BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW
Date: Feb. 9, 2020
ADAM LAMBERT SETS THREE-SHOW ENGAGEMENT AT VENETIAN
Music superstar Adam Lambert, who performed the past several years in arenas with Queen and is known for his time on “American Idol,” will bring his soaring voice to The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian® for a three-show limited engagement April 22, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. His show “Velvet” will be an opportunity to see him perform solo in an up-close-and-personal setting in the intimate 1,800-seat theater. Ticket range is $39.95 to $299.95.
The Las Vegas shows are in support of Lambert’s brand-new album, “Velvet,” to be released March 20. His new song, “Roses,” featuring Nile Rodgers, was released last week following his prior debut of “Superpower” from the “Velvet” EP. Following his Las Vegas dates, Lambert will also tour the new album across Europe with “The Velvet Tour,” commencing in Manchester, UK on Aug. 30 for the Manchester Pride festival, before playing London’s Wembley Arena.
BARCANADA IS PART OF D’S CASINO EXPANSION
The D located Downtown will reveal BarCanada, an ode to Canadian sports and culture, this March. As part of the hotel’s second-level expansion project, the 2,000-square-foot hockey-inspired tavern will span 60 feet, have a 20-seat bar and be surrounded by 85-inch TVs. There will be Art Deco-inspired designs like maple-leaf embroidered chairs and red interiors with communal tables for group gathering.
Additionally, the D will refresh its 9,000-square-foot second floor casino, with the renovation adding 800 square feet to its current sportsbook, Circa Sports; all-new 600-foot Keno space; 1,340 square feet of high-limit slots with an opulent VIP lounge; and new programming from VSiN, The Sports Betting Network.
The keno space will showcase booth seating, individual seats for 16 people and modern technology. In addition, 9,000 square feet of the casino floor will be refreshed with new carpet, ceiling design, lighting and modern wallcoverings.
VSiN currently broadcasts live from the hotel’s sports hub Longbar and will house a studio within the sportsbook at Derek Stevens’ new downtown project Circa. Circa Sports – Stevens’ sports betting venture – debuted in 2019 and features the first two-sided futures odds for major professional sports leagues, as well as competitive wagering menus and higher app limits.
CELEBRITY PSYCHIC MEDIUM THOMAS JOHN DEBUTS AT CAESARS
World-renowned psychic medium Thomas John has opened his intimate show at Cleopatra’s Barge inside Caesars Palace with performances Thursday through Monday at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $49 and a VIP upgrade, including a meet and greet, is also available and can be purchased as an add-on to any existing ticket.
John connects audiences with family and friends who have crossed over in a powerful and entertaining evening of healing, inspiration and life-changing insights. The show is very tranquil and different every night as no two audiences are alike. You will witness audience members get very emotional when John makes a connection with them and their departed. While he’s making connections, relaxing meditation music and psychedelic video images make the whole showroom peaceful and mesmerizing. Mid-way a video explains when and how John discovered his special ability.
John has hosted worldwide sold-out events and been featured on television shows including “Dr. Phil,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Million Dollar Listing New York,” and “The Real Housewives of New York City.” CNN has called him “Hollywood's go-to psychic medium.”
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN OPENS AT FORUM SHOPS
True Food Kitchen, the seasonally inspired restaurant and bar which has pioneered health-driven dining, opened its newest location at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. True Bar is the company’s first standalone scratch-bar concept featuring freshly pressed juices, organic teas and natural refreshers, such as the Honeydew Cooler, Hangover Rx and Kale Aid, as well as a seasonal lineup of handcrafted cocktails, wine and beer.
True Food Kitchen was founded in Phoenix in 2008 as a restaurant and lifestyle brand inspired by the philosophy food and beverages should make you feel better, not worse, and serve as the foundation for a life well lived. The restaurant brand’s seasonal menu is guided by the principles of Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid and emphasizes wholesome, simple ingredients with simple preparations to highlight the natural health benefits of each ingredient. True Food Kitchen has 32 locations in 14 states and now in Nevada.
UNLVINO BECOMES INAUGURAL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL EVOLUTION
The inaugural EVOLUTION Las Vegas Food & Wine Experience on April 18 from 7 to 11 p.m. will replace the decade’s long UNLVino and be a multi-sensory festival designed around the best chefs, winemakers, brew masters and distillers in the world. The collaboration event between Caesars Entertainment and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada will be held at the new Caesars Forum Convention Center located adjacent to the High Roller Observation Wheel and The LINQ Promenade.
Like the fundraising UNLVino, a portion of the proceeds from the newly reimagined event will fund scholarships for students of the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, one of the nation’s top hospitality management programs. As part of the prestigious program, 40 students will help organize and produce the high-profile event through a fully immersive, upper division course.
EVOLUTION will honor legendary Chef Bobby Flay with the Dom Perignon Award of Excellence and will feature interactive experiences, cooking demonstrations, tastes from local chefs and restaurants, immersive wine, beer and cocktail tastings, live music and more.
Tickets for the event described as “A Culinary Event of Epic Proportion” are available on the website EVOLUTIONLV.com. General admission tickets are $150.
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND WILL VISIT THE COSMOPOLITAN
The Dave Matthews Band with a career spanning 28 years will appear at The Chelsea at Cosmopolitan on Friday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. The group world-renowned for their live performances has sold more than 24 million concert tickets. Since the band’s inception, their distinctive sound has catapulted them into one of the most successful touring acts of the past three decades. The group was named the biggest ticket seller on the planet between 2000-2010 by Billboard Magazine. With the band’s 2018 release of “Come Tomorrow,” Dave Matthews Band became the first group in history to have seven consecutive studio albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
SAHARA OPENS NEW POKER ROOM
The all-new Poker Room at the Sahara will open Friday, Feb. 14 and host a grand opening celebration Friday, Feb. 21 with players enjoying champagne, hors d’oeuvres, branded swag, gift cards and giveaways. Bounties will also be in play for the event.
Opening daily at 10 a.m., the new poker room has seven tables, a 16-foot by nine-foot LED video wall and five additional screens throughout the room along with food options provided by Northside Café. Tournaments will be offered daily with at least four start times and buy-ins ranging from $45 to $100, with No Limit Texas Holdem as the primary tournament. Live cash games will also run daily and promotions will be held throughout the duration of those games.
ARISTOCRAT OPENS FIRST EVER ‘BUFFALO BAR’ AT RAMPART CASINO
Aristocrat Technologies is launching the first ever Buffalo Bar at Rampart Casino in Summerlin. The newest evolution of the fan-favorite brand, Buffalo, offers space with a wide variety of Buffalo themed slots and keno. Located just off the casino floor, the Buffalo Bar features 1,095 square feet of gaming and nine bar seats with corresponding Aristocrat bar-top games and in addition offers the signature “Hairy Buffalo” cocktail.
NUTRIDRIP BY CLEAN MARKET TO OPEN AT WYNN
New York City health and wellness destination Clean Market is set to open its first West Coast NutriDrip by Clean Market location at Wynn this spring. The 1,500-square-foot space will be located on the second floor of the Wynn Tower, near the resort’s newly renovated spa and fitness facility.
The acclaimed concept, from lifestyle guru and Clean Market co-founder Lily Kunin and NutriDrip founder Asa Kitfield, will feature an IV Drip Lounge, and also serve à la carte offerings and luxury wellness retail.
Entering the lounge, guests will encounter an environment reminiscent of the protective carvings found in the Valley of Fire with warm tones and subtle curves. In addition, the space will feature three private drip rooms as well as offer direct-to-room concierge service for those staying at the hotel.
The cornerstone of NutriDrip by Clean Market’s Las Vegas offerings will be its signature NutriDrip Wellness and Recovery IV infusions.
NASCAR HAULER PARADE WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE STRIP
The NASCAR Hauler Parade, marking the start of the 2020 spring race weekend, will make its way up the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday, Feb. 20 beginning at 6 p.m. The parade will begin at the Las Vegas Welcome Sign with approximately 40 brightly colored 18-wheeled NASCAR Cup Series haulers with a police escort driving north on the Strip before making their way west on Sahara Ave. and hitting Interstate 15 headed for the speedway.
SOUTH POINT HOSTS DAYTONA 500 WATCH PARTY
The South Point Showroom will host the Daytona 500 Watch Party on Sunday, Feb 16 starting at 9 a.m. During the viewing party, drink specials will include five beer buckets of Budweiser, Michelob Ultra and Bud Light for $5 and drafts of Budweiser and Bud Light for $2. Guests can have the chance to win tickets and Neon Garage passes for the race in Las Vegas.
1980 ‘MIRACLE ON ICE’ HOCKEY TEAM VISITS LAS VEGAS
The 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Hockey Team will be honored prior to the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 23.
The gathering will include most members from that historic team, which shocked the Soviet Union in the semifinals before defeating Finland to win the gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Among those sharing their 40th anniversary will be team Captain Mike Eruzione; four-time Stanley Cup winner, Ken Morrow; 1981 inaugural Hobey Baker Award winner and 1995 Stanley Cup winner, Neal Broten; and Dave Christian of the famous Christian hockey family, whose father and uncle won Olympic Gold in 1960.
The team will take part in the “Relive the Miracle” event on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Thomas and Mack Center. The event will feature the team on stage with an interactive display of video, audio, memorabilia and never-before-seen components from their Olympic triumphs. General admission tickets are $19 on the UNLVtickets.com website.
‘MARRIAGE CAN BE MURDER’ HOLDS KILLER WEEKEND AT HENNESSEY’S
“Marriage Can Be Murder,” the comedy themed mystery dinner show celebrating 20 years in Las Vegas, will take over the private room in Hennessey’s Tavern on Fremont Street Feb. 14, 15 and16 for a killer Pop-up Valentine’s Day experience.
General tickets are $74, VIP $89, and R.I.P. $104. All tickets are inclusive of food, a drink and server gratuity. Each audience member is served a three-course meal: Pre-Killing Course, Main Corpse... Course and Death by Sugar; and a choice for the main course: Dead Meat, Fowl Play, Hasta La Pasta and Murder Burger. For the holiday weekend, guests will receive a rose and chocolate treat. Guests can use code “LUCKY” for 20 percent off. Purchase tickets online at ivorystar.com or call 702-205-2775.
ALT-ROCK BAND EVERCLEAR WILL PLAY AT M RESORT
Grammy-nominated alt-rock band Everclear will perform at M Resort inside M Pavilion on Saturday, April 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15.
Formed in 1991 by founding member Art Alexakis in Portland, Ore., Everclear has enjoyed a lengthy career with 11 studio releases, numerous videos, and thousands of shows. Although the band hasn’t released a new studio album since its 2015’s triumphant “Black Is The New Black,” Everclear continues to actively tour. While Everclear’s gigs include a rendition of “Santa Monica” and “Father of Mine,” lately the band also explores the full range of past material especially “deep cuts.”
THE MOB MUSEUM CELEBRATES EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY FEB. 14
The Mob Museum will celebrate its eighth anniversary Feb. 14 and host two exhibits: a complimentary car show featuring 15 Prohibition-era vehicles parked outside 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and an all-day display of crime scene evidence from Chicago’s infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in the second-floor historic courtroom.
All day, guests will receive 20 percent off food and beverages in The Underground with live jazz music playing Prohibition-era tunes. Performing at 9 p.m. will be Amanda King.
Honoring the anniversary, Nevada residents receive free admission and non-residents buy-one get-one admission on that date.
PLAZA WILL HOLD MARCH MANIA PARTIES
The Plaza will host its annual March Mania viewing parties Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22 in its nearly 5,000-square-foot Plaza Event Center with 18 large screen high-definition televisions, two projectors, state-of-the-art sound system, convenient satellite betting stations and flexible seating options. There will be Pop Up Pizza and drink specials from multiple bars.
For the $25,000 March Mayhem Drawing, 30 players are paid in free slot play, with the top prize of $5,000 in free slot play. Entries can be earned now through March 28.
Admission is $20 for a One-Day Pass or $40 for a Four-Day Pass. Each admission pass includes one koozie and one drink and food item per day. For tickets go online or call 702-386-2507. Doors open at 8 a.m. each day.
ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Resident Las Vegas headliner comedy impressionist Gordie Brown opens his limited engagement this week on Feb. 11 at the Golden Nugget with performances every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in The Showroom at 7:30 p.m.
Gwen Stefani has announced the final performance dates for her two-year residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood and her “Gwen Stefani – Just A Girl” show designed exclusively for the showroom. Shows begin at 9 p.m. and tickets start at $40. Show dates are in February and May. Last date is May 16.
Shania Twain is celebrating the 25th anniversary of “The Woman in Me,” the first of her diamond trilogy of albums, and announcing 14 new dates for her 8 p.m. residency show, Shania Twain “Let’s Go!” at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood in August, September and December. The all-time, top-selling female country artist’s show features a seven-piece band, eight male dancers and eight different costumes designed by Marc Bouwer. General ticket prices begin at $60.
Capitol Steps is a traveling, theatrical performing group with an entire show revolving around political satire and “mocking” the democracy. Capitol Steps will examine today’s political climate with a satirical twist Friday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the showroom at South Point. Tickets start at $25.
DINING ITEMS
Chef Battle 2020, produced by EatertainMint Events, is hosting its inaugural national cooking competition at Hofbräuhaus this week Feb. 10-12 with 15 chefs competing for national bragging rights, a cash prize and more. Half the chefs will compete on Monday and half on Tuesday beginning at 5:30 p.m. Top three chefs from each night will advance to the finals Wednesday, Feb. 12. Tickets to attend can be purchased online at Eventbrite.
Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will celebrate National Margarita Day with margarita flights all day on Saturday, Feb. 22. Cabo Wabo will offer a three-margarita flight for $16.22 with the option to choose favorite picks from the Strip-side cantina’s lineup of margaritas. This restaurant offers a happy hour including half-priced regular margaritas 3-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar will hold its first Taste and Learn event of the year on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. and feature the Antinori Winery. Antinori, which remains one of the biggest wine companies in Italy, began in 1385 and has had 26 generations of the Antinori family manage the business. Tickets for the all-inclusive monthly wine-tasting dinner are $75, call 702-364-5300.
Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group has added a new luxury 2016 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon to its portfolio of Smith & Wollensky-branded wines. This rare wine is 100-percent Cabernet Sauvignon. The current introductory special on this wine through March 31 or while supplies last is $40 by the glass and $155 by the bottle.
