December '07 Entertainment—Brett's Vegas View Column

TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR ‘JERSEY BOYS’ AT THE PALAZZO

Tickets are on sale now for the hit musical “Jersey Boys,” which will be the brand new production opening in 2008, in a custom-built, 1,600-seat theater at the soon-to-open lavish Palazzo Resort. Ticket prices range from $65 to $135, with VIP Packages available, call 866-641-SHOW or 702-414-9000.

After breaking box office records around the country, “Jersey Boys” only resident show on the West Coast will open on the Las Vegas Strip. Previews will begin on April 4, 2008, with an opening night gala scheduled for May 3, 2008.

“Jersey Boys” is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were 30.

BETTE MIDLER ‘THE SHOWGIRL MUST GO ON’ TO PREMIERE ON FEB. 20

Known for her incomparable humor, over-the-top imagination and captivating charisma, the Divine Miss M. has appropriately titled her new Las Vegas-production “Bette Midler The Showgirl Must Go On.” The show, which is created exclusively for The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, will make its highly anticipated debut on Feb. 20, 2008.

Due to high demand, five shows on March 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16, have been added to her first run. Tickets are on sale now for $95, $140, $175, and $250, call 1-877-7BETTEM (723-8836). Midler will perform approximately 100 shows a year at The Colosseum, five nights per week at 7:30 p.m. and will be dark on Mondays and Thursdays.
Midler’s show will feature some of her favorite colorful characters, from Delores Delago – the wheelchair-bound mermaid – to the oldest living showgirl in Las Vegas, old, old, old Soph. The production will include her entourage of talented performers, the Harlettes, a 13-piece band with a six-piece horn section and 20 female dancers.

THREE NEW RESTAURANTS OPEN

Had the privilege of experiencing Pure Management Group’s new

Company American Bistro restaurant at the Luxor located next to the new LAX Nightclub. The more than 10,000-square-foot eatery is strikingly beautiful and rich. The fireside lounge is surrounded by aspen trees and hurricane lamp candles. The main dining room is highlighted by a state-of-the-art wine wall and silver-leafed chandeliers, custom-made high-back leather chairs, cozy couches, an abundance of fashioned tree logs and stack stone. Dining hours from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. are good for dinner or a late night bite.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., home of the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, opened its newest Las Vegas location this month at Town Square, the south Strip’s new 1.5 million-square-foot open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination. The new CPK restaurant is approximately 5,700-square-feet and located directly off Las Vegas Boulevard. The new restaurant also features an extensive beverage menu for its full bar.

Fish Camp has opened two restaurants in the new Town Square directly across from the new Rave Cineplex. Executive chef and owner Louis Osteen’s fine dining room is called Louis’s. Across the hall is the causal Louis’s Fish Camp, which encompasses and enormous space decorated with more than a hundred crab pots suspended from the ceiling and lots of fish netting. Fish Camp, which highlights the low-country cooking of South Carolina, also features a bourbon bar called Zelda’s.

QUICK CLIPS

Celebrity sisters, Paris and Nicky Hilton, will host the New Year’s Eve party at the new LAX Nightclub inside the Luxor. LAX opens at 10 p.m., call 702-280-3600.

The Christmas spirit is in full swing at the Imperial Palace this year as “Legends in Concert,” the longest running celebrity tribute show in Las Vegas, is presenting an all-new holiday show through Dec. 25. The holiday celebration has specially-produced musical arrangements, sparkling costumes and a unique multimedia presentation. The current acts represent the likes of Ray Charles, Bette Midler, Tom Jones, The Supremes and Elvis Presley.

After more than three years as one of the top nightlife destinations on The Las Vegas Strip, Tangerine Lounge & Nightclub will close its doors with a star-studded New Year’s Eve party hosted by Kevin Federline on Dec. 31. The club, which opened July 4, 2004, will close its doors for a major renovation during which the venue will be expanded and redesigned in spring 2008 as an entirely new, top-tier nightlife escape.

Twin Creeks restaurant inside the Silverton Casino Lodge has been restyled and opened earlier this month. It features signature boutique bourbons and an innovative new menu. Nestled within the room’s wood floors, ceiling beams, sheers and candle niches, the redesigned bar provides casual dining while serving 14 unique concoctions and 15 brands of bourbon.

One of the newest ultra lounges in Las Vegas, Head Candy located upstairs inside the newly-opened Trader Vic’s in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, has partnered with the world’s most discerning champagne house to present the Krug Lounge at Head Candy for a New Year’s Eve experience. Only 22 tables will be available for this upscale party set three stories above the Las Vegas Strip. The Krug Lounge will offer two options; an epicurean dinner experience for only 60 people beginning at 8 p.m., and/or an evening celebration in an exclusive ultra lounge setting. The package includes a magnum of Krug Grande Cuvée; each bottle is hand-etched with the guest’s name and presented in a handsome wooden case. For complete package details, call 702.405.4700.

Seasoned comedic stage actor, playwright and star of “Defending the Caveman,” Kevin Burke, will take the stage for his 1,000th performance of the show on Thursday, Dec. 20 at the Showroom inside the Golden Nugget. “Since 2003, I've been performing Caveman from Hawaii to France and everywhere in-between,” said Burke.

Last week, Sin City Brewing Co., a microbrew bar and retail shop, celebrated two successful years serving Las Vegas from its flagship location inside the Miracle Mile Shops.
Sin City beer is available on tap at dozens of resort and bar locations throughout Las Vegas. The beers are brewed exclusively in Las Vegas in small batches (100 kegs at a time) using traditional methods. Visitors can relax in the bar or order a beer from the “to-go” window while they shop and explore. The pub offers a popular expanded retail line for men and women.

BOA Steakhouse, nestled in the midst of the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, will host an elite evening of dining on New Year’s Eve with early seating from 5 to 7 p.m. and a second seating is from 9 to 11 p.m. Cost is $195 per person for indoor dining, $255 per person for terrace seating and $100 for the early seating menu, call 702-733-7373.

Strip House, located inside Planet Hollywood has introduced a holiday season X-Rated Martini with a seductive blend of Christiana Vodka and X Rated Fusion Liqueur. Johnny Rockets has had a company-owned store on Paradise Road for several years. The company is hoping now to expand and open 500 stores within five years. There’s one now in the Venetian’s food court and the next Strip restaurant is planned for the Fashion Show mall. The themed eateries have jukeboxes, one-page menus, some counter seating and servers who spring into action and dance. The hotel lobby at the Four Seasons is raising money for cancer research with a teddy bear village open through Dec. 20, and a winter wonderland display through Dec. 25 that features an edible gingerbread village with around 20 different candy-constructed homes. Admission is free; however, the toys and edible items are for sale. Santa will be at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, Dec. 21 through 24, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Children 12 and under, with each paid admission, may visit St. Nick, have their picture taken with the jolly one, and receive a candy treat for free. Ticket prices are $15.95 for adults, call 702-632-4555.. Terrible’s Hotel and Casino con Paradise Road celebrated its 7th anniversary this month.

Stand-up comic Johnny Rizzo will bring his rubber-face expressions and comedy shtick to the Riviera Comedy Club, Dec. 17-23. Rizzo is known for his work in the cult classic “The Effect of Gamma Rays On Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.” He’s also been featured in “The Road To Wellville” starring Matthew Broderick and in TV commercials for the Maryland Lottery and Budweiser.

EASTSIDE CANNERY TOPS OFF WITH PLANS TO OPEN NEXT SUMMER

The Eastside Cannery set to open late summer 2008 recently held a topping off ceremony with a Christmas tree hoisted to the top of the building located on Boulder Highway and Harmon Avenue on the site of what is now Nevada Palace. The new Eastside Cannery will have 65,000 square feet of casino space, a 400-seat bingo hall, live keno lounge, poker room and race & sports book. In addition, there will be 307 hotel rooms, five restaurants, an ultra-lounge atop the 16-story hotel tower, three bars, an upscale live entertainment lounge, resort spa, Jacuzzi, half-acre pool area and 20,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space.

NEW STRIP TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AVAILABLE

A new Strip transportation system was recently unveiled. Vegas.com revealed its new fleet of buses and trolleys, with the Vegas VEGAS.com Arrow that will make stops at 36 locations along the Strip and downtown. The system operates daily from 8:30 a.m. to midnight with three loop routes that have transfer points at Treasure Island and at Mandalay Bay. Single-ride tickets are $2.50, and all-day tickets that are also transferable to the Las Vegas Monorail system are $10. Riders are required to have exact change when they board.

STRATOSPHERE PLANS NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES,

FESTIVITIES AND MIDNIGHT TOASTS

The Stratosphere’s Top of the World Restaurant’s first seating will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The price is $125 per person for the four-course prix fixe menu. There will be a cash bar. First Seating guests have the option of paying an additional $75 for the party on the 103 floor.
The second seating will be from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The price is $350 per person for the five-course prix fixe menu, live entertainment by the William Moran Band and unparalleled views of America’s Party-New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show. This package includes access to Romance Lounge, party favors and a Champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight.

The Twilight Room Party on Level 104 will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a cocktail party from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. and a view of the fireworks. The price is $250 per person, which includes butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, a four-course meal, DJ entertainment and an open bar.

The Party on the Level 103 will be a cocktail party from 8 p.m. to midnight. The price is $125 per person with an open bar and DJ providing entertainment.

The Romance Lounge party with live entertainment from the William Moran Band, balloon drop and fireworks view will be from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The cost is $100 per person.

The Indoor Observation Deck Party, located on Level 108 of the Tower, will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a DJ, open bar, party favors, butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, and views of the fireworks. The cost is $200 per person.

The Pool Deck Party- Fireworks Spectacular, located on the eighth floor of the Premier room tower, will run from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and allow for great outdoor fireworks viewing. The Pool Deck Party with DJ entertainment will be from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
The cost is $20 per person. There will be more parties in other bars throughout the hotel. There will be no “American Superstars” or “BITE” shows on New Year’s Eve. The Stratosphere Tower will close to the public at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The Tower Shops retail mall will close to the public at 5 p.m. The Tower will re-open on Jan. 1 at 10 a.m. For tickets and information for all the parties, call 702-380-7711.

FILM YOUR VACATION FOR CINEVEGAS AND ‘CONDÈ NAST TRAVELER’S’ TRIP TAKES

Vacationers are encouraged to become filmmakers and transform their next travel adventure into a short film through Trip Takes, a new online film contest presented by the CineVegas Film Festival and “Condé Nast Traveler.” From now until Feb. 15, 2008, anyone can capture their vacation on video, no matter what the destination, and submit their original film, up to five minutes long, to the Trip Takes contest. All films will be posted on the Trip Takes Web site and will be judged by both an online audience and a jury of experts, including Dennis Hopper, chair of the CineVegas Creative Advisory Board. The top five finalists, chosen by the expert jury, will be sent to Las Vegas and have their films shown at the Tenth Annual CineVegas Film Festival, to be held June 12 – 21, 2008, at the Palms. A $5,000 cash prize will be awarded to the Jury Award winner, and the Audience Award winner selected by both the online and live audience at the festival will receive a $2,500 cash prize. The contest is open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are at least 21 years old by the date of entry. For official contest rules and to submit a film, visit www.cinevegas.com/cnttriptakes/, or call 702- 992-7979.

MANDALAY BAY OFFERS AN EXTRA FOR FREE

Mandalay Bay is offering a free recovery day and night on New Year’s Day to guests who book Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 30 and 31. Guests also will receive two-for-one spa admission and 25 percent off spa treatments at Spa Mandalay, along with a little hair of the dog; two complimentary Bloody Marys. To book your New Year’s Revival, call 877-632-7800 and ask for offer code PHANGOV-PG.