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 By
Judy Thorburn
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic
Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer
www.theflickchicks.com
Photos by Stephen Thorburn
Gordie
Brown Celebrates 1st Anniversary at the Venetian
On October 24 Gordie Brown celebrated his 1st anniversary performing at
the Venetian with a champagne toast, a cake and an after party at
Valentinos.
This was the third time I have seen Brown’s performance and I have never
been disappointed by his top notch show filled with fun and laughter and
a powerful backup band of 5 musicians that consist of musical director/
keyboardist Jeff Neiman, Keith Nelson on bass, Adam Shendal on drums,
Steve Swinford on guitar and Rocco Barbato on sax.
Gordie Brown (right) with Manager, Bernie Yuman
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
I don’t know how he does it, but Brown, a former
political cartoonist from Montreal keeps his energy in high gear with an
incomparable mix of comedy, music, and impressions that spew out of him
in a rat a tat fashion. I didn’t count, but I bet his repertoire
includes over 50 impressions of political figures and entertainment
icons that include, but are not limited, to George W. Bush, Sammy,
Frank, Dean, Neal Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Julio Iglesias, Michael Bolton,
Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Louis Armstrong, Michael Jackson,
Neil Young, Usher, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Tom Jones, and rappers M&M and
Vanilla Ice. Some impressions are better than others, but he’s got all
the requisite facial expressions and movements down pat. Add hysterical
musical parodies of many of the performer’s hit songs, his strong
vocals, connection with the audience, the fact that he’s handsome and
has loads of charisma and that can only mean one thing. Gordie Brown is
one heck of an entertainer and crowd pleaser. You can’t help but leave
the theatre with a smile on your face.
This particular performance turned out to be extra special for a few
people in the audience. After interacting with a couple in the first row
and finding out they were married for 47 years, Brown serenaded them
with a rendition of Elvis’ Love Me Tender that was surely a memorable
moment they would never forget.
Following Brown’s finale of “My Way” in his own voice, his manager
Bernie Yuman and a representative of Piper Heidsick champagne came on
stage to commemorate his 1st anniversary. Besides the cake, which we all
would share later, a special gift of a 3 litre bottle of champagne flown
in especially from the French city of Champagne was awarded to a lucky
member of the audience whose ticket stub was randomly picked from a hat.
Gordie Brown with Judy Thorburn
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
The after party held at Valentino’s was an extra
bonus and a great way to complete the fabulous evening celebration.
Among the invited guests who enjoyed an array of delicious hors
d’oeuvres, such as Fried Lobster Milanese, Tiger Shrimp with
orange/mustard sauce, skewered Roasted Peppers and Mozzarella, Veal
Tartar with Bottarga, Bruschetta with Tomato and Gorgonzola Cheese, Mini
Quiche with Spinach and Fontina Cheese, Mini Pizzas, and a special
caviar bar with all the fixings, plus champagne and a piece of the
celebratory cake, were local entertainers, Clint Holmes, star of
Phantom- The Las Vegas Spectacular: Brent Barrett, and magician Nathan
Burton.
Congratulations to Gordie Brown for putting on a great show and
continuously giving it his all. Here’s wish him years and years of
continuous success as a Las Vegas entertainment fixture. Thanks to the
staff at the Venetian, as well as the publicists at Kirvin Doak who
helped make the evening a night to remember.
Gordie Brown at The Venetian is presented nightly at 7pm and dark on
Thursday. Tickets are on sale at The Venetian box office at 866-641-7469
or 702-414-9000, and online at
www.Venetian.com
Eye
Candy Sound Lounge and Bar Opens at Mandalay Bay
Eye Candy Sound Lounge and Bar located in the center of Mandalay Bay
held a Grand Opening party on October 26, but I was given a preview tour
of the venue a few days prior to the event, before it was packed with
guests, so I could see what makes this place a special night life
experience.
I had a chance to chat with Mandalay Bay’s V.P. of Food and Beverage,
Tony Angotti, who told me that he “wanted to create a unique experience
you could not get anywhere else.” Yes, the venue’s atmosphere is
inviting with its chic design, plush seating, and bars enhanced by fiber
optic visual effects, that surrounds the central dance floor, but there
are other features which puts this venue in a class by itself.
Mandalay Bay’s V.P. of Food and Beverage, Tony Angotti at one of the
circular interactive tables
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Réalisations.net, a Montreal based company acclaimed
for creating unique, one of a kind moving architecture, scenography, and
interactive technology for some of the hottest clubs, restaurants and
hotels in the world was hired to do what they do best that would dazzle
guests. With their input, they’ve succeeded in creating an exclusive
ingredient for eyecandy sound lounge that cannot be found anywhere else
in Las Vegas.
Roger Parent, President and Owner of Réalisations.net sitting in
front of one of the sound stations
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Roger Parent, Owner and President of Réalisations.net
was in attendance. He showed me the high tech features his company has
implemented throughout the venue that gives guests a chance to partake
in creating and controlling their nightlife experience. I sat in one of
the four separate and more private round booths called Pods, in which
the floor has the ability to rotate. Inside the Pod is a circular,
interactive table connected to a network of cameras throughout the venue
that lets guests check out people all over the lounge as well as project
images onto the screens above the dance floor. Sensitive to the touch,
the table top also allows a guest to write a message to people at other
booths and send an invitation to join them. Parent informed me
“Projectors and computers that go 8 feet below the tables into the
ground makes it all work, and this is the only venue in the world with
this technology”. I would say that is pretty impressive.
Additional “eye candy” is presented via the use of
the technology that projects colorful patterns and animations onto the
bodies of dancers as well as beneath their feet and on large screens
that surround the dance floor.
But, there is more. One can also interact with the DJ’s through three
sound stations, adjacent to the dance floor. Just bring an iPod, select
your own music mix to play from the sound station, which then goes out
as a request to the DJ to integrate the songs into their music
repertoire.
Angotti emphasized that “a conscientious effort was made not to make
eyecandy a top 40 club where you hear the same music or hip hop all the
time. Fort Knox 5 Recording Group was brought in to take over the music
program with mash ups, mixes and all types of music all week long.”
Thursday is Big Sexy Funk Night where the oldies but goodies beat is
spun on 45 rpm records, just like in the days of that by gone era.
Another important aspect of this lounge that differs from others is the
unique bottle service. Instead of having to order a bottle of liquor
that is included with the table fee, tables are purchased by the hour
for up to four guests that are granted the freedom of ordering their
choice of any and as many beverages up to the reservation fee. There is
no need to buy a bottle. It is all about the premium of space, which
opens up these special seating areas to a wider range of guests who
prefer not to drink alcohol.
I must say that the name Eye Candy Sound Lounge and Bar is perfectly
suited to the venue. With so many special and unique sensory features
any adult looking for a nightlife getaway should feel like a kid in a
candy store.
The eyecandy bar is open 11 a.m to 6 a.m. daily. The interactive sound
lounge is open 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly. There is no cover charge and
this is a Non-smoking venue. Guests must be at least 21 years of age.
For more information call (702) 632-7895.
First
Couple to exchange vows at "In Your Dreams" Wedding Chapel at Madame
Tussauds Las Vegas
As the winners of a national contest sponsored by Madame Tussauds Las
Vegas, on October 24, Amanda Reece, 23, and Aaron Richardson, 26, of
Wilmington, NC, became the first couple to tie the knot at Las Vegas’
newest and most unique wedding location, the “In Your Dreams” wedding
chapel at the world famous Madame Tussauds wax attraction at The
Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.
Newlyweds Amanda and Aaron Richardson of Wilmington, NC,
celebrate their marriage, the first real wedding to be held at Madame
Tussauds Las Vegas, as Aaron shows off his original spider wedding ring.
The couple were wed by the Reverend Tony Chester (center), with
celebrity guests “Elvis” and “Marilyn Monroe” in attendance.
The couple exchanged vows in what daily serves as the
attraction’s “Marry Clooney” experience, where guests can “marry”
Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor, superstar George Clooney. The
Richardsons chose the young Elvis Presley (1960s) and Marilyn Monroe as
the two celebrity wax attractions to be “witnesses” at the ceremony.
“One reason we always wanted a Vegas wedding was to have someone
representing Elvis in the ceremony. And we both love Marilyn Monroe,”
Aaron said.
“Weddings play a vital role in the Las Vegas phenomenon. We are glad
that now by offering weddings at Madame Tussauds, we can offer guests a
wedding party guest list like no other,” said Adrian Jones, general
manager of Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. For information on pricing and
availability call (702) 862-7813 or e-mail
weddings@madametussaudslv.com.
Other
recent and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:
 ‘Larry
G Jones – The Man of 1002 Voices Show’, is offering free tickets to his
Singing Impressionist-Comedy performances in his Las Vegas showroom for
our men and women in uniform now through at least Dec. 10, 2007!
(Including all army, navy, air force, marines, coast guard, reserves,
law enforcement, and firemen) Shows are held at 9:00 PM Thursday-Monday
@ Fitzgeralds Casino, 301 Fremont St,. Las Vegas, Nevada. You must
R.S.V.P. to claim your Tickets: For complete details on the free
military tickets offer please Visit
http://www.larrygjones.com - click on the American flag.
Congratulations to UNLV Film and Theatre Professor Clarence Gilyard for
winning the award for best leading actor in a play by the Black Theatre
Alliance (BTA) in Chicago this past September. He received the Sidney
Poitier Award for his work in My Children, My Africa at Chicago’s
Victory Gardens Green House Theatre. The play is scheduled to go on to
New York.
During its annual awards show that took place on October 20 at the
Golden Nugget, The Electronic Media Awards (EMA) which honors
outstanding professionals in the fields of television, radio and Web,
Tony Sacca creator, producer and host of “Entertainment Las Vegas Style”
now in its 22nd year, was presented with two awards; one for outstanding
TV entertainment program and a second for outstanding principal of the
year, considered the most prestigious of them all because it is based on
accomplishments throughout one’s career.
“Lunchtime With Ira, Live from the Las Vegas Hilton,” a weekly
Television/Radio/Internet show hosted by Ira David Sternberg talking
with celebrities, entertainers, writers, personalities and community
leaders who make Las Vegas the most exciting city in the world, begins
its third season in November. The show is produced live every Monday at
Noon, and airs on Clark County Television (CCTV), Cox Cable Channel 4
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Noon and at 8 p.m.; KDWN AM 720 Talk
Radio at 9 p.m. Saturdays; and is webcast, podcast and archived at
www.lvhilton.com 24/7.
In honor of Veterans Day, on Thursday, November 1 from 7-8:30 p.m.,
Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd at Meadows Lane between Alta
Drive and US 95, presents Untold Stories: Over There! Las Vegas and WW
II salutes the Veterans: men and women who answered the call to fight on
the front lines and risked their lives for all of us. The event is part
of a monthly series that brings together a group of long-time residents
in a roundtable forum to talk about our history and help us understand
the sacrifices and courage it took to build a city out of the desert.
Tickets are $12 non-members, $10 members, $6.50 children 5-17. For more
information or to reserve your space for the event, call 822-7786 or go
to Ticketing Window. Advanced ticket purchase required– space is
limited.
The Clark County Amphitheatre will host “America the Beautiful”, A
Veteran's Day Food and Music Festival for the entire family during the
Veteran’s Day weekend, November 10th and 11th from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Proceeds from the 20 hour event will benefit Veterans Helping Veterans,
a local veteran's charity, to provide services and amenities for the new
V.A Hospital currently under construction. Veterans from all generations
will also be honored throughout the event.
Family entertainment includes: “Best of Las Vegas 2007”: The Goodfellas
Band, Johnny Cash and Billy Joel tribute bands, and Carla Cook, daughter
of legendary soul singer Sam Cook. Evening entertainment will include
headliners Purple Reign, Paul Epic, Dirty Penny, and The Phoenix with
Lez Warner of The Cult.
There will be over 40 food and merchandise vendors as well as veteran
and other non-profit groups in attendance. Family activities include
carnival games, face and body painting, a rock climbing wall, glass
blowing demonstrations, and much more.
The event is FREE OF CHARGE for all active duty and veterans of
military, police, and fire rescue that show ID. Parking is free, and
regular adult admission is $8, seniors are $5, and children aged 2-12
are $3.
 Thursday,
November 8, at 8 p.m. Argentina’s Tango Buenos Aires will perform at The
UNLV Performing Arts Center as part of the New York Stage & Beyond
Series. Known as the most authentic and uncompromising representative of
the tango, the company’s dancers are “tapestries of movement laced with
proud postures and sensual couplings” (The Washington Post).Tickets to
Tango Buenos Aires are $35, $50, and $80.
On Friday, November 9 at 8.p. m. Jason Vieaux, the youngest first-prize
winner in the history of the Guitar Foundation of America International
Competition, will perform at The UNLV Performing Arts Center as part of
the Classical Guitar Series. Called “nimble” and “charismatic” by The
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Vieaux’s second recording sold over 40,000
copies. Tickets to Jason Vieaux are $35.
Tickets for the above two events can be purchased at the Performing Arts
Center Box Office at 895-ARTS (2787) or by visiting pac.unlv.edu.
Student rush tickets available one hour prior to each event, are $13
each based on availability. A $1 facilities fee, in addition to the
ticket price, is charged on all Performing Arts Center tickets.
On November 10 and 11 Las Vegas’ famed Fremont Street Experience invites
all to come out and salute America with a weekend Patriot Party of FREE
concerts and a Veterans Day parade. The festivities include an exciting
line-up of renowned Air Force performers and headline acts by country
music stars David Lee Murphy and Halfway To Hazard. In honor of
America’s brave military heroes, the Veterans Day parade steps off at 10
am on Sunday, November 11. At 7 pm that evening, the Patriot Party
concludes in a fantastic finale with a performance by the Air Force’s
premier entertainment showcase, Tops In Blue, an elite touring ensemble
of musicians, singers and dancers—all active-duty—that perform for
military personnel and their families throughout the world.
Saturday, November 17 from noon – 10 p.m. national and local bands will
perform at the inaugural Rock the Block Music Festival in downtown’s
newest entertainment mecca, the Fremont East Entertainment District.
Famed rockers Flyleaf will headline the daylong music festival that will
feature additional performances by Smile Empty Soul, Franky Perez,
Searchlight, Left Standing and Conflict of Interest. Tickets go on sale
Friday, October 26 through all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are $10 in
advance or $15 at the door.
World-Renowned Artist Peter Max Returns for a Two-Day Exhibition on
Friday, November 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, November 24 from 1 to
4 p.m. at The Art of Peter Max Gallery in The Forum Shops at Caesars
Palace located on the Terrace Level in the Phase III expansion. Max will
unveil his newest collection of original paintings including an acrylic
on canvas, full-bodied, Statue of Liberty portrait measuring six-feet
tall, which will be on display and available for purchase exclusively at
the newly remodeled Las Vegas gallery. For more information, please call
(702) 644-7070 or email pmgalleryvegas@aol.com.
 From
Thursday, November 29 – Saturday, December 1, 2007, award winning pop
and country music singer Juice Newton, best known for her hit singles
“Angel of the Morning” and “Queen of Hearts”, will perform at 8 p.m.
inside Whiskey Pete’s Showroom, 31900 Las Vegas Blvd South, Primm,
Nevada. Tickets are $24.95 plus applicable taxes and fees and are
available at Whiskey Pete’s Box Office. For more information, call (702)
386-7867 or (800) 386-7867.
I’ll be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las
Vegas.
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