Spring has sprung in Las Vegas and LOTS is happening!
Señor Frog’s - Mexico’s world famous restaurant and bar opens its Las Vegas location inside Treasure Island Hotel & Casino on Cinco de Mayo (May 5th).
Carlos’ n Charlie’s – This new Mexican Cantina just opened inside the Flamingo Casino & Resort.
Gordon Ramsay Steak – Chef Gordon Ramsay will open his very first Las Vegas restaurant inside Paris Resort on Friday May 11. Chef Ramsay is best known for his TV shows “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares”. This is your chance to check out this award winning chef and see if he practices the dedication to excellence like he preaches on TV.
IT’SUGAR – The largest candy store in Las Vegas just opened inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. This 5,000 square foot palace of sweets will also include a ‘store-within-a-store’ – that being a 1,000 square foot Willie Wonka products area. Stop in and check out the Ooompa Loompas too!
**WOW, after all that – now I am hungry!
Earl Turner – One of Las Vegas’ most favorite entertainers will be back at the Suncoast Casino on May 12-13. Check outwww.suncoastcasino.com for tickets.
Taylor Hicks – American Idol’s winner of the show’s fifth season will have an eight-week engagement headlining at Bally’s Las Vegas beginning Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Hicks will play in The Indigo at Bally’s Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at www.ballyslasvegas.com .
Wes Winters – Just celebrated his one year anniversary at the Grandview Lounge inside South Point Resort. Michael Gaughan sent over cake and champagne for everyone to toast Wes for his on-going contract at the resort. A standing-room only crowd along with my Las Vegas entertainment and media personalities were there to congratulate Wes!
Smith Center – I was at the new Smith Center opening week to see Michael Feinstein. The facility is amazing and takes me back to my theater adventures in Detroit and New York. The Smith Center offers the more ‘tradition’ show experience which includes a longer performance with an intermission. They do not follow the casino entertainment guidelines of an 80 minute show and then throw you out to go do more gambling. There are several ‘obstacles’ that still need to be addressed at this new facility – but they have assured us that they are being fixed.
The Laugh Factory – is back open in Las Vegas in their new home at the Tropicana. They moved into Brad Garrett’s old room when he left to take his comedy club across the street to the MGM. The weekly line-up of comedians can be found at www.troplv.com .
Jimmy Stewart & Friends, Starring Rich Little – Beginning April 30, Rich Little will be performing his one-man show“Jimmy Stewart & Friends” Saturday – Wednesday at the Shimmer Cabaret inside the LVH. All performances begin at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $63.90 plus tax and applicable fees. A VIP package, which includes premium seating and a meet and greet with Rich Little following the show is available for $73.90 plus tax and applicable fees. Nevada residents and LVH Hotel guests receive a $10 discount. Tickets can be purchased at the LVH box office or by logging onto www.thelvh.com or www.vegas.com or by phone at 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361. Guests under 21 years must be accompanied by an adult.
The Broadway Theater – There is a new theater inside New York New York Hotel & Casino. Producer David King of Spirit Productions will fill this venue with two of his shows – “Spirit of the Dance” (Irish dance show) and “Dancing Queen” (ABBA tribute show). Check out www.newyorknewyork.com for tickets and additional information.
Carlos Santana – moves his Las Vegas residency from the Hard Rock to the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay with his first run of shows to start in May for a two year contract. For a list of confirmed dates, tickets, VIP packages or more info visit Houseof Blues.com/Santana, www.mandalaybay.com, Ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. For additional information go to www.santana.com
Orleans Showroom – www.orleanscasino.com
Dennis Miller – April 27 - 28
Bill Maher –May 15 - 16.
Ken Owens – Yes, me! The official launch of my new book “Branding Your Character” occurred on Sunday, April 15 with a fundraising event for Gateway Arts Foundation. A special thank you to all who attended and to my fellow Las Vegas media colleagues who came to support me! You can check out the book at www.brandingyourcharacter.com .
Cody Collins – The former lead singer of the country group Lonestar launched his solo career and is now the star at the Country Superstars Show at the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street. This also marks a shift in that show’s history with having a ‘true country superstar’ in the show instead of solely tribute artists’ singing the songs of country legends. Cody is now a resident of Las Vegas and he along with his beautiful lady are expecting their first baby. Congratulations on many levels to Cody!
Next time…..watch for an exclusive backstage VIP tour of the Phantom of the Opera Theater!!
