BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: March 4, 2018
BY: Jackie Brett
CHINA TANG OPENS AT MGM GRAND
Opening in The District at MGM Grand, renowned Hong Kong-based Lai Sun Group makes its Western Hemisphere with the debut of China Tang, which offers a dining experience reviving the glory of the Tang Dynasty regarded as China’s golden age of cosmopolitan culture and cuisine. China Tang serves some of the finest cuisine from Canton, with a touch of Sichuan, a dash of Beijing and a repertoire of dim sum.
Since introducing its first Chinese restaurant Island Tang in the heart of the financial hub in Central, Hong Kong in 2008, Lai Sun Dining, a subsidiary of the Lai Sun Group, now operates nearly 20 restaurants worldwide.
China Tang’s atmosphere evokes 1930s Shanghai glamour and draws inspiration from Art Deco nostalgia with a globally curated art collection. Each evening, the dining room comes alive with Chinese musical entertainment and a noodle pulling performance.
China Tang is open 5-10:30 p.m. for dinner on weekdays, lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-midnight, and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
SEND NOODLES WILL OPEN AT THE PALMS
Palms Casino Resort will unveil Send Noodles an Asian fusion-inspired concept on March 8. As part of the ongoing $620 million property-wide renovation, the intimate, art-infused restaurant will join the latest culinary additions Lucky Penny Café and A.Y.C.E. Buffet on the casino floor.
The name Send Noodles is a play on the colloquialism “send it” or “just saying yes” to something. It will also reflect the service in the restaurant in which dishes will be sent out in the order they are ready. The eatery will have seating for 34 guests in the dining space and limited seating at the bar.
Eye catching will be two immersive art murals painted by famed Taiwanese-American artist James Jean titled “Alimental Thread.” Jean is an award-winning illustrator and painter known for his work on films such as “The Shape of Water” and brands including Prada, ESPN and Atlantic Records.
Send Noodles will be open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday.
TOTO WILL BRING WORLD TOUR TO SUNSET STATION
TOTO in support of the band’s 40th Anniversary will bring “The 40 Trips Around The Sun” world tour to the Sunset Amphitheater at Sunset Station on Friday, Aug. 10. Tickets are $25 (standing room), $35, $45 and $55.
TOTO’s new greatest hits package titled “40 Trips Around The Sun” was recently released while the band is currently in the middle of an extensive European tour. In addition, TOTO announced the release of their definitive box set “All In” via Legacy Recordings (a division of Sony Music).
With more than 40 years together, TOTO remains one of the top selling touring and recording acts in the world, as well as one of the few 70’s bands to endure changing trends and styles. As individuals, the band members can be heard on an astonishing 5,000 albums.
ZAPPOS AND CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER
Zappos.com is teaming up with Caesars Entertainment, beginning with the renaming of The AXIS 7,000-seat live entertainment venue at Planet Hollywood. The second-highest grossing theater in the United States will now be known as Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood.
The theater boasts one of the largest video and projection installations in the world. Projections come from 60 ultra-high-definition projectors covering more than 200 degrees of the audience chamber.
LIONEL RICHIE ANNOUNCES NEW 2018 DATES
Multi-platinum-selling artist and four-time Grammy® Award winner Lionel Richie has announced additional 2018 dates of his residency, “Lionel Richie - All the Hits” at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood March 9 through 20 and Aug. 15 through Oct. 20. General ticket prices begin at $59.
MINT 400 DRIVERS MEET AND GREET
Fans can meet the Mint 400 racers and get personal autographs and photos at the 5th Annual Rugged Radios Driver Meet and Greet being held Thursday, March 8 from 5-9:30 p.m. at 9th and Fremont St. inside the Pit Crew Challenge Lot.
GREAT AMERICAN FOODIE FEST WILL RETURN TO SUNSET STATION
The Great American Foodie Fest, formerly the Las Vegas Foodie Fest, will return to Sunset Station’s parking lot April 26-29. The event has been featured on Cooking Channel’s shows “Carnival Eats” and “Eat St.” and been ranked as the Top 10 Food Festivals in America. Festival hours will be 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
The food fest is a culmination of the best specialty food vendors and gourmet food trucks from around the country. There will be more than 50 food vendors, including 15 celebrity food trucks and food vendors featured on top food networks.
The food fest will also have a special appearance and cooking demos by celebrity Chef Phillip Dell, winner of Food Network’s Show “Chopped” and three-time Grand Champion on the National Barbecue Circuit. In addition, the festival will feature a beer garden and live entertainment; a carnival rides/games, eating competitions, arts/craft vendors, retail vendors and more.
General unlimited re-entry admission is $8 presale for a Four-Day Pass or $10 for a Day Pass at the gate. Accordingly, VIP is $50 or $60. Military, veterans, and seniors 59 and older will receive a $2 discount off ticket purchased at the gate with a valid ID.
THIRD THURSDAY ON 3RD RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN GRAND
Third Thursday on 3rd established last year will begin its official 2018 monthly (weather permitting) street party residency on March 15 with “Shamrock the Street” from 6-9 p.m. on the 3rd street corridor at the Downtown Grand.
This month’s event will feature five gourmet food trucks including: Waffle Love, Cookie Bar, Hot Corn and More, Stripchezze, and Cousins Maine Lobster. Other activities will feature street games, live art by two of the valley’s top freestyle artists, Jesse Hudson and Recycled Propaganda, and DJ Edoc providing the shamrock soundtrack.
The Downtown Grand will be pouring all-you-can-drink Green Beer for $20 from 6 p.m.-midnight on 3rd Street as well as inside at Freedom Beat and Furnace Bar.
PLAZA WILL FEATURE GREEN FIREWORKS
A free St. Patrick’s Day party will overtake the Plaza’s dome entrance on Saturday, March 17 starting at 7 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. with a live green-fireworks show. The public event will feature St. Patrick’s inspired entertainment, a DJ., and drink specials, including $4 green beer, $5 Irish Mule, $15 buckets of Guinness beer with six cans, and $3 shots of Jameson Irish Whiskey. The Plaza’s $15 yardstick well cocktails will also be available. In addition, the Plaza will debut a new 10-foot by five-foot Plaza pyrotechnic logo sign behind the stage and flaming throughout the celebration.
MORE DOWNTOWN ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
The official Paddy’s Pint Crawl will be held at the Downtown Grand Saturday, March 17 from noon-midnight. Wristbands for $20 at the casino cage will get you all-you-can drink green beer at Freedom Beat, Furnace Bar, and the Citrus Grand Pool Deck.
Additionally, Hogs & Heifers will host its annual Las Vegas Valley Firefighters Parade & Skills Challenge on 3rd Street. Parade assembly begins at 10:30 a.m. in front of the saloon. At noon, the parade will move from Fremont and Main, down Fremont to 3rd Street, culminating at Hogs & Heifers for the Firefighter Skills Challenge Competition. There will be fire trucks on display, Irish dancers, Honor Guards plus a Jameson Irish Whiskey ice luge and more.
ORLEANS ARENA WILL HOST CURLING COMPETITION
For the first time in a decade, the World Men’s Curling Championship will return to the United States and the Orleans Arena March 31–April 8. Much excitement is prevailing following the historic first-time gold medal-win by the U.S. Men’s Curling Team in the recent 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
The event will bring curling teams from around the world, including Sweden’s Olympic Curling Team who took home the silver medal. A total of 13 teams will each play 12 games during the seven-day round-robin portion, followed by a playoff round featuring the top six teams. From there, the teams will be pared down to a medal round for the final four. The crowning of the new world champions will take place Sunday, April 8. Tickets start at $25.
MOB AUTHOR SETS APPEARANCES AT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Wiseguy Speaker Series at The Mob Museum will feature Scott M. Deitche, author of “Garden State Gangland: The Rise of the Mob in New Jersey” on Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m. Deitche, an organized crime historian with roots in Mob history, covers the ongoing saga of the New Jersey Mob from Prohibition to present day. In his discussion, he will cover topics such as the story behind the TV series “Boardwalk Empire,” the mobster known as the “Al Capone of New Jersey,” the gangsters who inspired “The Sopranos,” and Frank Sinatra’s alleged ties to New Jersey gangsters. This event is free for members or with general admission.
On Friday, March 16, Deitche will be signing his book in the Museum’s retail store from 1-3 p.m.
DOWNTOWN GRAND CONTINUES CULINARY ROAD TRIP DINNERS
Chef Scott Commings returns with his monthly Culinary Road Trip dinner series at the Downtown Grand on Wednesday, March 14 from 6:30-8 p.m. The season 12 winner of “Hell’s Kitchen” will pay a four-course delicious tribute to one of America’s oldest cities, Boston, Mass., which boasts being one of the first cities to officially celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish culinary event will feature Boston and St. Patrick’s Day themed décor, live entertainment, and photo-opportunities. Tickets are $55 and include five perfectly paired, themed cocktails.
WELCOME SIGN WILL TRAVEL
The 15-foot-tall replica of the world-famous “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” sign was at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the weekend’s NASCAR tripleheader for fans to take photos and was equipped with a prize wheel. The sign display will be traveling to other Speedway Motorsports Inc. facilities throughout the year to promote the city of Las Vegas as a travel destination.
DOWNTOWN TERRACE INTRODUCES NEW OFFERINGS
Downtown Terrace rooftop restaurant in Downtown Container Park has debuted several new menu selections as well as all-you-can-drink Bellinis, Bloody Marys, mimosas and house wine available seven days a week, open to close for $16 with the purchase of an entrée.
A new array of gourmet quick serve cuisine includes: appetizers such as Edamame $5 - add Hummus $9; salads which can be served as wraps like the Thai Spice Chicken $12 and the BLT Salad $10; a revamped variety of entrees and sides including Pastrami Reuben Sandwich $12 and Chicken & Waffle Sliders $13. For folks in a rush, Downtown Terrace guarantees being served in 30 minutes or less between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday – Friday, or lunch is on them.
CHARITY EVENTS
Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN), founded in 1984, will hold the 28th annual AIDS Walk Las Vegas on Sunday, April 16 at Town Square with the opening ceremony at 8 a.m. Penn & Teller will again be grand marshals and leaders of the Penn & Teller Challenge AIDS Walk Team. Registration is free and attendees are encouraged to form a team and fundraise.
On Friday, March 9, Carmine’s at the Forum Shops at Caesars will be selling $1 meatballs outside the restaurant from 2-4 p.m. in celebration of National Meatball Day. Carmine’s is known for their family-style, large-portion dishes and their famous meatballs made with veal and beef. All proceeds will be donated directly to Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas.
Dress for Success Southern Nevada will hold its semi-annual, two-day, pop-up Shop for Success excess inventory sale on 2-7 p.m. Friday, March 16 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 17 at Spring Valley High School, in the school’s auxiliary gym. There will be designer brands, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and hourly specials. All funds raised will benefit local nonprofit Dress for Success.
Freed’s Bakery from the Food Network’s show, “Vegas Cakes,” will sell specialty $1 chocolate or vanilla cupcakes to benefit the Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada (DSOSN) on Wednesday, March 21.
The Las Vegas Fashion Council (LVFC) will host “The Art of Hat Design” event with international award-winning hat designer Louisa Voisine providing an inside look at her design studio at 10219 Gillespie Street on Thursday, March 15 from 5:30-8 p.m. It’s free to attend and proceeds from purchases will benefit the LVFC’s scholarship fund.
XCYCLE Las Vegas in Boca Park will host its second Bikes and Brunch charity ride on Saturday, March 17 with proceeds benefitting the Patrick Kelley Youth Foundation (PKYF). Starting at 12:15 p.m., riders will participate in a 45-minute RYTHMX spin class set. Immediately following there will be a catered brunch by Rachel’s Kitchen and refreshments by Pressed Juicery. Participation fee is $40, call 702-489-6099.
CITY OF LAS VEGAS HOSTS TICKETED EVENTS
The City of Las Vegas has several events on the horizon. Actor and musician Chase Padgett will perform “6 Guitars,” a love letter to music, which is a successful show of the North American Fringe Festival circuit, at the Charleston Heights Arts Center on Friday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. The show, described as a pitch-perfect blend of music, comedy and characters, has been performed more than 300 times across North America. The 90-minute performance features Padgett portraying six different guitar-playing musicians, with wildly different personalities and musical styles, sharing how they fell in love with music. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for youth under 18.
Dr. Rochelle Hooks and Karla Huntsman will lead a full-day program entitled “The Why & How of Story Workshop” Saturday, March 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Historic Fifth Street School. Tickets are $45 and $25 for Clark County School District educators and librarians, who are eligible to earn two Continuing Education Units.
National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” commentator Kevin Kling will follow the storytelling workshop at 7 p.m. Kling is a well-known playwright and storyteller, recognized for his storytelling stage shows and plays performed around the world. Admission is included in the workshop registration fee but tickets can be purchased separately at $20 for adults and $10 plus tax for youth under 18.
QUEEN BEE MARKET IS OFFERED TWO DAYS
Queen Bee Market’s two-day expo featuring more than 70 vendors who make their products by hand will be Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10 at The Conference Center of Las Vegas, 6590 Bermuda Road. Tickets are $5 at the door. Children 12 and younger and military with ID receive free entry.
Partnering with Three Square Food Bank, the event will host a food and fundraising drive at the annual shopping event.
QUICK CLIPS
“Magic Mike Live” at the Hard Rock got a great plug on NBC’s hit show “This is Us” when characters Toby and Kate held their bachelor and bachelorette parties in Las Vegas. Kate and friends took in the male strip show.
Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons will headline at Aliante on Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. Formed in 1985, the group throughout a more than 30-year career has released 22 albums. Tickets start at $39.50.
On National Moscow Mule Day, March 3, Corduroy on East Fremont Street previewed the launch of a new promotion. Starting March 6, every week Corduroy will hold Mule Mondays from 4-9 p.m. with half-off the infamous drink for $5.50.
On Friday, March 16, Border Grill at Mandalay Bay will feature a Casa Noble Tequila Dinner from 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $80.
The LV Craft Show with more than 50 vendors will be held in the Silverton’s Veil Pavilion on Sunday, March 11 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and admission is free.
Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport has introduced weed disposal boxes so tourists enjoying the state’s legal marijuana don’t smuggle drugs across the border.
Maverick Helicopters received the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 2017 Award of Excellence “Diamond Award” honoring the company’s ongoing maintenance training and aircraft safety. This is Maverick Helicopters’ seventh consecutive Diamond Award for its Las Vegas and Grand Canyon South Rim locations and third for Maui, Hawaii, which opened in 2015.
New to the burger scene, Burgerim with a Las Vegas-location at 9635 Bermuda Road has ramped up expansion efforts anticipating a total of 130 outlets by the end of 2018. The Los Angeles-based company serves completely customizable 2.8 oz. gourmet burgers with 11 different patty options.
Ross Dress for Less® will open a new store in Las Vegas at Charleston Plaza on March 10. The new location will increase the store count to 31 in Nevada.
