BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Dec. 31, 2017
BY: Jackie Brett
WYNONNA JUDD WILL HEADLINE AT THE SMITH CENTER
Country music superstar Wynonna Judd will bring her “Wynonna & The Big Noise” show to Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for a one-night-only performance on Jan. 20. Tickets start at $29.
Wynonna made her industry debut in 1983. Before her successful solo career, she was a duo act called The Judds with her mother. Her latest album in nearly a decade, “Wynonna & The Big Noise,” was released in 2016 and features the songstress with her four-piece band The Big Noise. Wynonna has received more than 60 industry awards with countless chart-topping singles, including 20 No.1 hits such as “No One Else On Earth,” “Why Not Me,” and “Grandpa, (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Ole Days).”
SOUTH POINT WILL HOST DRONE RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
The International Drone Racing Association (IDRA), in partnership with the South Point, will hold its semi-professional world championship, 2017 Challengers Cup Finals, in Exhibit Hall C and D Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19 and 20. Tickets are $20.
After completing a 12-race international series, the race will feature the Top 32 Ranked Pilots in the world, competing head-to-head to win the World Championship and a total purse of $50,000.
UAS/Drone racing is a worldwide sport that utilizes Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology. There are roughly 100 drone competitions in the United States annually and 200 worldwide competitions.
PLAZA PLANS SIX SUPER BINGO TOURNAMENTS IN 2018
Home to the only bingo room in downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza will host six Super Bingo tournaments in 2018, each offering higher jackpots. Tournament dates are: Feb. 11-13, April 8-10, June 3-5, Aug. 5-7, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and Dec. 2-4. Recently, the Plaza revealed a renovated bingo hall on the third floor with new carpet, chairs, and tables, as well as 200 fixed base electronic bingo units and more charging stations and electrical outlets.
The Plaza raised each tournament’s prize amount by $25,000 to $175,000 total with a $25,000 coverall on the first day and $50,000 coverall on the second day. Entry fees remain the same for the 2018 tournaments. The Plaza offers a “bingo only” package for $130 as well as “room-and-bingo” packages that start at $239 for a three-night stay. There is also an open bar during all of the tournament sessions for Super Bingo players.
DISNEY ON ICE SKATES INTO TOWN
Disney On Ice will present “Follow Your Heart” at the Thomas & Mack Center Jan. 11-14. The show is bringing Disney•Pixar’s record-breaking animated feature “Finding Dory” to the ice for the first time in the live Feld Entertainment production. The ice skating extravaganza also features Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out,” Disney’s “Frozen and other beloved Disney stories for seven performances. Tickets start at $15.
INCUBUS RESCHEDULED HARD ROCK SHOW DATES ARE APPROACHING
Multi-platinum alternative rock heavyweight, Incubus, rescheduled show dates presented by X107.5 at The Joint at Hard Rock after postponing their limited engagement in October 2017 following the 1 October tragedy will be Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2 and 3 and again on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31. Tickets start at $50.50.
Frontman Brandon Boyd, an accomplished visual artist, also has a large-scale display of fine art prints on view in front of The Joint doors through 2018.
TENOR JAMES D. GISH PERFORMS IN CONCERT
Described as a modern-day Andrea Bocelli, classical crossover tenor James D. Gish, will make appearances at three Clark County Libraries in January performing songs from his recent album “So in Love.” The album and his concert feature a wide variety of styles, from big-band swing jazz to opera to musical theatre to classic rock, including works by Cole Porter and Elvis Presley.
Gish was born in Las Vegas. He has performed coast-to-coast in a variety of concerts and professional theatre engagements. Some notable roles include: Jack Kelly in Disney’s “Newsies,” Billy Crocker in Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes,” The Toxic Avenger in “The Toxic Avenger,” Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera,” Frankie in “Forever Plaid,” Freddy Eyensford-Hill in “My Fair Lady,” and Lord Farquaad in “Shrek: The Musical.”
Gish’s library dates include: Main Theater in the Clark County Library Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.; Performing Arts Center in the Summerlin library Friday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; and the Auditorium in the Windmill Library Sunday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. All concerts are free and open to the public.
JAZZ FUNK SOUL WILL GROOVE AT THE FOUNDRY AT SLS
Jazz Funk Soul, backed by Grammy-nominated pianist Jeff Lorber and guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., along with saxophonist Everette Harp, will perform at The Foundry inside SLS on Saturday, Feb. 17. Reserved seating tickets start at $39.50.
Composer and producer Lorber has worked with legends such as Dave Koz and Kenny G. Harp’s distinguished ability to blend jazz, R&B, funk, and pop initiated collaborations with household names including Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Anita Baker and Luther Vandross. Jackson Jr. is best known for his hit, “I Came to Play” and has been recognized as a contributing asset to Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” album.
THEORY OF A DEADMAN VISITS HOUSE OF BLUES
Canadian rock group Theory of a Deadman, who made their debut in 2001, will exhibit the dynamic sound of their newest album “Wake Up Call” at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
Theory of a Deadman made a name in the alternative rock genre with their hits “Bad Girlfriend,” “So Happy” and “Lowlife.” The group has toured with mega rock star groups like Mötley Crüe, Shinedown and Black Stone Cherry.
LOS HURACANES DEL NORTE HEADLINE IN PRIMM
Primm, Nev., located 25 minutes south of Las Vegas regularly brings name entertainment to the Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill’s. Mexican Norteño group Los Huracanes del Norte will perform on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $20.
The Garcia brothers founded the group in 1972. Today, Los Huracanes del Norte is one of música norteña’s most influential groups. They have been at the top of the regional Mexican market for more than 40 years. Over the last four decades, the group has released more than 50 albums with their newest being “Alma Bohemia” out in March 2017. The band continues to tour across the United States and Mexico to sold-out crowds.
MOTORCYCLES ON AUCTION AT SOUTH POINT
South Point’s Arena and the Priefert Pavilion will host the Mecum Motorcycle Auction Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 23-27 at 8 a.m. daily. The auction will feature more than 1,700 classic motorcycles. On Saturday, Jan. 27 the iconic Excelsior-Henderson brand will be auctioning off all intellectual property including the ownership of the Excelsior-Henderson brand name, 10 federally registered trademarks, web domains, previous motorcycle frame and engine designs as well as 18 expired patents, which can only be effectively used by the owner of Excelsior-Henderson. General admission tickets at the entrance are $25 per day or $60 for a three-day pass.
MESQUITE MOTOR MANIA WILL RUMBLE THE STREETS IN MESQUITE
The 10th annual Mesquite Motor Mania event will be held in Mesquite, Nev., Friday-Sunday, Jan. 12-14. This three-day event weekend features roaring engines, slow drags, burn out competitions, open header cruises and exhibitions amidst a giveaway of $15,000 in cash and prizes for car show participants. This event attracts more than 900 vehicles and thousands of spectators and will give out more than 260 awards including the Top 150 Vehicles plus specialty awards including dignitary and sponsor picks, Peoples Choice, Participant’s Pick and more. The event is free to the public.
All week long, Sharon & the Chevelles will play a rockin’ tribute to the 50s and 60s inside the Skydome Lounge at CasaBlanca Resort and Marshall Star will rock the Virgin River Lounge with classic and current country, classic rock and originals. On Saturday, Jan. 13, 12-piece band Serpentine Fire will present a tribute show to Earth, Wind & Fire.
DINING TIDBITS
Talk about a short life, Claim Jumper, which was formerly McCormick’s located in Howard Hughes Center for nearly 20 years, again without notice closed last week. Like musical chairs, Claim Jumper was previously in Town Square and suddenly closed in late September and opened a week later in the McCormick’s spot.
Carson Kitchen, known for its urban neighborhood style decor and comfort food, has a new executive chef, Scott Simon. After a four-year stint in Chicago, Chef Simon - brother of the late Kerry Simon – is returning to Sin City to helm the Downtown restaurant. Originally Simon moved to Las Vegas in 2002 and worked for various restaurants such Simon Kitchen and Bar at the Hard Rock, Cathouse at the Luxor and the Simon Restaurant and Lounge at Palms Place. In 2013, he moved back to his Windy City hometown to open Chuck’s: A Kerry Simon Kitchen.
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken (BRFC) with two locations in Las Vegas at the Grand Bazaar on the Strip and Downtown Summerlin has joined forces with top-tier NYC-based influencer, @eatingnyc, to launch The AM->PM in January for $9.25. It is a combination of fried chicken, prosciutto, mortadella, roasted red pepper, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto and sun-dried tomato mayo.
In honor of National Slow Cooking Month, Rí Rá inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Place will be offering three new hearty stews from Monday, Jan. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 28, including: Beef & Guinness, Lamb Stew, and Ballycotton Fish Stew. A single bowl is $15 and a smaller sample flight of all three is $15.
The Habit Burger Grill burger-centric franchise chain will debut its Charburgers to the North Las Vegas community when it opens a fourth standalone Nevada location at 1730 E. Craig Road in January 2018. The first Habit opened in Santa Barbara, Calif, in 1969 and now there are more than 205 restaurants in 11 states.
ENTERTAINMENT NOTES
Colombian pop star Shakira has had to postpone her El Dorado World Tour dates while she rests her strained vocal chords thus her Feb. 10 date in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena has been moved to Sept. 1, 2018.
New York-born DJ and music producing sensation 3LAU, originally scheduled to play Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq Promenade on Saturday, Dec. 30, has moved the show to Saturday, April 7, 2018, due to scheduling conflicts.
After two sold out performances last year, British R&B star and legendary composer and singer Van Morrison will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for three additional nights in 2018: Wednesday, Jan. 31, plus Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. Ticket range is $59.50 to $250.
The Righteous Brothers featuring Bill Medley with Bucky Heard at Harrah’s will go dark with their show Jan. 1-29.
“CIRCUS 1903 – The Golden Age of Circus” will end its run at the Paris Theater on Jan. 7.
Celebrated bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and comedian Paul Shaffer along with his talented full band, The Shāf-Shifters, are finishing up an exclusive three-week engagement on Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace. Remaining dates are Jan. 4, 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $49.
Ricky Nelson’s sons, identical twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, carry on their father’s musical tradition with their show “Ricky Nelson Remembered,” which they’re performing Friday-Sunday, Jan. 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. in the South Point Showroom. Tickets start at $20.
Capitol Steps will appear at the South Point Showroom Jan. 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. This very funny traveling theatrical group performs a show revolving around political satire and mocking our U.S. democracy with a sharp satirical twist. Tickets are $35.
Broadway in the H.O.O.D continues with the third installment of its “Resilience Personified” season at The Smith Center with the Las Vegas premiere of Lorraine Hansberry’s classic Tony Award®-winning masterpiece, “A Raisin in the Sun,” Jan. 12-14 in the Troesh Theatre. The play’s debut coincides with Dr. Martin Luther King weekend. Tickets are $30.
‘MY FAVORITE MURDER LIVE’ PODCAST WILL BROADCAST FROM RED ROCK
Record-breaking true crime podcast “My Favorite Murder Live,” hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, will broadcast from the Red Rock Ballroom inside Red Rock on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. They’ve attracted an enthusiastic, interactive “Murderino” fan base. Aside from being avid true crime enthusiasts, Karen Kilgariff is a stand-up comedian and television writer and Georgia Hardstark is a writer and host for the Cooking Channel. Tickets start at $39.
DATE SET FOR SIXTH ANNUAL ‘ONE NIGHT FOR ONE DROP’
Imagined by Cirque du Soleil® founder Guy Laliberté, “One Night for One Drop” is an extraordinary, one-night-only philanthropic event created to benefit safe water access programs around the world. This year’s production on Friday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Michael Jackson ONE Theatre at Mandalay Bay is inspired by the life of Grammy®-nominated singer-songwriter Jewel. The production takes the audience through significant events and makes them relatable by constructing them around popular themes such as family, love, betrayal and the courage to forgive, all while featuring breathtaking performers from Cirque du Soleil and lightening it up with a variety of comedic elements. Proceeds from the event will benefit One Drop’s global water efforts, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Las Vegas community
QUICKIE NEWS CLIPS
South Point will host the Las Vegas Women’s Day Out Expo on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is designed for women of all ages, featuring a variety of fashion, beauty, home décor, family management, lifestyle and health with exhibits showcasing feminine-based products and services. There will be performances by Frank Marino’s “Divas” and Thunder From Down Under. The event is free and open to the public.
The Miss Nevada USA pageant will take place at the South Point Showroom on Sunday, Jan. 7. Tickets are $25 for the 2 p.m. preliminary round and $55 for the finals at 7 p.m. Women from Nevada will compete to move on to the Miss America 2018 pageant.
The South Point Arena welcomes thousands of BMX racers for the USA BMX Silver Dollar National Presidents Cup Series. Gates open Friday, Jan. 12 at 9 a.m. and the series concludes Sunday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
The Mesquite Hot Air Balloon Festival will take place in Mesquite, Nev., at the CasaBlanca Friday-Sunday, Jan. 26-28. Hot air balloon launches will take place each morning to impressive night glows. The event is free to the public.
The 9th annual Paint the Town will return on Friday, Jan. 19 from 6-10 p.m. at the Zappos Headquarters downtown to benefit Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s (AFAN) client service programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Paint the Town is a one evening only “pop up” fine art exhibit where guests enjoy complimentary refreshments provided by Back Bar USA and appetizers. Tickets are $25 on eventbrite.com and $30 at the door.
STARGAZING EVENT AT NEON BONEYARD
“Stars and Stardust: Sidewalk Astronomy in the Neon Boneyard” will return to the Neon Museum on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. This family event offers an evening of stargazing beginning with dimming the illuminate Neon Boneyard lights to afford a clearer view of the stars. Participants in the astronomy event will be able to use a variety of professional telescope equipment to observe the night sky. Children will have an opportunity to play a self-paced solar system scavenger hunt activity and make space-themed scratchboard art. Admission is free and no registration is required.
FIRST FRIDAY STARTS OFF 2018 WITH COMMITMENT
Starting off the New Year, the First Friday theme for Jan. 5 is “Commitment.” Featured artists are LaRon Emcee and multimedia/graffiti artist AROSE 1 who will be displaying and collaborating on a painting Live at First Friday. For Kids Zone in January, the Girl Scouts of America will be bringing a planetarium and several other interactive activities will all be geared towards steam. Hours are 5-11 p.m.
FIRST COUPLE MARRIED AT GLITTERING LIGHTS
Kristi and Adam Nolan of Billings, Mont., who love Las Vegas and Christmas lights, got married under the holiday globe of lights on Dec. 25 at the seasonal Glittering Lights display at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which remains open through Jan. 7. The couple was married by ordained minister and co-founder of Sin City Church, Jayne Post outfitted in her character D.D., the hostess of the “Marriage Can Be Murder” show at the D downtown.
