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 By
Judy Thorburn
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic
Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer
www.theflickchicks.com
THE
LUXURIOUS $1.9 BILLION PALAZZO LAS VEGAS CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING
Thursday, January 17 marked the official Grand
Opening of the highly anticipated mega resort, the luxurious $1.9
billion, 3,066 room The Palazzo Las Vegas, the newest
resort-hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip in nearly three years, that
sits right next door and is connected to its sister property, the
Venetian. At fifty stories high, The Palazzo (Italian for The Palace) is
the tallest hotel in Nevada and combined with the Venetian rooms and
convention space makes the Las Vegas Sands Corp. the operator of the
largest property on the Strip under one roof.
Photo credit: Dianne R. Davis
Las Vegas Sands Corporation Chairman, Sheldon
Adelson, his wife Dr. Miriam Adelson and Sands President and COO Bill
Weidner presided over the Grand Opening ceremony that was held early in
the evening. Together they flipped the switch that launched a
spectacular light and fireworks display which kicked off a three day
series of celebratory events that began with the arrival of dozens of
celebrities who showed up for a private party at the 85,000 square foot
Barney’s New York (the first ever in Las Vegas), the flagship store at
the Shoppes at the Palazzo, a two story 450,000 square foot retail
shopping experience. Choe, Diane Von Furstenberg, Van Cleef and Arpels,
Michael Kors, Burberry, and Piaget are but a few of the who’s who of
luxury brands, international retailers and some of the hottest newcomers
among the more than 60 boutiques, many of which have not yet opened. In
describing the new shopping destination, Simon Doonan, the creative
director of Barney’s had everyone laughing when he said, “I want to be
re-incarnated as a high priced Las Vegas showgirl so I can shop my
brains out.”
Among the Red Carpet arrivals eager to partake in the
first of many Grand Opening celebrations were local headliners Wayne
Brady, Gordie Brown, Rita Rudner, Blue Man Group, Anthony Crivello and
his co-star of Phantom Kristi Holden, Clint Holmes and his wife Kelly
Clinton, film stars Claire Danes, Christina Ricci and Hillary Swank,
actors Jason Lewis and Willie Garson ( TV’s Sex in the City) model/
actress Rebecca Romjin and husband actor Jerry O’Connell, Angie Harmon
and husband Jason Sehorn, singer/actress Mandy Moore, James Denton,
Jessie Metcalf, Nicolette Sheridan (Desperate Housewives), actor Patrick
Warburton (Rules of Engagement), Train’s singer/front man Pat Monahan,
Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson, superstar chefs Emeril Lagasee,
Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Trotter and Mario Batali, Rob and Amber Mariano
(TV’s Survivor), producer Mitch Sacharoff (Kalifornia), Sheldon Adelson
and wife Dr. Miriam Adelson, and other principle executives from the Las
Vegas Sands corporation; Pres. and COO Weidner, Exec. V.P. Bradley
Stone, and President of the Palazzo, Rob Goldstein.
Sheldon Adelson and Dr. Miriam Adelson
Rob Goldstein and Simon Doonan
Gordie Brown
Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton
Kristen Hertzenberg and Anthony Crivello
Rita Rudner
Blue Man Group
Wayne Brady
Hillary Swank
Mandy Moore
Christina Ricci
Claire Danes
Pat Monahan
James Denton
Nicolette Sheridan
Jesse Metcalf
Rebecca Romjin and Jerry O'Connell
Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn
Jason Lewis
Rob and Amber Mariano
Patrick Warburton
Mitch Sacharoff
Willie Garson
Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson
According to Mr. Adelson, The Palazzo is being touted
as “the most beautiful hotel/casino in the world”. President of The
Palazzo Las Vegas Rob Goldstein has stated “The property will become a
new resort-hotel-casino of unparalleled luxury, sophistication, and
contemporary chic on the Las Vegas Strip.”
The buzz word repeated from the Sand’s Corporation
bigwigs at several of the press conferences was “integration”, as in the
integration of gaming with shopping, dining and entertainment that is an
integral part of the Palazzo to lure vacationers from all over the world
who want a reason to come other than gaming. “Instead of casino-centric
(we are evolving into) entertainment-centric – then gaming will take
care of itself. The Sands Corporation was also the first to “integrate”
the convention business with the casino business in the history of Las
Vegas. It has had the trickling down effect, with imitation being the
sincerest form of flattery”, Mr. Weidner emphasized.
When it comes to dining, the world class hotel that features a modern
European ambiance and design reminiscent of Italian affluent living,
offers visitors lots of food choices, price points, and a terrific
collection of restaurants by a bevy of award winning top celebrity chefs
such as Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali and Charlie Trotter
that will make the hotel one of the most unique culinary destinations.
Chefs Mario Batali, Charlie Trotter, Wolfgang Puck
and Emeril Lagasse
On Friday evening, I was given the opportunity to
experience some of the dishes from the variety of excellent restaurants
during the “Dine Around” culinary event that took place in one of the
Venetian ballrooms. Tables were set up with tasty samplings from the
Grand Lux (that is opened 24/7), Jade, Dos Caminos, Morels French
Steakhouse, Sushi Samba, Woo, as well as Wolfgang Puck’s Cut, Emeril
Lagasee’s Table 10, Charlie Trotter’s Restaurant Charlie, and Mario
Batali’s CarneVino, where their celebrity chefs were present to meet and
talk with guests about their exciting new venture at the Palazzo.
Emeril Lagasse and Judy Thorburn
Judy Thorburn and Food & Beverage mogul Michael Politz
Other one of a kind Palazzo offerings includes the
Las Vegas production of the Tony Award winning Jersey Boys, the world’s
largest Canyon Ranch SpaClub, Jay Z’s 40/40 club; an elegant mix of
sports bar and lounge, and the strip’s first Lamborghini dealership.
“As we began the design and development of the Venetian in 1995, we
always envisioned a second property that would complement and work in
unison with the Sands Expo Center to provide the most unique and varied
destination experience any where in the world, “said Mr. Adelson. In
many ways the opening of the Palazzo represents for us the completion of
a vision that started with the construction of the Venetian.”
While the principle executives did not emphasis the attributes of the
casino’s interior décor, I found it to be airy and spacious and indeed
one of the most elegant resort/casinos I have visited.
Other
recent and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:
On January 15, Mayor Oscar Goodman presented Penthouse Pet Prinzzess
(October 2004) and The Penthouse Club Las Vegas Key Girls Teresa and
Devon with The Key to the City in his office chamber. In return, the
ladies presented the mayor with a Key to the Club welcoming him to visit
the club at anytime and ensuring he would be well cared for. During the
ceremony, the mayor joked with Teresa asking her if she wanted a job
after finding out she was a Public Affairs graduate. The highly
anticipated club celebrated the Grand Opening recently while more than
100 Penthouse Pets and Key Girls welcomed celebrities, VIPs and media.
Guest attendees included comedian and The Howard Stern Show host Artie
Lange, St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, comedian Jeff Beacher
escorting “mini-Britney”, “Saved by the Bell” star Dennis Haskins, UFC
fighter Frank Tripp and poker player Todd Brunson.
 
The Penthouse Club Las Vegas, located at 3525 W.
Russell Road in the space formerly occupied by Sin, is the largest
Penthouse club in the world with 46,000 square feet of entertainment
space.
The Signature at MGM Grand has been chosen the No. 1 “Best Luxury Hotel
in the U.S.” by the 30 million travelers of
www.TripAdvisir.com , the
internet’s largest travel community. The Signature was also recognized
as one of the “Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels in the World” and the “Best
Hotels in the World’s 25 Most Popular Destinations” in TripAdvisor’s
2008 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The non-gaming, non-smoking all-suite
resort is the only Las Vegas hotel to place in each category.
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On January 25 and 26, 2008, Championship Bull Riding, Inc. (CBR) is
hosting the 2007 Findlay Toyota CBR World Championship Bull Riding at
the South Point Hotel and Casino’s Equestrian Center. This exciting,
world-class event concludes a competitive season of twelve professional
bull riding events, which were held across the United States. The top 45
point earning riders in 2007, who represent 19 states and Canada, will
compete for the World Champion CBR title and a purse of $200,000.
The CBR and South Point Hotel and Casino are also hosting a kick-off
party on Thursday January 24 in the showroom with special guest, Cross
Canadian Ragweed, and the Findlay Toyota CBR World Championship Bull
Riding Championship Awards Banquet on Sunday, January 27. Additional
autograph sessions and meet and greet opportunities with CBR riders will
be offered throughout the weekend. Refer to the finals website at
www.cbrwc.com for a complete
list of times and events.
Tickets are on sale now at the South Point Hotel and Casino box office.
To order tickets by phone please call 1-866-796-7111, ask for the box
office and use the program code CBRWCPK. Tickets prices are $25, $35,
$50, and $75. A $5 discount is available for senior citizens and
military on tickets ordered by phone or in person only.
On Friday, January 25 Soulful, Southern Singer and Songwriter Michael
Grimm performs inside the Club Club at the Cannery Casino & Hotel. The
performance and National CD release party starts at 8 p.m, and is FREE
to the public.
Beginning January 26, 2008, the Award-winning off Broadway Smash Hit
“Toxic Audio”, a five-member a capella sensation that uses no
instruments and only the human voice to create a complete theatrical a
cappella experience, will perform nightly at the V Theater located at
the Miracle Mile Shops within the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
“Toxic Audio” show times are Friday through Wednesday at 9 p.m. Tickets
start at $49 plus taxes and fees for adult general admission. For ticket
reservations call the V Theater box office at 702-932-1818 or purchase
online at www.varietytheater.com
.
Classic Cadillac and LaSalle automobiles are on display in the Findlay
Cadillac Saab dealership showroom, 993 Auto Show Dr. in Henderson, until
Saturday, Feb. 9, leading up to the Third Annual Findlay Cadillac
Through The Years Car Show, Sunday, February 10, at The District At
Green Valley Ranch. A different historic car will rotate each Saturday
leading to the car show. More than 70 vintage Cadillac and LaSalle
automobiles will participate in the third annual car show on Sunday,
Feb. 10. Sponsors of the show are Findlay Cadillac Saab of Henderson,
The District At Green Valley Ranch, the Cadillac and LaSalle Club of Las
Vegas and www.Vegasparent.com .
Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9. Get Back! Cast of
Beatlemania featuring cast members of the original Broadway and London
productions of Beatlemania., will create the illusion of The Beatles in
a two-hour musical and visual experience at The Club, located inside the
Cannery Casino & Hotel. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with the performances
starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 plus tax and fees and can be
purchased at the door.
Saturday, January 26 from11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Charleston Festival, a new
retail center located on W. Charleston Blvd. between Jones and Torrey
Pines, is celebrating its Grand Opening which will include one-day
specials by select retail stores and will be broadcast live by KXPT
97.1-The Point from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop will be
giving out free sandwich samples during the live remote. The Andy Walo
Group will play live rock and blues music from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Guests are invited to enter a drawing to win a flat-screen TV, a $200
gift card to Dark Tower Comics and a free one-month, six-month or
one-year membership to Anytime Fitness. One-day specials include: 25
percent off everything in the store at Orinoco Shoes; 15 percent off any
monthly package and buy three, get three sessions on any bed at Tan
Envy; buy one smoothie, get a second smoothie 1/2 off at Tropical
Smoothie Café; 25 percent off most items at Solomon Treasures (some
exceptions apply and not all items are eligible for discount) and free
2008 calendars at Post Net. Azuza Hookah Lounge will be offering a
student special of $10 per hookah from 1- 4 p.m. daily starting January
23.
Also on January 26 approximately 1,700 members of the Red Hat Society (RHS)
are expected to converge on the Las Vegas Strip between 11:30 am and
11:45 am to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “Most People
in a Chorus Line.” Dressed in their sassy, signature, purple and red
regalia, visitors to the Las Vegas Strip will see a mirage of purple and
red that stretches nearly a half mile. The “hatters” are in town to
celebrate the opening of HATS!, the new musical at Harrah’s Las Vegas.
HATS! is inspired by the fun-loving lifestyle encouraged by the Red Hat
Society.
Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery, 500 S. Grand Central
Parkway is currently displaying “Structuring the Invisible” a new
exhibit by artist Brent Sommerhauser who uses pencils as a sculptural
material to create ocean surface wave forms in his most recent work. An
artist reception will be held during First Friday events from 6 to 8
p.m. Feb. 1. The exhibit will be on display at the gallery through Feb.
15.
UNLV Dance presents the ballet TRANSIT(ION), choreographed and scripted
by dance professor Margot Mink Colbert, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February
2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday February 3 in Alta Ham Fine Arts, Dance Studio
111. Tickets are $15 general admission; $5 for students and seniors, and
can be purchased at the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office or by
calling 895-ARTS (2787). “TRANSIT(ION), as described by Colbert,
provides a choreographic glimpse of the trek of Eastern European Jews
through Ellis Island to New York City’s lower east side, and the life
they found and made there, “
Friday, February 8 at 8 p.m & Saturday, February 9 at 2 p.m. UNLV
Performing Arts Center’s Artemus Ham Concert Hall will present three
ballets including a premiere for NBT, Twyla Tharp’s choreography in
“Nine Sinatra Songs” that will feature Sinatra favorites such as “One
for My Baby,” “All the Way,” and “That’s Life.” The trip down memory
lane also includes dancers in elegant costumes by famed designer Oscar
de la Renta. In addition, the program will feature Rubies, from
Balanchine’s famous ballet, Jewels, with jazzy rhythms and upbeat dance
steps including the Rumba and the Tango! The evening ends with a new
work for NBT. Tickets prices are $29, $49, $72. To order Call 895-ARTS
(2787)
Want to do something really “cool” for charity? The Desert Breeze Park
aquatics staff is challenging Las Vegas residents to brave the cold
during the Second Annual Polar Bear Plunge from 10 a.m. to noon on
Saturday, Feb. 9 by taking a dip in the Desert Breeze Outdoor Pool, 8275
W. Spring Mountain Road. The event is FREE and open to ages 16 and
older. All that is required for admission is one donation per person of
a gently used or new blanket, children’s clothes or arts and crafts or
recreation supplies to be given to Clark County Child Haven, the
emergency shelter for abused and neglected children. Prizes will be
awarded for the most outrageous entry, original costume and best group
plunge. Hot beverages and snacks will be served. Pre-registration is
requested either in person at Desert Breeze Recreation Center or online
at
www.accessclarkcounty.com/ parks, registration code 2865.101. Those
interested can call 455-7798, option 2 or call Desert Breeze Aquatic
Facility at 455-7716.
February 8-9 at 8 p.m. Grammy award winning recording artist, Boz Scaggs
will headline at the Las Vegas Hilton where he will perform the best
known songs of his career, including "Lido Shuffle," "Look What You've
Done To Me," "Miss Sun," "Jo Jo," "Heart Of Mine," "Lowdown," "Harbor
Lights," and "We're All Alone.” Tickets now on sale are $39-$79 (plus
tax and service charge) and can be purchased at the LasVegas Hilton box
office or by logging onto
www.lvhilton.com or by phone at 702-732-5755 or
1-800-222-5361. Tickets are on sale now.
Psychic John Edward has changed the dates for his Flamingo Las Vegas
appearance. There will no longer be shows on Feb. 12 and 13 and Mar. 11,
12, 13, 14, and 16. He is scheduled to perform for two days only - at 11
a.m on Feb. 14 and Mar. 15. Tickets for John Edward’s are on sale now at
the Flamingo Box Office, by phone at (702) 733-3333 or (800) 221-7299 or
by visiting
www.flamingolasvegas.com .
Friday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. renowned comedic impressionist Louise DuArt
and her husband, Squire Rushnell, a well-known author, storyteller and
veteran TV executive, will perform “An Evening of Music, Inspiration &
Comedy at Community Lutheran Church – located at 3720 East Tropicana
Ave., between S. Sandhill Road and S. Pecos Road. Tickets, which can be
purchased online at eventsatclc.com or at the door, cost $10.The
performance will incorporate musical, comedic impersonations from DuArt
and inspirational stories from Rushnell. “Although we are hosting ‘An
Evening of Music, Inspiration & Comedy,’ this is not a religious event,”
said Dr. Mark Wickstrom, senior pastor for the church. “Everyone is
welcome to come down and take part in the fun.”
Celebrity sightings:
The Hard Rock was buzzing with star power Saturday, January 8 with a
steady stream of celebrity visitors all day long. Early in the day,
Randy Couture, UFC Hall of Fame fighter, hosted his own celebrity poker
tournament that brought out players including talk show host Montel
Williams, Major League player Jose Canseco, Superman actor Dean Cain,
Alpha Dog director Nick Cassavetes, Anthrax rock star Scott Ian, UFC
fighter Tyson Griffen, 2006 World Series of Poker Champ Jamie Gold and
poker stars Todd Brunson, Sammy Farha and Hoyt Corkins.
Jenna Jameson breezed through the property around 5 p.m. with a camera
crew that followed her as she stopped in Rocks the Jeweler to pick up
some custom-made bling.
Later in the evening the Smashtime party at Body English was in high
gear when hit rapper Pitbull took the stage for an impromptu performance
in honor of DJ Clinton Sparks’ CD release party. Meanwhile, reality star
Big Black of MTV’s Rob & Big show celebrated his birthday with a group
of friends. Recording artist and Brandy’s little bro Ray J partied with
E!’s Daily 10 stars Sal Masekela and Ben Lyons at their VIP table at the
center of the dancefloor. Also in the house for Smashtime: Adult film
actress Sophia Rossi, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Dean Cain and Jason Giambi
with former Yankee teammate David Wells.
On the night of 1/13 a number of famous faces were spotted amongst the
crowd inside Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. They included
Vivid Entertainment stars Sunny Leone, Lanny Barby and Monique Rock who
hosted a sexy edition of the weekly Sunday School party. Also in the
house were Javon Walker of the Denver Broncos, adult film star and
musician Evan Seinfeild and Hard Rock regulars Jenna Jameson and Tito
Ortiz.
On the afternoon of January 14, Siegfried Fischbacher was spotted having
lunch at Spago, inside the Forum Shops at Caesars where he was joined by
Robin Leach.
On the night of Tuesday January 15 at Tabú Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand,
former VH1’s “Rock of Love” reality star, blonde rocker chick Jes
Rickleff, hosted the infamous Las Vegas Monday night party, Rok Box.
Rickleff was accompanied by her entourage, including fellow cast-member
and close friend Brandi Mahon. Rickleff and Mahon were the focus of
attention as they danced and partied in the ultra lounge’s center table
with DJs Rocktakon and Scotty Boy rocking the turntables by spinning
mash-ups of old school rock and hip-hop jams.
While Bret Michaels premiered his second season of “Rock of Love” on
Sunday, the object of his heartbreak seemed to care less as she partied
in Las Vegas and took a stab at winning on the tables in MGM Grand.
Actress Drew Barrymore was spotted at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on
the night of January 16 with her new, younger man, actor Justin Long.
They enjoyed a nearly two hour dinner at Nobu along with six other
friends. Also at the Hard Rock was Champ Floyd Mayweather who was seen
having in a late-night breakfast at Mr. Lucky's around 2 a.m.
On Saturday afternoon, January 19, John Mayer was spotted having lunch
Saturday afternoon at the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, inside the MGM
Grand. He was joined by a small group who dined in the semi-private
section of the restaurant.
On the evening of January 19, rocker Lenny Kravitz was spotted checking
into the Hard Rock's Penthouse Suite.
I’ll be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las
Vegas.
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