“BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW”
DATE: Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016
BY: Jackie Brett
VEGAS COLUMN
‘RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT’ WILL OPEN AT HARD ROCK HOTEL IN MARCH
The Hard Rock Hotel specifically the 650-seat Vinyl venue may be a really good match this time for “Raiding The Rock Vault,” which opened first at the former Las Vegas Hilton and then spent time at the Tropicana where it closed this year on Aug. 1. The show is really the ultimate rock concert experience and deserves to remain a headlining act in Las Vegas. It will open March 11 and will be performed Saturday to Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $69.
The show tells the story of classic rock from the 1960s to the 1980s and is performed by members of some of the greatest rock bands in history.
‘SPY ESCAPE & EVASION’ SHOW RETURNS TO STRATOSPHERE
Jason Hanson, a former CIA officer, performed his life-saving skills show “Spy Escape & Evasion” at the Stratosphere this year with much success. He is coming back in 2017 beginning Feb. 16 with 75-minute shows weekly Thursday through Saturday at 5 p.m. inside the Stratosphere Theater. Ticket prices start at $25 for general admission and $49 for special VIP seating.
Hanson teaches fascinating life-saving skills to protect yourself and your family from danger. After almost a decade in the CIA, Hanson incorporates his real-world spy safety experience and techniques directly into an entertaining stage show with valuable information. Hanson has been featured on dozens of national and international news outlets and ABC’s reality business show “The Shark Tank.”
Some of the things you can learn include: how to escape duct tape, rope, and zip ties, in five seconds or less; tactical pen self-defense techniques; how to become a human lie detector; and how to protect your identity.
ENGLISH TALENT ILONA HAS FOUR-DAY RESIDENCY AT FREEDOM BEAT
London-based talent ILONA will make it a mini-British invasion when she visits Freedom Beat at the Downtown Grand for four nights, Jan. 5-8. Her visit will set an emphatic tone for 2017 as she prepares to embark on a worldwide tour.
Since beginning her musical career only a few years ago, ILONA has already achieved an amount of success winning awards, jamming with Ed Sheeran, and owning airwaves of radio stations in Great Britain and abroad. Along with her own headlining, ILONA has supported artists as diverse as Passenger, Adam Ant, Paul Rodgers, Willy Mason and Daniel Bedingfield.
FIRST FRIDAY HELPS START THE NEW YEAR
First Friday will “Step into the Future” on Jan. 6 from 5-11 p.m. Some key elements for January’s event will include featured artist Lake Paints creating a live spray paint piece on the Mission Linen Building on the Coolidge Street side. With the future theme, an interactive art project will allow guests to stamp footprints onto a canvas using provided shoes and write their wishes for 2017. ArtWalk will showcase work by emerging Las Vegas artists at booths in the festival area and at the Arts Factory and Art Square, where there are art galleries and studios to visit.
‘LOVE AFFAIR’ CONCERT SET AT ORLEANS ARENA
The Manhattans, Rose Royce, Freddie Jackson and more acts will perform at the Orleans Arena for 105.7 Old School’s “Love Affair” concert on Saturday, Feb. 11. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and tickets start at $30.
Other acts will include: Surface featuring Bernard Jackson; four-time Grammy Award-winning artist Deniece Williams; Bloodstone; Peaches & Herb; Latino band Tierra; and all-female group The Three Degrees.
BOULDER CITY FAMILY WINS ABC’S CHRISTMAS LIGHT COMPETITION
ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” television show national competition in its fourth season was won this month by a local family in Boulder City. Husband and wife Dale Ryan and Dyanah Musgrave have been going all out decorating their house for 13 years and this year’s display took two months to create. The couple won a trophy and $50,000. You can see the house at 1525 5th Street lit up until 9 p.m. nightly.
FAST LANE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
As a reminder, “Steve Wynn’s ShowStoppers” will close on New Year’s Eve and the 80s rock musical “Rock of Ages” will end its run at the RIO on Jan. 1.
Performer Zowie Bowie aka Chris Phillips will rock the VIP party at Caesars Ballroom from 8-10 p.m. and then hurry over to the 3rd Street Stage for the party at the Fremont Street Experience at 11 p.m. on Dec. 31.
The Lon Bronson All-Star Band will start a monthly residence at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center starting March 17 and will appear there on Friday, Jan. 13.
Guitar legend Santana will headline House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, where he has played since 2012, from Jan. 25, 27-29 and Feb. 1-4. Tickets start at $99.50.
Micky Dolenz, who was the drummer for the Monkees, will perform at the Golden Nugget on Friday, Jan. 20.
Actor Louie Anderson, who recently finished filming Season 2 of “Baskets” playing Christine Baskets opposite Zach Galifianakis, is still a rock solid stand-up comedian. He’s appearing for the first time at the Rocks Lounge at the Red Rock Resort on Feb. 17 and 18.
Wow, it’s a blast from the past with The 5th Dimension featuring original member Florence LaRue in concert at The Club inside the Cannery on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. If you don’t remember the five-member group, you can still hear their mega-hit classics on the radio: “Up, Up and Away,” One Less Bell To Answer,” “Stone Soul Picnic,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Last Night I Didn’t Get To Sleep,” and “Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In.” Tickets start at $28.95.
The thoroughly entertaining all-male comic dance troupe, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, will perform at Artemus W. Ham Hall at the UNLV campus on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $75.
Soulful singer, songwriter and producer Clarence Greenwood, also known as Citizen Cope, and his band will perform at Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq Promenade on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 9:30 p.m. Greenwood has toured arenas, clubs and major festivals, opened for Carlos Santana on a 2002 European tour, and was handpicked by Eric Clapton to be a part of Clapton’s “Crossroads Guitar Festival: benefit concert series in 2010. Tickets start at $35.
Multi-talented entertainer Wes Winters will ring in the New Year with his “one-man lounge show,” a variety act built around his acclaimed vocals and piano skills, at Sam’s Town Live! on Saturday, Dec. 31. Guests can enjoy a cocktail, party favors and a midnight toast. Doors open at 10 p.m. and tickets start at 25.
Marriage Can Be Murder at the D downtown is bringing a killer twist to the holiday party season, with the opportunity to dine, socialize and play detective in a jolly game of whodunit where even Santa is suspect. Holiday themed shows are running through Jan. 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the festive holiday decorated showroom. Prices ranging from $85.88 to $119.58 are inclusive with a three-course meal.
THIS AND THAT NEWS
At the Venetian, Chef Daniel Boulud’s contemporary French restaurant db Brasserie will be closing Jan. 8. In its space will go a Latin-influenced restaurant called Chica, which will be open for lunch, dinner and brunch on weekends. Miami-based 50 Eggs founder John Kunkel already has his Yardbird Southern Table & Bar restaurant just down the walkway at the resort.
Beginning Jan. 8, Standard & Pour in Henderson will start an all-new Sunday brunch including mimosas, muffins and Bloody Marys from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday. Also, new hours will be Monday through Saturday for dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. and Monday through Saturday for happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m.
At the Lake Las Vegas Art Galleries – North Gallery in MonteLago Village, the Winter Holiday Juried Art Show featuring pieces from Southern Nevada artists is running through Thursday, Jan. 12 daily from 1–8 p.m. There is no charge to attend, and artwork is available to purchase.
SPRINGS PRESERVE HOSTS 16TH ‘RUN AWAY WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL®’
The novel community event, “Run Away with Cirque du Soleil” will return to the Springs Preserve on March 11 for its 16th annual 5K run and 1-mile fun walk. Pre-registration is now open.
The event wrapped in the magic of Cirque du Soleil, will be interactive and immersive with performers in costume taking over the venue. Participants will be able to take photos with their favorite artists while also enjoying live music, complimentary refreshments from Starbucks and Whole Foods, a circus play area and more. This year, guests are being encouraged to “show off their Cirque spirit,” with a special prize rewarded to those who wear the best Cirque du Soleil-inspired costumes.
In honor of the Springs Preserve’s 10th birthday, there will also be a special performance by students from the Arts Nomades program, a unique learning arts initiative created by Cirque du Soleil to enhance students’ creative capabilities.
On-site registration will open at 7 a.m. and the race will start at 8:30 a.m. followed by live music and a special awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m. For the 5K run, early bird fees are $27 for children ages 3–12 and $37 for adults. Early bird fees for the 1-mile fun walk at $17 for children and $27 for adults. After March 1, the prices will all increase by three dollars.
NEW YEAR’S OUTDOOR CELEBRATIONS
The biggest crowd will be on the Las Vegas Strip staring up to watch the half million dollar fireworks show beginning at midnight and lasting eight minutes and one second. The 80,000 fireworks will be launched from the rooftops of seven Strip resorts going from the MGM Grand to the Stratosphere. The theme this year is Vegas Rocks with music tributes to David Bowie, Prince and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The Strip will be closed off to traffic beginning at 5 p.m. Good news the weather forecast is looking good.
The other large outdoor party will be America’s Party – Downtown at the Fremont Street Experience with fireworks, entertainment and a year-in-review retrospective on the Viva Vision screen and a midnight countdown led by Mayor Carolyn Goodman. The always happening five-block entertainment district features continuous entertainment on three stages and a countdown to midnight. The area is roped off for the party from 6 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., which costs $35-$40 online for entry.
HIGH UP NYE PARTY OPS
If you want to get up high to see the fireworks, there are a few options. Sundance Helicopters is offering a birds-eye view Fireworks Spectacular Tour departing at 11:50 p.m. with champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and limousine service for $399 per person and a total of 72 seats available.
Another up in the air experience is on The High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ Promenade offering a 360-degree view. Visitors can purchase VIP cabins and other packages for that night.
The Las Vegas Monorail is offering a first time party this year from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Third Rail Lounge event venue with an elevated view at the Las Vegas Convention Center. A plus is this party includes unlimited Monorail rides for 24 hours.
The Las Vegas Monorail will remain open around the clock from 7 a.m. New Year’s Eve continuously through New Year’s Day and until 2 a.m. on Jan. 2 for a total of 43 straight hours. The Monorail has seven stations: MGM Grand; Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas; Flamingo/Caesars Palace; Harrah’s/The LINQ; SLS Las Vegas; the Las Vegas Convention Center; and Westgate.
Topgolf behind the MGM Grand opened last spring and it will celebrate with an outdoor Rooftop Party for $75.
STAR STUDDED NEW YEAR’S EVE WEEK LINEUP
Six-time Grammy winner Lady Gaga will appear at the Encore Theater at Wynn for an intimate one-night-only 10 p.m. performance backed by New York City jazzman Brian Newman and his quintet on Dec. 30. She will be showcasing jazz standards. Tickets are $1,000 and $1,500 and the dress code is black-tie.
Bruno Mars will begin his residency on Dec. 30 and 31 at the new Park Theater at Monte Carlo. He’ll also be hosting at the Bank Nightclub at Bellagio after the NYE show.
Elton John will perform his “Million Dollar Piano” show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Dec. 28-Jan. 1.
Returning for a fifth consecutive New Year’s Eve performance, pop-group Maroon 5 will be at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Dec. 30 and 31.
The Cosmopolitan will have two Grammy award winning performers at The Chelsea with The Weeknd on Dec. 30 and Sting on Dec. 31.
Country superstar Luke Bryan will perform his many hits at the MGM Grand on Dec. 30.
Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White will bring laughter to The Mirage on Dec. 29 and 30. He is best known as the cigar smoking, scotch drinking funnyman from the “Blue Collar Comedy” phenomenon.
Four-time Grammy Award winner Lionel Richie will take the stage for his exclusive headlining residency at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood on Dec. 27, 29 and 30.
On Dec. 31 at The Axis, rap group Wu-Tang Clan will ring in 2017 with hip-hop legends RZA, GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna.
Morris Day & The Time will visit the Golden Nugget on Friday, Dec. 30. Day played an essential role in the development of the Twin City dance/club sound of the 1980s. He was a founding member of Prince’s band, the Time in 1981, and remained with the group until 1984 when he launched his solo career.
Power-pop stalwarts Cheap Trick will celebrate at The Foundry closing out the intimate concert hall’s first year at SLS.
Something different will be George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic at Brooklyn Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Major league DJs and music makers will be overseeing celebrations at clubs all around town on Dec. 31. Naming only a few, it’s a real potpourri: Calvin Harris at Omnia; DJ Pauly D at DLVEC (also Dec. 30); DJ Snake at Surrender; Drake at Hakkasan; rapper French Montana and DJ Khaled at TAO; Kendrick Lamar at Drai’s, which has an outdoor rooftop view; Lil Jon at 1 OAK; Ludacris at Light; Steve Aoki at Jewel; and The Weeknd at Marquee.
NEW YEAR’S FESTIVITIES AT LAKE LAS VEGAS
At nearby Lake Las Vegas, a community encompassing a 320-acre private lake, New Year’s Eve will feature two simultaneous 10-minute fireworks shows and a cocktail party cruise on the La Contessa Yacht from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are $30 with a complimentary glass of champagne, hors d’oeuvres, music, party favors and fireworks at midnight.
On New Year’s Day, there will be a fitness challenge lake dip at MonteLago Village. XCELL, a fitness and multi-sport training team, will start the New Year off at noon with a fun fitness challenge. Participants are invited to jump in and out of the private lake and/or swim 100 yards to a buoy and back. Costumes are encouraged and lifeguards along with volunteers will be available for assistance. Bring dry clothes and towels for changing after the dip and enjoy free hot chocolate. Tickets are $10 for XCELL team members and $12 for guests.
DINING OFFERS FOR CES ATTENDEES
La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway at Wynn is inviting attendees of the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with a convention badge to enjoy a four-course prix fixe menu available from Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 5-8. Cost is $59. Call 702-770-7375 for a reservation or go online.
CRUSH at MGM Grand is offering CES attendees a decadent three-course menu, Jan. 5-8. Cost is $75, call 702-891-3222.
HEXX Kitchen + Bar at Paris has an exclusive prix fixe menu Jan. 5-8 starting at $34.95.
Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile Shops will offer breakfast to CES attendees prior to the conference from 8 to 11 a.m.
