BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: April 28, 2019
DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE KING OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
Have to say, the new show “Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel in Concert” at Harrah’s approaches Presley’s life and music success in a different way, and it works. The producers of “Rock of Ages” have created a story-telling concert experience based on the music and story of Elvis’ spectacular rise to fame and more importantly present 18 of the superstar’s songs, which came to define rock ‘n’ roll.
For this show, Elvis is in the building and surrounded by outstanding talent. This is not an impersonator tribute show even though Eddie Clendening, who created his role as Elvis starring as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 2,200 performances on the Broadway production of “Million Dollar Quartet,” leads the band. Clendening only delivers some of the songs while three female backup singers and a couple of the musicians take turns center stage presenting the music.
The show moves in chronological order going from his youth through his time in the service and up to Las Vegas and his time at the International Hotel. It carefully follows the evolution of his music with little nuggets of select facts up to the point of reminding the audience he was inducted into many Hall of Fames including five recognized in the show for rock ‘n’ roll, country, rockabilly, gospel and honky tonk music. Four giant LED walls present authentic imagery and scenes from his extraordinary life.
All three backup singers take turns at different songs and even play piano and/or guitar. Piano and musical director Colte Julian, best known for his critically acclaimed national touring role as Jerry Lee Lewis in “Million Dollar Quartet,” has a spot in the show bringing down the house with his exuberance and dexterity on the keyboard. Every band member is exceptional and Geno Henderson on guitar is also a singer who has performed as Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, Ike Turner and others and originated the role of Jocko Henderson on Broadway in “Baby It’s You.”
“Heartbreak Hotel” is performed Wednesday-Monday at 8 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets start at $49.
VINNY G SPENDING TIME AS A CHIPPENDALE
“Jersey Shore” star Vinny Guadagnino, aka “Vinny G.,” began his stint as the special celebrity guest host for a five-week, limited engagement through May 26 in the “Chippendales” male revue at the Rio. The opening night reception was held at the Flirt Lounge inside the Chippendales Theatre Complex. Chippendales performs nightly at 8:30 p.m., with additional shows Thursday-Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Ticket range is $64.95 to $165.09.
Recognized lifestyle personality and digital influencer Guadagnino rose to fame on MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” which ran for six seasons and was the highest rated series in the history of MTV. He is on the reboot of the hit franchise, “Jersey Shore Family Vacation,” which has been picked up for two seasons. Last year, he starred in a comedic travelogue series on Cooking Channel, “Vinny and Ma Eat America.” He’s also a recurring cast member of MTV’s comedy series “Joking Off.” His newest TV project, “Double Shot At Love,” can be seen Thursday nights on MTV.
LUCKY DRAGON HAS A NEW OWNER
The “not so” Lucky Dragon became a shuttered resort on Sahara Avenue near the SLS (formerly the Sahara) on the Strip late last year. Hopefully the nine-story, 203-room, Chinese-themed resort will be lucky with its new owner, Don Ahern, chairman and chief executive of Las Vegas construction-equipment firm Ahern Rentals, who purchased the property for $36 million.
Ahern’s plans are to change the boutique resort’s name, reopen it as a nongaming hotel, and turn the casino building into conference and convention space.
CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER WILL VISIT THE JOINT AT HARD ROCK
Actor-comedian Cedric The Entertainer will return to The Joint at Hard Rock on Saturday, July 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $55.
Cedric’s 30-year career successes have him conquering film and television. He is best known for starring in hit films and TV shows such as the “Barbershop” film franchise, “Johnson Family Vacation,” “Be Cool,” the “Madagascar” animated franchise, “The Original Kings of Comedy,” and “The Soul Man.”
Simultaneously, on the television front, he is starring in and executive producing CBS’ “The Neighborhood,” and co-starring opposite Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish in the comedy series “The Last OG” on TBS.
Most recently on the big screen, Cedric earned critical acclaim for his dramatic performance in Paul Schrader’s Oscar-nominated drama “First Reformed,” starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried.
COMEDIAN SINBAD RETURNS TO GREEN VALLEY RANCH RESORT
Comedian Sinbad will headline a special performance at the Grand Events Center inside Green Valley Ranch on Friday, July 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
The Michigan native’s comedy career began in the 1980s after he appeared on “Star Search,” which led to roles on “The Redd Foxx Show” and “A Different World.” By the early 1990s, Sinbad was a household name, with television and film credits to his name, including “The Sinbad Show,” his first HBO special, “Sinbad: Brain Damaged,” “Necessary Roughness,” “Houseguest,” “First Kid,” “Jingle All the Way” and “Good Burger.” He recently lent his voice to Disney Junior’s “The Lion Guard” and currently stars in the hit series “Rel.”
THE MOB MUSEUM ADDS NEW ARTIFACT
The Mob Museum’s newest acquired artifact now on display in The Underground, Prohibition exhibition basement space, is a phone booth from the Four Deuces, a club located in the Levee vice district south of downtown Chicago.
Named after its address, 2222 S. Wabash Avenue, the Four Deuces served as the headquarters of the Chicago Outfit, the crime syndicate run by Johnny Torrio followed by his protégé, Al Capone, in the early 1920s. The building had four floors – the saloon and offices on the first with gambling and prostitution on the upper floors. Capone put in a furniture shop with secondhand junk next door as a front. His business card read: “A. Capone, Antique Dealer.” By 1931, the Four Deuces had been the site of 12 unsolved gangland murders.
The phone booth was removed from the Four Deuces before the building was demolished in 1966 and resided in the home of Chicago television personality Bruce Newton for more than 30 years.
LADY ANTEBELLUM HEADLINES PEARL AT THE PALMS
As the first country act to headline the venue, seven-time Grammy award-winning Lady Antebellum will be center stage at the Palms in the Pearl Concert Theater at 9 p.m. on May 10, 11, 15, 17 and 18. With their show “Our Kind Of Vegas,” this is the trio’s first-ever Las Vegas-residency. The current CMA “Vocal Group of the Year” nominee Lady Antebellum present their chart-topping songs bringing Nashville to Sin City with stripped-down performances each night that will often feature the songwriters behind the group’s fan-favorite hits. Tickets start at $34.95.
CHRIS JANSON BRINGS COUNTRY SOUNDS TO SUNSET STATION
Chris Janson with special guest Jordan Davis will headline the Sunset Amphitheater on Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $45.
Warner Music Nashville’s Chris Janson, a viral hitmaker and Grand Ole Opry fixture, released his second album “Everybody.” He’s been straddling the divide between country’s past and future. Artists as diverse as Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., Justin Moore, LoCash and many others have been recording his songs. But now, coming off the career-defining success of his Platinum certified get-rich smash “Buy Me a Boat” and its Top 5 album of the same name, Janson’s turning his creativity loose.
FASHION COUNCIL HOSTS SECOND SPRING INTO STYLE EVENT
The Las Vegas Fashion Council (LVFC) will host their second Spring Into Style event at the North Premium Outlets next Saturday, May 4 from 1-3 p.m. featuring an afternoon about beauty and fashion. The event in the Rose Court across from Tory Burch is free and open to the public.
Throughout the afternoon, there will be presentations from top stylist and makeup experts, giveaways, gift bags and raffle prizes. Guests can shop for a cause as a portion of all proceeds will benefit the LVFC and their mission to further the Las Vegas fashion economy by providing and creating opportunities for emerging artists, students and designers.
There will also be a “Stylist on a Budget” competition where five individuals are selected to style on a budget using a $100 gift card to the outlets to assemble a complete outfit. Individuals will select their items in the and will be judged on stage during the event by a panel of judges.
RIVER NORTH HOSTS FREE ADVICE INTERIOR DESIGNER EVENT
River North, a contemporary home décor retail store at Tivoli Village, is hosting a special “Free Advice From Award Winning Interior Designer Event” on Saturday, May 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. In addition to invaluable free advice, attendees will be treated to in-store specials, refreshments and champagne. The event is free and open to the public; email your RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a chance to win a bonus $100 gift card.
Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to the event with information including…how you to want to use the space; challenges; budget; photographs; and tile, fabric paint samples or existing room features.
THE PARK HOSTS NEXT PROJECT DINNER TABLE
Project Dinner Table will return Saturday, June 1 with an event at The Park. The evening will begin with a 6:30 p.m. social hour hosted by NoMad at the hotel’s pool roof deck. Guests will move to The Park and surround the 40-foot-tall Bliss Dance sculpture for a feast under the stars. Chefs from The Park will create the multi-course meal serving 150 dinner guests at one continuous long table. All-inclusive tickets begin at $198.
As with every Project Dinner Table, a Southern Nevada-based nonprofit organization receives a percentage of the evening’s proceeds. The benefitting organization for June is Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada.
DOUGHP FOUNDER MAKES A PITCH ON ‘SHARK TANK’
Kelsey Witherow, founder of the cookie dough bar, Doughp, located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood near PBR American Bar & Grill, will appear on “Shark Tank” on the May 5 episode. To celebrate the TV appearance, Doughp is also debuting a new remix called Bite Me made with fluffy cinnamon cookie dough dyed light blue with white chocolate ‘shark teeth’ swimming around. This flavor will be available May 5 through the end of May.
Doughp Las Vegas is open Sunday–Thursday 10 a.m.–11 p.m. and Friday–Saturday until midnight.
BEER PARK THROWS KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY
Beer Park at Paris is holding a rooftop viewing party for the 145th annual Kentucky Derby starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 4. A trumpet player will sound the horn to start the races, adding to the fanfare of some of the race day’s favorite traditions, including mint juleps, complimentary champagne, themed decor and Kentucky Hot Brown sandwiches. Beer Park will offer complimentary glasses of Veuve Clicquot Champagne to the first 30 guests who arrive in derby attire and prizes to the guests who correctly guess the winning horse.
With a spin on the Derby tradition, Beer Park will offer a mint julep bar, serving the popular cocktail with mint leaves, powdered sugar and whiskey.
CRAFTHAUS BREWERY PREPARES FOR A SECONDARY TASTING ROOM
Established 2014, CraftHaus Brewery will begin construction in a couple weeks on a secondary tasting room near downtown at 197 California Street. The tasting room will serve as an extension of the CraftHaus brand with 24 taps serving their beers, local guest beers, Kombucha, cold brew, cider and wine. Light shareable plates will also be available to pair.
In anticipation of the secondary tasting room, a licensing change was needed. Under Las Vegas’ beer and wine room license, it did not allow for package sales to go for their own six-packs and growlers. CraftHaus Brewery successfully changed brewpub licensing in Henderson and has done the same for Las Vegas. Now Nevada brewpubs can sell their own packaged beer to go in the city of Las Vegas if they don’t brew on site.
DINING NEWS
Cipriani Las Vegas, which opened last November inside the new Wynn Plaza Shops, is introducing a new three-course lunch menu available for $29 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. With this new menu, guests can mix and match new items and classic Cipriani dishes. This is the brand's first venue on the West Coast.
Lagasse’s Stadium in The Venetian® will host a special beer dinner featuring Henderson-based Joseph James Brewing Company. Chef Scott Pajak will present the five-course pairing menu. Dinner is $65, call 702-607-2665.
The next behind the scenes Wynn Master Class will be “Cooking With A Five-Star Chef” on Friday, May 3 at noon. Chef Ming Yu at Wynn’s Wing Lei, the only five-star Chinese restaurant in the United States, will lead an intimate cooking demonstration featuring several of his signature dishes including Alaskan king crab salad, wonton soup, three cup sea bass, and wok-tossed noodles. Attendees will feast on all four dishes in Wing Lei's dramatic dining room. Cost is $175, call 702-770-7070 to register.
Every spring, the editors of ‘Bon Appétit” magazine visit Las Vegas to shine a spotlight on what has become a global gourmet destination. Vegas Uncork’d is the magazine’s ode to the chefs of Las Vegas, and the ultimate weekend splurge for gourmands May 9-12. The Venetian Resort is front and center again this year with several chef-inspired special events.
Smoked Burgers & BBQ at The Forum Shops at Caesars, a new Strip-fronting restaurant with ample patio seating, is celebrating National Burger Month in May with an array of burger choices such as the BBQ Madness Burger, The Smoked Burger and The Mexican Burger.
ABOUT TOWN NEWS CLIPS
To celebrate the debut of the new film, Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame,” Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at Treasure Island is offering visitors who present an Endgame-movie ticket stub $5 off admission to the exhibit through Sunday, May 5, along with a special gift.
The Junior League of Las Vegas will present “A Look Back at Mid-Century Accessories” open house event on Saturday, May 4 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Morelli House (851, E. Bridger), which is on the National, State and Las Vegas Register of Historic Landmarks. There will be a display of accessories and recent acquisitions from the private collection. Tickets are $10. Public tours return in September.
Last week, Grammy Award-winner Marc Anthony attended a performance of “Zumanity” by Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York. After the “Extravaganza” finale, he mingled with the cast members.
The+Source with dispensary locations at 9480 S. Eastern Blvd. in Henderson, Nev. and 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd. in Las Vegas, will double its military discount to 20 percent every Monday in May in honor of Military Appreciation Month.
SUPERHEROES-VIGILANTES BOWL TO COMBAT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
The fundraising 10th Annual Homeless Youth in the Alley Bowling Tournaments presented by nonprofit Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) will take place on Saturday, May 11 at the Suncoast Bowling Center to raise funds to combat the local growing issue of youth homelessness. The family-friendly “Superheroes by Day” event will be 1–3 p.m. and “Vigilantes by Night” 6–8 p.m. There will be bowling, food, giveaways, raffle prizes, photo booth, awards, a DJ and cosmic bowling. Themed costumes are encouraged.
Tickets start at $25 per bowler or $125 per team of five; call NPHY at 702-383-1332.
