Date: March 28, 2021
REMINDER All Las Vegas area hotels, casinos, shows, attractions, restaurants, public transportation, etc. adhere to all the COVID-19 state requirements especially wearing a mask and social distancing.
PENN & TELLER RETURN TO THE RIO BEGINNING APRIL 22
Penn & Teller, who haven’t been on stage in over a year, will return to their namesake theater at the Rio on Thursday, April 22. The show will feature all-new content and magic as well as selections from Penn & Teller’s extensive catalog of fan favorites. Tickets, which begin at $60, go on sale April 2.
Their full performance schedule with all shows starting at 9 p.m. will be April 22-25, 29-30; May 1-2, 6-8, 28-31, and June 3-6, 10-13.
SANDBOX VR ANNOUNCES FIRST LAS VEGAS LOCATION
Sandbox VR has signed a contract to open the latest Sandbox VR location in the Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian®. The company anticipates opening the new site in the early summer of 2021.
Sandbox VR is a socially immersive experience providing players an interesting combination of full body motion capture and VR technologies that enable a participant to become anyone and go anywhere, together with their friends. The Sandbox experience allows guests to step into another world.
Sandbox VR continues to commit to safety and sanitization by offering a private room for each group and complete sanitization of equipment after every use.
SMOKE & FIRE OFFERS ST. LOUIS-STYLE MENU TWISTS
Smoke & Fire is a new barbeque which opened quietly over the summer of 2020 for curbside pickup, delivery, and catering during the pandemic. Smoke & Fire located locally at 3315 East Russell Road, Suite A5,is now open for indoor and patio dining. The restaurant is locally owned and operated by retired NBA player Alan Anderson along with a group of hospitality veterans including Executive Chef David Mangual (sbe Hospitality, Hospitality Boulevard, Bellagio and more). Hours are currently daily – Monday-Saturday noon to 7 p.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Smoke & Fire offers their take on traditional favorites with a St. Louis-style twist and menu highlights like Blueberry Sliders, Loaded BBQ Fries, and St. Louis Style Ribs. Additionally, every Friday and Saturday, Smoke & Fire offers a smoked brisket on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
The 2,414-square-foot venue has 18 HD TVs for viewing sporting events and a working vintage pinball machine. The inside can accommodate 93 patrons for dining while an additional 60 guests can dine outdoors under a covered patio complete with a mini putting green, ping-pong table and twinkle lights.
MUSEUM FIASCO DEBUTS NEW EXPERIENTIALSHOW ‘STELLAR’
Museum Fiasco inside AREA15on the mezzanine is debuting a new show titled “Stellar” this week. This immersive odyssey through light, sound and space will be the third chapter of Museum Fiasco’s debut installation series, which includes exhibits “Cluster” and “Railwave,” which opened last November.
“Stellar” by Playmodes Studio invites voyagers on an intense and captivating cosmic journey through visual-sonic sequences. Guests will catapult into outer space on an intense 10-minute flight from departure to landing, zooming through comets, planets, galaxies, crossing nebulae and visiting other worlds, until finally returning safely back to Earth. This experience pushes the boundaries of wavelengths, technology and creativity re-architecting a large-scale space into an interstellar exploration.
Starting April 5, Museum Fiasco will be open Monday to Thursday noon to 10 p.m., Friday noon to midnight, and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight. Tickets are available on the AREA15 website.
VEGAS INVASION, A HISTORIC TIKTOK MEETUP TO OCCUR AT THE PLAZA
Vegas Invasion will call the Plaza home base during the largest TikTok meet up in history, April 16-18, when TikTok creators with followings large and small visit Las Vegas to collaborate on videos, photos and fun in the heart of downtown while raising money and awareness for The Paralyzed Veterans of America, Las Vegas Chapter.
Popular TikTok creators, Chiefnitro, Timeoutwithjosh and KeithandFrank organized Vegas Invasion as a meetup of positive influencers on the popular social media site from around the globe to support the local nonprofit that provides necessities to paralyzed veterans. Vegas Invasion is one of many events the creators plan to hold throughout the country to support veterans’ charities.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America, Las Vegas Chapter currently aids approximately 150 veterans in Southern Nevada. Like many other nonprofits, the organization has found it difficult to fundraise during the pandemic. This touched the hearts of Jay Malyuk (Chiefnitro) and Keith Peterson (KeithandFrank), both veterans themselves. Malyuk is a retired Navy Chief with 20 years of service and deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Peterson is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Attendance for Vegas Invasion is already sold out. There will be exclusive events and several raffles over the weekend.
‘THE PURPLE PIANO’ CELEBRATES PRINCE’S MUSIC
Nearly five years after the pop music icon Prince’s untimely death, Marshall Charloff has created a one-man tribute show, “The Purple Piano,” dedicated to the artistry and music of the legendary Prince.“The Purple Piano” starring Marshall Charloff takes the stage Thursday-Sunday at 8 p.m. in the Athena Showroom at Alexis Park on E. Harmon Ave. Tickets start at $49.95.
Charloff has performed nationwide fronting world-class symphonies in most major cities in the U.S. and Canada, played keys in the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and since 2011 toured fronting the celebrated “Purple xPeRIeNCE.” Marshall is featured on recordings with Prince on the album “94 East,” where he plays both keyboards and bass guitar, and recently collaborated with Prince’s sister Sharon Nelson to co-write and record “Colours.” Pepe Willie, who discovered Marshall, was also responsible for getting Prince's career up and running.
“The Purple Piano” joins an impressive lineup of different shows at Alexis Park including “All Motown,” “The Big Little Variety Show,” “Amazing Magic starring Tommy Wind, “BurlesQ,” “Rock Candy: Male Revue,” “Jokesters Comedy Club,” “Alain Nu - The Man Who Knows,” and “Late Night Magic.”
ROSS & SNOW TO HOLD FIRST-EVER, EXCLUSIVE POP-UP SALE
Normally available only online, Vegas’ first-born luxury brand, Ross & Snow, will hold the company’s first-ever, pop-up footwear sale on Thursday, April 15 at The Space, 3460 Cavaretta Court, from noon-8 p.m. This one-day-only sale will feature discounts up to 90% off retail on a variety of shoes, boots and slippers for both men and women.
Due to the limited inventory, shoppers should arrive early to get the best selection of designs and sizes. Ross & Snow also recommends a suggested donation of $5 to enter the sale, which will be directly donated to the local nonprofit Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, which provides sneakers, socks and essentials to at-risk youth.
Ross & Snow was founded by husband-and-wife team and shoe industry veterans, Meghan and Fred Mossler. From boots to slippers to sneakers, the full line is crafted in small, family-owned factories in the Italian countryside and made from the highest-grade Italian leathers. Ross & Snow’s full product line is available on the company’s website as well as on Zappos and Nordstrom’s site.
CHEF CANTEENWALLA APPEARS AT VEGAS TEST KITCHEN DOWNTOWN
Launching Wednesday, March 31, Vegas Test Kitchen will welcome guest Chef Kim Canteenwalla, the culinary mind behind a variety of Las Vegas restaurants including Honey Salt. He will offer two concepts: Play Dough– highlighting pierogies, pastries, pies and more; and Picks, Sticks & Fingers– focusing on global skewers and finger foods. Though tickets are required for reserving each dish in advance, walk ins are always welcome. Tickets are available through secretburger.com.
Vegas Test Kitchen opened last December in #120 at Furgusons Downtown, which is a former motel converted to a creative mall at 1020 Fremont Street. Vegas Test Kitchen, which has welcomed its first resident chef, brought in multiple popups, held events, launched a bar program and more, is open Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with guest chef pop up Monday through Wednesday.
1923 PROHIBITION BAR EXTENDS NEW ORLEANS NIGHTS
Due to overwhelming demand, 1923 Prohibition Bar at The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay, open seven days a week, will be extending New Orleans Nights featuring jazz singer Nieve Malandra to Friday and Saturday evenings beginning Friday, April 9 from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Malandra, a native of San Francisco, grew up singing in cafés and restaurants. After relocating to Los Angeles, she quickly became known as a versatile voice, mastering several styles and developing an expansive vocal range. Malandra has worked in Las Vegas with her jazz band for several years, and she also performs as the lead female vocalist for the band Zowie Bowie.
The new Prohibition-themed bar is a private, hidden, modern speakeasy, serving bourbon spirits and signature barrel-aged specialty cocktails. The elegant venue also hosts live burlesque shows, live rock band karaoke and bourbon education and tasting classes. Located adjacent to Minus5° Ice Experience, 1923 Prohibition Bar offers “Fire & Ice” private events.
BURLESQUE HALL OF FAME WILL RE-OPEN APRIL 2
After being closed more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Burlesque Hall of Fame (BHOF) museum, which is dedicated to preserving, celebrating and inspiring the art of burlesque, will reopen to the public on Friday, April 2. In accordance with state guidelines, the museum has made significant changes to both its physical space and its operating procedures to assure safety for guests and staff.
For the immediate future, the museum will be open two days a week – Friday and Saturday – from 11a.m. to 5p.m., on a timed-entry basis limited to six admissions per hour and no more than 10 visitors in the space at any given time. Reservations for time slots can be made on the BHOF’s website; while walk-ins be accepted when no other reservations have been made for that time slot.
DOWNTOWN CONTAINER PARK HOLDS TOUCHLESS EASTER EGG HUNT
Downtown Container Park open-air shopping center and entertainment venue has planned an “eggcellent” all-ages touchless Easter egg hunt and Silent Disco bash on Sunday, April 4 from noon to 4 p.m.
To participate, guests download the Touchless Egg Hunt app, which will facilitate the egg hunt. After check-in, super sleuths will have one hour to explore the park and collect “eggs” by scanning hidden QR codes through the app. Each scanned egg will reveal a prize that can be collected upon checkout after time has expired. In addition, there will be a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny.
Following the hunt, will be the Easter edition of Container Park’s Silent Disco! General admission tickets are $10 per person and $15 at the door. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
FOUNDERS COFFEE PLANS AFTERNOON TEA PARTY
In celebration of National Tea Day on Wednesday, April 21, Founders Coffee is holding a one-afternoon-only tea party complete with tiered trays and plenty of charm. Available exclusively at the Founders St. Rose location, the event encourages tea hats, pinkies up, and your best spring looks.
There will be seatings at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Tickets on Eventbrite are $40 per guest in packages of two, four and six guests. The menu includes bite size toasts in avocado, cucumber egg, and lox, frittata bites, fresh berries and edible flowers, lemon cheesecake, coconut macaroons, lavender shortbread cookie, mini fruit tart, and blooming tea flowers.
RAIL EXPLORERS OFFERS TOURS DAILY BEGINNING APRIL 1
Rail Explorers, the year-round, all-ages, outdoor-adventure attraction featuring pedal-powered rail bikes, will offer tours seven days a week beginning April 1. All rides start at the Nevada State Railroad Museum and continue downhill to Railroad Pass. Each tour also includes a nostalgic ride back to the top of the hill in one of the museum’s historic trains, along with free museum entry.
Tours include three memorable options, the Southwest Ramble, a four-mile downhill pedal-powered daytime ride; the Sunset Tour, a picturesque downhill ride in the evening as the sun sets behind the River Mountains; and the Fireside Twilight Tour, a one-of-a-kind experience illuminated by the glow from the moon and stars and a chance to gather around Rail Explorers’ fire pits.
A tandem rail bike for two starts at $85, and a quad rail bike for four guests at $150.
MOB MUSEUM SPEAKER WILL COVER ‘BUSTIING THE SKIM’
At The Mob Museum inside the historic courtroom on the second floor on Thursday, April 8 from 7 to 8 p.m. David Helfrey, the former chief of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Strike Force in Kansas City, Mo., will be speaking. His talk is “Busting the Skim: The Case That Crippled the Mob in Las Vegas.” For decades, the Mob skimmed untaxed income from Las Vegas casinos, enriching crime syndicates across the country. In 1986, Helfrey spearheaded the prosecution of several Midwestern Mafia bosses accused of skimming from the Stardust and Fremont casinos. Helfrey will provide insights into the high-profile case that inspired the movie “Casino.” This case arguably marks the end of significant Mob involvement with the Las Vegas casino industry.
Cost to attend is free for museum members or with admission to the museum.
FIREFIGHTERS PERFORMED RESCUE TRAINING ATOP HIGH ROLLER
The High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ Promenade was the four-hour scene this week of Las Vegas Valley firefighters performing high-angle rescue training scenarios. The exercise provides these public safety professionals unique opportunities to test their skills with a variety of rescue scenarios, while reviewing safety measures atop the world’s highest observation wheel 550 feet above the Las Vegas Strip.
ABOUT TOWN TIDBITS
In town for the recent pageant, Mrs. America 2020 Natalie Winslow, and Miss For America 2020 Kassie Perkins visited ICEBAR at The LINQ Promenade. ICEBAR is an immersive ice experience offering a distinctively chill vibe for people of all ages, with signature frosty cocktails served in glasses made entirely of ice for guests age 21 and older.
On April 1 beginning at sunset, Downtown Container Park invites fans to rejoice in the return of its mascot The Mantis after a year-long hibernation. The Mantis is a 40-foot long, 150 scale replica female Praying Mantis originally constructed by Aerospace engineer Kirk Jellum and purchased by the late Tony Hsieh in 2013. The Mantis resides on the corner of 7th and Fremont Street welcoming tourists and locals.
One lucky Colorado resident, Emma, hit big on her birthday at Arizona Charlie’s on Decatur winning $50,343 on the 34th number, B13, while playing Charlie’s Double Progressive during the 7 p.m. Tuesday session.
One visitor from Reno, Nev., won $106,964 on blackjack progressives alone at The STRAT earlier this month. Patrick, bet $5 on one bonus jackpot to win $94,221 and bet $1 on another bonus jackpot on the same hand to win $12,743.