Judy_Thorburn_-_Vegas_Happenings_July_29

July 29, 2007
“Modern Masters from the Guggenheim Collection”
“TODAY Throws a "Martha Stewart Wedding" Show at The Venetian”
"Lucky contestants participate in "Million Dollar Roll" at MGM"

Judy Thorburn - Vegas Happenings By Judy Thorburn
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic
Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer
www.theflickchicks.com

The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at The Venetian Hotel presents “Modern Masters from the Guggenheim Collection”

On the evening of Thursday, July 26 my husband and I attended the press preview and opening reception for the 10th and latest exhibition to open at The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at the Venetian Hotel-Resort-Casino. The show titled “Modern Masters from the Guggenheim Collection”, which is on view till April of 2008, was assembled by Valerie Hillings, Assistant Curator of The Solomon R, Guggenheim Museum in New York, who flew in and was present to host a very informative media tour. Hillings said, “The idea behind the exhibit is modernist paintings in four basic academic genres: portraiture, still life, landscape, and genre, and to look at them in a modern period from the 19th century forward. Most represent the transition from objective to abstract. The collection from the Guggenheim Museum in New York is a blend of all time periods and different styles that make a ‘jewel box’ exhibition”.

The show is broken up into four thematic sections featuring 37 masterpieces from the late 19th and early 20th century which show the transition from objective painting to the emergence of the modern period of Impressionism, Post Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism and Purism.

The first room you enter is specific to ‘Portraiture’ and has some stunning examples of the works of Amedeo Modigliani, Fernand Leger, Paul Cezanne, Arshile Gorky, Albert Gleizes and Edouard Manet among others. Particularly striking is Alexej Jawlensky’s “Helene with Colored Truban”, which catches your eye with its vibrant.

The next room is devoted to ‘Still Life’ paintings which features such masters as Piet Mondrian, Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso and a beautiful work, rich in color and texture, by Georges Braque; “Teapot on Yellow Ground”. Also in the collection is the debut of “Still Life with Cherries” by Juan Gris, exhibited by The Guggenheim for the first time. A still life by Piet Mondrian shows his transition from objective painting to his later works with grids and rectangular shapes for which he is most famous.

When you enter the ‘Landscape’ room, you are faced with a wall showing three of the greatest painters of all time, Edouard Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Cezanne. These three alone are worth the price of admission. An early work by Piet Mondrian; “Summer, Dune in Zeeland”, is on view as well as an almost completely abstract scene of the Eiffel Tower by Robert Delaunay.

The last room showcases the ‘Genre’ theme and is a widely diverse collection of snapshots of life with completely different stylistic approaches. There is a surrealistic work by Marc Chagall and a more commonplace scene from life in Edouard Monet’s “Before the Mirror”, a sweeping and broad style in Paul Klee’s “Pastoral”, and a painting by Fernand Leger titled “The Smokers” that is not characteristic of his better known and bolder style.

Elizabeth Herridge, Managing Director of the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at the Venetian stated that in an effort to educate and inspire students about culture and art, “The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum offers a ‘school friendly’ program, and beginning September, teachers will be invited to view the show and bring in their students.

I highly recommend this beautiful exhibit for everyone to gain an understanding and real insight into the minds of art masters and their changing styles during this very transitional period which laid the foundation for the modern art of the 20th century.

The museum is open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm. For general information call: (702) 414-2440 or visit www.guggenheimlasvegas.org

“TODAY Throws a "Martha Stewart Wedding" Show at The Venetian”

On Tuesday, July 24th, Al Roker, NBC TODAY show weather anchor aired his show LIVE, 4am-7am from The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino. It was his first stop in a visit to four cities that include NY, Chicago and South Beach to determine the finalists for the “TODAY Throws a Martha Stewart Wedding” show they put on each year in which one lucky couple wins a wedding courtesy of Martha Stewart. Stewart wasn’t in attendance but that didn’t stop some very enthusiastic brides to be from showing up. The first 50 eligible brides with a completed application (found on line at www.today.show.com ) lined up on the bridge leading to Doge’s Palace, anxious to participate in the “running of the brides” in which the winner was given a free wedding dress courtesy of Filene’s Basement. In addition to the race, Venetian headliner, impressionist/singer Gordie Brown stopped by as a guest and the ‘LIVE” cooking segment featured Chefs David Burke and Chef Tom Maloney cooking/demonstrating wedding dishes and desserts.

"Running of the Brides"

Al Roker and Gordie Brown

Chef David Burke, Weatherman Al Roker and Chef Tom Maloney

Lucky contestants participate in "Million Dollar Roll" at MGM

On Friday, eight lucky contestants were flown to Las Vegas to meet comedian Rodney Carrington (who is performing inside MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theatre July 26 - August 1) and participate in the “Million Dollar Roll”, for a chance to win a million dollars at the MGM. Each contestant was given two chances to roll five special dice at a designated craps table. The contestant that rolled all five specialty marked dice face-up, revealing the name of Carrington’s newly released CD, “Rodney Carrington King of the Mountains” would become a millionaire. As it turned out no one was lucky enough to get the dice to roll in their favor, but that didn’t stop them from being thrilled to be visiting Las Vegas.

Rodney Carrington

Other current and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:

Harrahs’ has announced that sexy Grammy Award-Winning R&B singer, Toni Braxton has extended her show at the Flamingo Las Vegas through February 2008. Tickets for Toni Braxton: Revealed can be purchased by phone at (702) 733-3333 or (800) 221-7299 or by visiting www.flamingolasvegas.com . Ticket prices are $69, $89 and $109 (including tax, plus handling fees). Showtime is 7:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday.

From Sunday August 5 though 11, Las Vegas “Phantom of the Opera” star Brent Barrett, will serve as a guest artist at Boulder City-based Red Mountain Music Company’s inaugural youth music camp. Barrett, who is also a member of Actors Equity, will teach a master class and perform at the camp.

RMMC, a nonprofit, valley-wide musical performing arts organization, is hosting the camp, which is an intense, week-long musical theater training program guided by industry experts. Students ages 13-18 (entering grades nine through 12) will participate in the Red Mountain Music Camp – designed to prepare students for future endeavors in singing, acting and dancing for musical theatre.

The camp will take place at the El Spendido Ranch, a 550-acre privately owned ranch located at the edge of Dixie National Forest in Utah. Enrollment, which is open until Aug. 3, is limited to 45 students to allow for significant individual attention. The cost is $1,050, and financial aid is available. Any student who will be in high school in fall 2007 can apply. For more information or to apply, call 702-351-6552 or e-mail info@redmountainmusic.org .

On Saturday, August 11 at 8 p.m., two popular music groups from the 80’s will be in concert at the Club at the Cannery Casino & Hotel. The Motels featuring Martha Davis has replaced the originally scheduled The Fixx, and will share the stage with Colin Hay of Men at Work. Tickets are $27.95, $17.95 and $12.95 plus tax and fees and are on sale at the Cannery Casino & Hotel’s ticket sales counter located at the front desk or by calling 702-617-5585 or 866-287-4643 (toll free), or by visiting www.cannerycasinos.com .

Producer David Saxe and www.Vegas.com are teaming up to find a new act to join the talented cast of “V-The Ultimate Variety Show” that has been captivating audiences since 2001.

Joining Saxe as judges in the auditions are Nathan Burton, headliner of “Nathan Burton Comedy Magic”, “V-The Ultimate Variety Show”, and past “America's Got Talent” contestant, and KVBC Channel 3 news reporter Kim Wagner.

Vegas’ Got Talent Search will be held on Friday, August 17th at the V Theater at the Miracle mile Shops inside Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Tech rehearsal for participants is from 9am-11am, and the auditions begin promptly at 11 am. Auditions are free and open to the public to watch. The winner will receive a performing contract worth up to $150,000 and will be the new act in “V-The Ultimate Variety Show”. "The acts in V-The Ultimate Variety Show are the best in world and I’m looking to add an extraordinary entertainer to the show. I encourage anyone and everyone who has a unique talent to audition,” said David Saxe.

For more information contact Bri Ulivarri, director of PR/Advertising for David Saxe Productions/V Theater Group, at 702-275-4003 or bri@davidsaxe.com .

On August 25 at 8PM, two great acts from the 60’s and 70’s, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night, and music group Blood, Sweat and Tears will bring their classic music to the Club at the Cannery Casino & Hotel. Tickets are $29.95, $20.95 and $14.95 plus tax and fees and can be purchased at the Cannery Casino & Hotel’s ticket sales counter located at the front desk, by calling 702-617-5585 or 866-287-4643 (toll free), or on line at www.cannerycasinos.com .

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, the world renowned star studded interactive wax museum, located at The Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino, is now providing wedding services within the “In Your Dreams” wedding chapel which is the current location of the attraction’s “Marry Clooney” experience. The standard wedding package within this unique ceremonial setting will include customary items such as the minister, floral arrangements and memorable videotape and the newlywed couple and guests will then be able to tour the attraction for additional wedding photos with the over 100 wax celebrities from the worlds of film, television, sports and world affairs.

Following the theme “With These Stars I Thee Wed,” wedding parties may incorporate two Madame Tussauds wax celebrities into the wedding service as witnesses or celebrity guests from a pre-selected list that consists of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Taylor and Tony Bennett, or Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. For more information on pricing and availability for weddings among the stars at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, call (800) 292-1177 or email weddings@madametussaudslv.com . In addition to the wedding package, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas also can host wedding receptions for up to 130 guests in its Spirit of America Room. To include a reception, contact the Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Events Department, (702) 862-7805.

In a special promotion, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is offering one lucky couple the opportunity to win a free wedding that includes all the items listing in the wedding package. Couples should complete the online registration form at www.MTvegas.com http://www.madametussaudslv.com . The deadline for entries is Sunday, August 12, with the winning couple announced online Monday, August 13.

I’ll be back next time for what’s “happening” in and around Las Vegas.