Everything Las Vegas Issue # 650
"She never dreamed of being of a comedian. She just was," said her son, Mike Cardella. Wines, who had emceed X Burlesque at the Flamingo since last year, was found dead of natural causes at her home early Monday, Cardella said. Often referred to as "the female Don Rickles" for her roasting style, Wines and her family had lived here since 1993, when she arrived for a comedy gig with the "Crazy Girls" at the Riviera. A regular at Chicago's legendary Pump Room, her career "started steamrolling when she was 30," said Cardella, who works for N9NE Group as a nightclub door host. His mother worked for Chicago restaurateur Arnie Morton, whose son, Michael, is co-owner of N9NE Group. "She was 'the next big thing,'" said Cardella, 28, "but because she had us (her three children), that was her main focus. She didn't want to do the Hollywood parties or whatever it took. We were her priority." One of Wines' biggest breaks came when she landed a 1983 Showtime special on the Queen Mary in front of an all-celebrity audience. They took a royal ribbing. Funeral arrangements are pending. Wines will be buried in Chicago. ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: Time runs out for comedian Pudgy
However, sources close to the company say parts of the new property could still open sometime this weekend if the county issues temporary occupancy permits. "We're still working with the county on some final approvals," Ron Reese, spokesman for $1.8 billion Palazzo's parent company, Las Vegas Sands Corp., said Thursday. "We still plan to open parts of the building prior to the grand opening." Reese said that Jan. 17 remains the grand opening date for the newest Strip resort, but he declined to commit to a firm soft opening date. The most important thing you can do is not leave your players club card in the machine after you play. Almost every players club booth gives away cords that you can attach to your card and your body (or your purse strap) so when you move, your card moves with you. Do you belong to an upper-tier at a players club (platinum, diamond, etc.)? Then consider getting an extra card from the booth that does not show your status and use that one when you play. Save the other to use only when you need to. Also, avoid using a PIN that is based on your birthday, address or Social Security number (or your spouse's). Use your mother's birthday instead. Make it a point to encourage casino staff to ask for ID when redeeming points, especially if you are doing so at a third-party owned restaurant in the casino or entering the VIP room (thankfully most of the players clubs will do so automatically). There is nothing wrong with asking a negligent cashier "Shouldn't you check for my ID?" or passing a special "Thank you for asking" to the team member who is properly doing their job. By MIKE WEATHERFORD/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Options range from hip-hop icons to a reality show-winning ventriloquist.
The routine is now well-established for "America's Party" fireworks on the Strip. The only real change this year is Planet Hollywood replacing the Monte Carlo as one of the seven rooftop launch sites. The others: MGM Grand, Flamingo Las Vegas, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Circus Circus and Stratosphere.
A cozier outdoor bash on Fremont Street offers the Doobie Brothers and the Bangles on different stages. But unlike the Strip, there is a $60 ticket.
The power couple of Jay-Z and Beyoncé appear to have the most prosperous start on 2008. They dropped by in September to announce the New Year's Eve opening of Jay-Z's $20 million 40/40 Club at the Palazzo (The Venetian's new sister property that otherwise gets a low-key soft opening).
I'm usually not a fan of the Broadway transplants here in Vegas - in many cases you can see them elsewhere including touring companies and so why waste the opportunity to see an only in Vegas spectacle. But Spamalot at Wynn Las Vegas is such a deliriously wacky good time that I just stopped caring about exclusivity. This is a musical for people who hate musicals and a must-see on your next trip.
2. Rita Rudner
Now that Celine has taken her final bow, we can officially crown Rita Rudner as the Queen of Las Vegas entertainment, not just in the comedy genre. Her stand-up shows atHarrah's are laugh until your face hurts experiences.
3. Mystere
The longest running Cirque du Soleil show is still the best of the bunch. Mystere at Treasure Island continues to be a marvel of execution and performance, from the stunning acrobatics to the fun and fearless performance art.
4. Mac King
Mac King's show at Harrah's is the blueprint for what magic acts should be: fun, funny, fast-paced, and confident enough in the "magical" nature of the illusions that they don't need to be wrapped up in dry-ice, dramatic-music distractions. A bargain to boot!
5. Elton John
For forty years, Elton John has been a virtual jukebox of musical hits and his shows at Caesars Palace are like listening to a soundtrack of your life. Expensive but totally worth it.
6. Stomp Out Loud
The concept of making art out of trash is not a new one, but the Stomp cast's ability to transform everyday items (from lighters to trash can lids to, literally, the kitchen sink) into a symphony of sonic delight nightly at Planet Hollywood is both wonderous and wonderful.
7. KA
There are moments in the martial arts themed Cirque du Soleil spectacle KA at MGM Grand where you will want to question your own brain and eyes. What happens on stage seems impossible, but there it is; a visual and emotional feast waiting to be devoured.
8. Lance Burton
Lance Burton's show at Monte Carlo is one of the few traditional magic acts on this kind of a scale left in Las Vegas. Normally I'd say traditional magic act with a sneer, but Burton's aw-shucks demeanor and undeniable talent are enough to change my mind.
9. Le Reve
Turning a merely okay show into a really good one is no mean feat, but the folks behind Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas have done it by freshening the story, adding new acts, revamping the theater, and more while keeping the stunning visuals and moody atmospherics that set it apart from the Cirque shows to begin with.
10. Penn & Teller
In their shows at The Rio, Penn & Teller don't want you to merely be amazed at their illusions, they want you to think about the very nature of what it means to be tricked. This is the thinking person's magic show; challenging, demanding, and exhilirating.
Bonus: Celine Dion
Although I've never been a huge fan of Ms. Dion and I still truly believe one must be to have fully enjoyed her show in Vegas, I would be remiss for not giving a special Top 10 Award of Achievement to her for what she accomplished in her four-year run at Caesars Palace. Vegas will miss you, Celine.
Vegas4Visitors.com Top 10 Awards: Best Attractions by Rick Garman
1. Springs Preserve
An oasis of calm in an often overwhelming city, The Springs Preserve serves up 180 acres of nature, entertainment, and education with hiking trails, museums, desert living displays, cultural activities, and an ecologically friendly message that fascinates instead of preaches. Las Vegas has needed something like for a long time and we should all be cheering the fact that it has finally arrived.
2. Fountains of Bellagio
Hard to believe the light, sound, and water ballet that are the Fountains of Bellagio has been running for about 9 years now because it is still a visual feast to consume every time.
3. Bellagio Conservatory
The sheer enormity of what it takes to create the floral masterpieces that fill the Bellagio Conservatory makes it worthy of a place on this list, but the fact that the horticultural artists can keep it fresh and entertaining with every update makes it worthy of applause.
4. Neon Boneyard
Viewing the relics in the dusty lot of the Neon Boneyard is like taking a trip through time. Remember the Stardust? Sassy Sally's? The Silver Slipper? Classic signs from these and more are here, waiting for their chance to light up the Vegas sky once again.
5. Atomic Testing Museum
The Atomic Testing Museum manages a delicate balancing act, celebrating the scientific achievements of the people who worked at the Nevada Test Site while acknowledging the horrible human toll inexorably linked to the research. Fascinating, educational, and emotional this place has it all.
6. Fremont Street Experience
The four block long canopy of lights over the Fremont Street Experience is a dazzling display of technology and entertainment, blazing with hourly shows every night after dusk. Combine those lights with the classic neon of Glitter Gulch and you have a celebration of what made Vegas famous.
7. Liberace Museum
Someone asked me recently what the phrase "I wish my brother George was here" meant. Google it and then read up on Liberace. Or better yet, go to the Liberace Museumand get the full effect of the flamboyance that the showman embodied.
8. Mirage Dolphin Habitat
Yes, seeing dolphins in the wild is a much more humane and probably fulfilling experience but this is as close as you're going to get in the middle of a desert. The highly regardedDolphin Habitat at the Mirage is still one of my favorite things to do in Vegas.
9. Richard Petty Driving Experience
Forget the roller coasters; true thrill junkies should immediately come to the Richard Petty Driving Experience to slip behind the wheel of an honest to goodness race car and take it on the track.
10. Guggenheim Hermitage Museum
Art lovers have a rare opportunity at the Guggenheim Hermitage to see works of are rarely viewed outside of New York or Russia. The gallery is small and probably overpriced for what it is, but the chance to see these kinds of masterworks makes up for it.
Vegas4Visitors.com Top 10 Awards: Best Buffets by Rick Garman
1. The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas
The experience of eating at the Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas is unlike any other buffet experience in town, or the world for that matter. The food is consistently fantastic and the dining room, done as an English garden, is a visual delight. Yes it is expensive but for the quality and quantity of food and the setting you can't do any better.
2. Flavors
The fun new(ish) Flavors buffet at Harrah's does a great job of turning the staid station concept on its ear with whimsical branding and honestly good food to back it all up. The selections are more than satisfying and the dining room is a casual charmer. Plus they had a chocolate fountain. That's worth bonus points right there.
3. Main Street Station Garden Court
The Garden Court has almost everything the Wynn buffet does at a fraction of the cost: an almost epic amount of well-prepared food and a beautiful room in which to eat it. Get off The Strip and find the true buffet experience at Main Street Station.
4. Santa Fe Station Feast Buffet
The signature Feasts at the Station Casinos are almost all universally good but this Feast at Santa Fe Station is truly great. The modern and comfortable dining room provides a great setting to sample the wide array of finely prepared food at prices that won't break the budget.
5. Green Valley Ranch Feast Buffet
Choosing between the Feast at #4 above and this one at Green Valley Ranch is a bit of a "Sophie's Choice" - both are fantastic examples of the all-you-can-eat genre with scads of good food, nice dining rooms (this one more Mediterranean influenced), and reasonable prices. That latter part is why the Santa Fe Feast got the higher ranking; the prices are a couple of bucks cheaper.
6. Planet Hollywood Spice Market Buffet
The Spice Market Buffet, when it was at the Aladdin, was probably the best on The Strip for its beautiful Arabian themed dining room and huge variety of food including some middle Eastern dishes not available anywhere else. The Planet Hollywood version is a bit more boring from a design perspective (movie posters are not decor, sorry) but the food is still as good and as eclectic as it was before.
7. The Buffet at Bellagio
The Wynn Buffet and this one battle back and forth for the title of most elegant, most gastrically satisfying, and most expensive. While I firmly throw my hat toward Wynn, it doesn't diminish the fact that the Buffet at Bellagio is still a fantastic dining experience.
8. Paris Le Village Buffet
Part theme park experience (you dine "outdoors" in a faux French countryside village) and part adventurous restaurant (many of the dishes are French or at least French inspired), Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas is a terrific example of how an all-you-can-eatery doesn't have to be a boring affair.
9. Cravings
The Cravings buffet at The Mirage is a modern work of art, with a funky design evoking a 22nd century automat and enough fine food to embarass many traditional restaurants.
10. The Golden Nugget Buffet
Kudos to the owners of the Golden Nugget who took the worn out buffet and replaced with this one, a really good, very affordable place with a view to boot. Inexpensive and yet you don't sacrifice anything.
Check Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman Rick's great webpage.
Neil Diamond becomes him.
Las Vegas tribute artist wows onstage, so Ron Howard puts him in film, tooBy Jerry Fink/Las Vegas Sun.
Almost anyone who has seen Jay White perform his Neil Diamond tribute at the Riviera is impressed by his presentation - his vocals, mannerisms and physical appearance are remarkable. Movie director Ron Howard is no exception. Howard saw a video of White and was impressed enough to put him in his latest film, "Frost/Nixon," which is based on the Broadway play. The story centers on a series of interviews of President Nixon by David Frost, televised in 1977 - three years after Nixon resigned in disgrace over the Watergate break-in. Frank Langella, who won a Tony Award for best actor, plays Nixon. Michael Sheen plays Frost. White plays Diamond, a small but pivotal role. More from The Las Vegas Sun here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2007/dec/21/566642475.html
NORM: Jackson shopping around in Vegas.
Michael Jackson is back in Las Vegas, shopping for a quick pay day.
Spies tell me the former king of pop has approached some of the hottest nightclubs with an offer to host an evening for more than $100,000 for a couple hours of work.
"He's still one of the biggest stars out there, but he comes with a lot of baggage," said a top club executive, alluding to Jackson's child molestation trial.
"It would be worth it," said another major club operator.
Jackson, 49, was spotted with his children at a Barnes & Noble bookstore here last Friday with numerous bandage squares around his mouth. "Looking as if his face is held together with Post-it notes," is how a British newspaper put it.
Jackson moved to Las Vegas a year ago at Christmas with his three children but left after six months when he was unable to find any takers for his hoped-for comeback.
He has been living in northern Virginia. His parents, Joe and Catherine, have a house in Las Vegas.
ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: Jackson shopping around in Vegas
SHOW REVIEW: "Toni Braxton: Revealed"
Playing to the crowd: Braxton lets audience steal best moments.
By MIKE WEATHERFORD/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Christmas on the Strip probably should be more "Santa Baby" than "White Christmas" anyway.
Toni Braxton has become smart about accentuating the positive during the past year and a half at the Flamingo. No one doing the Vegas thing this week should mind if her rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is less memorable for the singing than for the singer's peekaboo Santa suit.
Santa has his elves. Braxton has "the cousins," as she calls them, or alternately, "Siegfried and Roy making a comeback."
Amid all the hoopla surrounding Celine Dion's final shows last weekend, Las Vegas' other working pop-star mom forged on with "Revealed," a revue that runs on a fraction of the budget of "A New Day …" but likewise has become a smoother, more graceful showcase over time.
More from The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
ReviewJournal.com - Neon - SHOW REVIEW: "Toni Braxton: Revealed"
AIRPORT CHECK-IN
Spies tell me the former king of pop has approached some of the hottest nightclubs with an offer to host an evening for more than $100,000 for a couple hours of work.
"He's still one of the biggest stars out there, but he comes with a lot of baggage," said a top club executive, alluding to Jackson's child molestation trial.
"It would be worth it," said another major club operator.
Jackson, 49, was spotted with his children at a Barnes & Noble bookstore here last Friday with numerous bandage squares around his mouth. "Looking as if his face is held together with Post-it notes," is how a British newspaper put it.
Jackson moved to Las Vegas a year ago at Christmas with his three children but left after six months when he was unable to find any takers for his hoped-for comeback.
He has been living in northern Virginia. His parents, Joe and Catherine, have a house in Las Vegas.
ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: Jackson shopping around in Vegas
SHOW REVIEW: "Toni Braxton: Revealed"
Playing to the crowd: Braxton lets audience steal best moments.
By MIKE WEATHERFORD/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Christmas on the Strip probably should be more "Santa Baby" than "White Christmas" anyway.
Toni Braxton has become smart about accentuating the positive during the past year and a half at the Flamingo. No one doing the Vegas thing this week should mind if her rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is less memorable for the singing than for the singer's peekaboo Santa suit.
Santa has his elves. Braxton has "the cousins," as she calls them, or alternately, "Siegfried and Roy making a comeback."
Amid all the hoopla surrounding Celine Dion's final shows last weekend, Las Vegas' other working pop-star mom forged on with "Revealed," a revue that runs on a fraction of the budget of "A New Day …" but likewise has become a smoother, more graceful showcase over time.
More from The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
ReviewJournal.com - Neon - SHOW REVIEW: "Toni Braxton: Revealed"
AIRPORT CHECK-IN
This is kind of cool and a great idea which I'm hoping all of our hotels will implement. MGM Grand is offering its guests the convenience of checking in from McCarran International Airport at its 500-square-foot, satellite check-in facility located in South Baggage Claim. Not only can guests receive room keys, they also can make restaurant reservations, purchase show tickets and arrange shuttle service — all while waiting for their luggage. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.ReviewJournal.com - Living - LENNY'S LAS VEGAS
Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas - The VegasTripping Review 2007
The name Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is, in the Las Vegas lexicon, synonymous with party. Err… at least it was. With the rise of ultralounges, nightclubs and bottle service in the last few years, the Hard Rock's well worn mantle of being the epicenter for sex drugs and rock and roll Vegas throwdowns has faded. Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, Hard Rock creator Peter Morton unloaded all of his casino assets, including the Las Vegas outpost to Morgans Hotel Group (all operations west of the Mississippi) and the Seminole Tribe (operations east of the Mississippi).
We were extremely surprised when we found out that a local Los Angeles blog, LAist was having a contest for its readers that included one night at the Hard Rock, a $25 gift certificate to Pink Taco and two tickets to see heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne perform at The Joint. As fate would have it, we won, and an email from Hard Rock's marketing department arrived with all the pertinent details a day or two later. If there's one thing better than going to Vegas, it's going to Vegas for a comped room, food and show.
We arrived at the Hard Rock in the middle of the afternoon on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a notoriously quiet weekend in Vegas. After spending a minute on line at reception, the attendant bumped us over to VIP check in, where we ended up standing on line (in an empty room) for about 5 minutes. Why she didn't just deal with us there is beyond me. We're here… we've already stood on line… just check us in. Fortunately, VIP check-in room features a lemonade dispenser, complimentary pastries and walls lined with top tier items of rock and roll memorabilia including an original 5 panel drawing by John Lennon… sweet. After dealing with the check-in we spilled out into the circular casino/lobby/promenade and looked around cluelessly to find the hotel elevators. We circled to the right, then back to the left, then back right, then down the hallway towards the parking garage, then back into the casino on a mad search for the hotel elevators. Eventually we found them over by the entrance to the pool hit "4" and headed up to the room.
Check all 8 pages of this review here:
Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas - The VegasTripping Review 2007 - VegasTripping.com
Vegas Eats: Pink Taco at Hard Rock Vegas from vegastripping.com
Odd. It seems that my preconceived ideas about things can be wrong. Go figure. See, the first time I ever heard the name 'Pink Taco' I decided that the joint was disgusting, that I would never eat there and that the food wasn't even close to being tasty.
Well, this weekend the fine folks at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and LAist.com proved me wrong.
Pink Taco is actually…. good.
Credit goes, however, to Pink Taco founder Harry Morton, heir to restaurant legacy that accompanies the name. A 'Morton' (Harry's dad, Peter) co-founded the Hard Rock Cafe and founded the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, another (Arnie, Harry's grandpa) began Morton's steakhouse chain and yet another (Michael, Harry's uncle) fronts the N9NE Group, which runs various joints at the Hard Rock's rival for the party scenester dollars, Palms. Point is, Harry has certainly picked up a few things growing up.
Read the entire review here:
Vegas Eats: Pink Taco at Hard Rock Vegas - VegasTripping.com
CHALLENGES by Norm Clarke/Las Vegas Review Journal
Star chef Alain Ducasse has overcome some tall challenges to get his food on the table.
In Las Vegas, a helicopter was used to deliver the kitchen piece by piece through the roof of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay.
But taking over the restaurant at the 410-foot mark of the Eiffel Tower in Paris presented a problem at the opposite end of the spectrum, according to The Associated Press.
Because of limited space and the fact that gas cooking wasn't allowed for safety reasons, Ducasse's chefs work in an underground kitchen. The $108 lunches and $216 dinners are delivered by elevator.
To reduce stress on the 118-year-old iron structure, lighter tables and chairs were put in the restaurant. Ducasse's nine-year contract with the Eiffel Tower begins today.
ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: Garvey: Plenty of blame in scandal
NORM: City Center will get new hot spot.
Beverly Hills hot spot Mr. Chow is heading for MGM Mirage's $7 billion City Center project.
A celebrity magnet for years, Mr. Chow was under contract to be part of the Hard Rock Hotel's massive expansion but that changed when owner Peter Morton sold to Morgans Hotel Group Co. in May 2006 for $770 million. Owner Michael Chow has been looking for a Las Vegas presence for almost a decade. The restaurant lineup at City Center, due to open in late 2009, will borrow heavily from the Bellagio's deep pool of star chefs.
Others include: The celebrated Maccione family, who operate Le Cirque restaurants in New York and Bellagio, along with Osteria del Circo at Bellagio; Julian Serrano, fresh from a two-star Michelin rating and a AAA five-diamond award at Picasso; much-decorated New York City chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Prime steakhouse; San Francisco chef Michael Mina is rumored to have two concepts in the works; and Jean-Phillipe Maury is the Bellagio executive pastry chef.
Others include: The celebrated Maccione family, who operate Le Cirque restaurants in New York and Bellagio, along with Osteria del Circo at Bellagio; Julian Serrano, fresh from a two-star Michelin rating and a AAA five-diamond award at Picasso; much-decorated New York City chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Prime steakhouse; San Francisco chef Michael Mina is rumored to have two concepts in the works; and Jean-Phillipe Maury is the Bellagio executive pastry chef.
ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: City Center will get new hot spot
MIKE WEATHERFORD: How far can Cirque stretch dominance?
And you thought it was just here.
Cirque du Soleil has five shows on the Strip and is working on six and seven. But now the Strip's dominant player is going into Las Vegas' main feeder market, Southern California, with a permanent show in Hollywood.
I would love to have been in the executive offices at MGM Mirage when the $100 million "Cirque Meets Hollywood" was announced for the struggling Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard — home to the Academy Awards — beginning in 2010.
And if you really expand the definition of "feeder market," you wonder if new Cirques opening in Tokyo and Macau next year will affect the "must see" status of the local titles among Asians? And what about one planned for Dubai in 2010?
More from The Las Vegas review Journal here:
http://www.lvrj.com/living/12784907.html
LENNY'S LAS VEGAS: Bunch of Losers.
Don't want to spoil your holiday mood, but I just want you to know you lost even more money this past October (the latest month to release gaming figures) to our casinos. In short, Nevada's casino industry recorded an all-time single monthly record for gaming revenues during that month, collecting more than $1.164 billion from gamblers. That's billion, my friends.
Some of the figures are pretty startling, especially the Baccarat win which was $108.2 million, up a whopping 338 percent from a year ago. Strip casinos again were the state's gaming engine, winning almost $637.8 million, 19.8 percent higher than October 2006. The figure was the second largest monthly Strip win total in history.
Statewide, table games accounted for revenues of $373.3 million, up 21.5 percent from a year ago. Slot machines revenue was $779.2 million, a 4.9 percent increase. Live poker generated $12.4 million in gaming win. Overall, people like you and I wagered $11.6 billion on slot machines and $2.8 billion on table games during October. When are we ever going to learn?
ReviewJournal.com - Living - LENNY'S LAS VEGAS: Bunch of Losers
"Party" town: By Carol Cling/Las Vegas Review Journal. Lifetime's "Top This Party: Las Vegas" takes a break this week to edit footage in anticipation of the show's Jan. 4 debut, following "Top This Party: Orange County," which focuses on — you guessed it — Southern California parties. But "there's no bigger party town than Las Vegas," notes Mechelle Collins, who executive produces the reality series with her Intuitive Entertainment partner, Kevin Dill. "We've been shooting for about six weeks" in Las Vegas, Collins notes. "We don't have another party 'til New Year's Eve." So far, the Glitter City revels captured on camera range from a Marie Antoinette-themed party to a Garden of Eden benefit bash. All of the Las Vegas parties showcase local Brian "Breakfast" Rice, whose nickname was inspired by his penchant for cooking breakfast for guests following his all-night parties.
ReviewJournal.com - Living - SHOOTING STARS
Vegas Values Report 12/23/07
The below information is supplied by Scot Krause, our roving reporter, who supplies us each week with information on the best Las Vegas promotions. It's only available here on the americancasinoguide.com web site so be sure to come back each Sunday to find out about the best values in Las Vegas.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Promotions/VEGAS-VALUES.shtml
Sonny Charles & The Checkmates To Ring In 2008 At The Rampart Casino from www.accessvegas.com
The Rampart Casino will ring in the new year with a New Year's Eve concert by Sonny Charles & The Checkmates. This show will pay tribute to the late, great Sweet Louie. The show will be held at Addison's Lounge inside the Rampart Casino on Monday, December 31. The show begins at 9 p.m. $10 admittance at the door.
Winners of numerous "Best Lounge Act" awards in Las Vegas, Sonny Charles & The Checkmates continue to entertain, mesmerize, charm and delight their audiences with a performance that transports them back and forth in time with hits from the '60's, '70's, '80's, '90's, and the contemporary current decade of 2000. They sing the soulful, legendary tunes of Motown, Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues and the romantic soothing sounds of the ballads for which they are famous.
The Checkmates are synonymous with standing room only, delighted fans, and packed houses. Their credits include numerous headlining appearances at several of Las Vegas' major hotels as well as showrooms and supper clubs across the country.
http://www.accessvegas.com/forums/show_posts/headliners/sonny-charles–the-checkmates/361
Golden Nugget Completes $60 Million Expansion from www.accessvegas.com
The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino unveiled its $60 million expansion at First and Fremont Streets just in time for the New Year's Eve festivities.
The addition, just west of the current property location, offers a large multi-purpose events center, expanded gaming floor, new sushi restaurant and an exciting nightlife venue unheard of on Fremont Street.
The Grand, the new events center, provides a large event space for conferences, banquets, meetings or receptions, and includes high-speed internet access, state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, and individual sound, electricity and climate controls. The Grand may be reserved in its entirety, or can be divided into separate rooms for specific needs.
Red Sushi restaurant offers the best in traditional Japanese cuisine coupled with stylish surroundings and alluring atmosphere. Whether it's the invitation of fresh, hand-crafted signature sushi or sashimi, or the temptations of the native Japanese sake and beer selections, Red Sushi is sure to cater to all of your raw cravings. Red Sushi is open nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight.
Gold Diggers, the newest, hottest spot to be (and be seen) downtown, is perfect for those looking for the very best in Las Vegas nightlife. Gold Diggers' state-of-the-art entertainment venue boasts a large dance floor bordered by bartenders serving up enticing libations in a fun-filled atmosphere. Whether your taste is rocking to the main stage's live bands or jamming to the DJ-driven beats, Gold Diggers is sure to deliver the best tunes to dance the night away. Just steps away from the party, the nightspot opens to an incredible 180-degree, oversized balcony with stunning views of the Fremont Street Experience, Viva-Vision lightshow and First Street performance stage. Gold Diggers definitely sets the new standard for downtown nightlife. Gold Diggers opens nightly at 4 p.m.
This addition brings the total in renovations and expansions to more than $170 million since the property was purchased by Landry's Restaurants in 2005. Previous renovations and additions to the world-renowned AAA Four Diamond Award-winning property include The Tank, a $30 million pool with live shark aquarium complete with it's own pass-through, three-story waterslide; restaurants Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse, Grotto Italian Ristorante, Lillie's Noodle House and The Buffet; a Race and Sports Book, Poker Room and redesigned casino floor; RUSH Lounge, an ultra-lounge experience in the center of the casino floor; The Showroom, an intimate, 600-seat theater hosting the best in headline entertainment; renovated luxury spa, salon and fitness center; and ultra-modern Gold Club rooms located on the 16th and 17th floors of the hotel's North Tower.
The Golden Nugget Las Vegas is proud to continue its tradition of offering the highest quality service and amenities while constantly growing and improving to meet the changing needs of the Las Vegas visitor.
MYSTERY ADVENTURES from www.vegas4locals.com
Would you like to try out your skills as a Crime Scene Investigator, and win prizes trying to solve a classic mystery involving cryptic symbols, priceless stolen valuables and action filled mayhem?
Then you'll love Mystery Adventures, a unique interactive entertainment experience that is only available in the Las Vegas area. Upon arriving at the Mystery Inn, the players receive a mysterious briefcase and are briefed on the investigation. From there our newly appointed gumshoes determine their first location from the clues, and relay the information to their personal chauffeur.
The game is afoot! Solving the mystery requires skill and cunning, and promises to be a ton of fun. The investigation incorporates the perfect blend of mystery and adventure. Requiring input from all involved ensures that everyone has a chance to participate. Working as a team, and sharing vital clues is the only way to solve the baffling mystery. Amateur sleuths can expect to encounter secret codes, completely tangible crime scenes, and extraordinary treasures while unraveling the mystery.
Every mystery ends with prizes for the detectives. Everyone is a winner at the conclusion of the case, so come out to play MYSTERY ADVENTURES!
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Tony & Tina's Wedding: $15-$30 off admission/2-for-1 for locals
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X Burlesque: 2-for-1 admission
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La Salsa Cantina: Free margarita, appetizer, beer, 10% off bill
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Vinnie Favorito Comedy Show: $10 off admission
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LA Comedy Club: Free ticket with drink purchase
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Keep it Funny The Magic of Comedy: Free ticket with drink purchase
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Defending the Caveman: Special dinner/brunch show pricing
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Club Paradise: Free drink
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Flyaway Indoor Skydiving: $10 off single flight
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Lucky Cheng's Drag Cabaret: 10% off dinner, show and cocktails
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The Second City Comedy & Improv: $10 off admission
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Nathan Burton Comedy Magic: $10 off admission
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The Mentalist Gerry McCambridge: Free ticket with drink purchase
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Vegas Mob Tour: $10 off admission
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Haunted Vegas Tour & Show: $10 off admission
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Haunted Laughlin Tour: $10 off admission
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La Cage: 2-for-1 admission
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Liberace Museum: 40% off museum admission
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Wild West Adventures Horseback Riding Tours: $10 to $20 off
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The Sopranos Last Supper: $10 off admission
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Comedy Pet Theater: 2-for-1 ticket
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Madam Tussaud's: Up to $16 off admission
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Larry G Jones Man of 1002 Voices: $5 off admission
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Fashionistas The Show: 2-for-1 ticket
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Party Planner Psychics: 20% off your psychic reading
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Nathan's Famous: Free Hot Dog
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Hypnosis Unleashed: $10 off admission
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Riviera Comedy Club: 2-for-1 admission
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Tix4Tonight: $2 off service fee for half-priced tickets
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Vegas Wedding Chapel: $50 off any ceremony
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American Superstars: 2-for-1 admission
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Bite: 2-for-1 admission
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Dogs Gone Silly: $10 off admission
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Little Legends: $10 off admission
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Mystery Adventure Tour: $5 off admission
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Jay White as Neil Diamond: 2-for-1 admission
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VegasVIPHottieHosting: 10% off nightlife packages
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Joey & Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding: $10 off
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Click Here for more free printable coupons
New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.
Nobody does it like Vegas
The Strip fills with revelers. Fireworks explode over the hotels. The casinos are body-to-body, the showrooms filled with A-list entertainers and Vegas is more gloriously alive than you've ever seen it. New Year's Eve in Vegas is a world-class celebration.
http://www.vegas.com/newyears/
America's Party Live in Concert .
New Year's revelers can party under the incredible visual backdrop of the 1,500-foot long Viva Vision screen at the Fremont Street Experience as five blocks of the Fremont Street Experience will be transformed into the biggest private party in town.
The final hours of the year will be filled with music from headliners the Doobie Brothers and The Bangles. Riders of the Thunderdome will also be on hand to thrill party goers. Festivities also include a themed fireworks extravaganza firing from the rooftops of seven casinos along the Las Vegas Strip.
The entire four blocks of the downtown Vegas venue will be gated, with access granted only to those who hold a ticket. Fremont Street will be replete with outdoor bars and vendors, easy access to casino gambling, numerous restaurants, and other amenities.
America's Party Live in Concert | VEGAS.com
Chinese New Year's Spectacular.
In 2007, more than 200,000 people enjoyed this display of traditional Chinese culture reinterpreted for a modern audience on stages in 31 cities around the globe.
“The Chinese New Year’s Spectacular,” featuring dancers, musicians and an orchestra, is a true world-class presentation of Chinese culture on the grandest scale.
English and Chinese hosts introduce storylines, history and cultural themes, and translations of song lyrics are projected onto the backdrop, adding to the audience’s understanding and giving context to the performances.
Performers and producers have gathered together, inspired to bring their true culture back to life, and the results of their collaboration are breathtaking in any language.
Chinese New Year's Spectacular
Brett's Vegas Views by Jackie Brett.
Bette Midler will take over the showroom in February. Meanwhile, the stage will be removed and a smaller, conventionally flat stage will be created and about 150 new seats will be added in the front rows.
There are days in your life when you hear news that is inconceivable. To learn that a good friend and incredible entertainer, Sweet Louie of the Checkmates, has passed away on a cruise ship while out on tour stops you dead in your tracks. How can this be, you ask yourself.
Sweet Louie and his dear friend since childhood and partner Sonny Charles have provided fans with four fabulous decades of party-time entertainment. As deserved winners of numerous Best Lounge Act awards, the Checkmates have always been No. 1 crowd pleasers. Sweet Louie has always been the bubbly one with the contagious charm. When they performed at the old Silverbird, this reporter stayed up for all three shows and then would go out for a hamburger with them at the old Jolly Trolley.
The Checkmates have continued to charm and be-guile audiences to this very day. Their biggest hit was Black Pearl in 1969. My memories and love of Sweet Louie will continue on forever.
Singer, songwriter Clint Holmes is performing nightly except Sunday at 9 p.m. in the Sahara Theater through Dec. 31. Clint Holmes Unplugged Holiday Show is a special limited engagement full of festive music. Holmes is joined by instrumentalist Domenick Allen, a former band member of Foreigner, and musical director Bill Fayne of the Las Vegas Tenors. Tickets start at $49, call 702-737-2515.
Having seen these three perform together at the Excalibur a couple months ago, it's easy to guarantee a great show. The chemistry and talent these three gentlemen present is captivating.
AGO, the elegant Italian trattoria named after its celebrated executive chef partner, Agostino Sciandri, will launch a new Las Vegas location at the Hard Rock this winter, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the landmark Los Angeles eatery.
AGO is best known for its authentic Tuscan-style Italian fare that emphasizes light and simple cooking. The menu will be consistent with the restaurant's four other locations across the U.S., including Los Angeles, Miami and soon-to-be New York.
AGO Las Vegas, designed by Ralph Gentile, will include a sleek and welcoming lounge where diners can sample AGO's one-of-a kind cocktails or small plates from the bar menu. Guests then enter the intimate dining area which will include a special "Cava" room designed in the spirit of an underground wine cave.
An official grand opening hosted by Robert DeNiro and Agostino Sciandri is scheduled for late-February.
The Cannery Casino Resorts is being sold for nearly $1.8 billion to an Australian gaming company. The deal will take a year to 18 months to clear. The acquisition includes the Cannery in North Las Vegas and the $250 million Eastside Cannery, which is being built to replace the Nevada Palace on Boulder Highway. The company also manages the Rampart Casino in the JW Marriott in Summerlin.
The soundtrack to The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil drew two nominations for the 50th annual Grammy Awards announced recently in Los Angeles. LOVE, a Cirque du Soleil creation, celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles and is presented exclusively at The Mirage in Las Vegas. This joint artistic venture marks the first time that The Beatles company, Apple Corps Ltd., has agreed to a major theatrical partnership. The project was born out of a personal friendship and mutual admiration between the late George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. The Grammy winners will be announced Feb. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS.
VH1 named the group Heart as a recipient of the 2007 Rock Honors awards. They will headline at the Las Vegas Hilton, Feb. 15 and 16. The group's front lady Ann Wilson has released her debut solo album, Hope & Glory, featuring guest appearances by Elton John, Alison Krauss, Nancy Wilson, k d lang, Wynona, Gretchen Wilson, Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin and Deana Carter.
LVLG: Brett's Vegas Views
Posted on December 31st, 2007 by admin
Filed under: Newsletter
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