“BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW”
DATE: Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016
BY: Jackie Brett
VEGAS COLUMN
‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT LIVE’ WILL VISIT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
The winner of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” now in its 11th season and other finalists will be headlining an exclusive stage show engagement of “America’s Got Talent Live” in Las Vegas Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 27-29 in the PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood. Winning the starring role in the show is in addition to a million dollar cash prize. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, Sept. 14 and range in price from $55 to $185.
LUCKY DRAGON SET TO OPEN DEC. 3
The Chinese-themed Lucky Dragon on Sahara just off the Strip will have its grand opening Saturday, Dec. 3 and will begin taking reservations Saturday, Oct. 1 on the resort’s website. The Lucky Dragon is the first hotel and casino on or near the Strip to be built from the ground up since the Cosmopolitan in 2010.
The three-acre property will have 200 hotel rooms and a 27,000-square-foot casino with three-quarters of it dedicated to baccarat and pai gow tables. There will a second floor high-end gaming area overlooking the main casino floor with VIP rooms next to it.
The entire experience is being built with traditional Asian style in mind. The bar near the pool will focus on tea, as opposed to cocktails and even have a tea sommelier.
The hotel’s red glass windows will shine a red tint into each room. Red is considered a lucky color to some Asian cultures.
THE VENETIAN WILL PRESENT ‘AN EVENING WITH AL PACINO’
Actor, screenwriter, producer and director Al Pacino will bring “An Evening with Al Pacino” exploring a myriad of highlights from his stage and screen career to the Opaline Theatre inside The Venetian® on Saturday, Oct. 15. This special event will include a question-and-answer session. Pacino has starred in more than 40 films including “Scent of a Woman” for which he won an Oscar in 1992. He is one of the rare winners of acting’s triple crown: the Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award, and a National Medal of Arts for 2011 from President Obama. Tickets start at $72.45.
THREE NEW TENANTS JOIN HISTORIC HUNTRIDGE REDEVELOPMENT
Dapper Companies announced the three new tenants signing on as part of his redevelopment of the historic Huntridge downtown neighborhood. Last November, Dapper invested more than $6 million to buy three key commercial real estate properties near the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Maryland Parkway.
Cory Harwell, owner of downtown’s Carson Kitchen and the new Standard & Pour in Henderson, will open a yet-unnamed restaurant at 602 S. Maryland Parkway, at the site of the former Mahoney’s Drum Shop.
Wingstop, a national chain restaurant offering chicken wings, will open at the Huntridge Center.
Furniture company Henricksen Butler will move from The Holsum Lofts to 630 S. 11th Street, the former home of the Gamblers Book Club.
A public Huntridge Center sign-lighting ceremony called “Light Up The Night” will be held Thursday, Sept. 15 from 6-8 p.m. with the lighting at 7:30 p.m.
COMEDIAN DANA CARVEY RETURNS TO THE ORLEANS SHOWROOM
“Saturday Night Live” alumni and celebrated comedian Dana Carvey will perform at The Orleans Showroom Sept. 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets start from $54.95.
Carvey most recently appeared on “Conan” where he performed impersonations of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. He also wrapped up the first season of his new USA Network game show “First Impressions.” In the show, Carvey and co-host Freddie Prinze Jr. feature weekly competitions between America’s best emerging impressionists and special celebrity guests.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR ‘MAGIC MIKE’ AT HARD ROCK
Superstar Channing Tatum and some of the dancers announced on the Season 14 premiere of “Ellen” that tickets are now on sale for “Magic Mike Live Las Vegas,” which opens at the Hard Rock Hotel on March 30. The show will recreate the mythic Club Domina as a cabaret nightclub space inside the resort to capture the Magic Mike franchise featuring 13 sexy male performers.
“Magic Mike Live Las Vegas” will be performed Wednesdays through Sundays at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Ticket start at $49. A $40 VIP add-on includes a meet-and-greet with the cast and a souvenir photo.
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL IS TOTAL CULTURAL EXPOSURE
Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival launched in October 2013 is now an annual celebration held Downtown where people from all walks of life come together and create an experience centered in music, art, taste and ideas. Festival three-day tickets for Sept. 23-25 are: General Admission $285 and VIP $655.
For the first time, the festival has partnered with M Modern Gallery to present a three-day “Crime on Canvas” exhibition inside The Western Hotel and Casino. Ticketholders will have the exclusive opportunity to view and purchase original works and rare prints by more than 80 esteemed local, national and international artists. More than 90 percent of the pieces will be new original works created specifically for the festival and with the theme being dark and eerie.
Another first is the addition of THE KINDHOUSE, offering a daily standup comedy lineup inside Place on 7th.
There will be a newly designed IDEAS Series, featuring live discussions and interactive Q&A sessions with globally-recognized leaders who impact the world through transformation, innovation and passion. Headlining this year’s IDEAS Series is television personality, model, author and drag queen, RuPaul, who will appear on the Troubadour Stage on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. This series will highlight three different daily themes: Self Transformation; Local Transformation: and Global Transformation.
Brittany Rose competed against 15 local bands and won a coveted spot on the Life is Beautiful 2016 entertainment lineup. Rose is a soul and R&B artist who performs with a seven-piece band and she will be joining music legends on the Life is Beautiful stage, including Mumford & Sons, J. Cole, Major Lazer, The Lumineers, G-Eazy, Flume, Jane’s Addiction and dozens more.
CRAFTHAUS BREWERY CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY
CraftHaus Brewery in Henderson will celebrate its second year of craft beer with a Hop Bomb Party on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 5-11 p.m. with three local bands, food trucks and beer. Over the past year, CraftHaus has offered 46 different beers and added 40 barrels or 1,200 gallons to their current 110 barrels of fermentation. Tickets are $25 pre-sale, $32 at the door, $12 designated driver, and $55 VIP with a commemorative 16-ounce glass and six, four-ounce drink tickets.
MOTOR SPEEDWAY HOSTS FAMILY-FRIENDLY ‘350 FEST’
The Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) will host “350 Fest,” which is a free day of activities followed by the DC Solar 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, on Saturday, Oct. 1. Some of the big highlights will include: a kids zone and petting zoo featuring exotic animals; the second LVMS Show & Shine car show to benefit Speedway Children’s Charities; and a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver autograph session. A beer garden, food trucks, pet adoptions by The Animal Foundation, a poker run, raffles, vendor booths, giveaways and entertainment will also be part of the daytime activities, which are free.
Later that evening, the biggest stars of the NASCAR Truck Series will take to the 1.5-mile superspeedway for the 20th running of the DC Solar 350. Children 12 and under will receive free admission to the race with a paying adult.
The LVMS will hold the Red Bull Air Race World Championship Oct. 15-16 and the NHRA Toyota Nationals Oct. 27-30.
In addition, United States Sen. Dean Heller, a former competitor at The Bullring at LVMS, is giving back to his racing roots by sponsoring the Oct. 22 Fall Classic, which will be called the Senator’s Cup Fall Classic.
NEWS ON THE RUN
The Atrium is a high-end multi-brand retail concept that will open at The Venetian and The Palazzo this fall. For Hudson Group, the largest travel retailer in North America operating more 330 specialty retail locations, this will be the first time the company has launched a luxury retail concept in a hotel setting.
Last week, Uber officially launched UberEATS in Las Vegas. The new UberEATS app offers a service that delivers food to your door from local restaurants.
The Yard inside the new Topgolf® will start featuring entertainment. Hip-hop blues trio G. Love & Special Sauce will perform on Wednesday, Sept. 14 with tickets starting at $30. Legendary reggae group The Original Wailers will groove on Friday, Oct. 28 with tickets starting at $20. Both shows begin at 8 p.m.
The Mob Museum downtown opened its newest temporary exhibit “Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs” in the area dedicated to current events in organized crime and law enforcement. The exhibition running until next February explores the small percentage of motorcycle riders engaging in drug and/or firearms trafficking, theft, extortion and other forms of organized crime.
During the month of September, the High Roller is honoring all educators and first responders by offering free admission.
B&B Burger & Beer at The Venetian is opening early at 10 a.m. every Sunday during NFL football season and setting all televisions to the games.
BLUE MAN GROUP HOSTS FIRST DRUM-OFF COMPETITION
Blue Man Group Las Vegas is holding its first Drum-Off competition to find the city’s most talented drummers. Video submissions are now open for both the Drum-Off (ages 13 and over) and the exhibition category (ages 12 and under) at blueman.com/vegasdrumoff. Audition videos must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m. Final round takes place Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at Downtown Container Park with a judging panel including drummer Ronnie Vannucci of The Killers.
Ultimately, one drummer will be crowned the Vegas Drum-Off champion and take home a prize package valued at more than $6,000.
TIM CANTOR ART EXHIBIT AT AFA RUNS THROUGH OCTOBER
Renowned surrealist painter Tim Cantor will be the guest of honor at a public reception from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 to celebrate the exhibition of his new works taking place simultaneously in AFA showrooms in New York and Las Vegas in the Fashion Show. Cantor’s Sweet Favour & Fiend exhibit running through Oct. 31 features original paintings, concept paintings, chiarographs, and limited edition prints on canvas.
This marks Cantor’s inaugural show at AFA and in Las Vegas. His work caught the eye of art aficionado and star of HISTORY’s “Pawn Stars,” Rick Harrison, who, with his partner, Las Vegas art expert Chad Sampson, are excited to introduce Las Vegas to this amazing talent.
Cantor began painting with oil at age 5 and at 15 one of his oil paintings was acquired for the permanent collection of the White House. He is recognized for his work with the popular rock band Imagine Dragons, with whom he has been on tour recently and some members will be at the reception.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Party in The Park on Sept. 13 will begin its weekly outdoor celebration every Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Park, the new outdoor dining and entertainment district steps away from T-Mobile Arena. People are invited to enjoy dancing to live music and $5 shots. Participating restaurants include Beerhaus, Sake Rok and California Pizza Kitchen.
The annual Sunny 106.5 Ice Cream Sunday will again offer free ice cream on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Huckleberry Park in the Providence Master Planned Community. The free event will include many family activities. Attendees are invited to bring new or gently used books for Spread the Word Nevada.
BikeFest, one of the biggest motorcycle events of the year, is welcomed by the Fremont Street Experience with a festive street party, BikeFest RockFest, which is jam-packed with rock ‘n’ roll entertainment, Sept. 29-Oct. 2.
The eighth annual Oktoberfest celebration will be held downtown at Centennial Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 3 to 9 p.m. at 401 S. Fourth St. on the campus of the Historic Fifth Street School. The free public outdoor event with traditional German food, beer, music and dance will have refreshments available for sale.
The family-friendly Pigs for the Kids second fundraiser supporting childhood cancer charities will take place at Craig Ranch Regional Park on Saturday, Sept. 17 from noon to 9 p.m. and feature a spirited barbecue competition, live bands, ice cold beer, wine, and more. General admission tickets are $10 and include one Piggy Buck, children 12 and younger are free, and VIPig Passes are $150.
Triple George Grill and Wine & Canvas will host Cocktails & Canvas for a Cause on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 1-4 p.m. The fundraiser at Triple George Grill downtown will benefit Susan G. Komen Nevada and kick-off Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Tickets are $40 through Wine & Canvas and include painting supplies, instruction, and a glass of pink champagne.
For the first time in more than a decade, “The Moving Wall,” a half-scale replica of Washington D.C.’s well-known Vietnam War Memorial, will make an appearance at Simkins Park in Pahrump, Nev., an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, during the Fall Festival, Sept. 22-25. The festival will include: food offerings, a midway, vendors, live entertainment, amusement rides, a rodeo and a parade on Saturday on Highway 160.
DINING TIDBITS
TREVI Italian Restaurant in The Forum Shops at Caesars will celebrate National Pizza Month in October by offering a Chef’s Featured Pizza changing daily for $10 each from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily throughout the month.
Beerhaus within MGM Resorts’ outdoor entertainment district will transform into Oktoberfest at The Park Sept. 30–Oct. 2 with dancing, eating and partying ala Bavarian fall tradition beginning at 4 p.m. each day. Nightly festivities will kick off with a celebrity keg tapping, followed by live music from The Dummkopfs.
CRUSH at the MGM Grand will celebrate Oktoberfest from Saturday, Sept. 17 through Monday, Oct. 3 by featuring grilled bratwurst and sauerkraut, new potatoes and locally-brewed Sin City Light beer for $16.
Two restaurants are celebrating Mexican Independence Day and National Guacamole Day on Friday, Sept. 16. Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant in Downtown Summerlin will celebrate with a sharable specialty Sweet with Heat Guacamole. Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood with a guacamole trio for $15.95.
Pancho’s will also celebrate National Taco Day on Tuesday, Oct. 4 by offering give guests something to taco ‘bout with $2.50 taco specials from 5-9 p.m.
Beer Park at Paris will recognize National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18 with Beer Park’s Cheeseburger.
Triple George Grill will debut a new special menu celebrating “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical” run at The Smith Center just blocks away from Sept. 20-Oct. 2. A la carte menu selections will be named after King’s music like “I Feel Earth Move” salad and “Oh! Carol” strip steak, etc.
Therapy in the heart of the Fremont East Entertainment District has introduced food and drink specials for football season including: small sexy sliders, fries and draft beer $13; French dip slider and beer $13; chicken-fried popcorn, fries and beer $13; a portobello mushroom slider and soft drink $10; and veggie empanadas with glass of house white wine $13. This specialty menu will also exist during the Life is Beautiful music festival, Sept. 23-25.
Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant in Downtown Summerlin is holding football season viewing parties and a “Tailgate Happy Hour” offered exclusively in the restaurant’s festive cantina from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Sunday for regular NFL games with half-priced select appetizers and drink specials.
The Juice Standard with two local neighborhood locations has introduced new items to its “chewing menu.” Complete with chia seed puddings, salads, toasts, and snacks, the new items like protein-rich toasts feature the same original recipes and organic produce used in its raw, cold-pressed juices
BRIO Tuscan Grille at Tivoli Village is giving away a four-day, Norwegian Cruise Line cruise for two to Baja California, Mexico, courtesy of STAR 107.9 and Prestige Travel & Cruises. You can enter by being a loyalty member and dining-in any time through Oct. 4. See restaurant for details.
NEON MUSEUM HOSTS FALL ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: MIKAYLA WHITMORE
On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Neon Museum North Gallery will be the site of “Surreal Signs,” an art installation and public engagement program presented by Fall Artist in Residence Mikayla Whitmore, who is a Las Vegas native. The free public event will be held in three separate sessions at noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m., but space is limited and reservations are required, call 702-387-6366.
Whitmore’s winning proposal incorporates making a miniature version or surreal diorama of the Las Vegas Strip. During the public workshop, guests will be invited to build miniature signs using simple materials.
