February 19th, 2010.

Viva Elvis world premiere rocks Aria tomorrow. BY: Robin Leach/Las Vegas Sun.

Tomorrow night’s world premiere of Viva Elvis, Cirque du Soleil’s newest Strip production, will be the year’s most glittering and glamorous showbiz spectacle. A massive marketing machine rolls into high gear today to ensure global coverage of the extraordinary event.

Vegas DeLuxe is proud and privileged to post the newest Viva Elvis photos in this morning’s photo gallery to add to our previous coverage and photos. Our December four-part Viva Elvis series included interviews with Priscilla Presley and Cirque founder Guy Laliberte, creative director Gilles Ste-Croix, director and writer Vincent Paterson and Robert F.X. Sillerman.

I’m reliably told that the past three weeks of Cirque’s fixation process have been completed and that all problems, wrinkles and hiccups have been solved, and everybody associated with the final look is thrilled with its outcome.

“You will be blown away at how it’s changed with the new choreography and the way characters have been softened by Priscilla Presley herself. Everybody is going to be blown away after seeing it. Don’t be surprised if you hear people saying it’s the best musical spectacular they’ve ever experienced and seen,” said one person from the production staff.

As if to back that up, Time magazine’s Richard Corliss — as we tweeted earlier — raved last week about what he’d witnessed in a recent preview. I’m also told that tomorrow’s red carpet stars walk and the Haze nightclub after-party may outshine Cirque’s last Las Vegas platinum premiere, The Beatles’ Love at The Mirage.

Robert F.X. Sillerman, chairman and CEO of CKX Inc., the company that owns Elvis Presley Enterprises; Bill McBeath, president and COO of Aria; Guy; and Priscilla will all be attending. Choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo of Nappytabs from So You Think You Can Dance, who added recent dance changes, will be on the red carpet, too.

Also on the guest list are Cirque’s Believe star Criss Angel and George Harrison’s widow Olivia Harrison representing The Beatles. It’s believed that Lisa Marie Presley will slip in and out of the first-night fun in a bid to stay incognito. Criss’s ex-love mate Holly Madison from Peepshow at Planet Hollywood also is expected, but not arm-in-arm with her former beau!

Other celebrities who have RSVP’d yes include Ryan Seacrest, Wynonna, Tommy Lee, Gene Simmons, Scott Weiland, Lo Bosworth, Chris Noth, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Peter Facinelli and Jennie Garth, Christina Hendricks, Regis and Joy Philbin, Taye Diggs, Jeff Probst, Rita Rudner, Carrot Top, Perez Hilton, Juliette Lewis, Laurence Fishburne, Brian Baumgartner, Sammy Shore, Louie Anderson, plus many other VIPs. I was told yesterday that Cirque is juggling some 4,000 guests this weekend, including a global invasion of media.

It all kicks off tonight with the majority of Larry King’s CNN talk show being devoted to the Viva Elvis launch. Priscilla will be live in Larry’s L.A. studio before flying here tomorrow. Executive producer Stephane Mongeau and Armand Thomas, director of creation, will be live via satellite from Las Vegas to talk about the show.

A CNN video crew filmed extensively backstage before and during the show this week, so expect great visuals and footage to be included in the 30 minutes devoted to Viva Elvis. Also expect Larry and family to be in attendance tomorrow night in MGM Grand CityCenter’s Aria for Viva Elvis.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/18/emviva-elvisem-world-premiere-rocks-aria-tomorrow/

NORM: ‘Viva Elvis’ lauded for sophistication.

Time magazine has weighed in on Cirque du Soleil’s “Viva Elvis” with a big Valentine.

“No tribute show can touch this one in its level of sophistication and its power of evocation,” wrote Richard Corliss in this week’s issue.

The show, “as much a dance show as a circus show,” officially opens Friday at CityCenter’s Aria hotel and casino.

By comparison, Corliss said “Love,” Cirque’s homage to the Beatles, is “sedate stuff next to this audiovisual-balletic-acrobatic explosion from director Vincent Paterson and ‘director of creation’ Armand Thomas. They’ve concocted an experience that’s both symphonic and in every way fantastic.”

“The wonder,” wrote Corliss, “comes not just in the death-taunting circus feats — trapeze agility, high-bar gymnastics — that are the company’s hallmark but also in the superb editing of Elvis clips (by Ivan Dudynsky) and the savvy sampling of the musical material (by Erich van Tourneau) that revises and refreshes the Presley oeuvre. No tribute show can touch this one in its level of sophistication and its power of evocation.”

“The real Vegas has had its profits pinched by the Great Recession lately,” Corliss said. “But luxe, energy, sexual threat and primal rock ‘n’ roll are back in fashion on the Aria stage, where Cirque is throwing its most joyous party ever — and where Elvis lives.”
http://www.lvrj.com/news/viva-elvis-lauded-for-sophistication-84371742.html

SHOW PREVIEW: ‘Viva Elvis’

Matching recordings to live performance a ‘big puzzle’ for ‘Viva Elvis’ developers. BY: Mike Weatherford/LVRJ.

The voice is familiar. The music? Not always.

About 30 Elvis Presley classics are heard in “Viva Elvis,” the Cirque du Soleil salute to the king which has its invitation-only premiere at Aria today after two months of previews.

But the nine-piece band playing the classics often steers those hits in new directions, sometimes trying to imagine how Elvis would do them today.

You won’t hear much meddling with the lean rockabilly sound of “Mystery Train.” But “Jailhouse Rock” sidesteps into hip-hop and “Got A Lot O’ Livin’ to Do!” ventures into Zeppelin-esque guitar rock.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/viva-elvis-84765132.html

Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:

Jerry’s Famous Coffee Shop at Jerry’s Nugget, 1821 Las Vegas Blvd. North in North Las Vegas, is offering a $13.89 steak-and-lobster (or $11.89 for just lobster) special. It’s available beginning at noon on Fridays and all day Saturdays and Sundays.

The Stratosphere Tower dimmed its lights at 6 p.m. Thursday in tribute to seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, who died on Feb. 18, 2001, on the last lap of the Daytona 500. It was part of a coast-to-coast tribute.

Pollstar Magazine named The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel as the Best New Major Concert Venue at the Pollstar Awards in the Nokia Theater L.A. Live in L.A. last night. The $60 million Joint opened in April and featured The Killers and Paul McCartney its opening weekend.

Studio 54 at MGM is pulling out all of the stops for a new DJ Skribble production on Saturdays that will include aerialists, sword swallowers, girls that lays on a bed of nails and a man with many piercings (a human pin cushion).

Burlesque artist and fashion icon Dita Von Teese is returning to the MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris. She was the cabaret’s first-ever guest star and had a sold-out engagement in April 2007. My friend Dita, a former Las Vegas strip club dancer, will feature her new performance numbers that she developed especially for the Crazy Horse stage in Paris last year. The appearances are set for a one-week run March 31 through April 7.

Hawaiian Tropic Zone will be closing at month’s end and that a new concept will take over the space with an announcement coming soon.

Hooters has opened a new comedy show called “Laugh Until It Hurts” starring Geechy Guy, Todd Paul and Mickey Joseph, Monday through Thursday night, at 11 p.m. The show gives a behind-the-scenes look at three Vegas comedians as they attempt to outdo each other. Tickets are $24.99, call 866-584-6687.

The “Society of Seven and Jasmine Trias” show at the Gold Coast will go to one show a night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. beginning Feb. 19.

Golden Nugget Las Vegas headliner Gordie Brown celebrated his one-year anniversary at the legendary downtown property on Feb. 5. The impressionist/singer tallied more than 250 performances.

Sin City Confidential” is a new comedy, murder mystery, dinner theatre production taking place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at The Tillerman Restaurant located a couple miles from the Strip on East Flamingo Road. Dinner and a four-course gourmet dinner are $89.95, call 702-991-8550 for reservations.

Hot on the heels of the announcement that Harrah’s is now the official owner of Planet Ho comes confirmation that investor Carl Icahn today officially took ownership of the unfinished and bankrupt Fontainebleau, for about $104.6 million in cash.

The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved the final stage of the takeover of Planet Hollywood by Harrah’s, which anticipates taking over the property’s gaming operations tomorrow at noon. The casino giant has already been managing Planet Hollywood’s hotel and food and beverage operations for over a month. Approximately 100 layoffs are expected as a result of the completion of the takeover, but 40 positions also need to be filled and will be posted tomorrow, a Harrah’s spokeswoman revealed.

We’re in the process of conducting our monthly survey of all the buffets in town for changes in times, prices, etc. and just learned that Mandalay Bay has discontinued its all-day buffet pass. So far, it looks like the other all-dayers — IP, Palace Station, Orleans, Stratosphere, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Luxor — are still in place, with one notable exception: the Tropicana closed its buffet indefinitely on Feb. 15. For the full-round up of all buffet and show updates, check out the March issue of the LVA newsletter, which goes to press on Monday.

The Clark County Commission, which owns McCarran International Airport, is considering approving a liquor store at the airport’s south baggage claim area, which it’s estimated estimated could bring in an additional $400,000 to $600,000 annually for the airport. The store, which would sell beer, wine and spirits “for off-site consumption only,” would be the only liquor store operating inside a U.S. airport.

MGM Grand’s Craftsteak will henceforth be known as Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, in honor of the James Beard award-winning chef. We really like Craftsteak, especially their “halfsteak” menu: Check out the review in our Restaurant listings and add a review of your own, if you’ve tried it.

The dispute between Wynn and its dealers over tip-sharing rumbles on, with attorneys for the resort today asking the Nevada Labor Commissioner for more time to file briefs in the case, which will inevitably result in more delays in his ruling, originally planned for January, and then April. At issue is whether Wynn’s policy of pooling dealers’ tips to share with other front-line casino staff complies with state labor laws or not.

Tickets to the first 54 performances for Celine Dion at Caesars Palace went on sale this morning. Ticket are priced at $95, $140, $175, and $250 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by calling 877-4CELINE.

As noted by the Las Vegas Sun, the 3-story FAO Schwartz in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace allowed its lease to run out and quietly closed Jan. 23. We had an inkling back last year when we went to shop for sour candies (they had the best) and discovered the whole candy section was no more. Now, all that remains is the massive Trojan horse outside, which apparently will be removed soon.

According to PopEater, veteran performer Barbra Streisand, whose latest album (her 63rd) stunned critics by hitting the top of the charts last year, has reportedly turned down a $100-million residency at Caesars’ Colosseum to headline alongside Cher and the returning Celine Dion. Streisand instead has opted to go on a summer tour.

It’s been announced that the Las Vegas Walk of Stars will honor Rat Packers Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra with a ceremony on Feb. 22, when their stars will be unveiled and then placed in the sidewalk outside the Flamingo on the Las Vegas Strip. Martin’s daughter Deana will be there to accept the honor on behalf of her father; no word yet on whether any Sinatras will be in attendance.

This year, Passover runs from Monday evening March 29 through Tuesday evening April 6. If anyone planning to be in Las Vegas at that time wants to attend a seder, two companies are offering Passover packages. World Wide Kosher’s program is at Lowe’s Lake Las Vegas; for all the info, call 800/525-0035 or go to mypassover.com; Twersky Passover Tours’ program is at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas at 888/757-2002 or twerskypassovertours.com

SHOW REVIEW: Amazing Johnathan.
Amazing Johnathan plays tug of war for control with audience.

BY: Mike Weatherford/LVRJ

Johnathan (Szeles) first became a permanent Vegas act in 2001. He bounced around too many venues to recite here, due to an admitted problem with authority figures — particularly if they work for a casino.
Almost two years ago, he moved into the Harmon Theatre/Krave nightclub. It was a marriage made in dysfunctional heaven: The stand-alone theater is hard to find and needed a show people wanted to see. The Amazing Johnathan has loyal fans and a track record for selling tickets even when he doesn’t seem to care.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/amazing-johnathan-84211287.html

Heidi’s Picks: BY Heidi Knapp Rinella/LVRJ.

BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE
Town Square, 6653 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 914-9145

Brio looks a lot more like a Tuscan manse than an outlet of a restaurant chain based in Columbus, Ohio, but that’s just part of its appeal. It manages to deliver the familiar with a slightly innovative edge, as in the garganelli carbonara, with not only the customary bacon and Parmesan but also grilled chicken and fresh spinach leaves; bruschetta Caprese that blends the best of both dishes; a somewhat-too-subtle artichoke-and-herb-crusted pork chop; a trio of creme brulee; and a lovely soup of the day, creme of morel. (1/29/10)Overall: A- $$

ESPN ZONE
New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 933-3776

What better place to watch the Big Game — or any game, really, on any day of the year — than at this palace dedicated to the art of moving balls around a field or court or whatever. The food’s pretty good, too, including Buffalo wings that were just zippy enough, the Smoke House Burger with the restaurant’s truly delightful barbecue sauce and the Southwest Chicken Salad (the latter with reservations, because we thought the pasta an odd touch). (2/5/10) Overall: B+ $$

HAVANA GRILL
8878 S. Eastern Ave.; 932-9310

If you like Cuban food you’re no doubt familiar with the Florida Cafe, and this younger sister also showcases the cuisine at its best. We liked it all, which included tostones — twice-cooked green plantain — topped with Ropa Vieja, Picadillo and shrimp (no, not together), Lechon Asado, Vaca Frita, the stacked flan and tres leches dessert tower called Riquimbin — even good fresh Cuban bread, buttered and warmed in a press. (3/27/09) Overall: A- $$

TA TA ASIAN BISTRO
1450 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Henderson; 565-8900

We were charmed by the pint-sized hostess (read: child) but no less by Ta Ta Asian Bistro, which manages to carry out a Japanese/Chinese mission without getting into a jumble. The inventive Monkey Special Roll and Paradise roll were worth a repeat visit, but so were the tamago nigiri sushi, jalapeno puffs, potstickers and rib-eye beef teriyaki dinner with a nice, smoky miso soup. Teppanyaki dining also is available. (12/5/08)Overall: A- $$

http://www.lvrj.com/neon/heidis-picks-84211227.html

Madame Tussauds waxing presidential with display.

By Corey Levitan
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Whether the White House wants tourists to visit Las Vegas, one Las Vegas attraction wants tourists to visit the White House.

On Monday, Presidents Day, Madame Tussauds wax museum at The Venetian will unveil its latest display: a partial Oval Office photo op. The display in the Spirit of America room consists of a reproduction of the president’s Resolute desk ringed from behind by a crescent of windows. President Obama’s wax figure, introduced last year, will stand alongside visitors who sit at the desk.

“You can take this photo and fool your friends,” said museum marketing chief Amy Helton.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/madame-tussauds-waxing-presidential-with-display-84211272.html

ROK Vegas Nightclub incorporates cozy quality to offer more welcoming vibe.

By John Przybys
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

One quality that’s seldom associated with the standard Las Vegas nightclub is coziness. But at ROK Vegas Nightclub, the word fits.

At first, ROK Vegas, at New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, might look like a “vast, open space,” says General Manager Rob Boyer. “But once you come in, it’s a real cozy, intimate atmosphere that you don’t expect when you’re going into a large club.” That cozy quality also extends to the welcoming vibe, Boyer says.

“That’s one of the things we pride ourselves on, the fact that we’re not pretentious. We just want people to come in, relax, have a good time, kind of tear it up and enjoy the night.”

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/rok-vegas-nightclub-incorporates-cozy-quality-to-offer-more-welcoming-vibe-84211262.html

NORM: Pawn shop booms after reality show.

What recession? These are boom times at Gold and Silver Pawn, thanks to the History Channel’s hit reality series “Pawn Stars.”

Back in July, before the show started, about 70 customers a day showed up at the 713 Las Vegas Blvd. South address.

And now? “We do about 1,000 a day,” said Rick Harrison, who co-owns the shop with his father, Richard, and son Corey.

The 35 episodes of national TV exposure have doubled revenue and generated a waiting line of 50 customers throughout the day, which usually ends at 11 p.m. The Harrisons have added a surreal touch for their customers: a velvet rope for crowd control, ala a nightclub.

Two of the more shocking items that recently arrived: a bronze medal from the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics and a 1998 Denver Broncos Super Bowl ring.

Rick Harrison said he paid $700 for the medal and $11,000 for the bejeweled ring.

The medal came from a shoebox found in a garage by a son-in-law who was cleaning up after his wife’s father died. The family, who lived in the Midwest, was vacationing in Las Vegas and decided to sell the medal.

“Names aren’t etched on Olympic medals so we have no idea who it belonged it to,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the ring owner identified himself as a former landlord of Bronco safety Tori Noel, a late addition to the team roster. The former University of Tennessee standout saw little action that year in Denver, the first of back-to-back Super Bowl titles, and suffered a career-ending injury the next year during training camp.

It’s not the only Super Bowl ring pawned at Gold and Silver. Harrison said he purchased Brock Williams’ ring from the 2002 Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots.

Williams, a former cornerback at Notre Dame, was paid about $2,000 for the ring. He never returned to buy it back, Harrison said.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/pawn-shop-booms-after-reality-show-84559602.html

LAKE LAS VEGAS: Casino MonteLago to close in March.
Ritz-Carlton shutdown ‘final straw’

BY: Howard Stutz/LVRJ

Casino MonteLago, the only gaming location inside the upscale but bankrupt Lake Las Vegas, will close next month, burdened by a lack of visitation and the impending shutdown of the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas in May.
The closure, which will take place March 14, will eliminate 177 jobs.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said the agency was officially notified Tuesday of the impending shutdown.

John Tipton, an attorney for the owners of Casino MonteLago, CIRI Lakeside Gaming, said the closure of the Ritz-Carlton “was the final straw” for the property.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/casino-montelago-to-close-in-march-84518797.html

MIKE WEATHERFORD: Big names returning to Venetian.

Wayne Brady will return to The Venetian, but not before Chazz Palminteri and Joan Rivers.

Brady was the anchor tenant for the 742-seat Venetian Showroom last year and was carving out success on the Strip even before CBS announced he would host the “Let’s Make a Deal” reboot, which tapes at the Tropicana.

The national exposure sounded like nothing but good news for the live show. But Brady quit performing it just before “Deal” commenced last fall, citing vocal strain.

Now the show’s co-producer, Scott Zeiger, confirms Brady will return Memorial Day weekend and perform 15 weeks scattered through the rest of the year, presumably working around the taping schedule of “Deal.”

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/big-names-returning-to-venetian-84682692.html

SHOW REVIEW: ‘Chippendales: The Show’
‘Chippendales’ maintains relative decorum for male jiggle show.

BY: Mike Weatherford/LVRJ

Sex appeal is highly subjective and personal, so interpret this as you will:
Dorothy Hamill took her daughter to Chippendales to celebrate her 21st birthday.

Why is this relevant? Unless America’s Sweetheart of the ’70s has us fooled, I’m citing it as evidence that Chippendales is the tamest, most respectable and Hamill-worthy of Las Vegas’ nude-dude revues.

Again, read that as an endorsement or a caution. If you want porn-vid puns and four guys in tighty whities to straddle you or your BFF bachelorette, call the “Men of Hooters.” If you want to be in the foamy crossfire when a guy pours a beer on himself and then shakes like a wet dog, it’s “Thunder from Down Under” you seek.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/_chippendales_-the-show_–84765127.html

Jimmy Hopper jumps over to the Lounge at Palms.

Former VooDoo Lounge, Fontana Bar singer begins new residency Sunday. By: Sarah Feldberg/Las Vegas Sun.
Jimmy Hopper is singing. That’s what the spiky haired blond does. He sings. Only right now he doesn’t have much audience, just me over the telephone, listening as Hopper sounds out the chorus of a recent Green Day hit.

“One, twenty-one guuuuuns…”

“It’s really good, but it’s just so repetitive,” Jimmy says. “It’s not taking me anywhere. I’ll grunge it up a little bit, rock it a little bit more and speed it up a little bit.”

Now Jimmy’s singing again, this time snapping along to the song and driving the melody a little faster. It’s Green Day a la Jimmy Hopper, a mash-up the eyeliner-ed rockers-turned-musical-theater-creators probably wouldn’t mind, and just one of the songs that Hopper may perform this Sunday during the opening of his residency at the Lounge at the Palms. Also on the list — Andrea Bocelli, Muse, Bon Jovi and Black Eyed Peas.

More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/12/jimmy-hopper-jumps-over-lounge-palms/

Las Vegas is well represented in 2010 James Beard nominations. BY Robin Leach. From The Las Vegas Sun.

The just-announced 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards’ list of restaurant and chef awards semifinalists includes many star chefs who have made a mark in Las Vegas’ world-class fine dining scene and includes major local recognition for Shawn McClain’s Sage at Aria and Restaurant Charlie in the Palazzo.

In the Outstanding Restaurateur category, the nominees include Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Chicago. Richard owns the Eiffel Tower restaurant at the Paris. For Outstanding Chef, there’s Tom Colicchio, Craft, NYC, who has an outpost at MGM Grand; Michael Mina, Michael Mina, San Francisco, who has restaurants at the Bellagio, Aria and MGM Grand; and Julian Serrano, Picasso at Bellagio, who also has his self-named restaurant in Aria.

For Outstanding Restaurant, the nominees include Babbo, NYC, by Mario Batali, who has restaurants in The Venetian and Palazzo; Bouchon, Yountville, Calif., by Thomas Keller, who has a Bouchon in The Venetian; and Daniel, NYC, by Daniel Boulud, whose Daniel Boulud Brasserie is in the Wynn. For Rising Star Chef of the Year, there’s Vanessa Garcia, Restaurant Charlie at the Palazzo, and Timothy Hollingsworth, The French Laundry, Yountville, which is owned by Thomas Keller.

For Best New Restaurant, the nominees include Shawn McClain’s Sage in Aria at MGM CityCenter. For Outstanding Pastry Chef, the nominees include Kamel Guechida, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand. For Outstanding Wine Service, there are three local ties: Emeril’s New Orleans, Emeril Lagasse, who has restaurants at The V Venetian, Palazzo and MGM Grand; Jean Georges, NYC, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who has a steakhouse at Aria; and repeat nominee Picasso at Bellagio.

For Outstanding Service, there are repeat nominees Emeril’s New Orleans and Joel Robuchon, plus Nobhill Tavern at MGM Grand. And for Best Chef: Southwest, the nominees include Saipin Chutima, Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas; Claude Le Tohic, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand; and Rick Moonen, RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay.

Congratulations to all the star chefs who have helped make Las Vegas a top destination for fine dining!

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/18/las-vegas-well-represented-2010-james-beard-nomina/

More Strip show movements are afoot. BY Robin Leach/Las Vegas Sun.

From our department of Wicked Whispers & Racy Rumors: All of the following is true and on the heels of our Las Vegas Pussycat Dolls exclusive yesterday morning. Most of the names have been omitted to protect those involved — and at the same time to provide you with the best guessing game in town!

1) Is a game of magician’s musical chairs in the offing? I’m reliably told that one illusionist has been asked to walk from his Strip showroom before the end of the month and that another conjuror with a similar act at a rival casino has applied to take the short-term vacancy. Doubtful the second trickster would get the first illusionist’s showroom, but if so, then they could simply wind up swapping places.

2) I’m also very reliably hearing that the economy has badly affected another Strip entertainer, so much so that large-scale trims have been made to his production’s cast, props and band members. The carefully disguised moves and the darkened stage are so subtle that the diminishing nightly audiences haven’t noticed.

3) Has an offer landed on the desk of Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum for his girlfriend’s ultra-sexy Darling Stilettos rock act for a residency here? We recently covered their audition shows at the Palms and Las Vegas Hilton.

4) Which Strip showman, fearing the closing of his entertainment offering, is already talking about a radically different theatrically themed night of nostalgic memories to move to another property? The premise and first draft of the show is in the works.

5) Recent revelations by yours truly about a superstar coming to the Strip will be confirmed shortly after the incoming headliner excitement quiets down. Execs don’t want any distractions or ticket sales affected by the competing news.

6) Hopes that one major production undergoing revisions would be ready for a March unveiling have been dashed. Now cast and crew are working hard around the clock to complete it by an early April deadline, but that also looks doubtful and might well slide back until April’s end.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/16/strip-scribbles-more-strip-show-movements-are-afoo/

Celine Dion’s return to Colosseum a boon to Las Vegas musicians.
By John Katsliomentes/Las Vegas Sun.

We might miss all those Spandex-fashioned dancers prancing across a vast, sloped stage, but Celine Dion’s plans for her return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is beautiful music for an important Las Vegas faction: Local musicians.

Dion’s orchestra, 31 players in all, will be populated by local musicians who are members in good standing of the Musicians Union of Las Vegas Local 369.

“They will all be local musicians. This is fantastic news,” Las Vegas Musicians Union President Frank Leone said during a phone conversation Wednesday. “We are thrilled and delighted. She will have the best and happiest accompaniment she can possible have.”

Shows begin March 15, 2011. Dion reportedly is performing 70 shows a year for three years. Ticket prices approximate the rates for “A New Day …” from $55 to $250 before the half-tax, sur-tax and over-tax is added. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the Caesars box office and through Ticketmaster.

Specific plans for Dion’s show are not nearly finalized, but Wednesday she said in a news release and also told Oprah Winfrey that the production would focus on her (Dion’s) hits and classic tunes pulled from film scores. There might well be a few backup performers, singers and/or dancers. But the orchestra, not a sea of dancers, will drive the show.

“It will be much more a concert setting. I don’t have total information about it, but it’s going to be a real thrilling concert setting,” Leone said. “It will be first-class. As far as the forces that are being used, it will be extraordinary.”

There are no plans to alter the stage — again — after it was flattened from its graded design for Dion’s “A New Day …” production. The stage’s slope was to allow better visibility of the production throughout the theater, which was a benefit to those in the audience, but performers complained about the wear and tear the slant caused to dancers’ legs. There might well be an upgrade to the LED screen setup behind the stage, too, to allow for a more updated visual component to the show.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2010/feb/11/new-celine-dion-show-boon-las-vegas-musicians/

Ritz Carlton To Close.

Okay, it’s official: the recession sucks. Need proof? The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, a place I once referred to as the best hotel in Las Vegas, is closing its doors in May.

The stunning luxury hotel located literally on top of Lake Las Vegas, about 17 miles east of The Strip, opened in 2003 as one of the lynchpins of the upscale development of hotels, mansions, condos, shopping, gambling, and recreation that was intended to become a playground for the rich and nearly famous. Heck, Celine Dion bought a house here. Its location was intended to set it apart from the crowd but unfortunately that worked just a little too well. It was too far away from the action for most Vegas tourists and too fancy for most Vegas locals.

Much of the Lake Las Vegas development has struggled financially for the last few years with big chunks of it sinking into bankruptcy, including The Ritz, which was taken over by a bank. Now that bank has decided to pull the plug and shut the doors for good.

This is bad news for the entire development. The Loews hotel continues to operate on the other side of the lake, but the Ritz was at the heart of the development next to all of the shopping, restaurants, and the casino. The impact of its closure could be devastating.

The hotel is currently scheduled to close on May 2, 2010.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Review By Rick Garman.

Does Las Vegas need another luxury hotel? Especially now? If it does, then it certainly couldn’t do much better than the Mandarin Oriental.

The Asian hotelier is a brand name most famous outside of the United States. Although they have properties across the world in Asia and Europe, this is only their sixth US hotel but they have entered the Las Vegas market with quite a statement.

As a part of the massive CityCenter development, the non-gaming Mandarin Oriental welcomes guests with what is probably the most stunning lobby in town. Located on the 23rd floor, the “Sky Lobby” is a simple black and red affair but is lined with floor to ceiling windows that soak in views of The Strip that can’t be beat. Be sure to take a wander through after dark for the full impact of the city lights.

Unsurprisingly the entire property has an Asian theme to it but it is, thankfully, low key and quite tasteful. Perhaps the most obvious nod to the Oriental part of its name is the practice of its service employees to press hands together and bow respectfully to guests. I know President Obama got into trouble over this, but here you may feel free to bow back.

There are just over 600 units in the building with roughly 400 of them being hotel rooms and the rest upscale condo residences. There are separate entrances and elevators for people who live there but they have access to all of the properties amenities including the restaurants, pool, and spa.

Regarding the latter, it is located on the 7th and 8th floors of the building and also feature some spectacular views. All of the spa treatment rooms and several of its public areas feature windows so you can get a massage or soak in the hot tub while gazing at The Strip. The pool area is also located up here so get some rays while you are taking in the views.

A selection of gourmet dining and cocktail venues are offered on property, including the hotel’s signature restaurant from award-winning Chef Pierre Gagnaire featuring classic French cuisine with a modern spin. Located in the 23rd floor Sky Lobby, the restaurant offers similar impressive views with its floor-to-ceiling windows as does the nearby Mandarin Bar.

The property features additional dining venues including Mozen Bistro, an all-day contemporary kitchen featuring authentic Asian dishes and multi-national fare. The Tea Lounge serves as a meeting place with an extensive menu of teas and High Tea rituals. Located on street-level lining Las Vegas Boulevard, Amore Patisserie serves a variety of gourmet pastries, cakes, sandwiches, coffee, teas, and hand-made gelato to passing guests and visitors.

That’s it in terms of onsite facilities but note that it is a short walk to the rest of what CityCenter has to offer including gaming, dining, and nightlife at Aria and the shopping and dining at The Crystals.

The standard rooms are comfortably proportioned but not huge. It feels very much like a standard hotel room in terms of size but the subtle Asian inspired decor, all using the highest quality materials, makes it feel special and definitely luxurious. Beds are big and fluffy with crisp white linens; a built in entertainment unit features a mini-bar and a 42″ flat screen television; a work desk allows you take advantage of the wired or wireless Internet capability; and the glass lined bathroom is appropriately marbled and stuffed with amenities. It’s nothing ground-breaking but it’s all very nice.

Larger and more luxurious rooms and suites are available.

There are a couple of notable features. First, as with most of CityCenter, the rooms here are high-tech with keyless entry and a centralized control system (via a touchscreen or the TV) controls everything from lighting to temperature to drapes. Second is the valet closet with access from both inside the room and the hall. This allows guests to drop off their dry cleaning or get their morning paper without having to open the door.

Service is the hallmark of the Mandarin Oriental brand and it goes way beyond the bowing. Since it’s a relatively small property (at least in Vegas terms) they have the ability to go out of their way to make sure that every guest is treated very well and the feeling of being at a true luxury resort is palpable.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the range of rates for the Mandarin Oriental as they seem to be all over the map – even more so than most Vegas hotels. The original pricepoint was going to be very high – think over $300 per night – but I’m seeing rooms as low as $170 during the week and under $200 on some weekends. Those are good rates for a hotel of this caliber but don’t expect to always get them that cheap.

So… does Vegas need another luxury hotel? Your call.

CSI: The Experience. By Rick Garman

As one of the most successful television franchises in history, “CSI” has inspired countless spin-offs and imitators. But the original is set in Las Vegas so it only makes sense that you can now become a crime scene investigator yourself in a new attraction in Sin City.

The CSI Experience at MGM Grand is an interactive exhibit that puts you in the driver’s seat of a criminal investigation with the help of many of the stars of the Las Vegas show and real-life CSI technicians.

You start with a video instruction from your boss, Gil Grissom (yes, he’s not really the boss anymore on the show, but go with it) and then you get to choose from one of three “crime scenes.” In “A House Collided,” a car has crashed into a house killing the driver. But is it that simple? No, of course not. “Who Got Served” involves a waitress found dead by a trash dumpster behind a seedy Vegas motel. And “No Bones About It” challenges you to figure out who the pile of bones in the desert used to be and how they got there.

As the CSI you are asked to examine the crime scene and make notes on a guide sheet provided to you. You can take as much time as you want and they even provide flashlights to get better views of the clues. Is that a bloody handprint on the hood of the car? Why yes it is.

Next you take your findings through a series of interactive workstations that will help you analyze everything from blood spatter to DNA to fingerprints to shoe prints and more. You even get to examine the “body” although it’s much less gory than the actual show is. Each workstation unlocks another piece of the puzzle (or not, as the case may be) and sends you to the final test where you have to figure out the crime.

It requires patience to do the thing justice (no pun intended). In addition to needing to wait your turn while others are using the workstations, there is a lot of information to process. Although most of it is put in terms that the layperson can understand, it still involves science and for those who want to come to Vegas to NOT think, this may be a challenge. For instance I have the patience of a hyperactive two year old and anything involving things like physics makes my brain hurt.

But the good news that is that if you pay even a little bit of attention, you can actually miss some clues and skip some of the workstations and still figure out whodunnit. Expect to take at least an hour if you want to really do it justice but I managed to get through it in about 30 minutes and was able to ID the killer and get my CSI certificate.

It’s not cheap – it’ll run you $30 to investigate one of the crimes and another $26 if you want to go back and do one of the others. But for something this engaging that’s not bad.

Fans of the show should absolutely make a stop here and anyone else looking for a unique Vegas experience should consider taking part in the crime scene as well.

Brett’s Vegas Views BY Jackie Brett.

TERRY FATOR INTRODUCES NEW PUPPET AT FIRST ANNIVERSARY SHOW

Terry Fator will celebrate his fisrt anniversary as a Strip headliner on March 13. For the ocassion he will introduce a new characer. Vikki “The Cougar” was the first new character he debuted in The Mirage show and fter a year on the prowl, Vikki will finally get a new colleague. But fans won’t know any more until the celebratory one-year Saturday night show. For this one-night-only event, tickets start at $79 and include entrance to Fator’s show as well as entry to the after-party at B.B. King’s Blues Club where members of Fator’s band will jam with the B.B. King’s Las Vegas All Stars. For tickets, call 702-792-7777 or 800-963-9634.

SANTA FE OPENS NEW REVOLVER SALOON & DANCE HALL

Santa Fe Station in North Las Vegas saddles up with a new entertainment offering: Revolver Saloon & Dance Hall. Revolver offers dancing, early evening line dancing and mechanical bull riding. The 10,000-square-foot venue introduces a hillbilly chic motif, deadwood trees throughout the room, and a variety of 30-foot-wide murals and hundreds of smaller images ranging from the likes of John Wayne and Johnny Cash to hot women in chaps. There’s also Delilah, the 180-pound mirrored armadillo disco ball hanging from the ceiling that dances at the speed of the song playing.

Revolver features two bar areas and specialty “outlaw” cocktails such as “Beergarita,” “Buck All Night” and “Reverse Cowboy.” The place is open Wednesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m. Cover is $5 for women, $10 for men or $5 with military ID. Folks can ride the mechanical bull once for $5 or all-night-long for $20. There are also theme nights and specials.

‘AMERICAN SUPERSTARS’ AT STRATOSPHERE ADDS MICHAEL JACKSON

The “American Superstars” show at the Stratosphere has added Corey Melton as the new Michael Jackson tribute artist. Melton has strong roots in the music business with his father, who was a club owner booking headlining acts, and his vocalist mother working with legends including Smokey Robinson and James Brown. Melton was a cast member of the performance company Team 11, a St. Louis based song and dance company produced by KPLR Channel 11.

TAO AND BLUSH WIN NIGHTCLUB AND BAR AWARDS

TAO Nightclub at The Venetian has been named Nightclub of the Year by the 2010 Nightclub and Bar Awards. The 10,000-square-foot nightclub opened in September 2005 and has three full-service bars, two main rooms, eight private skyboxes, 40-foot outside terrace with a Strip view, and nightly performance vignettes, including nearly nude bombshells.

The 4,500-square-foot Blush Boutique Nightclub at Wynn has been named Ultra Lounge of the Year by the Nightclub & Bar Awards, formerly known as the Five Star Awards. Blush features a crème lantern ceiling-sculpture, purse drawers for personal belongings, and an open-air patio and bar area. The winners will be honored with a VIP celebration during the 2010 Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas and featured in the March issue of “Nightclub & Bar.”

SINGER MATT GOSS WILL DEBUT NEW SHOW AT CLEOPATRA’S BARGE

“Singing Sensation Matt Goss Live From Caesars Palace” produced by Robin Antin, creator of “The Pussycat Dolls,” will debut at the legendary Cleopatra’s Barge on Friday, March 12. Goss will be backed by a nine-piece band and sexy female dancers known as The Dirty Virgins. Goss, who has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, will have a show featuring a mix of his career hits, songs from his new album, and popular covers. Tickets are $40, call 800-745-3000.

On Aug. 6, 1970, Cleopatra’s Barge opened at Caesars Palace with the addition of the hotel’s Centurion Tower. The venue will be transformed into the Gossy Room every Friday and Saturday night at 10 p.m., offering a vintage-Vegas feel with maitre d ’ seating, tableside cocktail service and specialty cocktails.

Following the show, everyone is invited to enjoy the lounge experience with Goss and his band. Prior to March 12, Cleopatra’s Barge will be refurbished with new red curtains, carpet and furniture. Adjustments also will enhance sight lines to create an intimate showroom experience for its 165 guests.

Goss reached international fame as the lead singer of ’80s pop group Bros, enjoying more than a decade of success with more than 17 million records sold worldwide. He released an autobiography in 2005 and has gone on to focus on songwriting including writing the main theme song for the No. 1 FOX program “So You Think You Can Dance” and writing the hit song “Change Me” for Keri Hilson and Akon, which is featured on Hilson’s current chart-topping album “In A Perfect World.” Goss is recording his next studio album and awaiting the September release of his children’s book “Bear Crimbo,” the first of a three-book deal.

ANDREW DICE CLAY MOVES TO THE LAS VEGAS HILTON

The legendary “Bad Boy of Comedy,” Andrew Dice Clay, has just signed a long-term contract with the Las Vegas Hilton. As of Feb. 4, he is performing a minimum 28 weeks, with shows at 11 p.m. in the casino’s 350-seat Shimmer Showroom. Tickets are $49.99, $69.99 and $99.99, call 702-732-5755 or 800-222-5361.

Clay has done countless sold-out arena tours, done multiple nights at Madison Square Garden, made multi gold and platinum selling albums, starred in films including the cult classic “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” and countless TV specials.

Also, the Diceman has a “lifetime ban” from MTV because of his “profane language and offensive jokes” at the Video Music Awards.

http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/020710.htm

Posted on February 19th, 2010 by MrVegas98
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