BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Aug. 5, 2018
CRISS ANGEL NEW MINDFREAK® WILL OPEN AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
After 10 years headlining his show at the Luxor, Goth-style magician Criss Angel in collaborating partnership with Cirque du Soleil will close his show there on Oct. 28.
Don’t despair, the world-renowned illusionist will move to Planet Hollywood to open “Criss Angel MINDFREAK,” in the newly-renamed Criss Angel Theater on Dec. 19, 2018. The brand-new production will incorporate cutting-edge technology with more than 75 illusions and 20 never-before-seen effects on a massive scale. For Angel, he’s returning to where he began “MINDFREAK” in 2005 at Planet Hollywood. Shows will be performed Wednesday–Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $69.
Being the most influential magician of the modern era, Angel’s honors and awards are mindboggling. In 2017, Angel was honored with the 2,615th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is the most watched magician in television and internet history, and a YouTube sensation. His “Walk on Water” YouTube clip has generated more than 60 million views alone, and all his clips combined have generated more than 300 million views.
Angel has been named “Magician of the Year” an unprecedented six times, and was the youngest magician inducted into the International Magicians Society Hall of Fame. Most recently, Angel was given the highest honor in the magical arts - the Lifetime Achievement Award from the prestigious International Brotherhood of Magicians magic organization.
‘I LOVE THE 90S – THE VEGAS SHOW’ WILL OPEN AT PARIS
“I Love The ’90s Tour” will settle down when it opens the “I Love The ’90s – The Vegas Show” at Paris on Friday, Oct. 12. A rotating lineup of headliner acts will appear in the 90-minute immersive dance party with Salt-N-Pepa, Rob Base and All-4-One kicking off the residency. Other artists confirmed for the live experience include Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, Kid ’n Play and Dru Hill. The show will also feature a live DJ, nostalgic video, dancers and more.
BARRY MANILOW SETTLES IN AT WESTGATE
Barry Manilow’s return to Las Vegas and the stage at Westgate, where he performed “Manilow: Music and Passion” and “Ultimate Manilow: The Hits” from 2005 to 2010, is being cherished by fans. His new production “Manilow Las Vegas: The Hits Come Home” is a familiar format and all about the music.
When you enter the showroom, you’re given a glow stick and paper glasses with color lenses. From the first song, the audience gets involved. The glow sticks become part of the atmosphere while fans scattered throughout the room seem to choose to stand and gyrate to the music the whole time. As a warning, your seat may be the luck of the draw and maybe you’re even the one who can’t sit still. Either way, the music is so contagious it’s impossible not to participate in some manner.
The glasses are a part of the show where Manilow takes you on a video/musical tour of his cherished New York City. Throughout the show featuring his 10-piece live band and three backup singers, video images and designs light up the stage and proscenium augmenting the music at hand from emotional ballads to hyper numbers like “Copacabana.”
Most enjoyable are vintage video and images of his life through music from when he was a small child visiting a music store with his grandfather to his first appearance on television with his first hit “Mandy.” Manilow’s show is one not to be missed.
BOATHOUSE ASIAN EATERY MAKES VEGAS DEBUT AT PALACE STATION
The all-new Asian-inspired restaurant, Boathouse Asian Eatery, created by brother-sister team Cat and Tu Do with partner Hans Mogensen from Northern California, has opened at Palace Station on the new casino floor where the Feast Buffet was recently unveiled. It is part of the resort’s $192 million modernization makeover.
The contemporary atmosphere features indoor and outdoor seating, a 14-seat sushi bar, six-seat noodle bar, and large cocktail bar, which offer seating for 200-plus guests. Lunch and dinner are served daily with hours 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The restaurant’s presentation is farm-to-table style. The design is clean with crisp lines, wood accents and high ceilings. A wall-to-wall custom octopus mural designed to symbolize good fortune welcomes guests and hand-painted art appears throughout the interior.
Boathouse Asian Eatery at Palace Station is the company’s seventh restaurant concept on the West Coast. The trio launched their first restaurant in 2004. They are expected to open Mumfresh Asian Eats, a casual quick-serve venue with a teppanyaki-inspired menu inside Palace Station’s Marketplace later this year.
WORLD OF DANCE WILL MAKE TOUR STOP AT GREEN VALLEY RANCH
NBC’s hit series “World of Dance” featuring the best dancers from across all genres will make its second “The World of Dance Live Tour” and stop at Green Valley Ranch performing in the Grand Events Center on Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. Ticket range is $35 to $55 and $125 for a VIP package.
The show, which is a live interpretation of the TV show “World of Dance,” will include the top six finalists from the TV show, and the first three performers already announced are Michael Dameski, Charity and Andres, and BDash and Konkrete.
NEW THIS YEAR SEVEN OH BREW OKTOBERFEST
A new two-weekend event is being introduced this year by the folks who produce the annual holiday Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway every winter. Seven oh Brew Oktoberfest will be a new food, drink and music festival taking place at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas Sept. 27-30 and Oct. 4-7. The new festival is being described as over-the-top celebration akin to the original in Munich, Germany.
WELLRED COMEDY TRIO WILL VISIT TREASURE ISLAND
The three-man comedy group wellRED, made up of friends Trae Crowder, Drew Morgan and Corey Ryan Forrester, will make their debut at Treasure Island with their “From Dixie With Love” tour on Friday, Aug. 10 at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $35.95.
The “liberal redneck” trio approaches outdated traditions and intolerance and mix it up with smart political satire. They have been touring nationally since their best-selling book, “Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin’ Dixie Outta the Dark” was released in 2016. In addition, the three friends weekly co-host the topical, “wellRED podcast,” while on the road.
THE HANGOVER BAR IS OPEN AT MADAME TUSSAUDS
“Vanderpump Rules” star Scheana Shay and Thunder From Down Under male dancing hunks hosted the official opening of The Hangover Bar at Madame Tussauds. At the event, the Thunder gents debuted their shot, Thunder Spank, as the first shooter of the Celebrity Shot Series.
The Hangover Bar is the latest addition to The Hangover Experience, which currently features the famous hotel suite and wedding chapel, along with figures of Alan portrayed by Zach Galifianakis, Phil played by Bradley Cooper, and Mike Tyson.
IT IS A FUN ‘DRAG’ AT SAKE ROK
Finally, experienced Sake Rok located at the Park MGM, which revels in a social dining scene on the main floor. There is a mezzanine level overlooking the dining room and on a third floor a big room where “Drag Supper Club” is held on Saturday nights at 6:30 and 9 p.m. The dinner served is buffet style followed by a performance highlighting stars from “RuPaul’s Drag Race Queens” Emmy-winning competition reality show like Shannel, Coco Montrese and India Ferrah, as well as other talented men in fabulous costumes.
While dining, a person passes through the room matching audience members’ cash with the equivalent in dollar bills. Similar to a typical strip show, where the audience can reward the talent with monetary singles, the same happens here. The difference is the men in drag are wearing over-the-top elaborate costumes with matching make up. The spectacle is sassy, campy and a bit obscene, which means alcohol helps enliven the audience.
General admission tickets start at $69.95 with guarantee bottomless sangria.
FUTURE BUILDING PLANS
A new 20,000-square-foot Target store is being planned to open on the Strip north of the MGM Grand in 2020.
A move is being planned for the popular Pinball Hall of Fame located at 1610 E. Tropicana Ave. since 2009. Addicted operator Tim Arnold, now 62 years old, used to install pinball machines at bars and restaurants, which morphed into his 8,600-square-foot building jammed with 250 pinball machines and other games. With an additional 800 machines in storage, his purchase of a 1.76-parcel of land in the tourist corridor on the south end of the Strip on the east side will provide for him to build a larger building to house his fun possessions.
In the same south Strip neighborhood and across the street from Mandalay Bay, Israeli hoteliers bought the 1961 now dwarfed 25-unit Motel 8 for $7.4 million at 3961 Las Vegas Blvd. The new owners plan to clear the space for a new hotel casino.
Effecting locals more than tourists, the historic Huntridge Center near Charleston Boulevard and Maryland Parkway is getting a revitalized uplift with two fast-food outlets, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Roberto’s Taco Shop, on the drawing boards to share a 4,000 square foot retail space in what is being called The Swoop Building with a neo-1950s-style look. The dining shops, which could be open in December or January, will be located right across the street from the historic shuttered since 2004 Huntridge Theater.
RACERS KEVIN HARVICK, CLINT BOWYER HIGHLIGHT AUTOGRAPH SESSION
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) driving stars Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer will be featured along with other drivers TBA at a Sept. 13 autograph session from 6-7 p.m. being held before the Star Nursery 100 NASCAR K&N Series West race at 8 p.m. at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Harvick and Bowyer combined won nine MENCS races this season.
HOOTERS PRESENTS FREE DIVE IN MOVIES IN AUGUST
The Porch at Hooters Casino Hotel located adjacent to the pool has launched its first Dive in Movie month hosting free movie screenings on a 10-foot by 16-foot video wall every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. through August. Patrons can lounge poolside or take a dip while enjoying specials such as buckets of five beers and a floatie for $15; or a bucket of five Budweiser products and large Pizza Hut pizza with two toppings for $19.99. Individual floaties are $5.
Remaining movies are: Aug. 11 “Finding Nemo;” Aug. 18 “The Lost World: Jurassic Park;” and Aug. 25 “Cast Away.”
FOOD • BEVERAGE NEWS
A first-time culinary fusion dinner event featuring renowned vegan Chef Mayra Trabulse and owner Chef Ritesh Patel will be held Downtown on the rooftop patio at Turmeric Flavors of India on Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 7-10 p.m. The five-course, vegan-style, sit-down meal will showcase Indian and Caribbean foods with both chefs presenting live demos and live DJ music. Tickets are $79 or $148 per couple with one drink and validated parking included.
Go Greek Yogurt will open its first location outside of Southern California at The Venetian this month. The fresh yogurt bar will feature master “yogurtiers” who customize each dish both fresh and frozen. The thick and creamy Greek yogurt is imported by air from Greece while finishing ingredients and various toppings are also imported from Europe.
Therapy Restaurant located Downtown will be celebrating National S’mores Day on Friday, Aug.10 by serving up s’more gooey goodness. Therapy’s Cast Iron S’mores is served in a cast iron pan with a graham cracker crust, layered with semisweet chocolate, caramel and toasted marshmallows, and priced at $8. Bacon can be added at no extra cost.
Les Kincaid will celebrate the 17th anniversary of his show Wines Du Jour on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Lawry’s The Prime Rib with arrival at 6:30 p.m. and on-air program from 7 to 8 p.m. featuring J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Cost is $40, and RSVP is required…email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
All Remedy’s and Distill valley locations are supporting the American Heart Association the entire month of August by serving the specialty cocktail RED Cosmo made with Tito’s Vodka for $10, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the association.
Ferraro’s Restaurant & Wine Bar’s next Taste & Learn event pairing wines and a small-plates menu will be held Saturday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. Franco Wine in Las Vegas will supply exclusive Italian varietals representing Italy with wines from: Bocale located in the city of Montefalco in the Umbria region; Tenuta del Morer in the Veneto; and Lanciola in Tuscany, which produces fine Chiantis and Sangioveses. Reservations required, cost is $65 inclusive.
ABOUT TOWN ITEMS
Last week, Las Vegas headliner Frankie Moreno donated 10 brand new Gibson guitars to the Nevada School of the Arts on 4th Street Downtown, which will help support students who don’t have or can’t afford instruments.
The Highway Radio Network with its main studio in Barstow, Calif., has opened a live broadcast studio on the second floor of the Pawn Plaza complex at 725 South Las Vegas Blvd., which is next door to Pawn Stars famous pawn shop.
Make a note: The Mint 400 off-road race will return to Las Vegas March 4-10, 2019.
“Breakdown” - A tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will appear in the Cascade Lounge at JW Marriott on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. Tickets for the near to real experience are $18 each or $9 if paying with points.
The Southern Nevada Health District for the first time has appointed a chef to its Board of Directors. Chef Nicole Brisson, the new executive chef at Eataly Las Vegas set to open at Park MGM this fall, will serve a two-year term. One of her goals is to bridge the gap between the culinary industry and inspectors. Brisson was formerly culinary director for B&B Hospitality Group; and, also opened Wynn Las Vegas.
Big events next month will include: 2018 Fall NASCAR Weekend – Sept. 13-16; Mr. Olympia – Sept. 14-15; Life Is Beautiful Festival – Sept. 21-23; Barrett Jackson collector car auction – Sept. 27-29; and Las Vegas Fan Fusion 2018 – Sept. 28-30 at the Convention Center.
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT HAS PAI GOW POKER PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT
The all-new Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive jackpot is over $1 million. The progressive links 37 Fortune Pai Gow tables across Caesars’ nine Las Vegas resorts: Caesars Palace, Rio, Harrah’s, Paris, Bally’s, Planet Hollywood, Flamingo, The Cromwell and The LINQ.
This is Las Vegas’ largest network of tables with three different progressive jackpots: The Mega jackpot hits with a seven-card straight flush; the Major jackpot is won with five Aces; and the Minor jackpot is achieved with a royal flush.
Discovery children’s museum HOLDS SPECIAL events
Celebrating Artist Appreciation Month, an interactive art workshop will be held at the Discovery Children’s Museum with Artist in Residence: Lance Smith on Sunday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. Las Vegas-based fine artist and illustrator Smith has been featured in local and national group exhibitions. Recommended for ages 8–12, workshop participants will focus on the fundamentals of drawing as they design their favorite animated character or comic book superhero. Cost is $20 for museum members and $25 for non-members. Participants and parents can enjoy the museum after the workshop at no extra cost.
It will be Kids Night Out on Friday, Aug. 24 from 5 to 7:30 for ages 5-10. Attendees will experience art and science activities, as well as facilitated play throughout the entire museum along with pizza, lemonade and ice cream cups. Tickets are $20 for members/$40 for non-members. Reservations can be made online.
SOME CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS
Former all-star athlete Shaquille O’Neal made a surprise appearance at Beer Park at Paris on a recent Thursday afternoon. Sporting khakis with a yellow t-shirt, the mega-celebrity chatted and took photos with eager fans and the bar staff.
Heiress, soon-to-be bride, and businesswoman Paris Hilton last week hosted the official VIP launch party for her first skincare line, Paris Hilton Skincare ProD.N.A. at Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand. She was joined by her mother, Kathy Hilton, and brother, Barron Hilton.
Triple-threat talent and “Dancing with the Stars” judge Julianne Hough celebrated her sister’s bachelorette party at a recent 10:30 p.m. performance of “Magic Mike Live” at the Hard Rock Hotel.
RAINBOW COMPANY YOUTH THEATRE HOLDS SEASON LAUNCH PARTY
Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, a city of Las Vegas program, will celebrate its 42nd season running Sept. 28 through May 5, 2019, with productions of “Winnie the Pooh,” “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka,” the annual Nevada tour show and “The Land of the Dragon.”
Folks can learn more about the company, upcoming season and ticket packages at the free Season Launch Party Sunday, Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. The event with a sneak peek of the season will feature interactive activities and experiences for each of the four productions, such as the Pooh Bear Parade the Willy Wonka Midway.
