet addition to the current meeting and convention space. Expected to be completed by this winter, the project will also include 5,000 square feet of back-of-house storage and office space, relocation of the business center, and new exterior signage along Paradise Road.
The fifth annual Health, Healing & Happiness conference will be held June 10-12 at Tuscany Suites & Casino. Now the largest event in Nevada for nutrition and natural solutions for the whole body, mind and spirit, the conference will feature 17 world-class speakers with eight being renowned vegan chefs offering presentations and a Holistic Health Expo and Welcome Reception.
The 48 Miss Teen USA contestants visiting Las Vegas for the Miss USA Competition will all take a 30-minute ride on the High Roller on Friday, June 3 at 5 p.m.
TREVI Italian Restaurant inside The Forum Shops in honor of National Cheese Day Saturday, June 4 will feature $10 cheese-loaded pizzas from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Summer Wine Walk will be held at Downtown Container Park on Saturday, June 4 from 6-9 pm. Tickets online are $20-$25.
Mike Ditka’s Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame Dinner honoring 2016 inductees will be held at the Veil Pavilion at the Silverton on Friday, June 3. Tickets are $250.
Dr. Cesar Lozano will present his most requested conference to Sam’s Town Live! helping the Spanish-speaking community to better understand the opposite sex and personalities in different types of partners on Thursday, June 9. Tickets for the 8 p.m. presentation start at $53.
The National Fire Protection Association will host its annual Conference & Expo at Mandalay Bay June 13–16. As the largest annual education event in fire and life safety, it will feature more than 140 educational sessions, a 270-exhibitor expo showcasing the latest technologies and an all-new interactive Discovery District.
NEXT RESTAURANT WEEK WILL BE JUNE 6-17
Restaurants are announcing their participation and special menus for in the 10th Annual Las Vegas Restaurant Week, June 6-17, to benefit Three Square Food Bank.
Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar will offer a multi-course, prix-fixe menu for $50 with one entrée choice from the following: Pollo alla Parmigiana; Vitello Piccata; Osso Buco; and Salmone.
Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group’s (B&BHG) restaurants are participating including: B&B Ristorante dinner $50; Carnevino Italian Steakhouse dinner $80; B&B Burger & Beer - all day menu $30 per person; and Otto Enoteca E Pizzeria lunch $30 and dinner $40.
Triple George Grill downtown will partake with special lunch $20 and dinner $40 menus to support the culinary event.
SOME SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY DINING OPTIONS
La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway inside Wynn will offer a Father’s Day menu and cocktail pairing from 4 p.m. to closing on Sunday, June 19 for $49.
Tacos & Tequila (T&T) at the Luxor will honor dads with food and drink specials on Sunday, June 19 including the newly introduced Surf and Turf, an 8-ounce ribeye steak served with poblano rajas and two jumbo grilled tiger shrimp topped with arbol cream sauce for $32 and the option to pair a tequila flight for an additional $13.
CRUSH at MGM Grand will celebrate with a decadent dinner for dad, Chef William DeMarco’s signature ‘Surf & Turf’ entrée paired with a pint of Stella for $49.
OTTO Enoteca E Pizzeria at St. Mark's Square inside The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian will be offering dads 2-for-1 draft Peroni beer from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant in Downtown Summerlin, will celebrate padres with drink specials including a “loaded beer” featuring $2 Sauza Hornitos Lime or Spiced Honey tequila shots with the purchase of any draft or bottled beer and tequila shots with $5 pours of Sauza Hornitos Lime, Spiced Honey or Black Barrel tequila on Father’s Day weekend, June 17-19.
Jerry’s Nugget in North Las Vegas is offering Dad’s Day specials in the coffee shop from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. including 20-ounce Papa’s Porterhouse for $20.89 and Steak and Twin Lobster Tails for $26.89-$29.89, plus a couple more deals.
NEON MUSEUM’S FIRST NATIONAL ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE VISITS IN JUNE
This spring, the Neon Museum downtown issued a nationwide call for entries to compete for a month-long National Artist Residency in Las Vegas. San Francisco-based artist Whitney Lynn was selected from among 20 entrants and will reside downtown from June 1–30. She will deliver an artist’s talk on Wednesday, June 15 from 6–7:30 p.m. and hold a studio open house on Thursday, June 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Both events are free to the public and will take place at the Neon Museum National Artist in Residence studio space, located at 418 West Mesquite Ave., Suite 130. The residency was made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
GRANT A GIFT AUTISM FOUNDATION CONTINUES 5K FOR AUTISM EVENT
Grant a Gift Autism Foundation will continue its 7th annual Race for Hope and Fun Walk on Saturday, June 11 with the Kidz Run, Fun Walk, Autism Family Resource Fair and KidZone after the festivities on April 30 were cut short by the rain with only the 5K timed race being completed. On June 11, all participants are invited back to finish the event and enjoy the family-friendly activities with “Part 2.” Register online at Grant A Gift Foundation.org.
