BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Dec. 8, 2019
ELLIS ISLAND HAS THE FRONT YARD
It was a long wait since the construction project was announced; however, the result looks to be well worth it. The Front Yard at Ellis Island, the property’s new beer garden, restaurant and entertainment venue, opened last week. Ellis Island is a 50+year-old landmark on Koval Lane behind Bally’s owned by the Ellis family. The new space, with a 300-person capacity, will also be available to rent for private parties and events.
The welcoming new two-story, indoor/outdoor venue offers a casual brewpub atmosphere with a premium bar and full-service restaurant. The second-floor atrium features unobstructed views of the Strip. The decor includes retractable ceiling shades, expansive windows, rich wood fixtures, exposed steel, low lighting, and garden walls. For sports fans The Front Yard offers a perfect setting for watching games on any of the HD TVs including the 18-foot big screen. There will be live entertainment featured weekly, ranging from DJs and local acts to headliners and special events including New Year’s Eve, the Big Game and more.
For beer lovers, craft beers from the company’s own Ellis Island Brewery will be featured on tap and rotate seasonally.
Hours are daily from 3 p.m. to midnight, with plans for extended hours and brunch service in the future.
THE WHO WILL ROCK SIX SHOWS AT THE COLOSSEUM IN 2020
Looking forward, legendary British rock band The Who will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for a series of six shows next year, May 5, 7, 9, 12, 14 and 16 with their symphonic concerts “Moving On! Tour.” Singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend are pairing with local symphony orchestras across North America for a once-in-a-lifetime rock experience. Tickets start at $69 with $1 from each ticket benefitting Teen Cancer America.
The shows will feature The Who’s full live band delivering the group’s many classics and some songs from their brand-new album “WHO,” which is their first full-length album in 13 years. Local symphonies will again be joining The Who for the 2020 shows.
Inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, The Who considered one of the top three greatest rock legacies in music history has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. In 2008, they became the first rock band ever to be awarded the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. The group has performed all over the world including global music events for the Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Show in 2010 and closing the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
ENTERTAINMENT FORECAST
The Righteous Brothers featuring Bill Medley with Bucky Heard will return to headlining at Harrah’s in 2020 starting Jan. 21. The popular Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo are scheduled Jan. 21-April 30 and Sept. 15-Nov. 12, performing Tuesday-Thursday at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $46.
Superstar entertainer Lady Gaga will close out 2019 at Park MGM with performances of “Lady Gaga Enigma” on Dec. 28 and 30, and “Lady Gaga Jazz & Piano” on Dec. 31.
Singer-impressionist Bob Anderson, who starred in “Frank: The Man, The Music,” which ran for a year, 2014-2015, at Palazzo Theater, will star at the Italian American Club Friday-Saturday, Dec. 27-28 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and VIP $50; call 702-457-3866 or visit iacvegas.com.
Swing revival group Big Bad Voodoo Daddy arrived on the music scene more than 25 years ago with a legendary residency at the Brown Derby Nightclub in Los Angeles and later skyrocketed to fame. The band will perform at The Orleans Showroom on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.95
NEON MUSEUM SURPRISED ITS 1 MILLIONTH VISITOR
Recently, the Neon Museum welcomed its 1 millionth visitor Nazarey David, who happens to be a Las Vegas resident and museum member. Rob McCoy, museum president and CEO, presented David with a “Neon Museum 1,000,000” neon sign, custom-created by Hartlauer Signs for the occasion.
David also received a one-night stay at Wynn, dinner for two at Wazuzu and a commemorative gift box with merchandise from The Neon Museum store.
MIRACLE MILE SHOPS™ ANNOUNCEs FIVE NEW STORES
Miracle Mile Shops™ at Planet Hollywood has added five new tenants including interactive Museum of Selfies; athletic apparel retailer lululemon; lifestyle boutique Karma and Luck; Magnets Inc., A Sticky Business souvenir store; and Cocolini in front of the V Theatre offering 32 homemade Italian gelato flavors.
BOTH ARIZONA CHARLIE’S HOST VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS BINGO
On Thursday, Dec. 19, during National Bingo Month, Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, which offers Las Vegas’ only 24-hour bingo with sessions every odd hour, will host Vegas Golden Knights themed bingo with special appearances from mascot Chance and promo team Vegas Vivas. The mascot and promo team will be available for photo opportunities starting at 6 p.m. in the bingo room, and the session will begin at 7 p.m.
Arizona Charlie’s Decatur VGK Bingo session will include four $1,000 coveralls, five free electronic rainbow packs for guests wearing Vegas Golden Knights apparel who confirm a $10 minimum electronic buy-in, VGK prizes to anyone who receives a bingo on a specialty colored ball, prize drawings between games and more.
A second event will take place at the Arizona Charlie’s Boulder location on Thursday, Jan. 16, and will include the same photo opportunities and gaming promotions.
SUNSET TOURS ON THE RAILS
For the first time, Rail Explorers, the all-ages, outdoor-adventure attraction featuring pedal-powered rail bikes, in Boulder City celebrates the season with a festive, holiday-themed Sunset Tour. Guests booking any Sunset Tour through Dec. 30 will be greeted by the Rail Explorer elves and receive cookies, candy canes, hot chocolate and/or hot apple cider.
Tours are Monday and Thursday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 4 and 6 p.m. A tandem rail bike for two starts at $85, and a quad rail bike for four guests starts at $150.
ABOUT TOWN ITEMS
Ski season opens Saturday, Dec. 14 at Lee Canyon and introduces the new two-story, 10,000-square-foot Hillside Lodge with an outdoor heated terrace, a ski-in-ski-out bar and expanded restrooms. The lodge, which is the ski area’s biggest undertaking since it first opened in 1964, will be transforming the year-round guest experience at the resort. Ski lifts start running at 9 a.m.
The Tropicana is partnering with the Mia St. John Foundation to host a special concert event on Thursday, Dec. 19 from 9-11 p.m. in the showroom. Guests will be treated to a performance by Broadway singer and Las Vegas headlining vocalist Angela Teek with a full 16-piece orchestra, as well as special guest Tony Orlando. Mia St. John is a five-time world and international boxing champion and started the foundation to help folks with addictions. The event is free and open to the public. Guests can redeem their tickets at the Tropicana Las Vegas box office.
The family-friendly “Holiday Movie Series” on Thursday continues at the Fashion Show mall with “The Polar Express” – Dec. 12, “A Christmas Carol” Dec. 19, and “Happy Feet” Dec. 26 starting at 6 p.m. in The Great Hall.
Speaking of movies, a Holiday Movie Marathon will be held in Roxy’s 100-seat venue on Christmas Day starting with “White Christmas” at 8:30 a.m. through “It’s A Wonderful Life” at 9 p.m. with six more films in between. Guests must be 21 or older.
Tulips art sculpture by renowned artist Jeff Koons is back on display at Wynn Plaza, where it was originally installed from 2013-2016. The sculpture of twisted balloon flowers spent more than three years at Wynn Palace in Cotai, China. Tulips was acquired in November 2012 for $33,682,500 and is made from more than three tons of metal.
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AGAIN NAMED SPEEDWAY OF THE YEAR
Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) has been named Speedway Motorsports’ Speedway of the Year for the third consecutive year and sixth time overall. The diverse motorsports facility was chosen from among eight state-of-the-art Speedway Motorsports entertainment complexes.
Under the leadership of President and General Manager Chris Powell, LVMS hosted two tripleheader NASCAR event weekends in 2019 including the September kickoff to the NASCAR playoffs, as well as two NHRA national events, and the Electric Daisy Carnival in May, which attracted more than 135,000 attendees per night.
CIRQUE EMPLOYEES’ ART ON DISPLAY
PARADE The Collective, the locally acclaimed annual art exhibition produced by Cirque du Soleil, has returned to Core Contemporary Gallery Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. until Jan. 4. The diverse art collection is curated, designed and created by Cirque du Soleil performers, technicians and staff to showcase each participant’s well-rounded creativity.
This year the month-long exhibition will showcase 20 original works of art highlighting a variety of mediums including painting, photography, costuming, sculpture and multi-media work. Core Contemporary Gallery is located at 900 E Karen Ave, Suite d-222, and is free to attend.
SWEET ITEMS
San Francisco’s Dandelion Chocolate has opened its first Las Vegas café and retail store in The Venetian. It’s also the company’s first permanent U.S. location outside of San Francisco, which operates six locations in Japan and one in Taipei. The “bean-to-bar,” small batch chocolate maker offers single-origin chocolate bars, alongside house-made pastries, confections, hot chocolate, and coffee drinks. The café, which also has chocolate-themed gifts, is open daily from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. in a space next to the hotel lobby.
The popular family-owned Freed’s Bakery is offering festive sweets to celebrate the New Year including spiked pipette mini cups for purchase through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Flavors include Milk and Cookies, Mudslide, Bourbon Caramel, and Choc-Chambord.
DINING NEWS
Town Square has a new restaurant featuring Southern fare such as chicken and waffles, fried green tomatoes and orange-blossom-honey biscuits. Farmtable Kitchen & Spirits has taken over the former Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar on the north west side of the outdoor shopping mall. Also offered are bakery items, coffee drinks, a full bar, and kids’ menus. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Hours are Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m.-midnight; Saturday 9 a.m.-midnight; and Sunday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Charlie Palmer Steak at Four Seasons is holding an intimate dinner featuring Executive Chef Lalo Saavedra pairing wine of Argentina with the dinner on Friday, Dec. 13 from 6-8 p.m. Cost $100. Valet parking at Four Seasons is complimentary with validation.
Chef Roy Choi is serving up holiday cheer with the debut of a seasonal, prix fixe Family Style menu at Best Friend in Park MGM. Through Dec. 30, the Family Style menu priced at $50 per person must be ordered by everyone at the table with children under seven free when paired with an adult.
TIME FOR PLANNING NEW YEAR’S EVE
The main attraction for thousands will be the spectacular fireworks being launched from the rooftops of eight buildings over the Las Vegas Strip at the midnight hour. Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed to automobile traffic at 6 p.m. in order to transform the Strip into the ultimate street party.
Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood with prime views of the fireworks will toast 2020 with a patio party. General admission starts at $200, which includes an all-you-can-drink beverage package and patio access. The LOFT, the restaurant’s upstairs event space, is also available for groups seeking a private party with the same view.
HOFBRÄUHAUS JUMPSTARTS THE NEW YEAR
Hofbräuhaus, an authentic Bavarian beer hall and garden, is planning a jump start on 2020 by hosting an afternoon party on Tuesday, Dec. 31 to usher in the new year at 3 p.m., which is midnight Central European Standard Time, right alongside revelers in Munich, where the original Hofbräuhaus is located.
Las Vegas entertainers including Hans Klok, Murray SawChuck and Dani Elizabeth, Ricardo Laguna and cast members from “Celestia,” will host the midday celebration beginning at 1 p.m. The family-friendly party will include live entertainment, German food specials, raffle prizes and swag, in addition to a celebratory ball drop, ceremonial keg tapping and complimentary beer toast, which will take place at 3 p.m.
NEW YEAR’S ENTERTAINMENT
Three-time Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum band Maroon 5 will perform its annual New Year’s Eve shows at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Dec. 30 and 31.
Christina Aguilera will celebrate the arrival of 2020 with a champagne toast on stage during her headlining residency show, “Christina Aguilera: The Xperience” at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood. She will perform Dec. 27, 28 and 30, and a special New Year’s Eve show.
The awesome rock band Journey will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for four nights over New Year’s Eve week Dec. 27, 28, 30 and 31.
Puerto Rican superstar Ozuna, who just released his newest studio album “Nibiru,” will be center stage in the Pearl Theater at the Palms on Dec. 31 with doors opening at 10 p.m. Ticket range is $50-$200.
Luenell & Friends New Year’s Eve Party will take place Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m. in Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at The LINQ Promenade. The “Original Bad Girl of Comedy,” is celebrating with an intimate night of laughs, a champagne toast, drinks, party accessories, surprise guests, an after party and more. Party packages begin at $99.
New Year’s Eve in The Club at the Eastside Cannery will feature DJ DMC from 9-10 p.m. followed by acclaimed Journey tribute band DSB, which was formed in 2009, taking the stage at 10 p.m. Tickets start at $35.
Formed in Vallejo, Calif., Con Funk Shun, which celebrated their 45th anniversary as a band in 2017, will feature choreography, six-part vocal harmonies and a dash of humor and will perform romantic ballads and dance party hits at the Orleans Showroom on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $77.
NEW YEAR’S EVE OFF THE GRID
How about welcoming the New Year cosmic style? At the 64-lane Suncoast Bowling Center on Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to midnight, the New Year’s Eve, family-friendly bowling party will feature cosmic-themed bowling, live DJ performances, party favors and more. Tickets start at $22.50 if purchased by Tuesday, Dec. 24, and $27.50 after that date.
You can party at the Veil Pavilion in the Silverton at the Skip the Strip New Year’s Eve Party from 7 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 31. There are bottomless cocktails from 7-10 p.m. for $25 if you buy your ticket in advance or $40 on New Year’s Eve. At 10 p.m. it turns into a DJ dance party. Plus, there will be $5 off the New Year’s Eve specialty dinner buffet at Seasons from 9–10 p.m.
There will be a party with an off-Strip view of the fireworks at the One Six Sky Lounge at the Eastside Cannery on New Year’s Eve. The “Welcome to 2020” celebration will feature a live DJ, comedy and band performances, party favors and food. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets start at $55.05.
SIGHTINGS
David Copperfield, world-famous illusionist and MGM Grand headliner recently received VIP treatment while attending “R.U.N” at the Luxor, which is Cirque du Soleil’s first live-action thriller with combat stunts, special effects and massive LED screens. After the show, Copperfield was brought on stage for a photo with the cast.
Last week, former NBA basketball player, actor, and esports businessman Rick Fox got in the game at HyperX Esports Arena inside the Luxor and completed a 24-hour charity livestream to benefit the Bahamas Relief Foundation. Fox participated in many challenges during the 24 hours to draw attention to the campaign, including coloring his hair and dressing in a Santa Claus suit. Through his efforts, Fox raised more than $50k for the fundraiser. HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas is the first dedicated esports arena on the Strip and the flagship venue of Allied Esports.
Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters were recently spotted at Marquee Nightclub in The Cosmopolitan. The rocker and a large group hit the club’s BoomBox room to take in the sounds of Charlie Darker.