March 5th, 2010

Put your hands together for possible ‘Legends’ cast member Sarah Palin!
BY: John Katsliomentes/Las Vegas Sun.

Shecky Palin — I mean, Sarah Palin — cut it up pretty good on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” Tuesday night. For his second show since returning to his original “Tonight Show” slot after NBC’s failed plan to move Conan O’Brien into the 11:30 p.m. position, Leno invited Palin on as a guest and to perform some a couple of minutes of stand-up.

“I have been really busy,” she conveyed, operating without a prop or any discernible scribbling on her palms. “I’ve picked up a gig in Las Vegas, at the ‘Legends’ show, playing Tina Fey.”

Word from the production is essentially, “Sure! Bring her on!” “Legends in Concert,” formerly at Imperial Palace, is currently staged at Harrah’s six nights a week, two shows per night (dark Saturdays).

You’ll find Palin’s standup routine here, in Part 2 of a link to the routine from a Washington Post story. Palin’s comment about Vegas and “Legends” arrives with about 2:30 remaining.

Judge for yourself the quality of her act, but at least give credit to Palin for staying with it until the end, unlike her term as governor of Alaska. BA-DUM-BUM! Thank you, tip your waitresses, try the veal. Or in this case, the moose …

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2010/mar/03/put-your-hands-together-possible-legends-cast-memb/

Oddsmaker: ‘Avatar’ the Best Picture favorite at Academy Awards.
BY/Liz Benston/Las Vegas Sun.

The Las Vegas line on the Academy Awards – or, more specifically, that set by Wynn Las Vegas oddsmaker Johnny Avello – has the epic blockbuster “Avatar” a slight favorite to win Best Picture over the independent film “The Hurt Locker.”

Betting non-sporting events such as the Oscars, reality shows and political contests is against the law in Nevada.

Yet casinos may set odds for entertainment purposes. For the past 16 years, Avello has set odds on the Academy Awards and other events such as the Grammy awards, “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars.”

A theoretical bet on “Avatar” would double your money while “The Hurt Locker” is only a 7-to-5 favorite, Avello says.

This Sunday, Avello will host Wynn Las Vegas’ first-ever Academy Awards viewing party. While the sports book broadcasts the Celtics and Nuggets games on smaller screens, the main event will involve a rare display of non-gambling activity including Oscar trivia, raffles and other contests that are free and open to the public.

As required by law, of course.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/03/oddsmaker-avatar-best-picture-favorite-academy-awa/

Garth Brooks show sells out within hours at Encore Las Vegas.
BY: Amanda Finnegan/Las Vegas Sun.

Fans still hoping for tickets to Garth Brooks’ second series of performances at Encore Las Vegas are out of luck.

Tickets for Brooks’ next 20 shows sold out within hours of their release Saturday morning, Wynn Resorts said today. The company said it got more than 75,000 phone calls and received more than 2 million pages views on its Web site related to ticket sales. Tickets were priced at $143, including taxes and fees.

Dates for Brooks’ next shows include March 26-28, April 9-11, June 25-27, July 16-18 and August 6-8. The county music star began his performances at the Encore Theater in December.

Wynn Resorts said it is still cracking down on scalpers with the same policy it instituted during the last round of performances. Hours after tickets were released in October, Wynn Resorts Chairman and Chief Executive Steve Wynn instituted an unusual anti-scalping procedure that angered fans and ticket brokers alike. The resort demanded the name of every concertgoer for each ticket purchased and said tickets could be picked up only on the day of the show, with photo IDs being checked at the door.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/01/garth-brooks-show-sells-out-within-hours-encore-la/

Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:

On a day when process servers were turned away at their estate, Las Vegas headliner Wayne Newton and wife Kathleen were dealing with a life-and-death drama involving daughter Erin and her week-old baby. Erin, 33, is in a coma with liver and kidney failure, and the baby boy, born a month premature, was battling for his life, according to a report Thursday by Alicia Jacobs, entertainment reporter at KVBC-TV, Channel 3.

The Joint, the Hard Rock Hotel’s $60 million concert hall, was named Best New Major Concert Venue by Pollstar, the concert industry’s trade bible, in its annual Pollstar Awards.

Classic rock superstars The Eagles fly into the MGM Grand Garden arena on April 24. Tickets are $55, $95, $155 and $220 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ticketmaster outlets.

Country favorite Keith Urban hits The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on April 23. Tickets start at $99.50 and go on sale at noon Saturday at The Joint box office, 4455 Paradise Road, and Ticketmaster outlets.

Flamingo headliner Marie Osmond is returning to the stage a day after the funeral of her son Michael Blosil. “The Donny & Marie Show” resumes its regular schedule March 9, after a week off because of Blosil’s death. The Osmonds have added five show dates, April 13-17. These were previously unscheduled dates.

Tix4Tonight, the largest operator of half-price or discount ticket outlets on the Strip, has acquired one of its two major competitors, All Access Entertainment.

“Dirk Arthur: Extreme Magic” closes at the Tropicana March 12. Ari Levin, the show’s producer, is vague on whether this is just a vacation forced by plans to remodel the Tropicana’s showroom, or whether the magician and his tigers will be looking for a new home.

The “Men of X” will hang up their G-strings at Hooters Hotel on March 21. Producer Angela Stabile says she is in negotiations to move the show elsewhere. A new show, “Elvis Now,” debuts April 1 with Pete Willcox presenting the King as he might be today had he lived. The Prince tribute Purple Reign will continue as well.

March 21 also is the last day Todd Paul will perform his comedy in the Night Owl Showroom. By the 25th, he hopes to reopen upstairs at Hooters in a new space currently used for banquets. Paul will do double duty, also taking part in “The Dirty Joke Show,” which will follow his solo act in the cheekily named Iowa Theater for the Performing Arts.

Mandalay Bay’s outdoor beach stage, a favorite among locals as well as visitors, springs back to life with a St. Patrick’s themed festival featuring Everlast on March 13 and a Gary Allan concert on April 17 tied into the Academy of Country Music awards.

Congratulations to the four lads from Down Under who make up Human Nature and their Motown show at Imperial Palace on their 200th performance last night.

After last night’s grand opening premiere of Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas at Imperial Palace, hometown entertainer Frank Marino received his second star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. He is the first person to have two stars on the famed boulevard, one at the Riviera where he performed for two decades, and the other will go outside his new Imperial Palace home at center Strip. We’ll have a full photo report of Frank’s premiere next week.

Steve Wynn’s new Encore Beach Club and Surrender Nightclub will debut Memorial Day weekend and is accepting applications tomorrow for 400 jobs at the day and night entertainment complex. The 60,000-square-foot venue is looking for cocktail servers, bartenders, hosts, promoters, lifeguards, pool attendants and security. Model candidates will be interviewed in swimwear and have to present a zed card/headshot upon check-in. All other applicants need a fitted T-shirt or tank top. Nice not to have a job interview in a three-piece suit!

The PBR Rock Bar, a restaurant and bar concept, will open inside the Miracle Mile Shops this spring. The lease has been executed and they will assume the space occupied by Hawaiian Tropic Zone, which closed its doors on Sunday, Feb. 21.

Chazz Palminteri will return to the Venetian, April 28-May 9 and Oct. 6-18, with his one-man autobiographical play “A Bronx Tale.”

The show “Menopause” at the Luxor, which is surely an “A” list show, celebrated the beginning of its fifth year in Las Vegas. It originally opened at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The Greek Isles that was at one time Debbie Reynolds hotel is located down the street from the Convention Center and will soon take one the Clarion name.

The Hostile Grape, the wine bar and tasting room at the M Resort, has introduced an all-new lineup of happy hour specials with a different theme every night, Tuesday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. The specials include $5 all-you-can-eat appetizers like Grilled Veggie Skewers, Prosciutto Wrapped Melon and Mini Tacos, $1 wine deals and a variety of other food and drink specials. There’s live music or a DJ each night.

Anyone who brings in a birthday card or sings “Happy Birthday” between now and March 31 at Elements Kitchen & Martini Bar, 4950 S. Rainbow Blvd., will receive a gift (one per table), ranging from martini glasses to free desserts, appetizers, etc. It’s in celebration of the restaurant’s first anniversary. Elements also has expanded its martini and wine list to 365 selections.

Remodeling plans are in the works for the Tiffany Theater at the Tropicana after the current run of The Wayne Newton Show. The remainder of his run allows them time to decide on the new look and direction of the theater. Tropicana’s new management is working hard to bring this Grand Dame of the Strip back on top where she belongs.

The Society of Seven has discontinued the afternoon performances of their wonderful show at The Gold Coast. They now only appear on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you haven’t seen them, you’re missing one of the most enjoyable and entertaining shows in town.

Silk Road, the high-end Asian restaurant at Vdara, has already cut dinner from the menu. At opening, the venue served breakfast, lunch, and dinner and was open from 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. daily; that’s now been cut to 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

M Resort, the locals-oriented Anthony Marnell property south of the Strip celebrates its first anniversary today. A call to the property revealed they’re keeping it low-key and not holding any special celebrations, however.

The bankrupt Las Vegas Monorail has raised its fares once more, increasing the cost of the unlimited-ride one-day pass to $14 (from $13) and adding $2 to the cost of the three-day pass, which is now $30. The single-ride fare remains the same, at $5.

The “Mindfreak” magician, currently performing at Luxor, has purchased a new $100,000 motorcycle made from human skeletal remains discarded after medical purposes. The bones have apparently been dipped in stainless steal to form the frame of the custom bike.

The Rio has joined the fluctuating list of buffets offering an all-day pass. The Carnival World’s offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner for $24, which includes the weekend champagne brunch (which by itself is $24).

It’s been reported that singer Wayne Newton is being sued by Speedway Motorsports chairman and CEO Bruton Smith over a three-year-old $3.35 million loan that the Strip performer has failed to repay. The loan was secured by Newton’s 38-acre Las Vegas residence, the Casa de Shenandoah (on Sunset at Pecos), and his private jet. In January of this year Oakland County International Airport sued Newton for over $60,000 in unpaid parking fees and revealed that the Fokker F28, which was once worth over $2 million, is now rotting and full of black mold and can only be used for scrap. Smith is now looking to foreclose on the entertainer’s Las Vegas ranch. Newton is currently performing at the Tropicana, through April 24.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Presents ‘Figuratively Speaking: A Survey of the Human Form.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) is pleased to announce the opening of “Figuratively Speaking: A Survey of the Human Form” May 1. Organized in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), “Figuratively Speaking” will present figurative works by such artists as Pierre-August Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, Joseph Cornell, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, Judith Shea, Bill Viola, Yoshitomo Nara, Vanessa Beecroft and many others.

This engaging survey will feature more than 30 paintings, photographs and sculpture along with video installations by 26 artists whose traditional and contemporary perspectives on figurative art helped to define the genre in the late 19th, 20th and early 21st centuries.

“For this exhibition we are pleased to share some of the best figurative artworks from the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, two widely respected institutions with whom we have successfully collaborated in the past,” said BGFA Director Tarissa Tiberti. “These pieces will be displayed alongside works from the MGM MIRAGE Fine Art Collection, some of which have never before been displayed in full public view including art by Renoir, Picasso, Edgar Degas and Fernand Leger.”

Different schools of modern and contemporary art fall under the heading of figurative art, from Renoir’s romantic Impressionistic portraits (“The Sweeper”) and Picasso’s distorted Cubist figures (“Woman with Beret”) to Keith Haring’s Pop Art drawings and Chuck Close’s contemporary grid-like paintings. Figurative works of art not only depict a real subject, but also reflect the religious, social, political and mythical beliefs of the times in which it was made.

Hugh M. Davies, The David C. Copley Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego said, “Many of these important works on loan from MCASD will be shown together for the first time, and all demonstrate the breadth and depth of the museum’s collection.” Davies continued, “Spanning more than three decades of figurative expression, these selected works – by such notable artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Bill Viola, Keith Haring, Cindy Sherman, Tony Oursler and Barbara Kruger – use the figure in innovative ways, provoking the most varied of interpretations. Cultural values, generational ideals, personal experience, even the most literal and direct of references are conveyed in these figurative works.”

MFA Deputy Director Katie Getchell said, “The human figure is one of the most frequently depicted subjects in art, and through the expressive images highlighted in this survey, we see how modern and contemporary artists celebrate the vitality and individuality of their subjects. We are delighted to collaborate once again with BGFA and share paintings, drawings and photographs from our encyclopedic collection with new audiences.”

“Figuratively Speaking: A Survey of the Human Form” will be on view May 1, 2010 through January 9, 2011. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes prior to closing.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for Nevada residents and seniors 65 and older, $10 for students, teachers and military with valid ID. Children 12 and younger are free. Tickets and information are available by calling (702) 693-7871 or (877) 957-9777, or online at www.bellagio.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Audio and docent tours are included in the price of admission. Located adjacent to the gallery, The Gallery Store offers a selection of prints, books, stationery and unique gifts.

Donny & Marie to cut short April vacation to fill open dates at Flamingo.
BY: John Katsliomentes/Las Vegas Sun.

Even in the face of family tragedy, Donny & Marie Osmond are doing their fair best to make up for shows that were lost as a result of the death of Marie’s son Michael Blosil.

Having missed six shows after the suicide of Blosil, who leapt to his death Friday night from a downtown Los Angleles apartment building, Donny & Marie have committed to performing on previously open dates covering April 13-17. Tickets go on sale Thursday at the Flamingo box office. Donny & Marie return to the stage Tuesday night for the first time since the tragedy. Six shows, total, will have been postponed by the time they take the stage again.

The week of the new performances was intended to be half of a two-week vacation for Donny & Marie. However, according to the duo’s Las Vegas manager, Chip Lightman, Donny & Marie sought to accommodate fans who already had purchased tickets to shows canceled last week. Lightman added that Marie Osmond — a performer since age 3 — was eager to return to the stage, finding the process “cathartic.”

A private ceremony for Michael Blosil, who was just 18 at the time of his death, is scheduled for Monday in Utah.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2010/mar/03/donny-marie-cut-short-april-vacation-fill-open-dat

Frank Marino continues his 25-year reign as Queen of the Strip.
BY: Joe Brown/Las Vegas Sun.

Frank Marino is marking 25 years as a Las Vegas headliner. And every onstage moment has been spent in drag.

As the city’s First Lady/Man, the hardest-working showgirl on the Strip, that’s 25 years of shaving up to four times daily, 25 years of tucking his junk, a quarter-century of having his face whited out and reapplied, of wigs and nails, gowns and heels, 25 years of being his own special creation.

“The only thing that came naturally for me in this job is that I was born with a small foot, so I fit in a woman’s shoe and I can buy one anywhere,” says Marino, midway through having his stage face painted on for a Tuesday night performance of his new show, Divas Las Vegas, which officially opens tonight at the Imperial Palace.

More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/28/woman-mirror/

All-day feast: Testing the limits of the all-you-can-eat buffet.
BY: Brad Radke/Las Vegas Sun.

All you can eat. Think about those words, how they string together, and decide exactly what that means. And now ask yourself: Do you really want to eat all you can?

It seems the Las Vegas buffet has been revolutionized by a new promotion, a new deal: all day, all you can eat. The price at many of these food factories has gone up over the years, along with the quality of grub and the comfort of the cafeteria. But now, at many casinos, you can pay between 20 and 30 bucks just once and feast forever—breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I had to try it out. I chose one of the city’s biggest and most celebrated buffets, the Rio’s Carnival World. The place is massive, serving more than 300 different dishes every day. Breakfast is $14.99, lunch is $16.99 and dinner (and weekend brunch) is $23.99, while the all-day pass came to just under $26 with tax. Getting your money’s worth is no longer a concern.

More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/26/all-day-feast/

Review: Cirque repackages rock ‘n’ roll icon in ‘Viva Elvis’
Show at CityCenter’s Aria is Cirque’s seventh in Las Vegas.
BY: Joe Brown/Las Vegas Sun.

“Viva Elvis,” which officially opened at CityCenter’s Aria Friday night after weeks of paid previews and adjustments, joins six other Strip-resident shows, and it’s likely to be lucky number seven for Cirque du Soleil.

The show is a pretty mess. Gimmicky, bright and loud, in Technicolor and Cinemascope, it’s a theme-park “Grease” reunion, a sequence of live-in-person Gap commercials with the budget of an Olympics opening ceremony.

And it delivers exactly what many — most, probably — want from a Vegas show. Which would be vivid image after eye-sizzling sensation. Cirque is at its peak technically here — nobody (except maybe China) can top the Canadian spectacle factory’s powers when it comes to creating visceral images. But the flaw of this show, the missed opportunity, is that something so stylish is so insubstantial.

More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/20/viva-elvis/

World Magic Seminar with Criss Angel, Siegfried & Roy; Nathan Burton’s statue. BY Robin Leach/Las Vegas Sun.

Siegfried & Roy still reign as Masters of the Impossible even though they have officially retired from the world of wizardry. Their last one-night-only reunion performance was at the 2009 Keep Memory Alive gala here, but this afternoon, the beloved and respected counts of conjuring were honored with a tribute at the 33rd Annual World Magic Seminar at The Orleans.

Criss Angel, who revealed that he’s going ahead with a Season 6 of Mindfreak on A&E, was the emcee for the event that drew Las Vegas-based magicians to pay tribute to the German-born illusionists. They included Lance Burton, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Johnny Thompson and Eugene Berger, along with other princes of prestidigitation from all over the world — some as far away as Europe and Japan.

Meantime, Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton has been shuttling nonstop to and from Atlantic City doing a mid-week magic show there in addition to his Strip shows here. He’s sent all of his Las Vegas illusions to the New Jersey gaming zone and added six illusions here. His show-stopping microwave trick also has been shipped to Atlantic City, but he’s replaced it here with the dangerous BBQ of Death.

However, it’s his new God and Goddess statue illusion that has everybody talking. It cost Nathan more than $100,000 to build and took him a year to create. It is not performed by anyone else in the world. He uses the 20-foot-high Roman marble statue as a spectacular new finale at Donny & Marie Osmond’s Flamingo showroom.

Nathan told me: “The audiences just leap to their feet. It’s got them all totally amazed. I am thrilled to present it, especially after it took so much time and money to develop and build. The first time we rehearsed it, even I was amazed how incredible it turned out.”

He says he will keep up the twice-weekly Atlantic City flight schedule and his Flamingo shows through summer. “It’s an insane and grueling schedule dividing the week on two different coasts, but I’m honestly having lots of fun being in both places. Nobody else is doing it — and probably doesn’t want to! So far, I’ve missed all the bad weather each time, and that’s been a magic trick in itself!”

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/03/world-magic-seminar-wcriss-angel-siegfried-roy-nat/

Holly Madison: ‘Peepshow is back and better than ever!’
BY: Robin Leach/Las Vegas Sun.

There’s no doubt about it. The producers of Holly Madison’s Peepshow at Planet Hollywood have made it hotter and sexier during its six-week hiatus. In fact, it’s at least twice as hot now because audiences get to see Holly go topless in two dance numbers, and just so the girls aren’t left out of the flesh appeal, the Big Bad Wolf drops his trousers to bare his bum.

The revamped show reopened to a sell-out crowd last night, and its platinum blonde bombshell star even tweeted her verdict before she talked with me at the end of the performance. She said: “Peepshow is back and better than ever! What a fantastic audience tonight! Great job, everyone.”

When I chatted with Holly, she said: “I am so excited to be back with the show. It felt like we had been gone forever even though it was only six weeks. All the new elements work so well. There was really good energy tonight, and the new cast all worked well and showed they were having tons of fun onstage and with the audience.”

More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/02/holly-madison-empeepshowem-back-and-better-ever/

It’s over! Magician Dirk Arthur ends six-year Tropicana run.
BY: Robin Leach/Las Vegas Sun.

Illusionist Dirk Arthur this afternoon confirmed rumors that after a successful six-year run on the Strip, he is bringing his current engagement at the Tropicana to a close. Arthur and his Xtreme Magic show will celebrate the final show March 12.

“I couldn’t have imagined six years later we would be leaving the Tropicana. It has been a tremendous run and a very lucrative engagement for both the show and the property. I am grateful for the Tropicana’s partnership over the years and during that time have added 10 illusions to the magic show and seven exotic large cats.

“I look forward to the next stage my cats and I will perform on and promise to keep everyone posted on the development of Saber, my 3-month-old white tiger cub who has recently been introduced to the Las Vegas community, as well as where they can see us next.”

Tomorrow, Arthur will introduce Saber as part of Lunar New Year celebrations for the Year of the Tiger to the students of Andre Agassi’s College Preparatory Academy. White tigers are believed to have been extinct in the wild since the early 1960s. It is estimated there are 500 to 600 currently in captivity.

As part of the continuing makeover of the Tropicana, the property also closed its long-running Folies Bergere last year after 49 years. Only Wayne Newton’s Once Before I Go remains there for the moment.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/25/its-over-magician-dirk-arthur-ends-six-year-tropic/

Barry Manilow conquers the Strip in his new digs at Paris Las Vegas
By Matt Kelemen/Las Vegas Magazine.

The kid from Brooklyn was once happy to just play piano and make other entertainers shine with his arrangements. Then the spotlight was turned on him and he became a superstar, conquering the charts, AM radio, Broadway and Nielsen ratings whenever his musical variety specials were broadcast on television. He was a pop icon who took his fame in stride, and became a symbol of a bygone era as time marched on.

But Barry Manilow didn’t change; the rest of us did. He didn’t make transparent attempts to stay relevant as we followed trends. Instead, he explored America’s rich musical heritage, indulged his love of arranging music and gave 100 percent at every performance until top 40 success came knocking again. He exuded confidence every step of the way, stayed loyal to the Fanilows who packed his concerts, and graciously welcomed back prodigals who realized they remembered all of the words to “Mandy” when they rediscovered him in Las Vegas during his five-year residency at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Now Manilow is coming to Paris Las Vegas. “I’ve had nothing but fun and good times at the Hilton,” Manilow said in an interview released before he threw himself into intense rehearsals. “But the opportunity to play right on the Las Vegas Strip seemed very exciting. The theater at Paris Las Vegas is beautiful and perfect for what I do. It’s a large room, but intimate enough for my music.”

Manilow became one of Las Vegas’ top draws during his reign at the Las Vegas Hilton. His conquest of Vegas was matched by his reappearance at the top of the Billboard album charts in February 2006 when The Greatest Songs of the Fifties debuted at No. 1. Manilow was already a dedicated, accomplished curator of the Great American Songbook, but Greatest Songs made that clear to everyone and was followed by compilations of ’60s and ’70s music.

His output is only matched by the generosity of the Manilow Music Project. In 2008 Manilow arranged for $500,000 worth of instruments and music stands to be delivered to schools in the Coachella Valley in California, and played a solo concert at the Hollywood Bowl last October that benefited Los Angeles music students. He’s focused some of his charitable efforts in his adopted second home as well, with a Feb. 27 performance at Bellagio for the Keep Memory Alive organization’s annual Power of Love gala, benefiting the new Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.

While fans can expect to hear hits such as “I Write the Songs,” “Could It Be Magic” and “Copacabana,” Manilow is making his new show a more intimate affair. Director/ choreographer Jeff Hornaday (Madonna, High School Musical) has been brought on to create a new stage language and an expanded band is part of the plan. But with his latest album, The Greatest Love Songs of All Time, peaking at No. 5 in January, it’s no surprise that romance will be in the air at the 1,500-seat Paris Theatre. “Paris is all about love and romance so we’re making it very romantic,” Manilow said.
http://lvshowbiz.com/feature3.html

Las Vegas Top Ten Values/March 2010.

1. Hard Rock – On Paradise Rd. just north of E. Harmon Ave. – Daily – Free

Our number-one value in the Top Ten this month is another ceremonial listing: The Hard Rock is happening! Amidst all the doom and gloom of bankrupt companies, casinos closing, foreclosed condos, and dire straits, we felt compelled to recognize the one joint that’s actually expanded in the recent past. And a spectacular expansion it is. Spectacular enough, in fact, to be only the second expansion so recognized in the Top Ten (the other was the Spin City Annex at the Maloof-run Fiesta in January 2000).

2. Room Rates – Vegas Club et al. – - $23 and up

As we predicted, the numbers we’re seeing for Las Vegas room rates have remained flat for a few months, going neither up nor down. That’s good, because this level is a result of preciptious drpos over the last 18 months or so. No bounce means ongoing super values in one of the two biggest expenses (the other is travel) connected to a Las Vegas vacation. Hence, room rates remain at or near the top of the list.

3. Happy Hour – Palm/Forum Shops – 4:30-6:30 pm/9:30 pm-close – $1-$3.50

New to the list this month is an incredible happy hour at the Palm restaurant in the Forum Shops. This is a great one, folks, with some of the best appetizers on the Strip available for $1 to $3.50 during convenient hours (4:30-6:30 pm and 9:30 till closing) Monday through Friday.

4. Steak Dinner – Ellis Island – 24 hours – $6.95

The complete steak dinner at Ellis Island is the best-value meal deal in a city full of good-value meal deals. It’s a 10-ounce filet-cut sirloin, which comes with salad, garlic green beans, choice of potato, and fresh microbrewed beer, all for $6.95.

5. Dollar Days – Sahara – Daily – $1

Dollar Days continue at the Sahara: dollar beer, shots (with souvenir glass), hot dogs, and blackjack, all in the rear of the casino near the NASCAR Café.

6. Buffet – M Resort – Daily – $14.95-$29.95

As promised, we checked out the weekend seafood spread at the M buffet and came away content to leave this one up as our premier deal on a Las Vegas smorgy. But the play is to go Sunday through Thursday and pay $22.95, saving yourself $7 off the weekend price.

7. Prime Rib – South Point – 24 hours – $12.95

We keep trying prime ribs, but we keep coming back to the big slab at South Point for the one-two combo of quality and price. It’s served 24 hours a day in the coffee shop, with your choice of soup or salad, potato, and rolls if you ask.

8. Lunch Comp – Crown & Anchor – Daily – $20 Buy-In

The free lunch with a $20 video poker buy-in, available 11 am to 3 pm, is still going strong at the Crown & Anchor pubs. Plus, if you miss lunch, the $20 buy-in entitles you to a free appetizer (including the great chicken fingers) from 3 p.m. to midnight. And all the while, you’re also drinking comped premium draft beers from around the world. It’s ironic that the best comp in Comp City is now available outside the casinos (locations are at 1350 E. Tropicana and 4775 Spring Mountain).

9. Steak and Eggs – Arizona Charlie’s Decatur – Daily – $3.99

The Arizona Charlie’s Decatur steak-and-eggs breakfast special is served 24/7 and costs $3.99, but you have to show a player’s club card to get that price (four people can get the deal on one card). You can also get the steak (or ham) and eggs at Arizona Charlie’s Boulder for $3.29, but it’s a bit more difficult to travel there and the coffee shop isn’t open around the clock.

10. Beer – Casino Royale – Daily – $1

You can find a lot of dollar beer deals around town, but Casino Royale serves bottled Michelob around the clock right in the heart of center Strip. Or you can opt for $1 margaritas (traditional or strawberry served in 12-ounce plastic glasses).
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/topten.cfm

AccessVegas.com Las Vegas St. Patrick’s Day 2010 Parties Events Clubs.
http://www.accessvegas.com/st-patricks-day-2010

Back Alley Bar at Stratosphere Hotel & Casino New Home for
Country-Rock Music on the Strip.

With bars catering to country-rock music fans in short supply, the Back Alley Bar at Stratosphere Hotel & Casino steps in as the best place on the Strip to party, drink and do the occasional Texas two-step. Every Thursday through Monday at 10 p.m. one of Las Vegas’ most popular country-rock bands, WolfCreek, will rock the house.

“Bars playing classic rock, pop and Top 40 music are commonplace on the Strip so we are creating a place where country-rock fans can really enjoy themselves,” said Todd Ford, Director of Marketing. “The Back Alley Bar is a fitting venue with the perfect atmosphere, providing a genuine rocking roadhouse feel. We added buckets of peanuts, beer specials, lots of room for dancing and a great new country-rock house band.”

With their country and southern rock style, WolfCreek will have guests jumping out of their seats to hit the dance floor. The band has opened for many of country music’s top stars including Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Brooks and Dunn, Brad Paisley and The Dixie Chicks. While playing at local venues such as Station Casinos, WolfCreek has developed a strong following and reputation as one of the hottest country-rock bands in Las Vegas.

Filling the mid-week gap is The Jeremy Cornwell Project playing on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. Covering popular bands such as Counting Crows, Billy Idol, Dave Matthews Band and Oasis, the Jeremy Cornwell Project is “coffee house with an edge.” Cornwell previously played at House of Blues and Hard Rock before settling in mid-week at Back Alley Bar. The two-man band achieves a big, eclectic sound by sampling and layering tracks.

PEEPSHOW BRINGS SEXY BACK WITH HOLLY MADISON AS “BO PEEP” AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT & CASINO.

PEEPSHOW, Las Vegas’ hottest show and striptease spectacular, brings sexy back to The Strip on Monday, March 1. Holly Madison returns to her starring role as “Bo Peep,” a modern woman who discovers her newfound sexuality. Madison is now the darling of Las Vegas after starring in the hit TV show, “The Girls Next Door,” on E! for five years and will soon star in her all-new show, “Holly’s World,” on E!, which season premieres in May. Madison will star alongside a sizzling ensemble of sexy PEEPSHOW GIRLS, showstoppers from film, TV and Broadway who were handpicked to perform in this enormous production.

The highly-stylized, intricately choreographed, over-the-top PEEPSHOW combines sexy striptease and celebrity with high-level production values, in a show critics are calling “Spectacular!,” “A frisky, flashy update on that Vegas staple, the topless burlesque show,” and “The sexiest show on the planet!”

Conceived and created by Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray) and produced by Las Vegas entertainment pacesetter BASE Entertainment (PHANTOM – The Las Vegas Spectacular, JERSEY BOYS, and Wayne Brady: Making it Up!), PEEPSHOW is a perfectly naughty night out for men, women, and couples!

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THE PERFECT PAIR
LBS: A Burger Joint now offers Burger & Beer tasting Menu.

LBS: A Burger Joint is adding a twist to the all-American burger joint menu by offering a beer and burger tasting menu.

Tasting menus are often reserved for the traditional glasses of wine and entrée, but LBS is taking a new approach by pairing burgers and beers with its five-item pairing menu. Sticking to its motto “gourmet burgers, without the gourmet attitude,” prices start from $15.50 and offer an unprecedented burger and beer value that includes:

Frenchie Turkey Burger paired with Blanche de Bruxelles “The Pissing Boy” 12 oz Beer $16.50.

The brie cheese and sprouts makes this turkey burger stand out from others as does the white ale from Belgium. The coriander and citrus zest balance out the wheat beer and blends well with the Frenchie.

Steakhouse Burger paired with Lone Star 12 oz Beer
$17.50.

The pepper-crusted Steakhouse Burger tastes like a steak dinner on a bun and is accompanied with the official beer of Texas. Lone Star’s incredibly light finish goes down nice and smooth so you can focus on the picture puzzle under the bottle cap.

Cobb Salad paired with Lindeman’s Frambois Lambic 12 oz Beer
$21.50

The citrus vinaigrette adds a nice twist to the traditional Cobb salad and the raspberry flavor of the lambic compliments the light meal.

The Perfect Burger paired with Triple Karmeleit 25 oz Beer
$26.50

The Perfect Burger’s gruyere cheese, smoked bacon and LBS burger sauce is the perfect combination with a well balanced beer of wheat, oats and barley.

Sampler Sliders paired with Draft Trio 6 oz pour each
$15.50

Paired up with the three sliders are three phenomenal draft beers to help the flavor. With the Beef Slider is the Sierra Nevada Seasonal. Sierra Nevada, known for its whole, cone hops and full flavor, is a great match with LBS homemade spicy mustard and caramelized onions. The Turkey Slider is paired with a micro-brewed Hefeweizen from Tenaya Creek. This local brew is light enough to not overpower the turkey but has the nice complexities of a Hefeweizen. The Ahi Tuna Slider is cajun seared and spiced up with LBS hand-crafted chili mayo to give it a subtle kick. The draft beer that best goes with it is Stella Artois. Stella is a very light flavored lager that cools the pallet without overpowering the delicate flavor of the Ahi.

For more information on LBS: A Burger Joint, please call 702.835.9393 or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lbsburger.com” www.lbsburger.com.

Chuck Rounds’ Las Vegas Entertainment News/March 2010.

March is here, and it is springtime in Las Vegas…and what a beautiful spring we are having. It seems that there is something innate that is built into the core of our being that senses this time of renewal for the earth…the emergence from the cold winter, and the new growth in the flora around us. There have always been celebrations in the spring honoring that spirit of rejuvenation. It is the end of winter. Spring is about re-birth, life after death, and a fresh start after a cold period in our lives. Spring brings us hope.

Our economy even seems as if it is showing signs of thawing…the winter of our economy has lasted for a couple of years now…and slowly, very slowly we are seeing signs that may indicate a budding growth…it is small, but it is enough to give us hope in what has been a devastatingly long winter. It is still a tough time, but that is no secret to anyone…and yet, there are hundreds of conventions coming into town; students from all over the country will make Vegas their Spring Break destination; there is St. Patrick’s Day; March Madness; pools are opening up, and there are even some bright spots in the entertainment industry

March is one of the best times of the year to come to Las Vegas. This is the time to get new things going. In Vegas, just like in any other city in the country, Spring-cleaning will occur (both for ourselves and our entertainment,) and we’ll have more garage sales than at any other time of the year.

One thing that won’t be renewed is the Dancers’ contracts at the Cirque show, “Believe.” At the end of this contracted period (which will be June) there will be no more dancers in that show. It’s sad…the dancers were the best part of the show. There are all kinds of speculation as to what this bodes… The primary thought is that this is signaling the beginning of the end of this production that has been a tremendous failure for Cirque. The show might continue for a while just as a magic show with Criss Angel while the contract finishes up. It’s no secret that Cirque and Angel have had an extremely strained creative relationship, and there has been talk of Cirque trying to get rid of Angel from even before the show opened…but they had signed a ten-year contract. Word is that the contract was re-negotiated down to three years, and the theatre would then be used to house resident touring shows.

When “Viva Elvis” opened this past month at Aria in City Center, there was the feeling in the air that we have had enough…that we had reached our saturation point for Cirque shows in this city. Now, “Viva Elvis” is a wonderful show, and this feeling had nothing to do with that, but we are now at seven Cirque shows in this town, and it feels like that’s more than enough. I think that we’re done with new Cirque shows for a while.

Lily Tomlin, one of America’s most brilliant comediennes, will perform her unique brand of comedy in the Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand March 11 – 17 at 8 p.m. nightly. Throughout her extraordinary entertainment career, Tomlin has received numerous awards including six Emmy Awards for her groundbreaking TV specials, two Tony Awards for her hit Broadway shows “Appearing Nitely” and “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” Jane Wagner’s critically acclaimed play, a GRAMMY for her comedy album, This is a Recording, two Peabody Awards for Edith Ann’s animated special “Just Say Noël” and the HBO documentary film “The Celluloid Closet.” In 2003, Tomlin received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Singing sensation Clint Holmes brings his powerful voice and magnetic stage presence back to the Suncoast Showroom, March 13 and 14. Holmes’ fans know him as more than just a singer. He’s famous for making every performance original and captivating audiences with his charisma and signature style. With a long history of entertaining audiences in Las Vegas, Clint is known for his six-year run in Clint Holmes at Harrah’s. Named Las Vegas’ “Best Singer” for four times and “Entertainer of the Year” three times by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Holmes’ fame stretches far beyond Southern Nevada. He was also Atlantic City’s “Entertainer of the Year” three times, and starred in Clint Holmes’ Sophisticated Rhythms, a dynamic stage show that traveled through music from the 1940s to the present.

Jeff Dunham is coming to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace at part of his 2010 International “Identity Crisis Tour” on March 19th & 20th. Since rising to the pinnacle of stand-up comedy success, Jeff Dunham has continued to break records, set landmarks, and expand his reach and appeal while also enjoying the love and loyalty of many millions of fans. After being named the highest-grossing live performance comedian by Pollstar for the second continuous year, Dunham continues to pack and sell out arenas, theaters and other major venues across North America on his “Identity Crisis” tour.

Sporting events will bolster the economy in Vegas this month. The biggest of these sports event is the March Madness tournament. Every sports book in town will be packed throughout the event. These events bring in a lot of people, and when the game is over, all these folks want something else great to watch.

There will be a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Downtown Las Vegas, and every Irish Pub in the city will put on some sort of celebration.

…In addition, remember that clocks spring forward March 14th.

As far as all of the other entertainment goes…during the first week of the month…
Las Vegas Wranglers
Orleans Hotel Through – Apr 3rd
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Through – Mar 10th
Winter Championship & Open Cutting
South Point Casino Through – Mar 3rd
Tegan & Sara
Mandalay Bay Mar 2
Killswitch Engage w/ The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquility
Mandalay Bay Mar 3
Queen Nation
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 3
Jason Alexander as Donny Clay
Planet Hollywood Mar 4 – 7
Barry Manilow – Opening March 2010
Paris Las Vegas Mar 5 – 8
El Chapo de Sinaloa
Mandalay Bay Mar 5
Engelbert Humperdinck
Orleans Hotel Mar 5 – 7
George Lopez
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 5 – 6
Ray Romano & Kevin James
Mirage Mar 5 – 6
Zappos.com WCC Basketball Championships
Orleans Hotel Mar 5 – 8
Bon Jovi: The Circle Tour
MGM Grand Mar 6
Crossroads of the West Gun Show
Cashman Center Mar 6 – 7
Experience Hendrix Tribute Tour
Hard Rock Hotel Mar 6
Neal McCoy
Silverton Hotel Mar 6
Psychic Medium John Edward
Flamingo Las Vegas Mar 6
UNLV Men’s Basketball vs Wyoming
Thomas and Mack Center Mar 6

The second weekend includes:
Mountain West Conference Basketball Tournament
Thomas and Mack Center | Off-Strip | Sporting Event | Mar 10 – 13
New Found Glory with Saves The Day, Hellogoodbye, and Fireworks
Mandalay Bay Mar 10
The Wholigans
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 10
311 Day 2010
Mandalay Bay Mar 11
Jason Alexander as Donny Clay
Planet Hollywood Mar 11 – 14
Lily Tomlin: Not Playing with a Full Deck
MGM Grand Mar 11 – 17
Twiztid
Mandalay Bay Mar 11
Air Combat USA
North Las Vegas Airport Mar 12 – 14
B. J. Thomas
South Point Mar 12 – 14
Big League Weekend: Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox
Cashman Center Mar 12 – 13
Gladys Knight
Buffalo Bill’s Mar 12
Jay Leno
Mirage Mar 12 – 13
Sevendust w/ Drowning Pool, Digital Summer and the Flood
Mandalay Bay Mar 12
The Yardbirds
Cannery Casino Mar 12
Clint Holmes
Suncoast Hotel Mar 13 – 14
Regional Dance Tournament
Cashman Center Mar 13
St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Mandalay Bay Mar 13
Styx Legend Dennis DeYoung
Orleans Hotel Mar 13 – 14
Teena Marie and special guest Mary Jane Girls
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 13
Zac Brown Band
Hard Rock Hotel Mar 13

The Third weekend has…
Aeromyth
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 17
Silver Dollar Circuit 2010
South Point Casino Mar 17 – 21 – Free
David Spade
Venetian Resort Mar 18 – 20
Bill Bellamy
South Point Casino Mar 19 – 21
Carlos Mencia
Treasure Island Mar 19
Collective Soul
Silverton Hotel Mar 19
Jeff Dunham
Caesars Palace Mar 19 – 20
Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor and Michael Lington
Aliante Station Mar 19
Martin Lawrence
Palms Casino Mar 19 – 20
The Neal Schon Band
Green Valley Ranch Mar 19
Eddie Money and John Waite
Eastside Cannery Mar 20
Grand Funk Railroad
Silverton Hotel Mar 20
Hammerfall
Mandalay Bay Mar 20
Jo Koy
Mirage Mar 20
Sick Puppies w/ Conflict of Interest and Play For Keeps
Mandalay Bay Mar 20

The fourth weekend presents:
Bonfire: A Tribute to Early AC/DC
Las Vegas Hilton Mar 24
Chamillionaire & Paul Wall
Mandalay Bay Mar 24
Walking with Dinosaurs
Thomas & Mack Center Mar 24
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Mar 25 – 31
David Spade
Venetian Resort Mar 25 – 27
Air Combat USA
North Las Vegas Airport Mar 26 – 28
Bad Religion
Mandalay Bay Mar 26 – 27
Championship Bull Riding: Tuff Hedeman Vegas Shootout
South Point Casino Mar 26 – 27
Daniel Tosh
Mirage Mar 26 – 27
Garth Brooks
Encore Las Vegas Mar 26 – 28
Lionel Richie
Caesars Palace Mar 26 – 27
Spring Wine & Jazz Festival
Golden Nugget Mar 26
Stephen Pearcy – Lead Singer of RATT
Sunset Station Mar 26
The Lettermen
South Point Casino Mar 26 – 28
Bret Michaels
Buffalo Bill’s Resort Mar 27
Don Felder – Hotel California Tour
M Resort Mar 27
Jay-Z w/ Young Jeezy and Trey Songz
Palms Casino Mar 27
John Mayer with Special Guest Michael Franti & Spearhead
Mandalay Bay Mar 27
Michel Legrand & Friends: Fifty Years of Music & Movies
MGM Grand Mar 27
Monster Jam World Finals 2010
Sam Boyd Stadium Mar 27
The Flying Karamazov Brothers
Orleans Hotel Mar 27 – 28
The Osmond Brothers
Suncoast Hotel Mar 27 – 28

And the fifth weekend of the month has…
WWE presents Smackdown
Thomas & Mack Center Mar 30
Major League Baseball: Dodgers vs. Reds
Cashman Center Mar 31
Chicago
Las Vegas Hilton Apr 2 – 3
Jay Leno
Mirage Apr 2 – 3
Alkaline Trio w/ The Dear & Departed and Chemistry
Mandalay Bay Apr 3
Emerson Drive
Aliante Station Apr 3
Jay & the Americans
Cannery Casino Apr 3
Melissa Etheridge
Buffalo Bill’s Resort Apr 3
One Million Star
Palms Casino Apr 3
The Rivals: Hopkins vs Jones 2
Mandalay Bay Apr 3

For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: ( www.lvol.com ).

I Go Shows ( www.Igoshows.com ) is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production. The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.

You can always view the current newsletter here:
http://www.igoshows.com/lventnews.html

You can contact Chuck through the Feedback Form on the following page: http://www.igoshows.com/feedbacktochuck.php

Frank Sinatra Jr. and His Big Band Perform in Sinatra Sings Sinatra
at the Suncoast Showroom April 10 and 11

Premiere vocalist Frank Sinatra Jr. and his 20-piece big band conducted by Terry Woodson will pay tribute to his legendary father and entertainment icon Frank Sinatra by performing his treasured hits in Sinatra Sings Sinatra at the Suncoast Showroom, April 10 and 11.

An inherited honor, Sinatra Jr. performs the songs that his late father sang during his stellar 50-year career, many of which the younger Sinatra witnessed first hand. The show includes such Sinatra classics as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “One For My Baby,” “Luck Be A Lady” and “Strangers In The Night.”

A headliner in his own right, Sinatra Jr. was born in New Jersey, raised in California and educated in the showrooms of Las Vegas and on bandstands around the world. At 21, he made his show business debut as a singer with the Elliott Brothers Band. He later joined the Sam Donahue Orchestra, and then went on to perform in showrooms throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil and England. A talented songwriter, three of Sinatra Jr.’s songs – “Spice,” “Believe In Me” and “Black Night” – were featured on the 1971 album “Spice,” produced by the late Sonny Burke.

In the 1980s, backed by a 17-piece orchestra, Sinatra Jr. opened in downtown Las Vegas and reintroduced the lush big band sound, sparking renewed interest in live music. In the decade that followed, he expanded his band to include 20 musicians and played the lounge at Desert Inn, marking the first time in 20 years that a big band had appeared in a lounge on the famed Las Vegas Strip. By then, he had also joined his father’s staff as musical director and conductor, helping to choose the music and conduct the orchestra whenever his father was on stage.

Sinatra Jr. conducted for his father at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall and went on to perform his own show to sell-out audiences at Tavern on the Green and later, Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. His 1996 release of “As I Remember It,” a tribute to Frank Sinatra’s talents and the composers and arrangers, who defined the Sinatra legend, climbed the charts and earned critical acclaim along the way. In his tour that followed, Sinatra Jr. used a 44-piece orchestra and won respect from fans and critics.

“When I was a boy, my father would often bring me to Las Vegas. I saw all the stars perform, and late at night, there would always be a name band playing in a lounge,” Sinatra Jr. recalled. “I remember listening to Harry James, Count Basie and many other famous bands. It was quite an education. I always try to recapture the spirit of those late night sessions in my own show.”

In addition to performing with a big band, Sinatra Jr. has also shared a stage with showbiz greats like George Burns, Phil Harris and Flip Wilson. Over the years, he guest starred on television hits including Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In and The Golddiggers, and frequently appeared on programs hosted by legends Red Skelton, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Dean Martin, Merv Griffin and Johnny Carson. Sinatra Jr. has appeared on the big screen in The Walking Major, a 1970 feature movie filmed on location in Japan, and the 2003 film Hollywood Homicide, starring Harrison Ford.

Tickets are now available starting from $29.95, plus tax. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 702.636.7075 or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com.

Viva Las Vegas! Rockabilly Weekend Returns to The Orleans Hotel and Casino April 1-5, 2010

Viva Las Vegas! Rockabilly Weekend is back at The Orleans Hotel and Casino marking its 13th year as a prominent Las Vegas event. The four-day event-filled weekend begins Thursday, April 1 and continues through Monday, April 5.

Organized by veteran promoter and Rockabilly DJ Tom Ingram, Viva Las Vegas (VLV) is an annual event that has been held in Las Vegas every spring since 1998. It is the largest event of its type in the world, and features bands and fans from all over the globe who come to experience Rockabilly, ‘50s music, the Classic Car Show, burlesque performers, dance lessons and contests, a Tiki Pool Party and more than 120 vendors.

This year, legendary musician Chuck Berry will perform on the Car Show stage at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 and later that same evening, “The First Lady of Rockabilly” Wanda Jackson will perform in the main ballroom at 11 p.m.

More than 50 bands and 15 DJs will perform nightly. Saturday’s Classic Car Show has historically been the most attended event during the weekend, with more than 20,000 people in attendance during previous years.

Vendors are open daily offering a multitude of Rockabilly items such as vintage and reproduction clothing, event merchandise, records, car accessories, bags, hair pomade, shoes and much more.

Four-day unlimited admission passes to Viva Las Vegas! Rockabilly Weekend are available now and are $89 per person if purchased prior to March 12 and $99 if purchased after March 12. Tickets purchased at the event are $125 and are subject to availability. A ticket for the Car Show only on Saturday is just $25 and includes the Chuck Berry concert. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800.595.4849, visiting www.vivalasvegas.net, The Orleans Box Office or by calling 702.365.7075.

“X” Burlesque Celebrates 3rd Anniversary at Flamingo Las Vegas.

“X” Burlesque is celebrating its third anniversary at Flamingo Las Vegas by unveiling an “enhanced” version of the sexy revue featuring new dancers, new numbers, new costumes and new temptations.
Performed in the intimate setting inside Bugsy’s Cabaret, the “X” Girls strip away their inhibitions to such new numbers as Britney Spears’ energetic “3” in honor of their three years at Flamingo and kick off the show in style to a new pulse-pounding opening set to Metallica’s “Roam,” where the girls come to life through a picture frame. Snow, pole tricks and a hot hip-hop medley are just some of the other additions to the show while fan favorites such as the bathtub and the bungee-ballet number remain in the line-up.

“By incorporating new numbers, new costumes, new girls and new choreography, we’ve enhanced the show and really turned up the heat,” said Angela Stabile, co-creator/producer. “Everyone is sure to enjoy this new, naughty, ninety-minute ride.”

“X” Burlesque excites audiences nightly at 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $44.95 General Admission and $55.95 VIP (plus tax and fees) which includes preferred seating. Tickets can be purchased at the Flamingo Box Office, by phone at 702-733-3333 or 800-221-7299 or online at www.harrahs.com. Guests must be 18 or older with valid ID. Find the “X” Girls online at Facebook, MySpace or on Twitter @XBurlesque.

NORM: No Palms reaction to Harrah’s rumors.

Palms owner George Maloof was tight-lipped Thursday about a report that Harrah’s Entertainment was involved in acquiring a stake in the Palms.

The business Web site www.DebtWire.com, citing sources close to the situation, said Texas Pacific Group, a private equity sponsor of Harrah’s Entertainment, has been accumulating bank debt of Fiesta Palms, the parent company.

DebtWire said the Maloof family was in the process of selling its beer distributorship empire in New Mexico for $100 million to pay down $30 million of debt.

Maloof, in Chicago on Thursday, told Vegas Confidential, “We’re a private company. Our debt is private. I’ve never responded to rumors regarding the Palms.”

Harrah’s acquired Planet Hollywood Resort recently through TPG and Apollo Management, Harrah’s other sponsor.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/no-palms-reaction-to-harrah_s-rumors-85462522.html

MIKE WEATHERFORD: Battle of Strip rock shows fizzles.

The head-to-head competition between two rock tribute shows turned out to be a short one.

“Rockstar: The Tribute” imploded after Feb. 14th’s show, the same weekend “Masters of Rock” opened at the Riviera.

“Masters” was launched by producer Steve Rossi (not the veteran Allen & Rossi comedian), who was involved with “Rockstar” during a tenure at the Riviera.

Rossi says he formed the rival production after “Rockstar” producer Paul Christen didn’t pay back cash loans Rossi made to cover payroll.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/battle-of-strip-rock-shows-fizzles-85326382.html

Rumjungle transitions from restaurant to nightclub for full night of entertainment. BY John Przybys/LVRJ

Plenty of nightclubs around town invite guests to have an evening out.

But perhaps nowhere is “an evening out” as comprehensive as it is at rumjungle at Mandalay Bay.

Each day, rumjungle opens its doors for afternoon drinks and bar food. At 5 p.m., and continuing until 10 p.m., rumjungle offers dinner service featuring its popular rodizio menu.

But then, at 11 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, rumjungle morphs completely from a restaurant into a full-tilt nightclub that offers all of the amenities even the most avid clubber could want.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/rumjungle-transitions-from-restaurant–to-nightclub-for-full-night-of-entertainment-85462197.html

Vegas4Visitors.com Weekly Awards. BY: Rick Garman

The Sun is Bad For You Anyway Award of the Week goes to the Hawaiian Tropic Zone, the restaurant and nightclub at Planet Hollywood, which will close at the end of February. No word on what will replace it yet.

The I Want to Be Big Award of the Week goes to FAO Shwarz, the famed toy store whose branch at Caesars Palace closed a couple of weeks ago.

The HMMMM Award of the Week goes to the Cirque du Soleil/Criss Angel production Believe at Luxor. Why? Because Cirque has let all of the dancers in the show go effective in July. Word is that there will be major changes to the struggling show.

The Go East Young Man Award of the Week goes to Steve Wynn of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, whose company will managing a casino in Philadelphia. The casino, which will be a partnership with the same Indian tribe that operates the Foxwoods in Connecticut, will be located on the waterfront and will include slots and table games. No opening date has been set.

A Special Note to My Readers. BY: Rick Garman.
This website would not exist without Mary Herczog. It’s really just that simple.

Mary and I met in 1989 while working at a big Hollywood talent agency and we immediately clung together as two of the only seemingly decent people in the company. We shared similar tastes in pop culture, similar disdains for the falsity of the entertainment industry (as a general rule), and similar loves of everything involving food. We joked many times that we shared the same brain and so there really was no choice back then but for us to become best friends. And so we did.

Somewhere around 1996, Mary was asked to write a piece about celebrity gravesites, one of her many arcane yet utterly charming passions, for the Frommer’s Los Angeles book. The Frommer’s folks loved her story so much that when the Las Vegas book became available they asked her to write it.

Knowing that I was a big fan of Vegas and had spent entirely too much time there over the years (and since we shared the same brain remember) Mary very kindly asked me to write the book with her and “Frommer’s Las Vegas 1997″ by Mary Herczog and Rick Garman was born.

Mary took over the book by herself the following year while I used the knowledge I had gained in the effort to write “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Las Vegas” and launch a little experiment called Vegas4Visitors.com.

We continued to work on our separate projects but shared Vegas war stories and information often. Since she was never much of a gambler, I would give her casino tips and tricks and since I love food but she was a true epicurean she would clue me into some great restaurant gems. We took many a road trip to Vegas together, laughing along with its over-the-top wonderful wackiness.

I was in Las Vegas in 1997 when I called Mary from a pay phone at the Luxor (the attractions level, right next to the old IMAX theater) to tell her about something – I don’t remember what. But she had something to tell me, too. She had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 33.

I panicked, of course, but then shortly thereafter fell into action. One of my first stops? The Liberace Museum so I could pick her up a bejeweled baseball cap to wear when she lost her hair during chemotherapy.

Mary beat cancer that first time, kicking it’s ass into remission after a year or so of grueling treatment, which she handled with her usual “what are you gonna do?” shrugs. Everyone was completely captivated by her spirit during that, which was almost always upbeat in terms of her prognosis. The idea that cancer could win that particular battle just wasn’t part of her thought process, or at least not one that she showed any of us.

We celebrated with frequent trips to Vegas and even when we couldn’t go together we dished Vegas dish. I even published an entire story back in 2001 on this site entitled “What Mary Ate.” It’s worth noting that Capriotti’s is on that list. Told you she knew food.

When the cancer came back a few years later, metastized to her liver, the prognosis was not good. At the time, the five year survival rate on a thing like that was something like 5%. I’m not good at math but I understood odds from Vegas and I knew those were against her.

But Mary kept her head up and kept going. I can’t describe her as having a “positive attitude” – it was more that she had an “I can’t be bothered with this” kind of attitude. “I don’t have time for this.” “Really? I have to do this again? But… I need to go to Vegas because they just opened a Ritz-Carlton and I love their beds.”

So we went to the Ritz-Carlton and enjoyed their beds. A lot.

We continued our mutual love affair with Las Vegas together even while she branched out and began writing other Frommer’s books for California, Bali, and her favorite city in the entire world, New Orleans. She continued working her other Hollywood type jobs and even began studying to get her PhD in Philosphy.

Despite those bad odds, Mary beat them again and was cancer free.

But like that face card you don’t want to see in blackjack when you’re drawing on 13, the cancer returned in full force in late 2005, again in her liver. The last few years have been virtually non-stop in terms of treatment, but she remained non-stop through it, continuing her studies, continuing her work, continuing her series of essays about the disease on CancerChick.com, and continuing her friendship with me. It was because of that friendship that we decided to embark on a series of road trips that we chronicled as Plucky Survivors See America, which were featured on our website PluckySurvivors.com and here on Vegas4Visitors.com.

On February 16, 2010, Mary Herczog – travel writer, lover of good food, loving wife, best friend, and so much more – died in her home, surrounded by family and friends. I had just said to her, “We’re going to go get on a plane and fly to Mardi Gras, right Mary?” and moments later she was gone.

She always had great timing.

In one of our last full conversations only about a week ago, Mary asked me to take over her duties for the Frommer’s Las Vegas guide book. The very kind folks at Frommer’s have agreed to honor her request and my first edition of that book will be available for 2011. But I’d like to highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Mary’s last edition, the Frommer’s Las Vegas 2010, which is available now. That would have meant a lot to her and it certainly does to me.

Las Vegas won’t be the same without her. And neither will all of those of us who knew and loved her.

Brett’s Vegas Views BY Jackie Brett.

‘VIVA ELVIS’ IS A CIRQUE MISHMASH OF ELEMENTS.

“Viva Elvis” has been officially unveiled at Aria in CityCenter as Cirque du Soleil’s seventh resident Las Vegas show on the Strip. The production has all the Cirque elements; big cast – 76 artists; hallmark acrobatics; and bold artistic statements. While roughly 30 Elvis classic songs and The King’s life act as the theme and backdrop for the show, the interpretative paintbrush is in the hands of Cirque.

There’s lots of dancing mirroring and modernizing the ‘50s and ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll era that Elvis embraced beginning at the top of the show with poodle skirts. While most of the show is upbeat, there are quiet moments like when an actor crosses the stage as Elvis’ famous manager “The Colonel” Tom Parker and tells his version of “really missing that boy.” Another slow routine early in the show has a piano flowing onto the stage with a lady playing a moody “One Night You” as two acrobats work they routine in, around and through a gigantic wire-like outline of a guitar. This follows The Colonel’s biographical comment that Elvis’ had a brother who died.

For avid Elvis’ fans, they will most enjoy the video segments that are interspersed throughout the show. When the video is run in the top portion of a jukebox high in the proscenium and dancing or balancing routines are taking place on the stage floor, it’s the old films and Elvis’ charisma that override the production on stage.

One trick that the Canadian entertainment company has perfected is the element of surprise. You really can’t second guess what will show up in the next scene. You run through changing acts such as a marching band and drum corps for “Return to Sender, “Blue Suede Shoes” with a jumbo blue shoe rolling on stage, to the scene stealing “Jailhouse Rock” with prisoners walking on the prison ceilings. Representing Elvis’ wedding to Priscilla Presley, who was in the audience on opening night, is a giant wedding cake filling center stage while the bride’s veil is unfurled to fill the front of the stage so that the duo’s historic wedding video could be shown on it.

Once again, Cirque du Soleil has taken a topic, in this case Elvis, and put it into their branding blender. Tickets are $99, $125, $150 and $175. Shows are Friday through Tuesday at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

HOOTERS’S ‘LAUGH UNTIL IT HURTS’

Hooters has opened a new comedy show called “Laugh Until It Hurts” starring Geechy Guy, Mickey Joseph and Todd Paul, who performs his own show in the Owl Showroom at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. “Laugh Until It Hurts” is staged Monday through Thursday night, at 11 p.m. Tickets are $24.99, call 866-584-6687.

The show gives a behind-the-scenes look at three Vegas comedians as they attempt to outdo each other. It opens with a set showing a back alley with a guy standing outside a door smoking a cigarette and a video. Then it moves to comedians exiting a stage back door after a show. They settle in an area with cans and sit while they casually converse and peel off jokes. It’s really quite funny because you witness three different styles of comedy and quick repartee.

The concept is so loose that visiting comedians can join them onstage like Kevin Burke from “Defending the Caveman” and his own comedy show at Fitzgeralds did on media night. To keep your evening going late at night, this show provides the laughter.

WOLFGANG PUCK UNVEILS TWO NEW RESTAURANTS AT CRYSTALS

Puck continues to revolutionize the fine dining landscape of the city. His newest creations include two restaurants at Crystals, the new 500,000-square-foot retail, entertainment and dining district at CityCenter.

Brasserie PUCK is Puck’s first French restaurant in nearly 30 years. The eatery has a crisp, modern interior and features subtle and artistic references to the olive which is featured within two elements in the entryway. A bar and lounge jut out onto the light-filled terrace of the shops, making the restaurant both highly visible and a perfect vantage point to people watch. At the perimeter of the bar, the dining room wall features a large-scale photograph of an olive grove, laminated into panels of glass. Additional elements include contemporary wood louvers above, and decorative lighting features with amber-seeded glass, inspired by vintage modern Italian fixtures.

In the private dining room, fabric-paneled walls are printed with illustrations of French, Spanish, and Italian villages. A huge wine cabinet, also known as the “wine tunnel,” lines the adjacent corridor. A wall of textured limestone encloses the kitchen, where aseeded-glasswindow allows guests to view the action.

Located just an escalator ride below Brasserie PUCK is the second restaurant, The Pods by Wolfgang Puck, a full-service coffee bar, café and bar. The Pods offers light American fare that can be conveniently taken to-go or enjoyed at the restaurant, all day long.

FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS ADDS NEW EATERY AND RETAILERS

Las Vegas’ first Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man and Christian Audigier are set to open this year.

Coming this summer, Max Brenner’s, Chocolate by the Bald Man location will hold the distinction of being the largest at 9,400 square feet. Also to catch the guests’ eyes, enormous white vats mixing chocolate will flow into pipes that run throughout the entire space. The décor will also feature huge bricks, candles, pralines, colorful toy tines and crates overflowing with cocoa beans. Currently, including Las Vegas, there will be 29 total locations, with two in the United States at New York City and Philadelphia.

Las Vegas’ firstChristian Audigierlocation opening this summer will feature the French designer’s luxury street wear apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Audigier is the man behind the popular rhinestone-encrusted Ed Hardy.

New retailers at The Forum Shops are Paradiso for the “ultra-cool shopper, and Marshall Rousso that for more than 30 years has dressed women, especially in a city like Las Vegas.

The Hostile Grape, the wine bar and tasting room at the M Resort, has introduced an all-new lineup of happy hour specials with a different theme every night, Tuesday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. The specials include $5 all-you-can-eat appetizers like Grilled Veggie Skewers, Prosciutto Wrapped Melon and Mini Tacos, $1 wine deals and a variety of other food and drink specials. There’s live music or a DJ each night.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett

SHOW REVIEW: ‘Frank Marino: Divas Las Vegas’
Energy boost pays off for ‘Divas,’ but it’s time to take some chances.

BY: Mike Weatherford/LVRJ.

They’re the same old gals, but they look like they’ve had a little Botox. Maybe some liposuction, too. A tummy tuck. A nose job. A face-lift, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing.
Or at least some new costumes and music. A larger stage, decent lighting and a microphone that doesn’t echo.

If that’s all it took to turn “An Evening at La Cage” into “Frank Marino: Divas Las Vegas,” these girls got the party started months ago.

The drag revival has been running at the Imperial Palace since October, before producer-star Frank Marino declared it ready for press scrutiny last week. (Even then, he said the new set’s built-in lighting malfunctioned.)

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/_frank-marino–divas-las-vegas_-86527187.html

Revolver Saloon at Sante Fe Station offers Wild West theme in more casual venue.

BY: Sonya Padgett/LVRJ.

In the early 1990s, you couldn’t throw a cow patty without hitting a country-themed club or bar.

But they fell out of favor as club-goers abandoned the Texas two-step and Western wear in favor of the Tootsie Roll and club shirts.

Revolver Saloon and Dance Hall, a new nightclub in Santa Fe Station, revives that t. The 10,000-square-foot club has a country bar feel to it, all the way down to the mechanical bull that customers can ride. The DJ plays country music but mixes in some Top 40 tunes, too.

Management decided to open a country-themed club because “we saw the writing on the wall,” says Chad Pallas, director of nightlife for the company. With Steve Wynn signing country legend Garth Brooks to a multiyear deal on the Strip, and country music increasing in popularity, it seemed that Revolver’s time had come.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/going-country-86527337.html

Critical Divide: Are out-of-town reviewers blinded by the lights?
By: Steve Friess/Las Vegas Weekly

One week before Viva Elvis “officially” opened, Time magazine’s Richard Corliss wrote the most effervescent review of the new show that Cirque du Soleil could have ever prayed or paid for.

“They’ve concocted an experience that’s both symphonic and in every way fantastic,” Corliss gushed in a line destined to be bathed in exclamation points and emblazoned on advertisements and probably the marquee for the show for years to come.

Corliss’ commentary came out long before Cirque’s requested embargo on reviews; those of us who went to see it for reporting purposes prior to the February 19 opening were asked not to judge because it was still a work in progress even though Aria and Cirque were happily taking good money from patrons. Alas, as the Time writer’s piece was so uniformly gleeful and full of absurd smiley faces like “no tribute show can touch this one in its level of sophistication and its power of evocation,” I don’t imagine anybody from Montreal complained.

More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/05/critical-divide-are-out–town-reviewers-blinded-li/

The Lion King joins Madame Tussauds at The Venetian.
BY: Robin Leach/Las Vegas Sun

Finally, there’s fame for Disney’s The Lion King at Madame Tussauds. A wax figure of the hit musical’s iconic baboon shaman Rafiki was unveiled this morning in the collection at The Venetian. On hand was Buyi Zama, who plays Rafiki in The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, and contributing photographer Erik Kabik was at the ceremony for these photos for our photo gallery.

Several of the show’s South African cast members also turned out for a special dance ceremony. The wax figure has been dressed in a costume created by the musical’s Tony Award winner Julie Taymor and made of cotton, decorated with metal amulets and that has a horsehair collar. The hat is made of textured kente cloth, and the custom shoes are made of rubber. The elements are made to accentuate features of a baboon, while red, yellow and blue makeup highlights a baboon’s facial contours.

Julie designed the costume for Rafiki after much research on a variety of African totem figures and garments worn by the Sangomas, or traditional healers. A Sangoma often will wear a shirt hung with 100 or more tokens, which might be written blessings or curses sewn into a leather pouch, items of spiritual significance like shells, bits of bone, claws or feathers or other items used in their advice and healing practices.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/04/em-lion-kingem-joins-madame-tussauds-venetian/

Monti-Licious: From reportonvegas.com.

Surprise, surprise! For months I’ve been hinting, and rumors have been swirling, that international star Celine Dion would return to Caesars Colosseum. It was just announced that a three-year contract has been signed by Celine and amazing as it sounds, tickets went on sale Friday, February 12, 2010 for her show that will begin March 2011! Celine will be doing both contemporary and Hollywood ballads accompanied by a 32-piece orchestra. She’ll be doing what she does best….. sing. Celine is the one star that consistently sold out the more than 4,400 tickets for every performance. No Cirque this time, just Celine.

Bette Midler appeared at the Colosseum for two years but her recent exit may have been surrounded with mystery. Questions have been asked, “Did she break even when she closed her show?” I was called on the carpet (again) when I reported there was a fire sale. There was talk that Bette was in negotiations with Steve Wynn. Of course, the Colosseum will continue to provide stellar entertainment with the likes of Cher and Jerry Seinfeld along with such stars as Lionel Richie, who will make his first appearance at the Colosseum in March (that would be March 2010). The house that Celine built will continue to thrive. It’s a fabulous venue for the entertainers and for the audiences. A recent article was published that stated Barbra Streisand turned down $100 million for a three-year Colosseum deal, stating Babs was the only other star, besides Celine, that could fill the house.

Menopause the Musical at The Luxor just recently celebrated their 1,800th performance here in Las Vegas. Menopause continues to be an ongoing and worthy production filled with laughs and music. I’ve seen the show several times and have never been disappointed. My friend Paige O’Hara is only one of the many talented performers to show up every night for Menopause. Congrats to everyone that makes this show a must-see.

The showroom at Planet Hollywood currently has former Seinfeld star Jason Alexander in a new show called Donny Clay. Jason is a longtime Broadway favorite and really shines when it comes to singing and dancing as well as comedy. This show has it all, including partial nudity, and I doubt if they’re referring to Jason, even though his svelte appearance may be the result of his work for Jenny Craig .Dates for Donny Clay with Jason Alexander at Planet Hollywood are February 11-14, March 4-7 and March 11-14. Word is the show will run as long as ticket demands warrant it. I was fortunate enough to see this GREAT performer , how shall I say, “kick butt”. Jason Alexander is ‘Broadway all the way’. The show is fast-moving and entertaining as Jason takes full command of the stage in this one-man tour de force. As he says, this is not George Costanza, it;s Jason as Donny Clay

With Jason Alexander’s appearance at Planet Hollywood, maybe it’s a sign things are changing for the somewhat embattled Strip location where the Harmon Theater and Krave Nightclub filed for bankruptcy. The Steve Wyrick Theater at Miracle Mile in Planet Hollywood is also up for grabs. If you walk the Miracle Mile, there are sales everywhere. If everyone can hold on for six months, there may be a turn around. And now Green Valley Resort has just filed for bankruptcy . This hotel/casino is a joint venture of Station Casinos and The Greenspun Corp. They claim that daily operation of the hotel will not be affected. We’ve got to be optimistic.

It seems The Orleans and The Suncoast are becoming the places where former Vegas Strip headliners are finding steady work as rotating stars in residence. The lineup includes Clint Holmes and The Scintas at Suncoast, Engleburt Humperdink and the great Don Rickles at Orleans and Southpoint is where you can periodically see Tony Orlando and Sheena Easton. The locals now have the opportunity to see some of their favorites at prices they can afford.

It was just announced that Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall and Bar-B-Que will open at Treasure Island on April 16. Gilley’s was a honky tonk that originated in Pasadena, Texas, and was the setting for the John Travolta smash hit Urban Cowboy. The Treasure Island version will be open for lunch and dinner. Besides the well-known barbeque, they’re once again featuring Gilley’s infamous mechanical bull.

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by MrVegas98
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