BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: May 26, 2019
AURIC SYMPHONY PARK WILL BE LUXURY APARTMENT COMMUNITY
Southern Land Company (SLC), a privately held full-service development company headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., recently broke ground on Auric Symphony Park, the first residential development at Symphony Park in Downtown Las Vegas.
SLC’s first project in the Las Vegas market is located on six acres. Plans for the luxury, five-story mid-rise apartment community will include 324 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom for-lease apartments with approximately 21,000 square feet of ground level retail and restaurants, and a parking garage with 444 spaces. The project will offer a robust amenity package featuring a resort-style pool with two-story cabana, rooftop bar, pet park and grooming, resident lounge, fitness area and business center.
Neighboring anchor landmarks in Symphony Park are The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, housed in a noteworthy Frank Gehry-designed building.
THE PARODY ‘POTTED POTTER’ WILL OPEN AT BALLY’S
After several successful North American tours, London’s West End show “Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience - A Parody by Dan and Jeff” will make its Las Vegas debut in the Windows Showroom at Bally’s on Tuesday June 4. The original creators will star in the show through June 23, and a new cast will take over on June 24.
The perfect show for muggles, witches and wizards of all ages, combines all seven books into 70 minutes with the favorite characters, perfect Potter props, and even a live Quidditch match.
“Potted Potter” will be performed Monday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with matinee performances Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Ticket range is from $39.99 to $99.99.
NEW RESTAURANT HATSUMI MAKES IT DEBUT DOWNTOWN
Executive Chef and owner Dan Krohmer of Other Mama Hospitality officially opened the doors to his newest restaurant concept, Hatsumi, Downtown in the heart of the Fremont East District and within the recently revitalized Fergusons Downtown market square. Offering Japanese style hospitality and cuisine, Hatsumi is now open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday–Monday. Reservations are recommended, especially if ordering the chef’s tasting menu option.
The thoughtfully different, yet approachable dining experience is a traditional omotenashi-style of service he encountered through his travels to Japan and specifically found in a throwback hotel lobby bar in Tokyo. The menu features robata izakaya dining with highlights from the yakitori bar’s selection of skewers. The menu is subject to change daily and comprised exclusively of the freshest meats, seafood and produce available. For the ultimate culinary journey, an omakase-style chef’s tasting menu is available for a set price starting at $55 and quantities are limited. Nightly tasting menus can be prepared to accommodate vegetarians and vegans if desired.
The full bar beverage program has of the largest selection of sakes in downtown, assorted Japanese beers and a curated domestic and international wine list.
Hatsumi pays homage to the neighboring downtown Arts District with the addition of Yerman the Sad Yeti, who graces the walls and adds a local design flair by Las Vegas artist Ryan Brunty of Depressed Monsters.
Krohmer opened Other Mama in March 2015. Other Mama Hospitality was born in 2018 and has since been partnering with like-minded local brands such as Fergusons Downtown to open Hatsumi and La Monja restaurants this year, and Desert Bloom Eco Farm, which took over a greenhouse facility in nearby Pahrump, Nev.
RE:MATCH IS NOW OPEN AT THE LINQ
Re:Match at The LINQ Hotel + Experience is open and features an indoor/outdoor setting situated directly on the famed Strip. Re:Match is designed for guests to engage and interact with the environment and has 27 touch screens that create a cohesive underwater world.
Virtual Sea Life, a world of underwater sea life including sea turtles, stingrays, an octopus, a variety of fish and more can be discovered while exploring the virtual ocean display. Guests can tap the bar top screen to encounter an overzealous shark, find the lost city of Atlantis or pose for a selfie with a camera-friendly dolphin. You can open an oyster if you see one; they may contain secrets about the bar or challenge you to social media worthy moments.
Periodically, one of three games will appear at the Re:Match bar screens to challenge those seated around it to a fun competition such as saving the Las Vegas Strip from an alien invasion, catching falling money from FLYLINQ riders or capturing the most chicken wings in the “Sticky Chicken For President” game. One lucky participant will win a free drink for competing each time a game is played.
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN WILL OPEN AT THE FORM SHOPS IN 2020
True Food Kitchen, a restaurant and health-driven lifestyle brand founded in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2008, has 28 locations in 11 states. True Food Kitchen is set to open in Spring 2020 on the street level of The Forum Shops near the spiral escalator with an adjacent “True Bar.”
True Food Kitchen and True Bar will feature approximately 11,314 square feet of combined indoor and patio dining space for accommodating more than 315 guests. The interior will take inspiration from an industrial warehouse overtaken by greenery and feature design elements of natural wood and stone, industrial-style lighting, steel-framed glass doors, and a greenhouse-style ceiling with live plants throughout.
The restaurant will have two interior private dining rooms with flexible configurations for up to 72 guests. One private dining room will be secluded and intimate with wood shutters and slat walls. The second will be large enough to be divided into two spaces and will showcase a trellis ceiling with hanging plants and natural stone mosaic tiles evoking the feeling of a lush, green garden terrace.
The distinctive “True Bar” will sit atop the nearby Reflecting Pool and offer a selection of the scratch bar’s handcrafted cocktails, freshly pressed juices, organic teas, and natural refreshers, such as the Medicine Man, Hangover Rx and Kale Aid.
MONSTER TRUCK INSANITY TOUR VISITS THE PLAZA
The Plaza downtown, in conjunction with Live A Little Productions, has the Monster Truck Insanity Tour invading the Plaza’s Core Arena for two events on Friday-Saturday, May 31 and June 1 at 7 p.m. The show includes some of the nation’s biggest monster trucks, along with wild side-by-side Tough Truck Racing Championships, Mr. Xtreme Stunt Man, and the Monster Bus Ride Experience where spectators can ride in a real monster truck. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children age 3-12, and VIP packages are available.
DISCOVERY MUSEUM’S NEW EXHIBIT IS TOP SECRET
Discovery Children’s Museum opened its new summer exhibit – Top Secret: License to Spy, presented by Imagine Exhibitions – last weekend. The 5,000-square-foot travelling display focuses on the science and technology of spying and espionage. Visitors take the role of a secret agent and are presented with six suspects and a mystery to solve. By gathering intelligence on the suspects, kids learn to use deductive reasoning and learn about science, technology and coding including how to uncover a radio bug with an oscilloscope and using lasers to monitor conversations.
TASER DEVELOPER AND AUTHOR SPEAKS AT MOB MUSEUM
Rick Smith, founder and chief executive officer of Axon Enterprises and developer of the TASER and author of “The End of Killing: Using Technology to Solve Violence,” will be speaking at The Mob Museum on Saturday, June 1 in the historic courtroom and present a live tasing demonstration.
In his new book, Smith writes since launching the TASER in 1993, it has been deployed more than 1 million times saving hundreds of thousands of people from potential death or serious injury. Today, Smith’s company develops technology and weapon products for law enforcement and civilians and is the largest manufacturer of body cameras.
Prior to launching Axon Enterprises, Smith earned his B.S. in Neuroscience from Harvard University (Cum Laude), a Master’s in International Finance from the University of Leuven in Belgium, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
CULINARY EVENT AT TROPICANA BENEFITS THREE SQUARE
The third annual “Summer Cookout featuring Robert Irvine” will be held at Robert Irvine’s Public House at the Tropicana on Thursday, June 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. Guests will be dining out for a cause to increase awareness and raise funds for Three Square Food Bank.
The evening will include specialty summer-inspired dishes and refreshing beverages, courtesy of the Tropicana’s restaurants, an interactive cooking competition, live and silent auction, and a special live performance a Frank Sinatra tribute artist from “Legends in Concert.”
The event is open to the adult public. Tickets, available at the Tropicana’s box office, are $50 and $100 for VIP entry at 6 p.m. with a Chef Irvine meet and greet.
Proceeds will benefit Three Square in its fight to eradicate hunger in Southern Nevada.
Las Vegas Restaurant Week will run June 17-28 and give local restaurants the opportunity to give back through the culinary arts. Since 2007, more than 5 million meals have been provided for those struggling with hunger through the 12-day culinary event.
THE BASEMENT IS NEW ESCAPE ROOM EXPERIENCE
The Basement, a live escape room experience located at 3440 Polaris Ave., offers two experiences, “The Basement” and “The Study.” The task for a team is to find a way out in 45 minutes. There are clues around the room, and anything not glued or bolted down can be moved. Throughout the experience, guests interact with the environment touching and moving items, crawling through spaces, etc. The Basement brings an element of fright to its rooms with live actors who may touch the guests.
Both rooms are $45 and can accommodate up to 10 people. The Basement is open 4 p.m.–12:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m.–12:30 a.m. on Friday, and 10:30 a.m.–12:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
NEWS TIDBITS
Maxie’s at The LINQ Promenade next to the base of the High Roller started its first dinner menu featuring classic American favorites served family-style including sharable appetizers, massive soups and greens, home-style main dishes, hearty pastas and unique burgers. The restaurant, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., is known for whimsical dishes.
Chef, restaurateur, Emmy Award-winning TV personality and New York Times Best-Selling author Guy Fieri was honored last week with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame presented to him by close friend and Academy Award-winning actor, Matthew McConaughey. To celebrate in Las Vegas, his Vegas Kitchen & Bar team at The LINQ Hotel + Experience commemorated his honor with their own star made of cake. Fieri is only the third chef to receive a star, joining Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay.
AREA15, the experiential retail and entertainment complex offering live events, immersive activations, art installations opening later this year, is becoming noticeable along the west side of I-15 with new signage. Mixed reality company, Nomadic, will be joining anchor tenant, Meow Wolf when the center opens.
This month, out of more than 300 players and after three rounds of tournament play during the 2019 mychoice® Millionaire Slot Tournament at the M Resort, John E. visiting from Hollywood Casino St. Louis, Mo., ended up with the highest cumulative score to become the winner of $1 million.
ENCLAVE HOSTS HEALTH, HEALING & HAPPINESS EXPO
The 8th annual Health, Healing & Happiness Expo, Nevada’s largest event for nutrition and natural solutions for the whole body, mind and spirit, which grows every year, will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Enclave Las Vegas at 5810 South Eastern Avenue.
The new two-day expanded holistic world expo will feature 50-plus presentations on three stages, 100-plus exhibitors and chef demos. New this year for the revamped experience is the Vegan Taste Experience with 16-plus food vendors and samples, and vendor stage presentations and chef demos.
Different this year, the Healthy Inspirations Speakers Program has been reimaged like a TEDx Talk Series featuring 18 experts speaking on nutritional science, energy healing, scientific innovations and sustainable living.
The Holistic Living Expo Only Pass is $25; and, the Healthy Inspirations Speakers Program pass starts at $59 for a day pass and includes the expo.
ABOUT TOWN HAPPENINGS
Returning to The Smith Center, Grammy-winning vocalist Steve Tyrell will showcase hits from his new, No. 1 album released this year, “A Song For You,” alongside favorites from the Great American Songbook and popular feature film melodies he has recorded on May 31 and June 1 at 7 p.m. in Myron’s Cabaret Jazz.
Fashion Show Las Vegas is teaming up with Arizona-based Front Porch Pickins, which was founded by three moms, for a special pop up vintage and handmade market on Friday-Saturday, June 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The market allows treasure hunters, antique seekers and talented artisans a place to buy and sell handmade, one-of-a-kind finds. Event will be held in The Great Hall.
The two-month long Sweetest Movies Series is returning to the Fashion Show Las Vegas beginning Thursday, June 6 with “Incredibles 2.” Movies are PG rated and run on Thursday evenings except July 4 through July 25 at 6 p.m. in a park-like setting in The Great Hall. Seating will be first come, first served.
The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender annual fundraiser will be held June 6-9 at The Orleans with four days of events including the 62nd Titans of Tease reunion showcase featuring the living legends of burlesque performing classic striptease by women in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, and the 29th Tournament of Tease, with the best from around the globe competing to win the title of Miss Exotic World as well as best boylesque. There’s also the Movers, Shakers & Innovators showcase, and the Icons & All-Stars show plus much more.
The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus (LVMC) will hold its new spring concert under the direction of Mr. Ryan Duff, esteemed educator and 2017 Heart of Education award recipient, Sunday June 16 at 4 p.m. at The Whitney Library, 5175 E Tropicana. With the theme “When You Wish Upon a Star,” the chorus will sing music arrangements from Disney movie and Broadway experiences.
VEGAS SUPERKARTS OFFERS LOCALS AND MILITARY MEMBERSHIP
Through Sunday, June 30, Vegas Superkarts by Exotics Racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is offering Las Vegas residents and U.S. military an exclusive annual membership, valid for 12 months. Guests can enjoy the new fleet of 4-stroke, gas-powered Sodikart SR5 270 CCs on the city’s longest, widest and fastest outdoor go-kart racetrack. The Vegas Superkarts membership will include a special price of $25 per race, one complimentary birthday race, and 10 percent off all Exotics Racing supercar experiences. Hours are daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
JERRY’S NUGGET PROMOTES BIG BINGO GAME
Jerry’s Nugget Casino, a family-owned and operated since 1964 and located one mile north of Downtown Las Vegas, will hold the $7,250 Bingo Big Game on Saturday, June 1 at 9 a.m. Play for an hour of 17 games with $1,000 coveralls, $250 payouts, and valuable prizes courtesy of KJUL radio. Tickets are on sale at the Bingo Hall for $25. Price includes reserved seating, one six-on pack, and one Bonanza for the Big Game. Come early for the 8 p.m. warm-up session for 10 games paying $100 each.
CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS
Maverick Helicopters, the exclusive helicopter Electric Daisy Carnival provider, offered an elevated experience for festival headliners and celebrity attendees including Bill Nye, host of EDC’s Opening Ceremony, Paris Hilton, Shaun White, David Lee Roth, Drew Carey, members of the Dallas Cowboys and Max Pacioretty of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Last weekend, Emmy award-winning actor Darren Criss, known for his role on FX’s hit series “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” attended “Magic Mike Live” at the Hard Rock and met with the cast afterwards.
Mamrie Hart, actress and co-host of the podcast “This Might Get Weird” dined with at TAO inside The Venetian with boyfriend Chip Morgan, who was celebrating his birthday. The duo dined under TAO’s famed Buddha.
DJ and musician, Holly aka Miguel Oliveira who was a headliner at EDC – Electric Daisy Carnival attended Blue Man Group at the Luxor with a friend and had a following private VIP meet-and-greet afterwards.
