By Judy Thorburn
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Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - Las Vegas Round The Clock
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - The Flick Chicks
Director of Communications - Nevada Film Alliance
www.theflickchicks.com
Miss America 2010 Contestants Arrive at Planet Hollywood
It was a busy and exciting week for the contestants who are in town for the Miss America 2010 pageant that will be broadcast live on TLC, Saturday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. (EST)/ tape delayed (PST), from The Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino for the fifth consecutive year. The young women made several special appearances on and off the strip beginning with their arrival on Thursday January 21.
Hussong's Cantina Celebrates its Grand Opening at Mandalay Place
Hussong’s Cantina located at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place on the Las Vegas Strip held its grand opening celebration on January 21. And, for the evening’s guests it also marked an inspirational milestone. A packed crowd was on hand to witness Scott Frost, the president of Titan Nightlife Group, the developer behind Hussong’s Cantina in Vegas, stand up from his wheelchair and take 18 steps to the first bar seat at his new venue with fiancé Megan Powell at his side.
Hash House A Go Go at the Imperial Palace
Hash House A Go Go, the eatery famous for its creative menu offerings and enormous portions opened its second Las Vegas location inside the Imperial Palace Hotel-Casino on Dec. 10, but the Official Grand Opening celebration took place on January 22. Along with invited members of the media, there were several celebrities in attendance including female impersonator Frank Marino, George Wallace and acapella singing group, Mosaic.
Las Vegas Hilton Hosts Red Carpet Movie Premiere of “Reach for Me”
Reach for Me, the independent film which won the Audience Choice Award for best feature at the 2009 San Diego Film Festival and was screened at the AARP Convention in Las Vegas last year held its theatrical premiere in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Hilton on January 22.
Additional recent and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:
On Jan. 17 world-renowned animal adventurer and venom expert Donald Schultz entered a clear glass box located outside O'Sheas Casino where he will spend ten days and nights accompanied by 100 deadly snakes. Sharing just a 16' x 20' enclosure, Schultz will eat, sleep and drink among a wide variety of snakes including cobras, pythons and rattlesnakes, and do it all within the view of spectators and tourists. Some of Las Vegas' own entertainers and brave media will enter the box to be a part of the action, outfitted in a specially designed "armored" suit.
The stunt, "Venom in Vegas" will be filmed as part of a two-hour special edition of Animal Planet's new series WILD RECON, scheduled to air Feb. 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Travel club AAA has added two Las Vegas restaurants, Wolfgang Puck's Cut, inside the Palazzo, and Daniel Boulud Brasserie, inside Wynn Las Vegas to its list of Four Diamond eateries in Nevada, bringing the total number of Four Diamond restaurants in Nevada to 31.
Kelly Kulick, of Union Township, N.J., made professional bowling history on January 24 when she became the first woman to win on the PBA men's tour with a 265-195 victory over Chris Barnes, of Double Oak, Texas, in the finals of the Tournament Champions at Red Rock Lanes. Kulick, who joined the men's tour in 2006, threw strikes in 10 of 12 frames in the title match.
"The Dirty Joke Show" will open at Hooters Casino Hotel on January 25th. The outrageous show takes you behind the scenes with three hilarious Vegas comedians as they try to outdo each other with clever dialogue and some of the funniest jokes you'll ever hear. Show times are every Monday through Thursday night at 11 p.m. and you never know when a special guest comedian may stop by. The initial run of the show will star Geechy Guy, Todd Paul and Mickey Joseph.
Starting Monday, Jan. 25, Mr. Bigfoot, aka James Scott, will host stand up comedy shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. in The Marquee Room at Las Vegas Rocks Café, 450 Fremont Street in Neonopolis. Cost for the show, including a drink, is $19.95.
The theme for Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Las Vegas Rocks Café downtown will be “Giants of Jazz Guitar” featuring the music of Wes Montgomery, George Benson and more. Mark Speights will play guitar, joined by Billy Tragesser.on keyboard, Chris Gordan on bass, John Plows on drums and Gary Anderson on saxophone.
Legendary rockers Ann and Nancy Wilson of “Heart” fame will be performing at the Las Vegas Hilton, January 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. each night. Tickets are $79 to $99.
Lou Ragland of the Ink Spots is organizing a marathon concert on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, from 2 p.m. until midnight at the Las Vegas Rocks Showroom downtown with proceeds to benefit Haiti relief efforts. Signed up so far to perform are fellow entertainers: World Famous Ink Spots, Billy Hunt, Original Cornell Guntner Coasters, Ned Towns, Paul Stubblefield, Dean Courtney, Eddie Perrell, Rachael Kapp & 3D, Lambus Dean, Gents of Swing, Elegant Diversity, Tony Sacca, Ramon Scruggs, Carolyn Walden and Phil Flower. This will be the first of many concerts. Tickets are $20 and good for 10 hours of live entertainment.
Proceeds will go to the non-profit Nevada Entertainment Training Program headed by Tom Rideout to assist in getting relatives together in both countries and to bring immigrants to Las Vegas and set them up in real estate and a new life with promise. The goal is to get Haitians out of the squalor.
In honor of National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day United Way’s Earn It Keep It Save It collaborative is launching valuable free tax preparation services to taxpayers who made under $49,000 in 2009. Those eligible will have their tax returns filed at no charge by an IRS-certified volunteer who are specially-trained to identify credits available to low-income citizens, usually leading to larger federal refunds. Friday, Jan. 29 marks the first day of the free tax preparation services at Cambridge Recreation Center located on 3930 Cambridge St.
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is celebrating its 20th anniversary years by offering locals and tourists special offers through February 4th, 2010. These exclusive values celebrate the Rio’s amenities featuring an array of offerings including, $20 per night/per person room rates, tickets to Penn & Teller with up to a $62 savings and 20%off the entire meal at Voodoo Steak and Buzios Seafood Restaurant.
Ricardo’s Mexican Restaurant (located on 4930 W. Flamingo Rd.) and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Las Vegas will host a fundraising dinner to benefit the non-profit organization on Thursday, February 4. Ricardo’s will donate 30% of all sales (including dinner and alcohol) for this one night only to Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Las Vegas. Everyone is invited to attend.
The UNLV Performing Arts Center welcomes the Moscow Festival Ballet at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 as part of the Charles Vanda Master Series. The company performs Coppélia, a classic comic ballet about a life-size dancing doll invented by the mysterious Dr. Coppelius. Tickets are $35, $50, and $80 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 895-ARTS (2787) or by visiting pac.unlv.edu.
As part of the New York Stage & Beyond Series, the UNLV Performing Arts Center presents Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the world's foremost all-male comic ballet company, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 6. Tickets are $40, $55, and $85 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 895-ARTS (2787) or by visiting pac.unlv.edu.
As part of its annual SchoolFest program, unique, Wild West version of “The Taming of the Shrew” is being presented by the College of Southern Nevada’s Performing Arts Center, located at 3200 E. Cheyenne Avenue, one mile east of I-15 north.. Director Jan Shelton Hunsaker says this will be a fast-paced, colorful, and larger than life production. The vaudeville-style production will feature shootouts, chase scenes, and old-fashioned melodrama. In addition to ten days of morning shows held for area students, two performances for the public will be held in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre on the Cheyenne Campus, Fri., Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and may be purchased by calling the CSN box office at 651-LIVE (5483).
McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will host the ultimate football party on Super Sunday, February 7 with an all-you-can-drink, top-shelf open bar and halftime buffet offering tasty fare such as spicy buffalo wings, signature Irish nachos, gourmet sliders and more. Excited sports fans will get a front-row seat to watch the big game on McFadden’s 16 high-definition plasma TVs located throughout the pub. The cost per person is $100.
The Venetian and The Palazzo will celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Tiger with festive and colorful décor throughout the properties. On Saturday, February 13th at 3 p.m., a ceremonial dragon and lion dance, complete with firecrackers and eye painting ceremony, will begin at The Venetian’s lavish Porte-Cochere, making its way through The Venetian Casino, into The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium, through The Palazzo Casino and end in the upper Palazzo Porte-Cochere. The colorful spectacle will feature a parade of dancers and musicians dressed in elaborate costumes playing authentic music.
One additional dragon dance, minus the eye painting ceremony, will be held on Sunday, February 14th at 1 p.m. beginning in The Venetian Porte-Cochere, make its way through the casino into The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium and ending in The Palazzo Porte-Cochere. All dragon dances will be open to the public.
Decorations celebrating Chinese New Year will be presented at the Venetian and Palazzo through the third week of February.
Photo credit: Imagesofvegas.com/IS Photography
Photo credit: Imagesofvegas.com/IS Photography
A local Las Vegas home that once belonged to movie star Nicolas Cage has sold out of foreclosure. The house, located in the Spanish Hills neighborhood, has 14,306 square feet, a 16-car underground garage, an elevator, a theater room, six bedrooms and seven and a half baths. Cage bought the property in September 2006 for $8.5 million. It sold for $4.95 million, the first day it was on the market.
Celebrity sightings:
Tuesday night, January 19 Down singer Jay Sean performed the hit song atop the bar at Blush Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas.
Jay Sean
Jay Sean
Moon Nightclub inside Palms Casino Resort and DJ Joel Madden hosted a special night to support the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. A portion of the night’s proceeds benefited the UNICEF Tap Project. The UNICEF Tap Project, which is endorsed by Nicole Richie and her significant other Madden, works with its partners to reduce the number of people without access to safe water and basic sanitation.
DJ Joel Madden
Photo credit: Shane O’Neal/N9NE Group
Earlier that evening, Madden dined at N9NE Steakhouse.
Wednesday night, January 20, Andre Agassi was spotted having dinner at N9NE Steakhouse inside the Palms Casino Resort. The tennis great was joined by two friends in the lounge.
Eve nightclub was the place to be for locals and A-listers who attended industry night. Singer/songwriter Avril Lavigne was spotted with friends arriving at Eva Longoria’s CityCenter hot spot around 1:45 a.m.
Dan Henderson, world-renowned mixed martial artist (MMA) and UFC fighter, and pal Rashad Evans, former UFC light heavyweight champion and MMA fighter, also joined the vivacious party at Eve nightclub. The duo had a VIP table and was joined by a squad of their training partners, which included the undefeated mixed martial artist Gray Maynard.
On Thursday, January 22…
Legendary MMA Fighter Randy Couture visited Hooters Casino Hotel to appear on a radio show at Tito Ortiz’s Punishment MMA Store. He is currently training for his upcoming fight, scheduled for February 6th, against fellow hall of famer Mark Coleman in UFC 109. This fight will mark the oldest combined age of fighters to go head to head in the UFC. Couture also visited with those world-famous Hooters Girls and after the radio show, he dined at the Mad Onion.
Randy Couture
Hop hop star Busta Rhymes, hosted at TAO’s Worship Thursday. He began the night with dinner at TAO Asian Bistro with a group of friends. Afterwards, he headed upstairs to a VIP table before entertaining the packed club with songs “Arab Money,” “Put Ya Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” and crowd favorite “Courvoisier”.
Busta Rhymes
Photo Credit: Al Powers
Busta Rhymes
Photo Credit: Al Powers
Friday January 22…
Actress Kathy Najimy surprised her husband Dan Finnerty of The Dan Band with an exciting weekend trip to Las Vegas for his 40th birthday. The couple flew in on a private jet and began the celebration by checking into their luxurious Siena Suite at The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino. Later in the evening, Kathy and Dan headed down to Lagasse’s Stadium where they kicked off the evening with a cocktail party in the company of their family and friends. Celebrity guests included Ricki Lake, Camryn Manheim, Adam Corolla, Helen Hunt, Cheri Oteri and Nia Vardalos. Suzanne The Duchess, The Venetian Opera Singer, made her way to the party to sing an astounding “Happy Birthday” to Dan in Italian Opera while all the guests raised their glasses for a champagne toast.
Dan Finnerty
photo credit: Al Powers
Helen Hunt, Kathy Najimy and Dan Finnerty
photo credit: Al Powers
Camryn Manheim, Kathy Najimy, Nia Vardalos and Dan Finnerty
photo credit: Al Powers
Helen Hunt, Camryn Manheim, Adam Carolla, Kathy Najimy, Dan Finnerty, Suzanne the Duchess, Nia Vardalos, Cheri Oteri and Rikki Lake
photo credit: Al Powers
The party continued later in the evening at TAO. The group of 30 people arrived to at 9:30pm and had a special private table on the loft of TAO restaurant overlooking the scenic signature Buddha. The group included actresses, Helen Hunt, Nia Vardalos, Camryn Manheim, Ricki Lake, Cheri Oteri, and comedian Adam Corolla among others. Actress Meg Ryan joined the group later at 10:30 pm.
Kathy Najimy, Meg Ryan, Dan Finnerty and Adam Corolla
photo credit: Al Powers
Legendary Olympians Carl Lewis and Bryan Clay were spotted at Vanity nightclub at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
NFL players Patrick Crayton, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice of the Dallas Cowboys were also seen at Vanity.
Friday night actress and fashion designer Lauren Conrad hosted at The Bank Nightclub as an early birthday celebration. She brought along a couple of girlfriends but boyfriend actor Kyle Howard was nowhere in sight.
Lauren Conrad
Photo courtesy of Shadow PR
Over at JET Nightclub at The Mirage, the Jersey Shore’s Pauly D and The Situation hosted a wild night. They were celebrating the season finale of Jersey Shore, which aired the night before.
Jersey Shore
Photo courtesy of Shadow PR
Saturday, January 22…
Academy Award winning rap group Three 6 Mafia (DJ Paul and Juicy J) joined Z-Trip for a special performance at Z-Trip's Revolution inside Rain Nightclub at the Palms Casino Resort. Prior to taking the stage Three 6 Mafia had dinner in Nove Italiano with a small group of friends.
Z-Trip
Photo credit: Joe Fury/N9NE Group
Three 6 Mafia
Photo credit: Joe Fury/N9NE Group
Three 6 Mafia and Z-Trip
Photo credit: Joe Fury/N9NE Group
Inside ghostbar, semi-retired basketball player and current broadcaster Malik Rose was joined by two friends for cocktails prior to heading down to a table on the dance floor at Rain Nightclub for Z-Trip's performance with Three 6 Mafia. Also inside ghostbar was professional poker player Antonio Esfandiari with a lady friend.
Quarterback for the Oakland Raiders Brad Gradkowski was joined by a group of five friends in Moon Nightclub.
Kathy Najimy and husband Dan Finnerty continued their exciting weekend trip to Las Vegas for his 40th birthday. They enjoyed brunch at Dos Caminos with friends including Meg Ryan, Camryn Manheim, Cheri Oteri, Ricki Lake and Nia Vardalos.
Later in the evening the group headed over to LAVO inside The Palazzo for dinner.
Actor Mickey Rourke was seen kissing girlfriend Anastassija Makarenko in front of the Elvis bust by the "Viva Elvis" theater (inside Aria at CityCenter) before attending the second performance.
Former child star, Corey Haim celebrated the premiere of his latest film “American Sunset” with friends and fellow cast mates at Hawaiian Tropic Zone inside Miracle Mile Shops.
Cory Haim
Photo credit: J. Ludwig/Night Vissions
At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino…
DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia was seen enjoying a glass of wine at his table before taking over the dance floor and hanging out with fans at Vanity nightclub.
UFC President Dana White was at Wasted Space. Over inside the brand new HRH Tower casino space, tennis legends Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf were spotted hanging out.
Newly engaged Katy Perry hosted at HAZE Nightclub at ARIA. She showed up with a large group of friends but no Russell Brand in sight. She hung out in the second floor area and performed two songs for the crowd. During “Waking Up in Vegas,” she brought friend Gabe Saporta from the band Cobra Starship and a bunch of her girlfriends on stage to dance with her.
Katy Perry
Photo courtesy of Shadow PR
Actor Mickey Rourke and his girlfriend were also spotted at HAZE.
Sunday, January 24…
Peepshow headliner Holly Madison, enjoyed Mexican food with a friend as she watched the AFC Championship game at Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile inside Planet Hollywood.
Duane "Dog" Chapman (also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter) and wife Beth Chapman soaked in the scene at Vanity nightclub at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Comedian Carrot Top also made an appearance and hung out with the duo.
Duane "Dog" Chapman, his wife Beth and Carrot Top
Photo credit: Cody Boor/Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
I will be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las Vegas.