BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: March 3, 2019
PARIS DEBUTS NEW EIFFEL TOWER LIGHT SHOW
Paris Las Vegas, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has unveiled a $1.7 million light show at the Eiffel Tower. Inspired by the illuminations of its Eiffel Tower counterpart in France, the resort is offering a free nightly recurring light show every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from sunset to midnight featuring synchronized and choreographed twinkling and colored lights. In partnership with Vision Sign Inc., Paris installed approximately 300 color washing light fixtures and more than 800 white strobe lights on the tower’s exterior.
The 541-foot-tall Las Vegas Eiffel Tower at Paris, which opened Sept. 1, 1999, is a half-scale replica of the famous French landmark and remains the tallest reproduction of the original.
In addition, the hotel has introduced the new elegant $3.75 million Voie Spa & Salon. The luxury 25,000-square-foot facility was inspired by many sensory visits throughout regions of France.
Paris also offers 2,900 redesigned rooms. Following the first two renovation phases of 1,300 hotel rooms in 2016, the hotel plans to complete the final phase of nearly 1,600 reimagined guest rooms and suites in May with an additional $86.8+ million investment.
SPIEGELWORLD™ WILL OPEN ‘ATOMIC SALOON SHOW™’
Move over Gazillionaire at Spiegelworld’s show “Absinthe®,” because Boozy Skunkton, whose first hotel was acquired by the government as an atomic bomb test site, has returned decades later to take over the Kraken Music Hall, a hidden saloon bar in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. Madam Skunkton has collected the “most abnormally sexy but sensationally amoral” international troupe of entertainers to create the greatest saloon show, “Atomic Saloon Show™,” which will open this year on Sept. 8.
To wrangle the band of misfits, Spiegelworld and Britain’s leading comedy director Cal McCrystal will assist in creating the new show being envisioned as “Blazing Saddles” meets “America’s Got Talent” meets “Westworld.” McCrystal is best known as the comedy director of the West End and Broadway hit “One Man, Two Guvnors” starring James Corden as well as for his comedy direction and role in the movies “Paddington” and “Paddington 2.”
The adults-only circus-variety show “Atomic Saloon Show” will have its world premiere in the Palais du Variété Spiegeltent at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August before making its way to its permanent home at the Kraken Music Hall. Shows are scheduled nightly except Wednesday: Monday-Tuesday at 8 p.m.; Thursday through Sunday at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets starting at $68 are on sale now at Spiegelworld’s website. With Las Vegas hit shows “Absinthe®” and “Opium™,” this will be the first time Spiegelworld will have three productions playing concurrently on the Strip.
MAXIE’S SET TO OPEN AT THE LINQ PROMENADE
Maxie’s will open at The LINQ Promenade next to the base of High Roller observation wheel on Friday, March 15 serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maxie’s menu will feature ostentatious breakfast and lunch classics, as well as a collection of contemporary deli dishes. Maxie’s hours will be daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The contemporary modern diner décor will feature distinctive accents such as a clean color palette of gray and white punctuated with pops of aqua and red, a black and white checkerboard ceiling and indoor and outdoor seating.
Not for the faint of heart, some signature breakfast dishes will include: Cotton Candy Pancakes; Fruity Pebbles French Toast; Peanut Butter & Jelly Tacos; Stuffed Biscuit & Gravy Sandwich; and Bodybuilder Breakfast.
For folks in a hurry, Maxie’s will have a Grab-and-Go menu. Upon entering, guests will see the assembly line where they can build their own boxed lunches and dinners with options including sandwiches, as well as bagels and cream cheese.
Also, at the entrance, there will be a bar serving juices with flavors including orange, pineapple, grapefruit, mango, cranberry, celery and lemon and “super greens,” and cereal-flavored milkshakes.
Operated by Hospitality Boulevard, co-founder and chief executive officer Ryan Klaasen explains the idea of the name Maxie. She’s “Grandma Maxie” and her food brings back warm and happy memories.
Hospitality Boulevard’s portfolio also includes Smoked Burgers & BBQ at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and The Wellesbourne in Los Angeles. Additional concepts are underway and will be announced later in 2019.
BRETT YOUNG - GAVIN DEGRAW CO-HEADLINE AT HARD ROCK
Multi-platinum selling artist and current “Here Tonight” hitmaker Brett Young will be collaborating again with Gavin DeGraw. The pair will co-headline at The Joint at Hard Rock on Friday, March 22 at 9 p.m. While Young and DeGraw’s friendship spans more than a decade, this is the first time they will share the stage as co-headliners. Tickets start at $42.50.
The two artists have been integral parts of each other’s lives with DeGraw even co-writing and singing on Young’s autobiographical “Chapters,” featured on his “Ticket to L.A.” album.
Young is ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year with “Ticket to L.A.” being his sophomore release. His self-titled debut album, which delivered four consecutive No. 1 platinum-certified hits, dominated the Top 20 on the Country Albums chart for 37 weeks. Following his current headlining dates, Young will join Kelsea Ballerini on the Miss Me More Tour.
DeGraw first broke through with the 2003 release of his debut album, “Chariot,” which sold more than one million copies, and yielded three hit singles: “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Follow Through,” and title-track “Chariot.” Gavin was nominated for his first Grammy for “We Both Know,” the song he co-wrote with Colbie Caillat for the 2013 film, “Safe Haven.”
BIG WHISKEY’S IS OPEN IN TOWN SQUARE
Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar opened its franchise’s first west coast location in Town Square in the northwest corner adjacent to valet and Guitar Center.
The first Big Whiskey’s opened in downtown Springfield in July 2006 and since then has grown to eight locations. The Las Vegas venue took over former restaurant space which was vacant for quite a while.
The restaurant with a sports bar appeal features classic American cuisine. Operating hours are Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight, and Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. A happy hour menu features half-off food and $3 off select drinks Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m. and Sunday-Wednesday 10 p.m. to closing.
PARTY AT THE PLAZA FOR ST. PAT’S DAY
A free St. Patrick’s Day party will be held downtown at the Plaza’s dome entrance on Saturday, March 16 from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with a firework show featuring green pyrotechnics shot from multiple locations on the property being the culmination. The outdoor party will feature DJ music, a photo booth, games including flip cup and beer pong, and holiday inspired food and drink specials, including an Irish Slider or a Banger on a Bun for $5. At the party and throughout the weekend, March 15-17, the Plaza will offer several drink specials at its casino bars, including a Jameson Mule or Irish Car Bomb for $7, a Grey Goose Le Melon Mule or Jameson Shot for $5, and Guinness cans or green beer pints for $5.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS AT NEW YORK-NEW YORK
New York-New York will host its 10th annual St. Baldrick’s Day family-friendly, head-shaving event on the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, March 9 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Throughout the day, there will be live music, activities, and appearances and head-shaving by cast members appearing in headlining shows on the Strip.
The Strip’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Celtic Feis, will return for a three-day bash on the Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York, March 15-17. The weekend-long Irish festival will feature two parades, live music and entertainment, and traditional Irish Fare at adjacent Nine Fine Irishmen.
Festivities will begin Friday, March 15 at 2 p.m. with a parade from Bliss Dance at The Park through the property to the celebration headquarters on Brooklyn Bridge. On Saturday, March 16, live entertainment begins at 11 a.m. The second parade is at 10:30 a.m. on March 17 with opening ceremonies on Brooklyn Bridge. Admission will be charged at the door for the adult party.
M RESORT CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY
M Resort Spa Casino is holding a month-long celebration in March for its 10th anniversary with special offers throughout the resort such as cash giveaways, casino and spa promotions, and $10 off the seafood buffet at Studio B Buffet every Saturday. The M Resort when it opened on Sunday, March 1, 2009, became the southernmost resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
On Saturday, March 23 there will be a firework display at 8:30 p.m. Earlier at 6:30 p.m., celebrity Chef Robert Irvine will personally surprise 10 lucky casino guests with an autographed copy of his newest book “Family Table.”
LA STREGA IS NEW NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT IN SUMMERLIN
Executive Chef Partner Gina Marinelli opens her first dinner restaurant, La Strega, at 3555 South Town Center Drive in Summerlin. Through March 13, La Strega is open to the public for a special preview period Tuesdays-Sundays, with all guests receiving a 33 percent discount on their check. Beginning March 14, La Strega will serve dinner daily starting at 5 p.m.
With grandparents from Lake Como and Sicily, Marinelli’s Italian culinary journey started in her family’s kitchen. Eventually, she honed her skills with some of the industry’s best chefs, including Scott Conant, Michael Mina and Shawn McClain, on one of the world’s biggest culinary stages, the Las Vegas Strip.
Marinelli’s menu showcases her personal interpretations of Italian cuisine and boasts reimagined pasta dishes. The dessert menu offers sweet indulgences like “The Bomba,” a house-made donut filled with coconut budino. For the kids, Marinelli offers custom-built pizzas and pastas.
La Strega also features an expertly curated wine menu from former Giada sommelier, Stephanie Torres. Derek Scharadin, who was most recently at Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse at Tivoli Village, is general manager.
The décor features an authentic European setting with accents Marinelli collected from her travels abroad. The artistic centerpiece is an original mural inspired by the witches of Benevento and their walnut tree. Spanning multiple walls, the mural was created by local artist Holly Rae Vaughn, whose other works can be found downtown and at various Clark County public parks and spaces.
The restaurant offers a Loggia inspired by the Amalfi coastline where guests can enjoy al fresco dining and cocktails year-round. Other dining areas include an intimate lounge and a dining room overlooking an open kitchen with marble counters and gold accents.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC MAVERICKS HEADLINE DLVEC DURING EDC WEEK
The Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC) will partner with Insomniac Events during Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) week and hold a techno show featuring Adam Beyer and Cirez D on Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. The evening of underground electronic music will mark the largest EDC Week show in the event’s history. Tickets start at $45.
EDC, Insomniac Event’s world-famous annual electronic dance festival, will be held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway May 17-19. The three-day event attracts more than 400,000 people for the weekend of music, art and carnival experiences.
SENIORS GATHER IN MESQUITE TO COMPETE IN GAMES
More than 1,200 seniors, ages 50-plus, will meet in Mesquite, Nev., to compete in the 2019 Mesquite Senior Games being held March 4 through Sunday, April 14. The games are sponsored by Mesquite Gaming, owner of the CasaBlanca and Virgin River resorts in Mesquite, which is located 77 miles north of Las Vegas.
The games include competitive events such as tennis, basketball, track and field, cycling, softball, table tennis, putting, bocce ball and bowling. The Mesquite Senior Games is a nonprofit organization, which began in 2002 with eight events. Today, the games include nearly 20 events and along with non-sporting activities such as poker, bridge, fitness hikes and a history tour of downtown Mesquite.
‘CELEBRATING LIFE!’ FREE JURIED ART COMPETITION FOR SENIORS
In recognizing Older Americans Month May 2019, the city of Las Vegas Arts Commission is sponsoring the 19th annual fine arts competition, “Celebrating Life!” for Southern Nevada artists 50 years and older.
Entries will be accepted on Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Entry is free, but only one work per artist may be submitted. Eligible fine art media categories include: drawing and pastel; painting; mixed media; photography; ceramic; sculpture; and watercolor and gouache. Work must be ready for display, completed within past three years, and not previously entered.
A “meet-the-artists” reception and awards ceremony open to the public will be held Friday, May 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Charleston Heights Arts Center. Awards are $500 for Best of Show winner, and cash $250, $150, $100 respectively for first through third place in each category.
QUICK LOCAL ITEMS
National Meatball Day is Saturday, March 9, and Italian family-style eatery Carmine’s established in 1990 in New York City has served more than 15 million meatballs across locations in NYC, Washington DC., Atlantic City, the Bahamas, and Las Vegas. Carmine’s features meatballs as a side dish, slider, on a hero, and topped on spaghetti.
This is “feel good” news and nice to know about. The Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) has partnered with nonprofit Those Left Behind Foundation (TLBF) to provide veterans in the community with trained service dogs for free. The animals are transported to Lovelock Correctional Center where inmates train the pups to assist with veterans’ specific needs. The program is relatively new and the second group of four dogs will be delivered on St. Pat’s Day, March 17.
Reminder, Queen Bee Market with more than 70 vendors will take place at The Conference Center of Las Vegas, 6590 Bermuda Road off Sunset, March 8 from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
RECENT SIGHTINGS
Mercato Della Pescheria restaurant at the Venetian welcomed featherweight UFC champion Brian Ortega for an early evening out ahead of the UFC 235 main event held at T-Mobile Arena.
UFC champion Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman celebrated his UFC 235 fight victory inside the Electra Cocktail Club at The Venetian alongside team member Rashad Evans and Luke Rockhold.
Last weekend, “Run Away with Cirque du Soleil” took over the Springs Preserve for the 18th annual 5K run and 1-mile walk. Characters from all six Las Vegas resident shows attended wearing Cirque-inspired costumes.
Several members of the Vancouver Canucks attended the “Absinthe” 10 p.m. show at Caesars Palace when they were in town to take on the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.
