BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW

Date: Sept. 6, 2020

BY: Jackie Brett 

 

NEW DUAL-BRAND HILTON PROPERTY OPENS

                While Las Vegas was experiencing a building boom before Covid-19, some construction projects which were underway are finished and opening. Last week, the new dual-branded Hilton property comprised of a 150-room Hampton Inn & Suites and a 100-room Home2 Suites under one roof opened at 755 Sierra Vista Drive. Strategically placed, it is located across the street from one end of the massive Las Vegas Convention Center and also from a police station. Visitors will be able to walk to the Monorail station when it reopens.

                Every stay at this resort includes a free self-serve hot breakfast. The menu selection features favorite items from each of the hotel brands. Other amenities are free Wi-Fi, non-smoking rooms, fitness center, laundry room with machines, outdoor pool, business center, one large meeting room, pet-friendly rooms, and digital keys.

                 This resort project is owned by DG Development Corporation, a private real estate development and investment corporation based in Las Vegas and managed by Daniel Grimm, president and CEO with more than 25 years of hands-on experience in commercial real estate. His company acquired majority ownership of the Mardi Gras Hotel and Casino in August 2014, located at 3500 Paradise Road, which is also a few steps south of the convention center. They also own more acreage next to the new Hampton/Home2Suites with plans for an apartment complex to the south.

 

AREA15 WILL OPEN THURSDAY, SEPT. 17

                The art and entertainment complex AREA15 will open on Sept. 17. The announcement was made during an event celebrating the arrival of local artist Henry Chang’s kinetic art cars: Mister Fusion and Valyrian Steel. Chang’s street-legal art car Mister Fusion lead the procession. The wildly futuristic art cars will be among the monumental art pieces on view inside and outside at this attraction, which is located minutes from the Strip and can be seen from the I-15 freeway.

 

FLAMINGO PARTNERS WITH FAMED DESIGNER JONATHAN ADLER

                The Flamingo has launched a new partnership with famed potter and designer Jonathan Adler. Influenced by the resort’s rich nearly 75-year history, Adler has elevated elements of style throughout the resort, including an exclusive lamp inspired by the Flamingo’s namesake bird which will be installed in renovated rooms throughout 2020. Adler has also created a line of bespoke retail items available for purchase at the Flamingo Promenade store. Ranging from beach towels, sculptures, mugs, poker chip sets and more, the original collection of treasures has been carefully curated by Adler reflecting his stylish sensibilities and irreverent point-of-view. With pricing from $25 to $150, the Jonathan Adler x Flamingo Las Vegas retail items can be purchased in store or ordered by phone at 702-733-3361.

                Additionally, Adler contributed his talent to the resort’s newly opened Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse, designing a custom hand-beaded flamingo piece which took nearly 100 hours to make. The art piece overlooking the restaurant’s centerpiece bar contains a cornucopia of glass beads.

                Adler launched his namesake brand after leaving his day job to pursue his first love, which is pottery. In 1993, Barneys bought his collection of pots, and five years later, he opened his first store in Soho. Today, Adler is a design company with stores worldwide and more than 1,000 points of distribution globally. It is dedicated to bringing Modern American Glamour to your life.

                In early 2019, the Flamingo completed a $156 million room renovation, with two-thirds of the 3,500 total guest rooms and suites redesigned in the past four years. The remodeled rooms feature contemporary, retro-chic designs with vibrant hues of gold and bright pops of flamingo pink. The most recent phase of renovations introduced new Bunk Bed Rooms and one of the largest dedicated Bunk Bed Suites in the United States.

 

MICHAEL BOYCHUCK OPENS NEW SALON AT THE STIRLING CLUB

                Michael Boychuck, colorist to the stars for the past 20 years, recently opened his fourth salon, which is at The Stirling Club. The salon features a blowout bar, hair extensions services, a barbershop, private manicure and pedicure station, as well as personal rooms for waxing and eyelash extensions. The salon is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can receive a one-day guest pass to the private club when you spend $250 or more on salon services. 

                In addition to the salon, The Stirling Club is completely renovating its spa, set to open Sept. 22 for facials and massages with plans to add MedSpa treatments by the end of the year. The spa has been designed with luxury in mind, with marble tiles and high-end finishes the new spa also features a cedar wood sauna with pink Himalayan salt stones.

                The Stirling Club has been serving its residents and club members for more than 20 years with an upscale 73,000-square-foot private city club. The club offers opulent amenities and luxury service. Last year marked the unveiling of a complete renovation to the club boasting an all-new gym, resort sized pool, Las Vegas’ only clay tennis courts, Michael Boychuck’s salon, a lush spa, and a fine-dining restaurant that features their new executive chef, Dan Rossi.

 

NEVADA BREW WORKS OPENS IN ART DISTRICT

                Last week, Nevada Brew Works opened in the Arts District at 1327 S. Main Street. It’s a recognizable new business because you cannot miss the grain silo situated on the corner of Imperial and Main with big lettering on it now reading “Nevada Brew Works.” Hours are Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-1 a.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-1 a.m.

                 Like so many entrepreneurs, owner Jason Taylor was caught off guard by this year’s devastating pandemic. Plans for the project started back in 2018 and construction for the brewery began in January 2020. When March 17 came around and everything was shut down, there was no real turning back despite challenges ahead starting with not being able to full capacity. In addition, bar tops in the taproom are closed and people can’t line up to order food directly from the kitchen.

 

WYNN BUFFET CLOSES

                Back in June, The Buffet at Wynn was the first buffet on the Strip to reopen with almost 90 all-you-can-eat dishes served at the table instead of the buffet line. The experiment didn’t work out and it closed this week. The change had diners ordering from a menu, with servers bringing dishes to the table and the option to reorder as many times as desired within a two-hour period. The buffet featured tables spread apart for social distancing, touchless technologies, and both disposable single-use and QR code downloadable menus.

 

RAIL EXPLORERS OFFERS OUTDOOR FAMILY FUN

                 Rail Explorers, the all-ages, outdoor-adventure attraction features pedal-powered rail bikes. All rides start at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City and continue downhill to Railroad Pass. Each tour includes a nostalgic ride back to the top of the hill in one of the museum’s historic trains, along with free museum entry.


                Rail Explorers tours include three options, including the Southwest Ramble, a four-mile downhill pedal-powered daytime ride; the Sunset Tour, a downhill ride in the evening as the sun sets behind the River Mountains; and the Evening Lantern Tour, a one-of-a-kind experience illuminated by the glow from the moon and stars.
                With weather still hot, only Sunset and Evening Lantern Tours are offered from Sept. 7 through 23. Through Oct. 11, the schedule will expand to include afternoon tours, with morning tours being added beginning Oct. 12. A tandem rail bike for two starts at $85, and quad rail bike for four guests at $150.

 

MAGICIAN AND SINGER-SONGWRITER COLLABORATE ON VIRAL VIDEOS

                With Covid-19 sidelining entertainment in Las Vegas, the award-winning magician Xavier Mortimer who headlines “Xavier Mortimer’s Magical Dream” show at Bally’s, is keeping busy during his hiatus. Like a singer releasing an album virally, he has been posting some amazing illusion videos on social media and watching his social media followers magically multiply. He’s been gaining fans globally including the multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/recording artist Jason Derulo, who reached out to Mortimer on Instagram to collaborate on some new videos, which have been taking TikTok and Instagram by storm, garnering nearly 30 million views combined in a matter of days.


                French performer Mortimer has performed in more than 30 countries and starred in Cirque du Soleil’s production, “Michael Jackson One.” He became the first Cirque troupe performer to launch a headlining residency on the Strip with the premiere of his show in 2016.

 

ABOUT TOWN NEWS

                Two of Station Casinos North Las Vegas properties, Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho have put their gaming and liquor licenses on hold and plan to remain closed for one year. The move keeps Beaumont’s and Oyster Bar at Texas Station, along with Venom Bar and Cabo Lounge at Fiesta Rancho closed indefinitely. In addition, the fate of two other closed company resorts, Fiesta Henderson and the Palms, remains in question.

                Ferraro's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar’s next Taste & Learn will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. The monthly wine-tasting dinner will take guests to southern Italy’s regions to taste the delicious efforts of wineries which have been a staple on Ferraro’s wine list for years. The event is $75 and all-inclusive with reservations required.

        The nonprofit Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada organization’s largest fundraiser, the Superhero 5K typically held in-person, will be held virtually this year due to COVID-19. To become a part of the superhero force, participants can gather family, friends and co-workers to form a team to race or walk during the weeklong event kicking off virtually via Facebook Live on Saturday, Sept. 19 with a warm up at 7:15 a.m., opening ceremonies at 7:30 a.m. and the run at 8 a.m. Participants can reach their goal by walking or running in their neighborhood, local park or one of several inspirational routes. Celebratory finish lines will be available at multiple locations and there will be contests and giveaways throughout the event.   

                Good news is welcomed nowadays. Move 4 Less assisted HELP of Southern Nevada by moving new mattresses and frames into apartments for seven former homeless adults, who have transitioned into sleeping in their own beds and housing.