“BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW”
DATE: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016
BY: Jackie Brett
VEGAS COLUMN
SURF’S UP AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
The Strip’s first FlowRider Wave-in-a-Box Double is now open at Planet Hollywood at the south end of the pool deck with its own FlowBar for professional wave riders as well as novices who can start on bodyboards. The FlowRider is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Guests must be at least 42” inches to Boogie Board and 48” to Surf The Strip. The cost is $25 per person per 30-minute session and scheduling is based upon availability.
ZOWIE BOWIE STARRING CHRIS PHILLIPS RETURNS TO THE RED ROCK
Zowie Bowie starring Chris Phillips has returned to Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort, the band’s Las Vegas home for more than 10 years. Zowie Bowie is performing today’s hottest dance music, Top-40 hits and hip hop every Friday with doors opening at 10 p.m. Cover is $10 at the door. Boarding Pass card members receive a $5 entry discount, with Boarding Pass sign-ups available at the door.
Zowie Bowie features the musical talents of lead singer Chris Phillips, vocalist Nieve Malandra, who joined the group in 2011, and a high-voltage band. Co-founded by Phillips, who has more than 20 years of performing experience under his belt, in Arizona in 2002, Zowie Bowie has become one of Las Vegas’ most popular acts.
THE PALM RESTAURANT RE-OPENS FOLLOWING REMODEL
On Sept. 7, The Palm Restaurant inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace will open following a summer-long, all-encompassing restaurant remodel. The space will reveal modern enhancements, 50 new additions to the famous celebrity caricature collage, an expansive wall-to-wall mural and fresh new dishes.
New art installations adorning the walls were hand painted by the restaurant group’s resident artist Zack Bird. To capture the history of Las Vegas, Bird created a custom 512-square-foot, hand-painted mural of The Las Vegas Strip, showcasing the evolution of Vegas from past to present. Dating back to the 1920s when the restaurant first opened, the caricatures have become synonymous with The Palm brand.
NACHO DADDY EXPANDS WITH LOCATION AT MIRACLE MILE SHOPS
Locally owned and operated, Nacho Daddy Mexican restaurant’s newest location is at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. This venue is 6,000 square feet with 32-foot ceilings and seating for approximately 230 people. It features big screen televisions, a private dining room, open kitchen and a mezzanine overlooking the busy Harmon Avenue. The Strip location opens at 8 a.m. daily and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night.
JABURRITOS WILL OPEN FIRST STRIP LOCATION AT LINQ PROMENADE
Jaburritos, Las Vegas’ original sushi burrito concept that opened in October 2015, will open a new location at The LINQ Promenade in December 2016. Jaburritos serves made-to-order, sushi burritos stuffed with Japanese and Mexican inspired ingredients and flavors. Menu items can be made to fit almost every diet with paleo, low-carb, vegan and vegetarian options available and owner Ken Aoki pledges to use sustainable sources of food, recycled packaging and eco-friendly furniture and equipment wherever possible.
MARTIN LAWRENCE AND BOB DYLAN ADDED TO THE CHELSEA LINEUP
Martin Lawrence will appear at The Cosmopolitan Friday, Oct. 7. During the 1990s, comedian and actor Lawrence rose to fame starring in his own series “Martin,” which aired on Fox for five years, and in blockbuster films including “Big Momma’s House,” “Bad Boys” and “Blue Streak.” His Showtime special “Martin Lawrence Doin’ Time: Uncut” will air on Sept. 9 at 9 p.m. EST/PST and mark his third concert film in 15 years. Tickets start at $45.
Folk rock singer and songwriter Bob Dylan will headline The Chelsea on Thursday, Oct. 13. Showing no signs of slowing down, Dylan has continued to tour in recent years, while releasing studio albums including “Together Through Life” in 2009 and “Tempest” in 2012. Tickets start at $49.
GEORGE BUGATTI’S ‘PORTRAITS OF AMERICA’ DEBUTS AT SMITH CENTER
Singer, pianist and songwriter George Bugatti will present “Portraits of America,” featuring a multimedia show and songs spotlighting many of the country’s great cities. Bugatti will kick off his 24-city tour, debuting “Portraits of America” at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. The Las Vegas show will feature special guests such as “The Marty Allen Show” co-star, Karon Kate Blackwell; Sam Arlen, son of “Wizard of Oz” Composer Harold Arlen; and Nelsen Sardelli, long-time Vegas entertainer and film star. Tickets range from $39–$45.
HUNTRIDGE SHOPPING CENTER HOLDS SIGN LIGHTING CEREMONY
The Huntridge Shopping Center at Maryland Parkway and Charleston Blvd. is being redeveloped by homegrown real estate broker and developer J Dapper, who purchased the center last fall for $5.2 million. A sign lighting event on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 6-10 p.m. will illuminate a new sign for the Huntridge Shopping Center at 7:30 p.m. and announcement new retailers moving into the area. There will be live music, food trucks and appearances by special guests.
LAS VEGAS HARVEST FESTIVAL® IS THREE DAYS AT CASHMAN CENTER
It’s time for the annual Las Vegas Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Show at Cashman Center Sept. 9-11 with more than 250 exhibitors showcasing over 24,000 American handmade arts and crafts, including jewelry, woodturnings, art and photography, specialty foods, clothing, décor and more. While shopping, attendees can enjoy entertainment acts, live music, prize drawings, artist demonstrations and food. Show opens daily at 10 a.m. Admission is $9 general, $7 seniors 62+ and military, $4 for kids 13-17. There are $2 off coupons and discount when you donate a can of food, formula or paper products for Safe Nest.
‘CHERRY BOOM BOOM’ OPENS AT TROPICANA WITH TICKET SPECIALS
“Cherry Boom Boom” will open at the Tropicana Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 8 with previews running through Wednesday, Sept. 28. Shows are nightly except Tuesday at 9 p.m. This immersive new show is promoted as the ultimate playground for sex, music, love and rock-n-roll with fresh, new amplified choreography. For the preview shows, first responders and military personnel are offered a two-for-one ticket special. Additional ticket offers include Cherry Deals for Locals (2 for 1 tickets) and Women Crush Wednesdays, featuring $20 off tickets. All shows begin at 9 p.m. and tickets start at $59.
DOWNTOWN HOLDS BEER FESTIVALS
The Golden Nugget will hold its 7th annual Beerfest weekend Sept. 17-18. The two-day event will include samplings of award-winning breweries paired with beer-inspired bites. The All American Craft Beer Tasting will be Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Grand Event Center with more than 125 selections. Cost $54 in advance and $59 at the door. Sunday will be the Oktoberfest Pool Party at 1 p.m. Entry is complimentary and event is open to the public. Beer will be available for purchase.
Motley Brews’ Downtown Brew Festival (DBF) will return to the Clark County Amphitheater for its fifth anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 5 to 9 p.m., with doors opening at 4 p.m. for Early Entry and VIP ticketholders. This event will highlight more than 200 of the world’s top craft brews from over 60 breweries, “Festaurant Row” with a diverse lineup of culinary creations by Las Vegas’ top restaurants and food trucks, and nonstop music and entertainment. Tickets are $35 for General Admission, $45 for Early Entry and $70 for VIP until Friday, Sept. 16.
Rí Rá HOSTS HALfWAY TO ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY
On Saturday, Sept. 17, Rí Rá Las Vegas will celebrate Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day with a celebration featuring drink specials, giveaways, live Irish music from The Black Donnellys and a special Irish-inspired menu benefiting HELP of Southern Nevada. During the event, Rí Rá will offer $5 Guinness® drafts and Guinness® foreign extra stouts from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The pub will also give away engraved Guinness® glasses to the first 50 guests who order a beer from the pub’s Victorian bar. Located next door, the Guinness® Store will offer customers 15 percent off all in-store purchases totaling more than $20.
SEPTEMBER FEATURES ITALIAN AND GREEK FESTIVALS
The 37th Annual San Gennaro Feast will take place Sept. 14-18 inside Craig Ranch Regional Park. The food and music festival celebrates features more than 70 restaurant food booths, 60 amusement rides, petting zoo, pony rides, midway games, arts and crafts booths, and continuous live music. Entertainment coordinator and singer Tony Sacca will host and feature some of Las Vegas’ finest entertainers and bands and also headline nightly. Admission is $10 for adults and parking is free. Rides are POP - Pay One Price to ride all rides endlessly for $25 and $30 on the weekend.
The 44th Annual Las Vegas Greek Festival will take place Sept.16-18 at the St. John Greek Orthodox Church and feature continuous dancing to two live Greek bands, the Olympians and Etho Ellas, ethnic cuisine, shops with clothing, jewelry, art and a children’s area. Admittance is adults $6; children 12 and under free; military and immediate family free with valid ID.
In conjunction with the Greek Food Festival, there will be a 26.2 mile Torch Relay Run to raise money for Goodwill of Southern Nevada and The Fisher House Foundation. The run will begin with a torch lighting ceremony at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Tivoli Village. The torch will be carried along the selected police escorted route by runners who obtained monetary pledges and arrive at the festival at about 7 p.m. to light the Festival Flame. Run participants will receive a commemorative T-Shirt and complimentary dinner at the festival.
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE HONORS VANESSA WILLIAMS
Singer, actress, author and fashion designer, Vanessa Williams, will serve as Woman of the Year for Nevada Ballet Theatre’s (NBT) 33rd Annual Black & White Ball. She will be honored for her wavering philanthropy to numerous charitable causes on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at ARIA, as part of the 45-year-old ballet company’s largest annual fundraiser and one of the city’s most highly-anticipated social events.
FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS PALACE HOSTS EL GRITO CELEBRATION
In partnership with “InVEGAS Magazine,” The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace will ring in El Grito for the Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration. On Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m., The Forum Shops will host the official public opening ceremony to kick off the festivities with a celebratory ringing of the bell by a member of the Mexican Consul along with a Mariachi band and traditional folkloric dancers. In addition, strolling mariachis and informal modeling featuring Mulberry, DKNY and Canali will take place throughout the weekend.
More than 60 distinctive retailers and restaurants within The Forum Shops will present special offerings to guests who check-in at the InVEGAS/El Grito hospitality and welcome desks and pick up an INVEGAS wristband.
BODYBUILDING LEGENDS WILL COMPETE AT ORLEANS ARENA
Joe Weider’s IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilders Professional League) Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend will return to the Orleans Arena Sept. 15-17.
For the 11th consecutive year, the annual sanctioned bodybuilding Mr. Olympia competition will take center stage with athletes competing in eight separate divisions. Reserved seating for Friday and Saturday night events range from $75 to $330 at the Orleans Box Office.
On Thursday, Sept. 15, fans can meet the superstars at Meet the Olympians on the Concourse Level at the Orleans Arena. VIP ticket holders and Platinum Members will be granted early entry at 7 p.m. The event is open to the general public free of charge at 8 p.m.
SIX-STRING SOLDIERS WILL OPEN TWO JOHN FOGERTY CONCERTS
Six-String Soldiers, a four-member ensemble of The United States Army Field Band, will take the stage at the “John Fogerty - Fortunate Son in Concert,” Sept. 14 and 16 at The Venetian®. The acclaimed quartet’s performances will coincide with National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Sept. 16, which honors prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. Legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Fogerty returns to The Venetian Theatre for a nine-show engagement, Sept. 14-Oct. 1. Tickets start at $59.50.
QUICK NEWS ITEMS
Open rehearsals for Cirque du Soleil’s “Mystère” at Tresasure Island are being offered exclusively on Saturdays inside the Mystère Theatre from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Guests attending receive an exclusive offer—two tickets for $99—by presenting a special voucher at the box office. All ages are welcome. For information, call 702-894-7722.
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters is launching brand-new Hoover Dam-area tours and opening the company’s seventh heliport next to the Hoover Dam Lodge. With the new heliport, Papillon now flies guests closer to the dam than any other tour operator.
Amorino, known for its flower-shaped cone, opened its new gelato store at The LINQ Promenade. The 1,500-square-foot 50-person upscale venue with a fireplace, sofas and other luxurious seating is the second location in Las Vegas and 150th store worldwide.
Saturday, Sept.10 will be the the final event in this year’s Plugged-In Mandalay Bay Beach Summer Concert Series, which will be Lost 80s Live featuring Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung. Cutting Crew, and Berlin. Tickets are $50 and include a selection of more than 20 wines from a VIP perch in Moorea Beach Club and admission to the show.
Lena Prima, Louis Prima’s musical daughter, will perform at the Italian American Club on East Sahara on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $35, call 702-457-3866.
Thousands of fitness and pole dance enthusiasts will participate in the fifth annual Pole Expo taking place at the Hard Rock Sept.7-11. There will be nightly events. Single day passes start at $79, weekend $185 with nightly events included, which are also sold separately.
Beginning Sept. 5, Carnevino Italian Steakhouse at The Palazzo will launch The Martini Lunch. Priced at $65 per person, the meal includes two martinis, plus three courses, all of which can be served within an hour starting at noon.
A wine class with a series of guided tastings will be held at Pinot’s Palette at Boca Park on Wednesday, Sept.14 from 6-8 p.m. Session is $65, call 702-895-3394 to register.
The Mob Museum downtown is holding an author talk with Christian Cipollini on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 7-9 p.m. He wrote “Murder, Inc.: Mysteries of the Mob’s Most Deadly Hit Squad” and will discuss notorious backstories involving Murder, Inc. He will sign copies of his book after his presentation and also from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the Museum’s retail store.
Saturday, Sept. 17, from 1–5 p.m. inside the museums retail store, author and Associate Professor of Bassoon at UNLV, Janis L. McKay will sign copies of her latest book, “The Rise and Fall of Casino Bands,” charting the life and history of music found on the Strip.
The last play of the season for the evening outdoor Super Summer Theater at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park will be the musical “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” Sept. 8-10, 15-17, and 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $12.95 for Thursday and $15.95 for Friday-Saturday and $20 at the Gate, visit www.showtix4u.com.
Fremont Street Experience will be hosting a SlotZilla Charity Challenge to benefit Three Square Food Bank on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 7 p.m.
Breaking Benjamin was honored with a memorabilia case at Hard Rock Hotel in August. The hallway display showcases: Shaun Foist’s drum heads, sticks and cymbal; Benjamin Burnley’s black jacket, wrist bands and picks; Keith Wallen’s boots and prescription glasses; Jasen Rauch’s red flannel shirt; and Burnley’s guitar that was used to throw 30 feet across the stage during the band’s last performance at The Joint on Oct. 22, 2015.
The exclusive Lafont Trunk Show will be held at an open house on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 6-8 p.m. at Eyes & Optics at Downtown Summerlin. You can meet Dr. Edward J. Jalik, enjoy complimentary wine and food, and music.
FOOD TRUCK DRAGON GRILLE NEEDS YOUR VOTE
One of the biggest food trends is the rising popularity of food trucks. Local award winning Dragon Grille is one of 50 food trucks in the national spotlight during a cross-country recipe competition to create America’s best breakfast recipe. As part of the Thomas’ Breakfast Battle, Dragon Grille will utilize Thomas’ English Muffins and Bagels to create the ultimate breakfast recipe inspired by the cuisine of their food truck. Beginning Sept. 12, fans will have one week to vote online at ThomasBreakfastBattle.com to ensure Dragon Grille makes the next round of competition that narrows the pool to 25.
