BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW

 

Date: July 2, 2017

BY: Jackie Brett 

 

‘THE MISS BEHAVE GAMESHOW’ WILL OPEN AT BALLY’S

        Just off a tour covering Europe, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and San Francisco, “The Miss Behave Gameshow” will open at the recently-converted Back Room (formerly Liaison Nightclub) at Bally’s on Friday, July 7. Shows will be Wednesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49.99.

            Miss Behave is the show’s host for the night aided by her glamorous assistant Tiffany (Bret Pfister). Both performers starred in the Olivier Award-winning smash hits “La Clique” and “La Soiree.” For this show, the audience actually needs their phones because it is about getting interactive on the audience’s terms…except there are no terms, or rules. There are games including: Dial My Number Quickest; The Laid Lottery; Sit on a Seat and See What Happens; Shazam That Riff; Porn I’ll Admit To; and Smash a Phone. This international comedy show is supposed to entice audiences to step outside of their comfort zone

 

‘CIRCUS 1903’ BRINGS GOLDEN AGE OF THE BIG TOP TO PARIS LAS VEGAS

            Coming off successful runs in Los Angeles at Hollywood Pantages Theatre and New York at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, “CIRCUS 1903 –The Golden Age of Circus” will debut inside the Paris Theater at Paris on July 25. Tickets start at $49.

        The show has all the thrills and daredevil entertainment expected from the circus, with a new twist. Sensational puppetry puts an African elephant and her babies back in the ring thanks to the award-winning team of puppeteers and model makers who created the National Theatre’s “War Horse.” Featuring groundbreaking advances in design and expression, the puppets appear throughout the show as the mother teaches her calves the tricks of the trade.

            The show is led by a cunning ringmaster and features a huge cast of amazing and dangerous circus acts from all four corners of the world, from strong men to contortionists, acrobats to musicians, knife throwers to high wire and much more. The show is set in an extraordinary and decadent circus tent. Act 1 is in front of the circus with trucks, props and rigging. Act 2 features the tent, flagpoles and rigging being raised into the roof of the theater.

            The costumes designed by Angela Aaron are impeccable recreations of original turn-of-the-century circus costumes inspired by authentic photographic collections, historical museum pieces and historians. The soundtrack encapsulates the time period and accentuates the danger of the acts.

            “CIRCUS 1903” will be performed Tuesday through Sunday at 7 p.m., with additional performances at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; dark Monday.

 

‘MEN OF THE STRIP’ REVUE HAS LIMITED ENGAGEMENT AT HARD ROCK LIVE

            Back in April, it was reported that “Men of the Strip” would open but at the Tropicana so the place is turning out to be different. With a limited engagement of six performances, the multi-faceted all-male cabaret show will heat things up at Hard Rock Live on the third floor inside the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip in July.

            The talent behind this show includes: Jeff Timmons who was part of the internationally-renowned boy band 98 Degrees; and Emmy-nominated celebrity choreographer, Glenn Douglas Packard who has worked with legendary performers like Michael Jackson, Pink, Usher, and Ricky Martin.

            Performances are scheduled for 9 p.m. on July 14-16, 21, 27 and 28. Tickets are $50 general admission and $100 VIP.

 

MINUS5 ICE OPENS THIRD LOCATION INSIDE GRAND CANAL SHOPPES

            Minus5 Ice Experience, the company that launched America’s first ice experience, will open its third Las Vegas location inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo on Sunday, July 16.

        For the opening, Minus5 will allow the first 50 guests on opening day, July 16, to chill out with complimentary entry into the 1,500-square-foot ice attraction made with more than 100 tons of 100 percent pure Canadian ice.

            Minus5 Ice Experience will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Admission ranges from $22 to $75.

 

‘ALICE: A STEAMPUNK CONCERT FANTASY’ IS NEW AT RED ROCK RESORT

            “ALICE: A Steampunk Concert Fantasy,” an immersive journey through the darker side of Wonderland, will be performed the second Monday of each month at Rocks Lounge inside Red Rock Resort, beginning Monday, July 10 at 10 p.m. Cover is $25 at the door, which includes a complimentary specialty cocktail. Doors open and a special cocktail hour begins at 9 p.m.

            Based on the writings of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” the show combines original arrangements of favorite pop/rock songs with unforgettable vocals, dancers and a nine-piece band, to create a frenetic theatrical experience.

 

ERIC MARTSOLF OF ‘DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ HOSTS LEGENDS IN CONCERT

            Emmy winner actor Eric Martsolf of “Days of Our Lives” is guest hosting the “Legends in Concert” show at the Flamingo June 27 through July 15. Along with the cast, Martsolf will meet-and-greet guests after each performance.

            Martsolf is joined on stage with the following tribute artists: British icon and “Son of a Preacher Man” chart-topper, Dusty Springfield perfected by Katy Setterfield; thrilling moonwalker, Michael Jackson transformed by Brandon Jones; “Diamonds are Forever” blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe portrayed by Stacey Whitton Summers; and Elvis Presley played by Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Winner Justin Shandor.

 

7TH & CARSON BAR AND RESTAURANT OPENS DOWNTOWN

            New downtown is the 7th & Carson Bar and Restaurant, a neighborhood haunt sitting adjacent to the Downtown Container Park, located at 616 East Carson Street. The atmosphere is cozy and approachable as are the price points. 

            Visitors directly enter the cozy atmosphere into a lush patio garden with fresh herbs hanging from the walls and green foliage lining the brick enclosed outdoor dining area. Guests may dine al fresco, inside the vibrant main dining room, at the counter of the exhibition hearth oven or at the bar. Live entertainment and DJ sets are planned for Monday and Thursday nights while the place is open Thursday through Monday from 5 p.m. until closing.

 

FOOD TRUCK WINE WALK FUNDRAISER WILL BE HELD AT TIVOLI VILLAGE

            The Food Truck Wine Walk will be held Saturday, July 8 from 8-11 p.m. at Tivoli Village with 15 wine stations spread out and one food truck/ restaurant at each station providing food pairings. There will also be roaming opera singers by Sin City Opera Singers, beer and sake tastings, VIP Experience and live music.

            This fundraising event is sponsored by The Great American Foodie Fest and Lee’s Discount Liquor to benefit Project 150, a nonprofit charitable organization that helps and serves the homeless students in Clark County.

            Tickets are $75 general admission, $100 VIP on the day of the event, and $65 general admission and $85 VIP presale online at GreatAmericanFoodieFest.com.

 

‘STRICTLY TABOO!’ AT SMITH CENTER WILL HONOR GREAT DIVAS OF JAZZ

            In honor of Ella Fitzgerald’s centennial and the Great American Songbook, a new show celebrates the lives and voices of jazz’s most memorable female artists. International vocalist and songwriter Michelle Johnson will showcase her newest production titled “Strictly Taboo!” inside the Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on July 15 at 8 p.m. Johnson and her special guest vocalists will weave together the stories of some of the greatest female jazz singers of all time. Tickets start at $22.

            Guest performers will include Elyse Branch, Genevieve Dew, Naomi Mauro, Mary O., Kellie Wright, and Avana Christie. The cast is accompanied by the Strictly Taboo Orchestra, the 17-piece big band under the direction of conductor Joe Escriba.

 

NEW PUB 365 Celebrates First Person to Drink 365 Beers

            PUB 365 inside Tuscany Suites features a collection of 365 rotating beers and a menu of traditional pub fare. Mark Sabatini is the first person to reach the unprecedented milestone with the Club 365 beer program of drinking 365 different beers. He did this feat in just under nine months. His reward is an all-inclusive two-night, three-day trip to San Diego where he will tour top breweries.

            Club 365 rewards members for drinking beer with prizes ranging from free menu items to a personalized tap handle on display. For each beer to count, members must drink a new beer.

 

RESTAURANT • NIGHTCLUB ANNIVERSARIES

Triple George Grill

            Triple George Grill across from the Downtown Grand will celebrate its 12th year as a successful independent dining experience in Downtown Las Vegas with Cheers to George and 12 Days of 12-Hour Happy Hours promotions. 

            From July 12 through 30, anyone named George will receive a complimentary appetizer with their meal; two Georges dining together will be served a whiskey flight; and three Georges will inherit a 96 oz. porterhouse steak and house wine free for the table.

            From July 12 through 23, Triple George’s Happy Hour will be extended and run all 12 days from noon to midnight. Daily specials will range from discounted drinks, appetizers, prizes, and give-a-ways for everyone at the counter bar during this 12-day run.

Drai’s After Hours

            A party was held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Drai’s After Hours, making it the longest-running nightlife brand in Las Vegas. The event happened at Drai’s Beachclub-Nightclub atop The Cromwell with Victor Drai receiving the Key to the Las Vegas Strip and a county proclamation declaring “Drai’s Day” along with a key-shaped cake, accented with books inscribed with “Weekend at Bernie’s.”

El Dorado Cantina

            The 181-seat Mexican restaurant El Dorado Cantina located off the Strip at 3025 Sammy Davis Jr. Drive just celebrated its third anniversary with a party, sombreros, margaritas and a mariachi band. While the location is quite original since the eatery shares a wall with Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club in a business-type neighborhood, it is very welcoming to families and open 24-hours daily.

QUICK TIP ITEMS

            Celebrated singer/songwriter Lee Ann Womack is bringing her southern charm to the Tropicana for one night Friday, July 14 at 9 p.m. Tickets are priced from $29.95 to $69.95.

            “Queen of the Night! Remembering Whitney Houston,” starring Trina Johnson-Finn, will bring the superstar’s timeless hits to life in the Access Showroom at Aliante on Saturday, July 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

            The Universal Domino League (UDL), the world’s first professional domino league, will hold its Summer Slam Domino Tournament at Westgate on Saturday, July 8 at 2 p.m. More than 350 contestants will compete for $50,000 in cash and prizes. Entry fee is $200.

            Singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha will perform at the Flamingo GO Pool on Saturday, July 8. Tickets are $20 and $10 for hotel guests.

            The Killers’ new music video “The Man,” with the group’s front man Brandon Flowers filmed around Las Vegas at such locations as the Marc Antony Villa and Cleopatra Villa at Caesars Palace, the Plaza Hotel’s showroom, and Dino’s Lounge.

            Caesars Entertainment Corporation is opening the new Caesars Entertainment Studios, Nevada’s first full-service production studio offering the newest, most advanced facility capable of housing full-scale television, movie and eSports production. The 48,000-square-foot studio sits on five acres of land adjacent to Bally’s. The soundstage is capable at hosting feature films, television shows and special events.

            “Fast and Furious” star Michelle Rodriguez, who is currently working on a movie with director Steve McQueen in Chicago, was in Las Vegas recently visiting her longtime friends, Genghis Cohen, owner of Machine Gun Helicopters (MGH), and David Perriset, owner of Exotics Racing, both high-end adventure attractions in Las Vegas. Experiencing MGH, Rodriguez got to fire a belt-fed M249 belt-fed machine gun from a helicopter high above the Nevada desert.

            The Plaza, which has the only bingo room in downtown Las Vegas, is offering Super Match Bingo all summer long with a chance to win up to $1,000 each session.

Every player in each bingo session from July 1 through Sept. 30 will receive a raffle ticket for an opportunity to play the match game for prizes.

            Las Vegas’ headlining Blue Man Group was featured in a special video presentation during the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile Arena last month. During the comedic video, Blue Man Group, along with other local entertainers, showed off their best hockey skills to be “considered” for the new Vegas Golden Knights team.

            CasaBlanca held its annual “Elvis Rocks Mesquite” Elvis Presley tribute event last month. The contest attracted 19 top tribute artists from around the world and awarded Robert Washington of Auburn, Maine, as the 2017 Champion. For Elvis enthusiasts, think about attending next year.

            A penny slot machine paid off big last month at Harrah’s. Nicholas Blaskowski and Nicole Perry from Phoenix, Ariz., hit a jackpot on a Willy Wonka: World of Wonka machine for just under one million at $944,337.37.

 

DINING HIGHLIGHTS

            Surprise news, Standard & Pour restaurant in Henderson, which was a collaboration between the late Kerry Simon’s Simon Hospitality Group and Titan Brands, which runs Hussong’s Cantina and Slice of Vegas at Mandalay Place, closed suddenly last week.

            Through Sept. 26, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria with locations in 15 states is bringing back its popular Tuesday Tastings featuring half off glasses, carafes and bottles of wine and Sangria every Tuesday excluding house wine.

            Americana Las Vegas in Desert Shores is raising a glass to “Wine & Women Wednesdays,” featuring ladies’ night specials from 6 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday. The restaurant offers ladies half-off on all bottles of wine and the entire menu and also showcases live entertainment that night.

            Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Downtown Summerlin has two promotions during July. The Bar & Grill will feature its BBQ menu for $19 on Saturday, July 15 beginning at 1 p.m. and the Summer of Beer dinner part two of three planned on Tuesday, July 11. The three-course dinner will be paired with brewing partner Joseph James Brewing Co. beginning at 6 p.m.

            M Resort has unveiled a new Tiki Bar open poolside every Friday from 8-10 p.m. with a variety of cocktails, wines and beers, and specially-priced appetizers from Jayde Fuzion. The rest of the week, this is the main bar at M Pool from 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

            Cucina at The Shops at Crystals and Lupo at Mandalay Bay by Wolfgang Puck are each offering summer 3 prix fixe dinner menus for $35 and $45 respectively.

            The new Proof Tavern at Lake Las Vegas has promoted its executive chef, Jon Littleton to general manager where he’s overseeing day-to-day operations with an emphasis on special event bookings for the venue’s second-floor private event space.  Littleton was formally with three Mario Batali restaurants in Las Vegas including Carnevino, B&B Ristorante and B&B Burger and Beer.

 

ACM NAMES HARD ROCK’S THE JOINT CASINO OF THE YEAR–MED. CAPACITY

            The Joint at Hard Rock has added a new accolade to its list of awards since reopening its doors in 2009. The Academy of Country Music® (ACM) recognized The Joint as Casino Of The Year – Medium Capacity. Within the last year, the intimate music venue has hosted country acts including Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Eric Church, Rascal Flatts, Gary Allan, Anderson East and many more. The ACM industry award winners will be announced and celebrated during the 11th Annual ACM Honors™ on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

 

JUHL LOOKS FOR NEXT NEVADA ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

            Juhl, a 344–residence, loft-style community spanning an entire city block in downtown Las Vegas puts out a call to Nevada artists for its Artist in Residence program, which provides an opportunity for select artists to live and work rent-free for a residency of up to six months. Las Vegas native Justin Favela, the program’s inaugural Artist in Residence, will conclude his residency this summer. During his residency, Favela has been working on a commissioned piece for the upcoming Mi Tierra: Contemporary Artists Explore Place exhibit at Denver Art Museum. The next residency will begin Oct. 1.