BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Feb. 11, 2018
BY: Jackie Brett
GREAT VEGAS FESTIVAL OF BEER RETURNS IN APRIL DOWNTOWN
The eighth annual Great Vegas Festival of Beer will return for two days downtown on Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7, and will coincide with National Beer Day. The experiential event, produced by Motley Brews, anticipates more than 500 beers and 10,000 attendees throughout both days, which will make it Nevada’s largest craft beer festival again.
The weekend will start with the return of the Mad Craft Experience, which was added last year, from 7-10 p.m. on April 6, with culinary competitions and select beer tastings from notable breweries. Tickets start at $55.
The Grand Tasting will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on April 7, with early entry at 2 p.m., and will offer more than 500 craft beers from more than 120 local, regional, national and international breweries, along with beer-inspired and infused cuisine from some local top chefs. Tickets start at $40 and include a tasting glass, unlimited beer samples, entertainment options including a silent disco, BrewLogic seminars and more. Early admission tickets are at $50.
VIP tickets to the Grand Tasting are $90 and limited. They include early 2 p.m. entry and access to the VIP Brewers Lounge with a rotating tap of limited release and rare beers, a decadent spread of top-notch cuisine, lounge area and more. All tickets, which are plus fees, are available for purchase now online.
Motley Brews will host a Beer and Sear craft beer and culinary “beerunch” at Searsucker Las Vegas inside Caesars Palace from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 specifically for festival VIP ticket holders.
The local nonprofits benefiting from a portion of the proceeds this year will include The Folded Flag Foundation, Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, Goodie Two Shoes Foundation and Nevada Craft Brewers Association.
38 SPECIAL WILL PERFORM AT RACEJAM DOWNTOWN
Fremont Street Experience, the five-block entertainment district downtown, will celebrate NASCAR Weekend with free, non-stop live entertainment and a performance by 38 Special on Saturday, March 3 at 9 p.m. on the 3rd Street Stage. Since 1976, the southern rock band has released more than 15 albums and timeless hits including “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You” and “Fantasy Girl.” The 15th annual RaceJam celebration is open to fans of all ages with no charge for admission.
OPPORTUNITY TO HIKE AN EXTRA TALL BUILDING
Registration online is underway for team and individual participation in the 10th annual Scale the Strat Las Vegas climbing event sponsored by the American Lung Association. For the first time, firefighters are welcome to climb in full gear. It’s 108 floors and 1,455 steps from the casino to the top of the Stratosphere tower. The event will begin at 7 a.m. Feb. 25.
Scale the Strat - Las Vegas Fight For Air Climb is a fundraiser for the American Lung Association. The Stratosphere offers a special discount room rate for all climbers/participants on climb weekend. Use discount code ALA18 to get 35 percent off.
WRECK ROOM OPENS DESTRUCTION EXPERIENCE
A new rage room destruction experience opened in Las Vegas called Wreck Room offering guests a 30-minute “smashing good time” in a controlled hassle-free environment. Wreck Room has four separate rooms available for gatherings of one to six participants. Items to be pulverized are provided along with full suit, face mask, gloves and bootie protection and a wrecking weapon. Participants must be 18 years or older, provide identification, wear closed toe shoes, and sign a waiver.
Operating hours are daily from 2 to 10 p.m. Standard packages start from: $35 single packages; $75 double packages; and group of six $165. Custom Wreck sessions are available.
Wreck Room is in Chinatown at 4090 Schiff Drive. Bookings can be made by calling 702-405-6408, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or online.
ROLLER COASTER AT NEW YORK-NEW YORK ADDS VIRTUAL REALITY
At New York-New York, the 21-year-old Big Apple Roller Coaster ride has been modernized with a new 3½-minute Virtual Reality Experience. Riders can now choose to wear wireless virtual reality headsets, which transport them via immersive 3D graphics (in 4K resolution) through a remarkably synchronized virtual experience. The Big Apple coaster trains and track are equipped with sensors synchronizing the visuals with the ride to reduce the chances of motion sickness while wearing the headset. The Big Apple Virtual Reality Experience costs $20, while a regular ride is still available at $15.
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR ANNUAL VEGAS UNCORK’D BY BON APPÉTIT
The upscale food, wine and spirits festival, Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit will return May 10–13 with another extraordinary lineup of world-renowned chefs, master sommeliers and cutting-edge mixologists from Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan, The Cromwell, MGM Resorts International, The Venetian and The Palazzo. The 12th annual epicurean affair will feature fan favorites, such as Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, Guy Savoy, Julian Serrano, Lorena Garcia, Masaharu Morimoto, Michael Mina, Nobu Matsuhisa, Stephen Hopcraft and more. Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits of Nevada will return as the official distributor. Tickets are on sale now.
COUNTRY MUSIC ARTISTS PERFORM AT STONEY’S ON FRIDAYS
Las Vegas may not be Nashville, but the country sound prevails at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country on Friday nights with headliners performing 10 p.m. shows. Tickets are $15 to $120.
Jackson Michelson will be center stage Feb. 16. Raised in Corvallis, Ore., Michelson kicked off his country career on the West Coast, carving out a sound blending the rootsy twang of the American South with the sunny, feel-good spirit of the Pacific Coast. His single is “Rollin.”
Nashville singer-songwriter-musician Cody Webb with albums “I Ain’t No Quitter” and “SALT” is next on Feb. 23. Josh Gracin on March 2 first gained fame as the fourth-place contestant in the 2003 edition of “American Idol.” At the time he was on the show, he was also a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps.
Most recently announced is Austin Burke on March 9. He’s the first independent artist in Spotify's history to have two singles simultaneously playlisted on Spotify’s big three country playlists – Hot Country, Wild Country, and New Boots. His debut single “Sleepin’ Around” has more than 6.7 million streams on Spotify and new single “Whole Lot in Love” more than 7.5 million streams.
MIGOS JOINS EXCLUSIVE 2018 DRAI’S LIVE RESIDENCY ROSTER
Hip-hop trio Migos with Quavo, Offset and Takeoff is returning to Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub atop The Cromwell for an exclusive 2018 Drai’s live residency following a colossal year with multiple sold-out Drai’s performances, four Billboard Top-10 hits, a No. 1 album and more. Fans can catch the power group all year long, including March 16, June 8, July 20 and Sept. 2.
Other Drai’s LIVE resident artists include Chris Brown, Future, 50 Cent, Trey Songz, Ty Dolla $ign, and Wiz Khalifa.
WESTGATE’S OUTDOOR SIGN GETS DIGITAL UPGRADE
The world’s largest free-standing outdoor sign at Westgate standing 28-stories tall on Paradise Road has received a major digital upgrade in partnership with New Tradition. The updated sign’s state-of-the-art LED video displays cover a combined 15,000 square feet, with 16 mm LED display areas of nearly 5,600,000 pixels, which is larger than the Dallas Cowboys’ famous stadium video displays.
REVIV IV WELLNESS SPA WILL OPEN AT THE COSMOPOLITAN
REVIV IV Wellness Spa, a leading global wellness provider of signature IV therapies and booster shots, will open at The Cosmopolitan in early spring 2018 and be the third Las Vegas location. It will be available to hotel guests and locals to receive world-class IV wellness therapy. REVIV will also feature signature amenities of the IV wellness lounge including full body massage chairs, private and group treatment areas complete with televisions and iPads, views of the Strip, aroma therapy and beverages. Treatments will be available in either a private treatment room onsite or in-room for guests staying at The Cosmopolitan.
QUEEN BEE MARKET IS TWO-DAY SPRING EXPO
Queen Bee Market will hold a two-day market in Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10 at The Conference Center of Las Vegas, 6590 Bermuda Road. The urban-style handmade market features more than 70 vendors who make their products by hand. This will be the 23rd Queen Bee Market since its creation in 2010, and the second one in Las Vegas. Tickets are $5 at the door. Children 12 and younger and military with ID receive free entry.
Ahead of the expo, Queen Bee Market will host a Craft Night at The Conference Center of Las Vegas from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 8. The Craft Night will feature food, drinks, giveaways, swag bags and three take-home crafts led by celebrity guest crafter Amy Tangerine. Tickets are $85 online.
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT PROPERTIES ROLL OUT VIRTUAL CONCIERGE
Caesars Entertainment properties in Las Vegas are introducing Ivy™, a 24-hour virtual concierge service. Created by Go Moment®, Ivy is the world’s first automated guest engagement platform for hotels powered by IBM Watson. Ivy is now live in more than 6,000 rooms within Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas Resorts, making it the first major gaming company in Las Vegas to offer a widespread guest text messaging program with built-in artificial intelligence. Caesars Palace and The LINQ are the latest resorts introducing Ivy, which is expected to expand to Planet Hollywood in February with planned rollouts to the remaining Las Vegas resorts in 2018.
ALL IN AVIATION FEATURES CIRRUS AIRCRAFT
All In Aviation is a full-service company specializing in Cirrus aircraft flight training, rental and sales. With five Cirrus planes at North Las Vegas Airport, this is the only Cirrus Aircraft Platinum partner and training center in Southern Nevada. These amazing airplanes have the only whole airframe parachute system. All In Aviation, in partnership with Lone Mountain Aviation, have plans to break ground on a 24-hangar expansion at Henderson Executive Airport later this spring.
ENTERTAINMENT CLIPS
Yet another superstar announces he will be retiring from touring. Paul Simon, 76, will stop in three years. Tickets for his “Homeward Bound — The Farewell Tour,” which includes a show in Las Vegas on May 27 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, are on sale.
ZZ TOP has a limited engagement coming up at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian at 8 p.m. on April 20, 21, 25, 27 and 28. Tickets range from $59 to $299.
Pink has set a second date at T-Mobile Arena. She’ll be appearing there on May 25 and 26.
Portugal. The Man will appear at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan on Friday, April 13 at 8 p.m. Since releasing its first record in 2006, Portugal. The Man has become a household name releasing eight albums, four EPs, and 11 singles, such as the latest “Feel it Still.” Tickets are $28 and reserved seats start at $55.
Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Beth Hart will support her latest studio album, “Fire On The Floor,” with a performance at House of Blues Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $30.
Platinum-selling group Walk Off The Earth will bring its first U.S. tour in three years to the House of Blues Las Vegas on Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50.
Soulful singer Lonnie Counts with the Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns is starring in “The Greatest R&B Songs Ever Written” on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Starbright Theatre. Tickets are $20.
CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AROUND TOWN
Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning singer-songwriter David Tao will headline The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. in celebration of Chinese New Year. Ticket range is $48 to $228.
The Orleans is holding a celebratory Chinese New Year Gala on Feb. 21 from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Tickets start at $35.
There’s a good chance you may run into a traditional lion dance winding through resorts starting Feb. 16 to honor the Chinese New Year and Year of the Dog. On Friday, Feb. 16 you can experience the tradition at the following: Cromwell 2 p.m.; Flamingo, Venetian, Palazzo 3 p.m.; Harrah’s 3:45 p.m.; LINQ lobby 5 p.m.; LINQ Promenade 6 p.m. Feb. 16-19; and Fashion Show 6 p.m. On Feb. 17: Downtown Container Park 11 a.m.; Planet Hollywood noon; Paris 1 p.m.; Bally’s 2 p.m.; and Tropicana at 6 p.m.
The Suncoast will hold a dance through the casino with three lions, one dragon, four musicians, two buddhas and Grandmaster Steve (Dashi) on Wednesday, Feb. 21 beginning at 2:45 p.m.
The Gold Coast will host its annual Lion’s Dance parade throughout the casino floor with several dragons on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
There are fabulous displays around town celebrating the Year of the Dog and worth seeing. The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens display through March 3 has an 18-foot Siberian Husky. The Atrium at Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian has a 16-foot-tall Shar-Pei. On Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. a traditional fan dance will take place there at 4 p.m. along with passing out 250 envelopes with prizes.
The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace has some special touches starting with a 22-foot-long, six-foot-wide and 12-foot-high dragon welcoming folks to the world-renowned retail destination. For the 22nd consecutive year, The Forum Shops will welcome students from the Meadows School performing the traditional dragon parade on Friday, Feb 16 beginning at 10 a.m. The cast of singers and dancers includes 120 Meadows students – 60 from kindergarten and 60 from fifth grade plus the school’s very special guest, founder and Mayor of Las Vegas Carolyn Goodman.
New this year is the China Lights Lantern Festival at Craig Ranch Regional Park. Hundreds of larger-than-life lanterns are on display and lighting up the park nightly from 5:30-10 p.m. through Feb. 25. For Chinese New Year, China Lights is celebrating Feb. 16-18 with a special close-range firework show honoring the Year of the Dog and each guest will receive a red envelope, symbolizing wealth and good fortune in Chinese culture, filled with a special offer.
WYNN LAS VEGAS WILL INTRODUCE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY
Paradise Park, the multi-use development planned for Wynn resort, will use 100 percent renewable energy sourced from a new 160-acre solar energy facility. Under the terms of the agreement with Enel Green Power North America, Inc. (EGPNA), Wynn will begin receiving power in the first half of 2018, which will be used to offset up to 75 percent of the resort’s current peak power requirements until Paradise Park opens. This is the largest percentage of renewable energy used by any resort in Las Vegas, and an industry first for a gaming operator in Nevada.
QUICK CLIPS
The Mob Museum is partnering with Oscar’s steakhouse at the Plaza on a $99 package combining admission to the museum with a special three-course dinner and a cocktail at former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman’s namesake restaurant. The package is available on both websites.
Cabo Wabo Cantina is offering Thirsty Thursday lovers endless margarita options all day on Thursday, Feb. 22 for National Margarita Day. Some favorites include CW margarita, the Cocorita, and the strawberry margarita.
Actor and musician Macaulay Culkin earned his wings recently at Vegas Indoor Skydiving. After experiencing bodyflight inside the 22-foot tall wind tunnel, the “Home Alone” star posed with his flight instructor Andy.
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken at Grand Bazaar on the Strip and in Downtown Summerlin are celebrating the month of February with The Love Bird fried chicken sandwich for $9.25. This big-mouth sandwich is topped with truffle oil and truffle salt-tossed sweet potato fries and finished with melted mozzarella cheese and truffle mayonnaise.
The Stirling Club’s sixth anniversary party is open to the public and will be held at the Hartland Mansion on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 6-11 p.m. with Russian pop star Irina Nero headlining. Admission is $25, which includes food and one drink. You can RSVP to Bruce Merrin, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Neighborhood bar Distill Summerlin at 10820 W. Charleston Road will celebrate turning four with a high school prom-themed anniversary party on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. There is no cover charge and guests are encouraged to wear their most memorable prom attire for a chance to win at the costume contest. A prom king and queen will be crowned.
Life Time Athletic clubs in Summerlin and Green Valley are each holding their annual Daddy Daughter Dance from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 with different themes. Each dance will feature a buffet-style dinner, dancing, crafts and more. Tickets are $40 per couple for Life Time members, and $60 per non-member couples. Additional daughters may join for an extra $10 each.
