BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Jan. 14, 2018
BY: Jackie Brett
‘SAW ESCAPE EXPERIENCE’ WILL OPEN IN LAS VEGAS
Jason Egan, who founded and operates the Fright Dome at Circus Circus, in partnership with Lionsgate is opening the first immersive horror experience themed for the “Saw” film franchise in a 30,000-square-foot building just off the Strip on Friday, Jan. 26. “The Official Saw Escape Experience” horror attraction will occupy the former Paul-Son Gaming Company’s casino chip factory at 2121 Industrial Road.
Saw films have grossed nearly $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The venue for the new attraction will feature numerous themed rooms where guests will go toe-to-toe with Jigsaw after entering what appears to be an abandoned meat-packing plant. Visitors will need to work together in what’s billed as one of the world’s largest escape attractions in the world featuring traps and puzzles.
VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE AUCTION RETURNS TO SOUTH POINT
Following last year’s record sales, 27th annual Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction this year will feature an estimated 1,750 antique, vintage and collectible motorcycles crossing the auction block Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 23-27 inside the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center and Priefert Pavilion. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car, vintage and antique motorcycle, and Road Art® sales.
Auction bidder registration is available online in advance for $100, or $200 at the auction, and includes admission for two to each auction day. Advance general admission tickets online are $20, and $30 at the door and online once the auction begins. Children 12 years of age and younger are free.
Doors open daily at 8 a.m. with the auction beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and at 9 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 24-27.
ERYKAH BADU RETURNS TO BROOKLYN BOWL
Erykah Badu is returning to Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq Promenade for a third consecutive year on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. Badu had sold out dates at the venue in January 2016 and July 2017, mesmerizing crowds with her emotional connectedness, her spiritual performances and her cultural and political awareness. Her music is often described as a blend of R&B, Hip Hop and jazz. General admission tickets start at $62.50.
ENTERTAINMENT CLIPS
Due to illness, Willie Nelson & Family with Lukas Nelson had to cancel their Jan. 12 and 13 performances, which have been rescheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20.
Actor, writer, producer and musician Adam Sandler will headline The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. with more dates to be announced. Sandler’s films have grossed more than $3 billion worldwide. He is currently in production on the Netflix comedy, “The Week Of,” which co-stars Chris Rock and premieres globally in 2018. Tickets start at $49.
Carlos Santana is starting the year announcing additional 2018 dates to his intimate, live concert experience “An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live” at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Santana returns Jan. 24, 26-28, 31 and Feb. 1-3. Tickets start at $99.50.
Jim Belushi and The Board of Comedy will return to The Laugh Factory at The Tropicana Feb. 17 and 18 at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44.95.
Comedian Lil Duval will headline at The Orleans Showroom on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. His fame exploded after Cedric the Entertainer noticed him on BET’s “ComicView” and took him on tour and featured him on the televised comedy show “Cedric the Entertainer: Starting Lineup.” Duval currently appears on two MTV2 series, “Guy Code” and “Hip Hop Squares.” Tickets start at $30.
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will bring the funk to House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Saturday, March 31 at 8:30 p.m. Recording as both Parliament and Funkadelic, Clinton revolutionized R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk. Tickets start at $29.50.
Starting Jan. 14, Seth Grabel, a 20-year veteran magician and finalist on “America’s Got Talent,” is bringing his sleight-of-hand magic to Tahiti Village every Sunday at 4 p.m. inside the Kahiko room. The family-friendly show provides an hour’s escape.
Platinum-recording jazz artist Najee will headline the Access Showroom at Aliante on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. Najee started his musical career playing the clarinet, saxophone and flute. His big break happened when he was asked to perform with R&B songstress Chaka Khan. His debut album in 1986 had “Najee’s Theme,” which went Platinum and was later nominated for a Grammy Award in 1987. Tickets start at $30.
Aliante’s Sock Hop will bring guests back to the 1950s with free live entertainment and dancing on Tuesdays in January from 5 –9 p.m. Nitekings will bring the doo-wop sounds of Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago and Brooklyn on Jan. 16 and the Kenny Dee Band on Jan. 30 will cover the music of the fifties’ rock-n-roll era, the sixties’ Motown era and the funk era of the seventies.
CHEF ROY CHOI WILL OPEN NEW RESTAURANT AT PARK MGM
Late this fall, Los Angeles culinary legend Roy Choi will debut a Koreatown-inspired concept restaurant within the transformation of Monte Carlo into Park MGM. Choi’s multifaceted, multi-sensory experience soon-to-be-named will be a celebration of L.A.’s Koreatown district featuring immersive spaces that feel comfortable and familiar, while creating an eclectic environment.
Choi is known as the pioneer of the food truck movement and bringing quality cuisine to all neighborhoods. He was named one of the 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine in 2016 and has restaurants across California including Kogi BBQ, Chego!, A-Frame, Commissary, POT and LocoL.
FREED’S BAKERY MAKES KING CAKES FOR MARDI GRAS
Freed’s Bakery featured on Food Network’s show “Vegas Cakes” will be celebrating Fat Tuesday with King Cakes available from Thursday, Feb. 8 until Tuesday, Feb. 13. The Mardi Gras-themed cakes available in three flavors: almond, cinnamon sugar and sweet cheese sprinkled with green, purple, and gold crystal sugar, and topped with festive beads are $26.95 and available for ordering now.
Traditionally King Cakes include a small plastic baby inside to symbolize luck and prosperity in the New Year with the finder of the baby providing the following year’s cake. Customers may choose to add a commemorative plastic baby upon ordering.
DINING ITEMS
Note two famous Las Vegas restaurants closed after dinner this past New Year’s Eve. Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10, which opened in 2007, closed at the Grand Canal Shoppes due to The Palazzo’s remodel of its casino floor. Alizé, which opened at the Palms in 2001, also shut its door due to the resort retooling its lineup of restaurants under new ownership.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer has opened its newest location and first U.S. expansion beyond four New York locations at The Venetian adjacent to the poker room. Patio dining overlooks the resort’s outdoor canals.
The Griddled Chick’n Club, a griddled all-natural cage-free chicken breast with Niman Ranch smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and buttermilk herb mayo on a potato bun, will debut at Shake Shacks nationwide on Jan. 26 including local locations at Downtown Summerlin, The District at Green Valley Ranch, Strip-side at New York-New York, and the newly opened North Premium Outlets.
Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar’s next Taste & Learn will be held Saturday, Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. The evening will include a drawing with someone winning a trip to Italy. To celebrate the menu will feature four selected wines from the regions the winners will visit…Tuscany and Piedmont. Tickets are $65, call 702-364-5300.
Downtown Summerlin’s steakhouse Andiron Steak & Sea will hold a special dinner on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. to explore the tastes of France. The multi-course prix fixe menu, which includes Organic Chicken Coq au vin, is $59 with an optional $25 beverage pairing.
Americana Las Vegas, which opened in November 2016 at 2620 Regatta Drive, Suite 118 in the Desert Shores community by executive chef and owner Stephen Blandino, was named one of the “Top 10 Restaurants in the United States” by Gayot in 2017. Its butler-style brunch is held every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $42 with the option of adding bottomless mimosas or bloody marys for an additional $17 change.
WYNN MASTER CLASSES CONTINUE
Wynn Las Vegas has been arranging a series of behind the scenes workshops led by master chefs, sommeliers, bakers and artisans. The upcoming list of sessions on either Thursday or Friday with Cooking Sinatra Style being the exception on Saturday is fascinating. To register, call 702-770-7070.
The upcoming classes at Wynn include: Florist for a Day Jan. 18 Wynn Floral Studio 10 a.m. ($150); Master Tailgating Jan. 19 Andrea’s at Encore 2 p.m. ($150); Battle of the Pastry Chefs Feb. 9 Lakeside at Wynn 2 p.m. ($125); Seafood Master Class Feb. 23 Costa Di Mare at Wynn noon ($150); Advanced Cake Decorating March 1 Pastry Shop at Wynn 2 p.m. ($195); Master Sake March 16 Mizumi at Wynn 3 p.m. ($150); Mastering Bread Baking March 22 Bread Bakery at Wynn 2 p.m. ($150); Cheese & Wine Master Class March 29 Jardin Patio at Encore 3 p.m. ($150); Cooking Sinatra Style April 21 Sinatra at Encore noon ($175); and Master Grilling & Wine Pairing April 27 SW Steakhouse at Wynn 1 p.m. ($175).
COMEDIENNE SOMMORE WILL VISIT SUNCOAST AND ALIANTE
“Queen of Comedy” Sommore will headline at Aliante in the Access Showroom on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. and the next day Sunday, Jan. 28 in the Suncoast Showroom at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Sommore began her career in 1994 as the first woman to host BET’s “Comic View.” The following year, her fame skyrocketed after hosting Russell Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam” and “Showtime at the Apollo.” That same year, she received the Richard Pryor Award for Comic of the Year. In 2000, Sommore went on to star in the “Queen of Comedy” tour, performing in front of a record-breaking audience of more than 50,000 people in Atlanta, Ga. The movie based on the tour later became the longest-running and highest-rated special in the history of Showtime Networks.
MESQUITE MUSIC FEST SET FOR FEB. 5-7
The Mesquite 2018 Music Fest will feature three stage shows Feb. 5-7 at the CasaBlanca Resort starring Bobby Brooks Wilson, America’s Diamond, and Flower Power Time Machine in Mesquite, Nev. Tickets start at $25 while advanced VIP tickets are $30. A General Admission Super Package for all three shows is $69 if purchased before Feb. 5. A VIP Super Package, which includes one VIP Reserved Table seat for all three shows, is available for $84.
Bobby Brooks Wilson with a full live band will kick off the festival on Feb. 5 with his Tribute to the Motown Years, which celebrates his father and legendary soul rhythm and blues artist, Jackie Wilson.
America’s Diamond is a Tribute to Neil Diamond starring Jay White on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. White has more than 25 years in the business. He’s done 9,000 shows in five countries and made one movie appearance with the real Neil Diamond.
On Wednesday, Feb. 7, Flower Power Time Machine will take you back to the grooviest decade with a full live production of 35 songs from the 60s featuring songs from The Beatles, the Airplane, Janis Joplin, Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf and even from Simon & Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
NINJA WARRIOR HOLDS FITNESS BOOT CAMP AT SILVERTON
Boot Camp, ‘Booch & Brunch will be held inside the Veil Pavilion at the Silverton on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mike Ibasco from Season 9 American Ninja Warrior will lead the 75-minute boot camp class for all fitness levels featuring strength training and cardio. The boot camp class is $20.
‘Booch will be a sampling of Wild Tonic Kombucha and brunch will be at 11:30 a.m. at Mi Casa Grill Cantina. Pairing the morning fitness class and brunch is $40 and includes a swag bag.
JAY CUTLER DESERT CLASSIC WILL RETURN TO THE PALMS
Eclipse Tanning will presents the 2018 Jay Cutler Desert Classic inside The Pearl at the Palms on Saturday, March 31. The NPC national qualifier competition consists of Men and Women’s Body Building, Men and Women’s Classic Physique and Physique, Women’s Figure and Bikini, and Women’s Fitness with participants from around the globe.
Prejudging will begin at 10 a.m. Tickets are $38 all-inclusive for general admission. The finals will take place at 6:30 p.m. with tickets $49.50 and $59.50 for VIP seating. Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler will attend the prejudging and finals.
LAS VEGAS HAS CONSTANT PARADE OF VISITING CELEBRITIES
Celebrities are constantly visiting Las Vegas. Most recently, actor Luke Evans, known for celebrated roles in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Hobbit” franchise, was spotted attending the hit show “Absinthe.”
It was a star-studded night on Jan. 8 at “Michael Jackson ONE” by Cirque du Soleil® at Mandalay Bay when actor Colin Farrell attended the 7 p.m. show and fellow superstar Neil Patrick Harris, in town to debut a new app at CES, visited the 9:30 p.m. performance.
Also in town as a speaker for the CES conference, Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin visited The Venetian experiencing dinner at Chica, craft cocktails at Rosina, and taking photos at The Palazzo’s LOVE art installation with her fiancé Matt Lombardi.
INSANE CLOWN POSSE WILL HOLD JUGGALO DAY WEEKEND
The hardcore hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse will host their Juggalo Day Weekend with The Heckles & Macabre Show at the Fremont Country Club downtown, which is a new state-of-the-art 800-capacity concert venue, on Feb. 16 and 17. Insane Clown Posse is a cartoonish metal/rap band with a vaunted live show featuring open fires, chainsaws, liters of soda dousing the audience, and more emphasis on performance art than music. Other special guests who will include Lyte, Big HooDoo, and Ouija.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. followed by the show beginning at 7 p.m. Two-day admission tickets are $60, and single day $35. The Juggalo Weekend After Party will be hosted at Backstage Bar & Billiards. Two-day After Party admission is $20 and single day $10.
RENAISSANCE HOSTS MULTICULTURAL LUNCHEON & CONFERENCE
David Feldman, Ph.D., will be the keynote speaker presenting at the symposium: “Exploring Behavioral Health Before and At End-Of-Life Care” at the 14th Annual Multicultural Luncheon & Conference on Feb. 23 at the Renaissance Hotel. The conference presented by Nathan Adelson Hospice is scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m., with Continuing Education Units (CEUs) being offered. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Dr. Feldman will present stories of survivors and practical strategies for nurturing post-traumatic growth. He recently completed two decades of research on post-traumatic growth and published his findings in his book, “Supersurvivors.”
Tickets are $35 for the morning session, $75 for the luncheon only, and $120 for the full-day conference. Sponsorships are also available. For tickets, call Stephanie Forbes at 702-938-3910.
ABOUT TOWN NEWS
The Golden Gate downtown celebrated its 112th birthday last weekend on Jan. 13.
The Miss Nevada USA organization crowned the new Miss Nevada USA 2018, 23-year-old Carolina Urrea of Paradise, and Miss Nevada Teen USA 2018, 16-year-old Britney Barnhart of Las Vegas, at the recent pageant hosted at South Point.
Celebrity Cars hosts a weekly car show every Saturday morning from 7-10 a.m. year round at 9600 S. Eastern Ave. in front of Twin Peaks with 300-plus cars on display. While free to attend, proceeds benefit Rotary Club of Las Vegas.
Neighborhood bar Distill in Centennial Hills at 6430 N. Durango Drive will celebrate its first anniversary with a ’80s rock-themed party on Saturday, Jan. 20 beginning at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge for the adults-only party featuring food, drink specials and live entertainment. Guests are encouraged to wear ’80s rock band attire for a chance to win at the costume contest.
