BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Oct. 29, 2017
BY: Jackie Brett
MAJOR SERIES OF PUTTING (MSOP) LANDS IN VEGAS
Golfers have the opportunity through Sunday, Nov. 5 to test their skills with a putter at the Major Series of Putting (MSOP). Folks compete for high-stakes on the MSOP Stadium Course, an amazing temporary pristine 18-hole putting course designed by world-leading Nicklaus Design firm surrounded by grandstand seating and live leaderboards. Pros, amateurs, men and women alike can enter the MSOP Championship putting tournaments by paying an entry fee. The stadium is located at 202 Audrie Street, which is adjacent to Miracle Mile Shops and Planet Hollywood.
GIADA WILL OPEN A SECOND LAS VEGAS RESTAURANT
Celebrity chef and Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis, who has a namesake fine-dining eatery in The Cromwell, will open her second Strip restaurant, Pronto by Giada, across the street at Caesars Palace adjacent to the Bucchanal Buffet in late January. The décor will feature refreshing natural elements with pops of color in tiles.
Pronto by Giada will offer the chef’s signature Italian fare in a fast casual manner for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With this move, Giada in The Cromwell will suspend breakfast and lunch service but keep the weekend brunch.
MAGICIAN DIRK ARTHUR RETURNS TO WESTGATE
Master magician Dirk Arthur will open a new version of his “Dirk Arthur Wild Magic” show at the Westgate Cabaret on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Arthur’s show with illusions, sleight of hand, and rare exotic cats will be performed Wednesday-Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $29.
CAESARS PALACE COMPLETES PALACE TOWER RENOVATION
Caesars Palace has completed the $100 million renovation of its Palace Tower, the resort’s largest tower, featuring 1,181 stylishly designed guest rooms and suites in cool grey tones accented by royal blue and champagne gold. The coveted 29th floor features 10 luxurious new villas with exquisite finishes and furnishings, the finest design details, plus a curated art program. Pricing for Palace Tower villas start at $3,109 per night.
EXCALIBUR WILL LAUNCH ‘ULTIMATE 4-D EXPERIENCE®’ ATTRACTION
Opening Nov. 2, Excalibur is adding the Ultimate 4-D Experience® to its Fun Dungeon entertainment portfolio. The 72-seat special effects theater is created by SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment, the market leader in cinematic attractions specializing in 4-D Theaters.
The Ultimate 4-D Experience® will open with three 15-minute film shows created in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The initial lineup putting guests in the middle of the action will include: San Andreas; Journey 2; The Mysterious Island; and The LEGO® Movie™, a custom-made animated film taking place in the world of The LEGO® Movie™.
The Ultimate 4-D Experience® will be open daily from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Shows will run every 20 minutes, with each experience playing once an hour. Guests can see one show for $9.99, two shows for $12.99, or three shows for $14.99.
ESPORTS FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN GRAND HOLDS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Downtown Grand is hosting a one-of-a-kind Viewing Party for the League of Legends World Championships Final Match on Saturday, Nov. 4 beginning at 4 p.m. in the resort’s dedicated Esports venue, The Commissary. Wagering on the finals is only available at this resort and must be placed by midnight on Nov. 3.
Once the action gets underway, guests can watch and play League of Legends with like-minded fans while enjoying food and drink specials including $1 PBR and $5 Burger + Side, along with games and raffles during the free, immersive viewing party of the finale of the world’s biggest Esports league.
The Commissary, a dedicated game lounge, has operated nearly 200 Esports tournament with more than $200,000 in cash and prizes won by competitive gamers.
Unique to the Downtown Grand is the Esports Boot Camp Room and Gamer Suites equipped with bunk beds so the whole team can stay together
TEAM USA CULINARY COMPETITION RETURNS TO THE VENETIAN
On Thursday Nov. 9, The Venetian, in partnership with ment’or BKB Foundation, will again host the prestigious food competition, the Team USA National Selection for the 2019 Bocuse d’Or. At the event in The Palazzo Ballroom from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., one team will be chosen to represent the United States at the 2019 Bocuse d’Or biennial competition in Lyon, France, with the awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Tickets are $50 and $75, which includes a copy of “Chasing Bocuse” by the 2015 Team USA Bocuse d’Or silver medalist, Chef Philip Tessier.
Afterwards, festivities will continue at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in The Venetian from 7:30-9:30 p.m. with Chef Keller hosting. The exclusive evening with live music will feature extraordinary cuisine and wine pairings throughout the restaurant and outside on the terrace. Tickets are $225 online.
MISS UNIVERSE® PAGEANT WILL TELEVISE LIVE AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
The 66th Miss Universe® will take place in The AXIS at Planet Hollywood on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. PT and air live on FOX. Contestants from nearly 100 counties will vie for the title competing in Swimsuit, Evening Gown and Final Question. Emmy® award winner Steve Harvey will host the three-hour special. Tickets start at $31, visit Ticketmaster.
WOLFGANG PUCK BAR & GRILL HOLDS SOMMELIER SMACKDOWN
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill will bring Sommelier Smackdown back to Downtown Summerlin for a three-part wine competition beginning Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The restaurant will match up the industry’s top sommeliers from Las Vegas restaurants to go head-to-head with their expert wine selections paired with a coursed menu by Executive Chef Spencer Rudow.
The competing somms fate is left up to the guests who will vote round-by-round and choose their favorite wine pairing per course. The winning sommeliers of Round 1 and 2, which will be Tuesday, Dec. 5, will be invited back Wednesday, Jan. 17 to compete in The Main Event for a chance to win ultimate bragging rights and the coveted championship belt.
Early-bird tickets are $65 for one event and the three-event pass is $195, call 702-202-6300.
EVENT CENTER ENCLAVE HOLDS GRAND OPENING
Enclave, a three-story 75,000-square-foot multi-purpose special events venue at 5810 S. Eastern Ave., held its grand opening/ribbon cutting mid-October by throwing a big party. The 5,000-square-foot, panoramic rooftop deck has a breathtaking view of the Strip and valley. The free-standing location with parking is available for weddings, product launches, press conferences, conventions and more.
DOWNTOWN GRAND LAUNCHES ‘CITY SOUNDTRACKS’
Freedom Beat at the Downtown Grand and Gibson are taking the musical reigns and launching a new live music series: City Soundtracks Presented by Gibson.
Freedom Beat will celebrate the musical landscape with live music sessions featuring the sonic movements of a different city. The series begins with a free two-night event on Nov. 9-10 from 7-10 p.m. focusing on Seattle, where the grunge and alternative rock waves began on the amps of such legendary bands as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and of course, Nirvana.
The live music event will host three main stage performers along with a slew of guest performers, with each possessing a unique talent specific to Seattle’s featured artists.
EMERGE IMPACT + MUSIC CONFERENCE CHANGES COURSE
The inaugural Emerge Music + Impact Conference committed to addressing social issues through new music and thought is adjusting its previously-announced schedule. The three-day event in November is being moved to April 6-8, 2018, and current ticket holders will be refunded and can re-purchase at a later date. Meanwhile, the original event will refocus to become a one-day concert in partnership with Brooklyn Bowl with proceeds benefitting victims of the Las Vegas shooting and their families. Details and programming will be announced soon.
CONTENTO PIZZERIA AND BAR OPENS AT JERRY’S NUGGET
The new restaurant Contento Pizzeria and Bar is open now inside Jerry’s Nugget Casino in North Las Vegas. The Italian restaurant includes an open-concept dining room, lounge and bar dressed in classic décor, and an adjacent Contento To-Go bistro for takeout Paninis, gourmet coffee, desserts, which are made from scratch, and more.
In addition, there is an extensive wine list with a selection of 50 wines under $100. All wine bottles on the wine list are 50 percent off all day on Mondays when dining in. Contento has its own wine shop where guests may purchase wine bottles to take home at half off the retail price. Happy Hour Specials are available Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to closing.
L MAKEUP INSTITUTE OPENS NEW RETAIL COSMETICS STORE
L Makeup Institute has opened an expansive retail location at Tivoli Village providing the public with services including makeup application, group makeup lessons and a retail area stocked with more than 40 professional cosmetics brands. Las Vegas native and makeup artist Lissette Waugh founded L Makeup Institute, the city’s only accredited school offering a full curriculum in makeup artistry and special makeup effects.
Services start at $15 for false eyelash application and $55 for full face makeup applications, with additional offerings including fantasy makeup which includes glitter, rhinestones and lashes, bridal party makeup, special effects application for Halloween and more.
The 2,000-square-foot retail space includes numerous different styles of false eyelashes, a glitter bar with 15 cosmetic grade glitters, skincare lines, and a full offering of tools.
‘VEGAS CAKES’ WILL FEATURE FREED’S BAKERY
Freed’s Bakery is a third-generation family business in Las Vegas since 1959. The legendary bakery, consistently named the best bakery in Las Vegas, will debut its new “Vegas Cakes” reality show on the Food Network Sunday, Nov. 5 at 10 p.m. Ten episodes were filmed.
The program will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look inside the bakery and shed a positive light on the Las Vegas Valley community. Audiences will see new techniques never used before and the making of over-the-top cakes.
ABOUT TOWN NEWS
Golden Entertainment Inc. completed its previously announced acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC, which includes the Stratosphere, both Arizona Charlie’s on Decatur and Boulder Highway, and the Aquarius in Laughlin, for $850 million.
Silver State beer was launched last Friday in celebration of Nevada Day. Nevada is referred to as the Silver State. This bold, tenacious blonde ale is brewed in Henderson, Nev., by CraftHaus Brewery. Silver State is available year around in 12-ounce, six pack cans as well as on draft and distributed in Clark County through Bonanza Beverage.
Founder Diana Edelman has launched “Vegans, Baby,” the only comprehensive guide to vegan dining and lifestyle in Las Vegas. It offers the Las Vegas vegan community an interactive database with options for dining, shopping, saving and thriving in the cruelty-free life culture.
UNTUCKit, a leading direct-to-consumer apparel brand, opened its first Nevada location at the Fashion Show mall. UNTUCKit the online retailer turned brick-and-mortar specializing in button-downs specifically tailored to be left untucked and fall to the perfect length for both men and women.
During the week of Nov. 5-11, a portion of the proceeds from “Defending the Caveman” tickets purchased with promo code “HEARTSALIVE” will be donated to Hearts Alive Village Las Vegas, a nonprofit local animal rescue. The hilarious show starring Kevin Burke is at the D Las Vegas with performances at 8:40 p.m.
Safety note…work has started on the installation of 700 steel posts between streets and sidewalks along the Las Vegas Strip. The bollards are designed to protect pedestrians from vehicles and will be strong enough to stop a flatbed truck traveling at 55 mph.
The Las Vegas Monorail Company has a new partnership with rideshare provider Lyft. Anyone who purchases a full-price, unlimited-ride pass on the Monorail will receive $5 off Lyft rides issued through a special code.
DINING – BEVERAGE TIDBITS
Locally-owned Nacho Daddy will introduce two “Nacho Flights” as a one-day-only special on Monday, Nov. 6 to celebrate National Nacho Day. At all three locations –– Downtown, Miracle Mile Shops, and Summerlin, guests can choose one flight. In addition, all three restaurants will celebrate Dia de los Muertos on Thursday, Nov. 2 with $5 shots of Don Julio tequila.
Shake Shack is rolling out a chili cheese-themed menu for burgers, dogs and fries. For a limited time, you can chili three ways at the stand-alone Southern Nevada locations: The District at Green Valley Ranch; Downtown Summerlin; and New York-New York. The chili-themed menu will debut as a Shack App exclusive starting Monday, Oct. 30 and become available for in-Shack ordering on Thursday, Nov. 2.
Double Helix Wine & Whiskey Lounge at Town Square presents its Whiskey of the Month promotion, spotlighting specially priced premium spirits for a limited time. November is featuring Whistlepig 12-year Rye Private Barrel Whiskey - $18/shot and $9/shot during happy hour. In December, the promotion will be Jefferson’s Reserve Private Barrel Whiskey - $12/shot and $6/shot during happy hour.
SLS Las Vegas, the official sponsor of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon 5k, will offer racers with their wristband exclusive dining discounts and a three-course carb menu at Northside Café & Chinese Kitchen Friday-Sunday, Nov. 10-12.
MOB MUSEUM NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Upcoming creative programming at The Mob Museum leads off Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. with Nick Sacco and Daniel Simone giving inside details of how eight gentlemen thieves orchestrated the largest jewel heist in history. Simone, narrative nonfiction author of “The Pierre Hotel Affair,” and Nick “The Cat” Sacco, who was involved in the Pierre Hotel heist, will discuss this epic event and follow with a Q&A session. Afterwards, Simone will be available for a book signing.
As part of The Wiseguy Speaker Series on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., Myron Sugerman, author of “The Last Jewish Gangster,” will discuss how the histories of the Mob and Jewish people in America are intertwined. Surprising topics to be covered include how the Mob fought the American Nazi Party in the 1930s and how it cooperated with the U.S. Department of Navy Intelligence and provided security for New York piers during World War II.
Kefauver Day will be celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m-10 p.m. and commemorates the Kefauver Committee hearing, which took place in the Museum’s courthouse in 1950. Named after Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, the Kefauver hearings were pivotal in the national fight against organized crime. This event is sponsored by Zappos.com and is free for Nevada residents, while non-Nevada residents will receive a buy-one-get-one ticket.
Most events are free for Museum members or with Museum admission.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Families can celebrate Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) on Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Sammy Davis, Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park from 5-9 p.m. This event is when Mexican and Latin American cultures honor the memory of family and friends who have passed away. The fun and immersive atmosphere will feature entertainment, interactive children’s activities, artisan vendors, refreshments for purchase, face-painting, special décor and an exhibition of alters created by community organizations and groups.
The theme for the monthly First Friday event held Downtown on Nov. 3 is “Welcome to the Jungle” celebrating and helping our diverse communities. Hours are 5-11 p.m.
Cannot believe it’s time already for the Ethel M Chocolates’ 24th annual Holiday Cactus Lighting on Nov. 7 when one million lights will be illuminated for the holiday season. New this year is an ice skating rink available all winter long.
The Distinguished Lecture Series at the National Atomic Testing Museum will feature multi-disciplinary scientist and TV host Ben McGee on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. His talk is “Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative – A Star Wars Story,” which is a talk on the intriguing crossover between science fiction and science fact in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), or “Star Wars” program, of the 1980s. Cost is $5 for non-members of the museum.
After postponing due to the Route 91 Harvest Festival Oct. 1 tragedy, Easeterseals Nevada rescheduled the seventh annual “Cheers to Chocolate” for Saturday, Nov.11 from 7-10 p.m. at The District at Green Valley Ranch. Event goers savor different wines, chocolate by Ethel M Chocolate Factory, and dishes from notable vendors.
