40/40 Has the Edge on Las Vegas Clubs
I
took a stroll over to the Palazzo Resort where the new 40/40 Club is located. So
now you’re thinking: “Another nightclub? Is that what we need in Las Vegas?!”
Well,
it’s not just another nightclub. The 40/40 Club is more of a sports bar and
lounge environment. It is owned by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and partner Juan Perez,
and the estimated cost is $20 million for this 24,000 square-foot entertainment
facility on the Las Vegas Strip.
In
addition to 40/40’s theater seating, there are five VIP rooms. One VIP room,
called the Kenwood Vineyards Lounge, has two leather wraparound coaches, an
oversized leather
bed,
wood-paneled walls, hardwood floors and an outdoor cabana with a view of the
Strip.
It’s
quite snazzy and accommodates up to 70 guests. The room is also fully equipped
with an independent sound system, one 64-inch plasma screen television, and
guests have access to wireless Internet, as well as Xbox and Playstation upon
request. By now, I’m sure you get the
picture: classy, super classy!
Another
VIP lounge is named for creator Jay-Z. In addition to its leather wraparound
coaches and oversized leather bed, it also has an eight-foot pool table. There
are three, 70-inch plasma screens. Jay-Z’s room also has wood-paneled walls but
different flooring with wall-to-wall carpeting. This is a larger room, also
built with an outside cabana with a Strip view, but accommodates 150 guests.
The VIP
lounge called A-Rod, probably named for the baseball
superstar,
has everything the other rooms feature, but added is a sunken living room, and
the largest of the plasma screens is 104 inches. For game enthusiasts, there is
the high-tech play of Xbox and Playstation, along with a one-of-a-kind,
vertical-style chessboard for classic mental strategy. For the 150 guests the
A-Rod room accommodates, the private restroom is an added touch.
The
Sapphire Lounge, another VIP room with all of the best amenities, is slightly
smaller than the others, but still accommodates up to 100 guests. And the VIP
Room 5, also well appointed, will comfortably fit 100 guests.
The
40/40 has its own kitchen and serves an array of goodies
from basic tacos and pizzas to the fancier menu items, such as Buttermilk
Coconut Gambas, which are fried shrimp with green chilies, to the fun item
selections. One of them, Cows in a Blanket, is served with a condiment tray of
homemade relishes, dips and mustard. Oh, I’ve got an idea: How about trying the
Cows in a Blanket on Mini Thai Chicken
Spring
Rolls? After all, there’s nothing like experimenting—especially when you party
with a daring group.
The list
of super celebs who have already experienced 40/40 includes baseball greats Alex
Rodriguez and Barry
Bonds; music empire dad Joe Jackson, basketball greats Julius “Dr J” Irving and
Charles Barkley, musical artist Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire, and the
soul-stirring songstress Mary J. Blige, as well as Jay-Z’s companion Beyonce, an
incomparable talent.
“This is
a win-win situation because it caters to the sports personality, and they even
have a special lounge for the high rollers,” Joe Jackson pointed out.
Salute
for the Side Guys
When I
left 40/40, I stopped by the Salute Lounge in the Palazzo Resort to catch the
group Side Guys, headed up by pianist Ron Fox, who over 14 years toured with
Stevie Wonder and George Benson. In fact, Fox has produced for David Sanborn,
Grover Washington, Will Downing and Brazilian artist Djavan.
Side
Guys consists of John Wedemeyer on guitar, Tim Scott on bass and Jim Kehan on
drums. The group plays an array of music and is definitely in the pocket. I
especially enjoyed their swing blues selections.
And
going on to other lounges, the very talented vocalist Peter Monroy takes center
stage at the adjacent Venetian Resort in La Scena. Monroy took his audience on a
14-song-long, frenzied dance journey. He even got the people gambling moving
their feet. Monroe is more than just a lounge entertainer, he has the charisma
to communicate with the crowd while they dance. He is the consummate hipster
decked in his dark sunshades and an all-white suit. He is definitely an expert
at working the audience.
Who’s
Going to Marry Pee Wee?
What
started out as a joke is now planned as a reality TV show headed for production.
“Who’s Going to Marry Pee Wee,” the show’s working title, is about a
journalist-celebrity reporter who is looking for a girlfriend, possibly to be
his wife. The show is based in central Las Vegas in a home where a host of
contestants will have to impress guest judges and central character “Pee Wee” in
order to win. Contestants will write poems, tell their personal fantasies, write
essays on world affairs and general topics, perform dance routines,
and show their sense of style as they help pick the suitor’s new apparel.
The
winner will receive a one-year modeling contract, a vacation to Hawaii, personal
television appearances and a likely proposal from “Pee Wee.” The creator of this
show is Las Vegas-based philanthropist and businessman Leon Benzer who believes
that everyone gets his shot in life.
“Pee Wee
is a lovable character who the television audience will identify with,” says
Benzer.
The
judging will be done by guest celebrities who will stop by to advise “Pee Wee”
on which contender they think would be the best choice for him. Each week, a
contestant will be eliminated as the competition progresses.
Interested applicants who want to be considered as a contestant for the reality
show may send their resumes and pictures to: Celebrity Scene News, 2595 Fremont
Street, Las Vegas, NV, 89104.
A
Teacher Aids Autistic Kids
Roger D.
Gehring Elementary is one of the public schools in Clark County with a teaching
department for autistic children. With over 850 students, Gehring, located at
1155 Richmar in the southeast region of Las Vegas, has aided over 200 autistic
children. One of the celebrated teachers there is Ms. Vickers. She has that
magic ability to bring out the best in autistic students.
Since
autism affects each child differently, the development rate and teaching tools
vary. For instance, the oral routines deal with books-on-tapes, videos and
teacher-led readings. Some of the other methods incorporate visual aids,
textbooks and computer programs.
Sign
language is used to help students with word concepts, and the teacher guides
students hand-over-hand to urge improvement in writing. Included in the teaching
routine are behavioral strategies and rewards-based systems to recognize the
tasks students accomplish and motivate them to continue their achievements.
Vickers
has worked all of her career with students who have learning challenges. She
started as a substitute in the school district working mostly with autistic
children. Her experiences working to help children with disabilities enables her
to teach autistic children.
“Often
it’s hard to find teachers with qualifications to teach autistic children,” said
Gehring Principal Sandra Brody, adding, “Ms. Vickers is an exceptional teacher.”
Vickers
says, “We keep an open communication with parents. And some communication is
done over the phone.” She adds that the program has an open-door policy.
For more
information, contact the Clark County School District or go to their website at
www.ccsd.net.
Sgt.
Damian Walburn Honored
Sgt.
Damian Walburn of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has dedicated his
efforts, along with his Metro team’s, to providing safety to the community of
Downtown Las Vegas. Walburn is also a family man and coaches football at Shadow
Ridge High School.
Walburn
will be honored Thurs., Jan. 10, by the Downtown Business Operators Council, a
group that lobbies for businesses in the area. The ceremony is being held at the
Bunkhouse Tavern, at 124 So. 11th St. For more information, call Earl White at
513-9063.
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My book of poetry
entitled "Messages" was inspired by my dear friends C.J. Cansler along
with Victoria Boone and Beryl Warren.
The group of poems
along with some beautiful photographs are to inspire the reader.
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