“BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW”

 

DATE: Sunday, May 1, 2016

BY: Jackie Brett

 

VEGAS COLUMN

 

DOUBLE WHAMMY HAPPENING: INTRIGUE AT WYNN – JEWEL AT ARIA

 

            Out of the gate last week Intrigue nightclub at Wynn was unveiled in the remodeled space formerly occupied by Tryst nightclub for 10 years until last November and it’s a change from the former big-box mega-club approach. Seal was the opening superstar headliner.

            Intrigue, a 14,000-square-foot venue with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, can accommodate up to 1,200 guests and entertainment with contemporary party music. A new glass enclosed patio allows year-round viewing of the venue’s waterfall and new pyrotechnics show. In addition, it has a 1,200-square-foot private club within the club with the ultimate in privacy. From month to month, the club will take on a different look and feel with color palates changing frequently.

            Hakkasan Group’s new Jewel Nightclub will open at Aria on Thursday, May 19 and span more than 24,000 square feet of precisely designed space. The talent lineup for opening weekend includes: guest host Jamie Foxx with DJ Irie – May 19; a surprise guest – May 20; The Chainsmokers May 21; and Lil Jon May 23.

 

BOYD GAMING IS ACQUIRING ALIANTE AND CANNERY PROPERTIES

 

            Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming is buying two Cannery Casino Resorts for $230 million and Aliante in North Las Vegas for $380 million. These purchases will bring Boyd’s holdings to 12 properties in Southern Nevada. After approval these deals are expected to close in the third quarter this year.

            The 201-room Cannery in North Las Vegas off I-15 opened in early January 2003. The property has an 80,000-square-foot casino, five restaurants, five bars, a 30,000-square-foot entertainment venue and a 14-screen movie theater.

            The 307-room Eastside Cannery on Boulder Highway has a 64,000-square-foot casino, five restaurants and four bars, 20,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space and a 250-seat entertainment lounge.

 

ALL-MALE REVUE ‘STEELE’ OPENED AT TOMMY WIND THEATER

 

            “Steele” is a new male revue that just opened at the Tommy Wind Theater on the Strip. Show producer London Steele was the inspiration for the character Dallas in the hit film “Magic Mike.” The production features eight sexually-charged dance numbers highlighting a fireman fantasy, military hunks in formation, country personalities and much more. Shows are Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $49.95 and VIP $69.95.

 

TAYLOR DAYNE JOINS ‘SECOND CHANCE PROM’ LINEUP AT ORLEANS ARENA

 

            Celebrated 1980s and ‘90s musical artists will perform some of their greatest radio dance hits at the Orleans Arena for “Second Chance Prom,” a concert presented by SUNNY 106.5 on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. A surprise special guest will be announced at a later date. Tickets are available from $35.

            Vocal powerhouse Taylor Dayne just joined the lineup, and will perform her timeless hits “Love Will Lead You Back” and “Tell It to My Heart.” Other acts will include:
multi-platinum-selling artists En Vogue; Exposé the first girl group to have seven back-to-back top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100; teen pop sensation Tiffany who recorded her hit song at age 15; The Jets; Club Nouveau; Nu Shooz; and Timmy T.

 

DONNY OSMOND HOME™ WILL OPEN GALLERY AT WALKER FURNITURE

 

            Walker Furniture will become the exclusive Las Vegas retailer for Donny Osmond Home (DOH) brand furnishings. The Grand Opening for the gallery will be held Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with Osmond doing a personal meet-and-greet autograph-signing session from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. following the ribbon cutting in Walker’s Showroom Atrium.

            Festivities during the Grand Opening will include drawings every 15 minutes for a pair of tickets to the “Donny & Marie” show at the Flamingo. Also, guests can enter for a chance to win a DOH three-drawer accent cabinet. Free gifts will be given away and refreshments will be served.

 

STRATOSPHERE UNVEILS COMPLETELY REMODELED ELATION POOL

 

            The Stratosphere’s completely-renovated and renamed Elation Pool™ now open on the eighth floor of the hotel offers guests city views and an array of poolside amenities including new cabanas and daybeds, ice-cold beverages and food from Elation’s Café and a new bar. Premium plasma TVs and new custom hot tubs complete the resort pool experience.

            Elation Pool hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the  bar and grill opening at 10 a.m. Admission for hotel guests is presentation of their room key, for non-hotel guests is $10, and for those who sign-up for “Take Vegas Back” there is a discounted admission of $5.

            Now the Stratosphere provides two pool options – Elation Pool for all ages, and Radius Rooftop Pool & Wet Lounge on the 25th floor for adults.

 

NEW PT’S GOLD OPENS IN HENDERSON

 

            PT’s Entertainment Group, a division of Golden Entertainment, and the largest traditional tavern operator in Nevada, opened a new PT’s Gold location at 1540 West Sunset Road in Henderson. This marks 15th PT’s Gold, a concept Golden Entertainment branded in 2003. 

            The company recently announced a new menu for all of its PT’s Gold locations, which also offer 50 percent off drinks and pizzas during happy hour, 5-7 p.m. and midnight to 2 a.m. daily, and 50 percent off breakfast from 6-10 a.m. each day.

 

IT’S TIME FOR ELKS HELLDORADO DAYS RODEO WEEK

 

            The city of Las Vegas’ longest running civic event is Helldorado Days, an annual cowboy-themed outdoor charitable festival and tribute to the Wild West. The event began in 1935 and is produced by the Elks Lodge.

            Rodeo week is three days packed with rodeo action, Western tributes, a carnival atmosphere with a whiskerino contest, live music, exhibits, vendors, food and more. The new, rodeo grounds are directly across the Strip from the Luxor.

 

NEW KISS ATTRACTION AT RIO WILL INCLUDE A WEDDING CHAPEL

 

            Couples will soon be able to get married at the LOVE IT LOUD Rock & Roll Wedding Chapel at KISS® By Monster Mini Golf®. The new venue will open May 19 inside the Rio and set the stage for weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies with an all-new stage, expanded lineup of rock n’ roll ministers, and wedding packages that make the big day a walk in Paradise City.

 

WILL ARNETT TO HOST 2016 NHL AWARDS AT HARD ROCK

 

            The NHL Awards™ will return to Las Vegas and be held for the first time at the Hard Rock Hotel this summer on Wednesday, June 22 at The Joint. The awards show will be hosted by actor Will Arnett. This will be the eighth year of a successful partnership between Las Vegas and the league and the seventh time the NHL will honor the best hockey players in the world and the top performances of the season in Las Vegas.

 

RESTAURANTS CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO

 

            La Comida downtown will keep the tequila and beer flowing with “Cinco de Drinko,” a three-day triple fiesta from May 5-7 celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the cantina’s three-year anniversary and the birthday of resident “funologist” John ‘JOD’ O’Donnell. All three days will include Mariachi performing, piñata smashings and the “Cinco Trio” - a fish taco, a Coronita and shot of Milagro tequila for $9.99.

            Hard Rock Hotel’s Mexican cantina Pink Taco will celebrates Cinco de Mayo with food and beverage specials and a Pinko de Mayo fiesta on Thursday, May 5 starting at 6 p.m. Patrons can participate in taco eating contests throughout the night. The first person to finish 25 tacos will win a Pink Taco T-shirt and gift certificate.

 

ENTERTAINMENT SHORT NOTES

 

            As part of the Japan Kabuki Festival Las Vegas 2016, Panasonic is presenting the Water Screen Digital Show by Shochiku x teamLab daily at The Fountains at Bellagio through May 7. There are four free shows daily at 8, 9, 10 and 11 p.m.

            Aaron Lewis will perform at Stoney's Rockin’ Country club on Saturday, May 14 for the “Our Heroes Benefit Concert: Helping Wounded Veterans” fundraiser. He’s being joined by Elvis Monroe, Jared Blake and Elko Live. Tickets are $30 in advance.
            Country music hit maker Phil Vassar will follow at Stoney's on Wednesday, May 18. The piano-pounding powerhouse on stage will kick off the opening of Wednesday nights at the Town Square dance venue. He has released six albums and been ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

            Lena Prima will be in Las Vegas performing at the San Gennaro Feast May 4, 5,7 and 8 and then appear in concert at the Italian American Club on Wednesday, May 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $35.

            Sin City Opera will present Jacques Offenbach’s comedic opéra bouffe “La Périchole” at the Winchester Cultural Center May 6–15. The production will have an all-new English translation and super titles by an artistic director, Skip Galla, and feature an orchestra. Tickets are $15.

 

NEON MUSEUM PRESENTS FAMILY ROAD TRIP LECTURE

 

            On Wednesday, May 18, the Neon Museum will host a Times of the Signs lecture, “Are We There Yet? Remembering the Family Road Trip.” Presented by Susan Sessions Rugh, the discussion at 6:30 p.m. will cover Rugh’s research on motels and the evolution and impact of the family vacation on society as part of the museum’s Times of the Signs Series held in the Neon Boneyard. She will sell and sign copies of “Family Vacation” following the presentation, which is free but advanced registration is required online.

 

BEER PARK PLANS DERBY PARTY

 

            Beer Park at Paris will host a rooftop Kentucky Derby viewing party sponsored by Veuve Clicquot champagne on Saturday, May 7. Derby enthusiasts dressed in traditional Kentucky Derby-style will receive a complimentary glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Beer Park will also offer an exclusive special with the Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich with shaved oven-roasted turkey, aged Kentucky ham, Mornay sauce, parmesan cheese and tomato.

 

SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY DEALS

 

            The Art Festival of Henderson has been a Mother’s Day weekend tradition for years dedicated to the visual, performing, interactive and fine arts. Dozens of booths along Water Street will be selling artwork. There will also be entertainment and a children’s Imagination Station. Admission is complimentary.
            On Mother’s Day, every mom who enjoys a Mother’s Day meal at Delmonico Steakhouse in the Venetian can purchase an “Essential Emeril” cookbook, personally signed by Chef Emeril Lagasse for 25 percent off.

            La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway at Wynn will celebrate Mother’s Day with a decadent butler-style brunch and “bottomless” mimosas, bloody marys and more from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. All mothers will be offered a complimentary mimosa. Prepared by Corporate Executive Chef William DeMarco, all brunch selections will be served butler-style, with continual tray-passed tasting portions served directly to tables. Brunch will be $54.95 and $28 per child and $20 extra for “bottomless” cocktails.

            Two shopping malls, Las Vegas South Premium Outlets and Las Vegas North Premium Outlets will have brand ambassadors stationed throughout the centers May 6 through May 8 from noon to 4 p.m. handing out promotional rack cards with additional gift offers. At the north mall, there will be a “We Love Mom” Mother’s Day photo booth in the Food Court Patio on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 from noon to 5 p.m. The south mall will have arts and crafts on May 7 and 8 from noon to 4 p.m. near Guest Services.

 

RESTAURANT NEWS BLURBS

 

            Part of the Miracle Mile Shops’ Harmon Avenue redevelopment will include two new dining outlets: Hot N Juicy Crawfish opening this fall and Nacho Daddy opening late this summer. The 3,000-square-foot Hot N Juicy Crawfish will feature authentic Cajun-style seafood at the company’s first Strip location. Nacho Daddy will highlight Mexican cuisine and the well-known Scorpion Shot.

            The chefs of the Divine Cafe at the Springs Preserve will hold a hands-on Spanish cuisine cooking class for Tapas and Paella on Friday, May 13 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The menu paired with beer and wine costs $80.10 for members and $89 for non-members, visit Eventbrite to sign up.

            Because of immediate success, GIADA in the Cromwell has broadened brunch to Fridays, in addition to weekends at Chef Giada De Laurentiis’ namesake restaurant. Brunch can be experienced a la carte or via a $45 tasting menu.

            The next Taste & Learn event at Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant on Paradise will be a four-course wine pairing dinner representing three different producers on Saturday, May 7 from 4-6 p.m. Cost is $65 and reservations are required, call 702-364-5300.

 

MIKE TYSON’S SHOW GOING STRONG AT MGM GRAND

 

             “Mike Tyson UNDISPUTED TRUTH – Live On Stage” at the MGM Grand is a no holds barred, one-man show featuring the world’s most illustrious heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. The show was crafted to give the public a compelling, honest, humorous, one-of-a-kind, pure live autobiography of one of today’s most complex and well-known figures. It was the first show to be created and produced in Las Vegas and result in a subsequent Broadway run. The show is performed in Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club Thursday through Sunday at 10 p.m., with select dark dates. Performances have been added Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30. Tickets start at $54.95.

 

UPCOMING FUNDRAISING EVENTS

 

            The 2016 Las Vegas Rotary Car & Bike Show will take place Sunday, May 15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature classic, rare and exotic cars and motorcycles, food trucks kids’ entertainment, raffle and auction prizes. Hosted by Celebrity Cars Las Vegas, the event will be held at 7770 Dean Martin Drive, Ste. 301. Admission and car registration is free.

            In honor of National Military Appreciation Month and to mark the USO’s 75th anniversary, Clark County is changing the lights of the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign to red, white, and blue. Throughout the month of May, USO Las Vegas will be raising funds. One event will be held on Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. at Planet Hollywood where participants can play alongside legendary poker player “The Duke of Fremont” and Caesars Palace’s headliner Matt Goss in the USO Celebrity Poker Challenge. Entry is $200 and 1st place wins a $10,000 seat at the 2016 World Series of Poker.

            The Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk will be held on Saturday, May 14 at Exploration Park in Mountain’s Edge. In addition to the community walk, festivities will include live music, food tent, kids’ entertainment, raffle with great prizes, vendor booths, wellness area, educational materials, park activities and more. Onsite registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk at 10 a.m. No registration fee is required, but a $25 per person donation is encouraged.

            The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, will celebrate its 11th Annual Gala at The Cosmopolitan on Saturday, May 14 at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “One Vision, One Community!” The dinner will honor two noteworthy contributors working for the betterment of the community. Tickets start at $250.

 

SAN GENNARO FEAST MOVES TO CRAIG RANCH REGIONAL PARK, MAY 4-8

 

            The 37th Annual San Gennaro Feast will take place May 4-8 at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas. The Las Vegas food and music festival celebrates the spirit of San Gennaro and features more than 70 restaurant food booths, 60 amusements rides, 80-foot petting zoo, pony rides and piglets, midway games, arts and crafts booths, and continuous live music. Entertainment featuring some of Las Vegas’ finest Strip entertainers is coordinated by singer Tony Sacca who also hosts and headlines nightly. Entry tickets are $10.

 

FAST NOTES

 

            National Travel and Tourism Week 2016 is taking place this week, May 1-7. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will be hosting its annual National Travel and Tourism Week Rally Day on Tuesday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m. at the Toshiba Plaza adjacent to the new T-Mobile arena.
            The Sun Devil Caravan will begin its 2016 tour in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 10 featuring vice president for university athletics Ray Anderson, head football coach Todd Graham,  women’s triathlon coach Cliff English and mascot Sparky. Sun Devil fans are invited to join a free meet and greet with coaches, administrators and student-athletes on the patio at the Hard Rock Hotel from 5-6:30 p.m. Afterwards the Sun Devils will play baseball against UNLV at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Tickets are $5 in advance.