by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

Ethel M Chocolates is filled with romance for Valentine's Day with a free romantic display of more than 500,000 sparkling lights during the annual Lights of Love. Pink, red, white and purple lights will brighten the three-acre botanical cactus garden Feb. 10-14 from dust to 10 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to take a complimentary photo in a photo booth. For the all-new Chocolate Tasting Room experience, tickets are $14.99 at the retail store.

“Defending the Caveman,” the amorous show about the sexes at the D downtown, is offering a special Fork & Spoon $69.69 ticket for two from Feb. 10-14. This offer includes a champagne toast, box of romantic chocolates, a rose and the hilarious show at 8:40 p.m. For the package refer to Code VDAY69.

“Marriage Can Be Murder” at the D downtown is offering a dangerously fun date package with a champagne toast, rose, and box of chocolates, Feb. 10-14. It's a way to make a “killer” memory. Visit the D's website and use the online promo code: VDay17. Package options are $74.98 and VIP $91.33.

Another Valentine's Day offering is a Romance Cruise on the La Contessa Yacht around the 320-acre private lake at the Lake Las Vegas community from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Guests will receive a glass of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. There also will be a photo booth, DJ, dancing and romantic serenades by The Entertainer – Michael Angel. Romance Cruise tickets are $65 per couple online at Lake Las Vegas Events.

The Neon Museum will offer couples and families a backdrop to capture their love on Sunday, Feb 12 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Couples can book a 15-minute photo session in the North Gallery for $150, make reservations by emailing info@neonmuseum and mentioning the “Mini Valentine's Shoot.”

According to the American Express Spending and Savings Tracker, more than six million couples may get engaged on Valentine's Day. Accordingly, the High Roller at The LINQ Promenade is offering the special “Love is in The Air” Engagement Package for getting down on one knee at 550 feet in the air to pop the question. This package includes views of the Strip, a romantic atmosphere with a VIP cabin for up to six guests and a 30-minute ride along with two flutes of champagne, chocolate dipped strawberries and customized music for a romantic ambiance. Price is $750 for daytime and $1,100 nighttime. For information, call 702-322-0537.

In celebration of the romantic dining experiences, OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN), unveiled the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2017. The only one listed in Las Vegas is Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens.

ZUMA BRAND OPENS AT COSMOPOLITAN

Zuma is a new culinary experience in town at The Cosmopolitan. The contemporary Japanese restaurant is the company's first time on the West Coast and the brand's eleventh location in its international collection. Created and co-founded by acclaimed Chef Rainer Becker, Zuma takes its inspiration from the popular Japanese izakaya, where guests enjoy a dining and drinking style that uniquely embraces every element of Japanese cooking under one roof.

The 9,000-square-foot restaurant located on the third floor features views of the Las Vegas Strip and offers two glass-enclosed private dining rooms, both of which seat 14 guests. Noriyoshi Muramatsu's design incorporating the four natural elements…earth, fire, water and air, captures the elegant style of the international Zuma brand.

Contrasting the neon lights and man-made structures of Las Vegas, many of Zuma's focal points incorporate organic materials, such as a featured wall composed of natural stone from Chiang Mai, Thailand. The reception desk, bar and sushi counter are all made of grand tree trunks sourced from Thailand. The patchwork wall in the lounge has been created from boldly-colored Japanese paper.

Zuma was co-founded by Becker and Arjun Waney in 2002. The first restaurant Zuma London remains the brand's home base. All of Zuma's management and chefs are extensively trained in London before working in Zuma's international locations.

‘TONY SACCA'S VEGAS THE STORY’ MAY END

With the Las Vegas community in shock this past week over the sudden death of entertainer and producer Tony Sacca, it means his show at Bally's Windows Showroom, “Tony Sacca's Vegas The Story,” is closed right now since he was the show's creator and star. We'll see what the future holds.

STEVE MILLER BAND WILL PLAY COLOSSEUM WITH PETER FRAMPTON

For 2017, Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller's summer tour will include a stop at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. The Steve Miller Band will be joined by special guest guitarist-songwriter Peter Frampton. Miller's band looks forward to delving into their deep catalogue of hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Tickets start at $59.50.

The Steve Miller Band has played to more than 15 million people in the last 20 years. In addition to touring with his band, Miller is also contributing his time to serving on the welcoming committee of the Department of Musical Instruments of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and as a board member of Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he curates and hosts shows at both institutions celebrating blues, jazz and early American music.

LOUIE ANDERSON WILL HEADLINE AT RED ROCK

Louie Anderson, whose career is really running hot again, will present his comedy at the Rocks Lounge inside Red Rock on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45.

Johnny Carson invited Anderson to make his national television debut on the “The Tonight Show” in 1984, and the rest is history. Now the three-time Emmy Award® winner is one of the most recognized and adored comics in the country. He was named by Comedy Central as “One of 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.”

In 2016, Anderson was cast in the hit FX comedy series “Baskets” to co-star with Zach Galifianakis and Martha Kelly and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Anderson plays Christine, the matriarch of the Baskets clan. For his character, he drew upon his mother and five sisters who were all a major presence in his life.

BONNIE RAITT MAKES AN APPEARANCE AT THE PALMS

Bonnie Raitt is kicking off her 2017 World Tour in support of her 20^th album “Dig In Deep.” She will appear at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. Ticket range is $45 to $90.

“Dig In Deep” has sold more than 150,000 units worldwide. Last September, Raitt performed her hit single “Gypsy In Me” at the 15th Annual Americana Music Association Awards & Honors in Nashville. She was also recently inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame alongside Kris Kristofferson and B.B. King, and performed several songs with Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Willie Nelson, and Gary Clark Jr. at Austin's ACL Live at The Moody Theatre. The induction ceremony was broadcast on PBS.

AUREOLE IS TRANSFORMED INTO MODERN TASTING TABLE EXPERIENCE

Chef Charlie Palmer's reimagined Aureole at the Mandalay Bay reopened last month and now offers a tasting table experience designed for the way people eat and drink today. The transformed space offers three distinct dining experiences: an intimate bar and lounge area; an approachable main dining room; and the fine dining Fountain Terrace, all highlighted with warm hues and wine-inspired design elements.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine will bring his “Robert Irvine LIVE” show to the Tropicana Theater on Thursday, April 6 at 7 p.m. The high energy, multimedia, and multi-sensory theatrical experience and interactive show will allow audience participation while witnessing the challenging nature of the hit television show, “Dinner: Impossible,” come to life. Following the show, Chef Irvine will make a special announcement. Tickets for this one-night event will be $30 at the Tropicana Box Office or online.

Las Vegas' original sushi burrito concept, Jaburritos, has opened its first restaurant on the Strip at The LINQ Promenade. After opening in October 2015, Jaburritos developed a cult following with locals serving made-to-order sushi burritos stuffed with Japanese and Mexican inspired ingredients and flavors. The LINQ location hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Jeff Civillico, who is recovering from knee surgery, has made a new arrangement with Caesars Entertainment and will resume his “Comedy in Action” show on Wednesday, April 5 with a move to a new location in the Anthony Cools Experience showroom at Paris. The new setup will allow Civillico to focus on hosting “The Weekend in Vegas” and “Backline” TV shows and his nonprofit Win-Win Entertainment's national expansion beyond Las Vegas.

Henderson will celebrate man's best friend with the 14^th annual Bark In the Park on Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Cornerstone Park, 1600 Wigwam Pkwy.

This year's event will feature a variety of contests, Atomic Dogs flyball demonstrations, more than 40 pet-oriented vendor booths and a Frisbee tournament. The Henderson Police Department will hold demonstrations with their K-9 partners. Several rescue groups will be on hand with pups in need of forever homes. Admission is free.

An all-new 5K fun run for dogs and their human friends will take place prior to the popular dog festival. The inaugural Rover Run is at 9 a.m. along Cornerstone Park Trail. The first 350 registered participants will receive a T-shirt and a finisher dog tag for their dog's collar. Registration is $25, use activity code 151234-58 when registering online or in person at one of the city's recreation centers.

Frankie Valli, who became famous as the lead singer of The Four Seasons, will appear at the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $145.

Valli is the only member of the group from its inception who currently tours. The success of the Tony-winning musical “Jersey Boys,” has kept the group's music in vogue. The Four Seasons group members from 1960–1966 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. With 71 chart hits, including 40 in the Top 40, 19 in the Top 10 and eight No. 1s, they are one of the best-selling musical groups of all time.

Stoney's Rockin' Country located close to the Strip in Town Square features up-and-coming country music stars on Friday nights. Upcoming acts include: Russell Dickerson Feb. 10; Shane Gamble Feb.17; Jessa Feb. 24; and Keith Anderson March 10. Tickets start at $5 and $ 25 for Anderson.

Nashville native Russell Dickerson's single, “Yours,” was released in summer 2015 and had an incredible grassroots reaction. Maryland native Shane Gamble in 2013 enjoyed success with his debut album and Top 10 single, “Turn My Way.” JESSA is a 17-year-old singer-songwriter and guitar player who is already a part of the Nashville music scene.

Singer-songwriter Keith Anderson's debut CD, “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll,” was certified Gold and garnered two Top 10 hits. Billboard and Radio & Records named him country music's No. 1 New Male Artist of 2005 and the top new solo country artist of the year.

The 43^rd Annual UNLVino Wine Tasting will return for three dates of festivities, March 30 through April 1. Events will include: Bubble-Licious at The Venetian featuring champagne, sparkling wines and award-winning restaurants from The Venetian and The Palazzo's outstanding collection; Sake Fever at Red Rock highlighting a variety of sakes, Japanese spirits and cocktails complemented by cuisine from some of the destination's top restaurants; and the Grand Tasting at Paris carrying on the tradition as UNLVino's signature event.

Shake Shack^® is starting a limited-edition lineup of BBQ items beginning Tuesday, Feb. 7 for a limited time Las Vegas locations in Downtown Summerlin and Strip-side at New York-New York. Sweetening the offer, Shake Shack is making three new seasonal shakes: Mint Cookies & Cream, Mud Pie and Salted Vanilla Toffee.

Paul Kantner founded Jefferson Airplane in 1965, which was the biggest rock group in America during the 1960s and the first San Francisco band to sign a major record deal. He will headline at the Golden Nugget on Friday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.

Life Time Athletic - Summerlin and Green Valley locations are holding their annual Daddy Daughter Dance from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. The events will be held at both clubs simultaneously for members and non-members of Life Time Athletic. Each location has a different theme with tickets starting around $50 and including dinner.

Caesars Entertainment has partnered with Three Square to donate surplus food items from conferences and events through Three Square's Food Rescue program. The Food Rescue program is a safe and reliable donation outlet that sources edible food to feed hungry people in Southern Nevada.

For the third consecutive year, Las Vegas continued historic visitation growth, setting a new all-time record welcoming 42.9 million visitors in 2016. In addition, the destination celebrated record-breaking convention visitation in 2016, welcoming more than 6.3 million business travelers.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) received the Gold Travvy Award for Best Tourism Board U.S./Canada at the 2017 Travvy Awards, which is known as the Academy Awards of the travel industry.

Las Vegas was named Best U.S. City in Travel Weekly's 14th annual Readers Choice Awards. Ranging in 78 categories, the awards honor the best of the best in travel.

The new neighborhood Andre's Bistro & Bar in southwest Las Vegas at 6115 S. Fort Apache Rd., Suite 112 is introducing a daily Happy Hour menu from 3:30 to 6 p.m. with a selection from the full-size menu paired with luxury hand-crafted cocktails, well drinks, 80 select wines and beer specials. Guests can receive $2 off specialty cocktails, well drinks, wine by the glass and $1 off draft and bottled beer. The restaurant is open for lunch, weekend brunch and dinner.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, the spoken word and multi-media performance of “Love Me or Leave Me - Letters of Longing, Loving and Leaving” will be held at 7 p.m. at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. The performance will show what happens when an intimate letter takes center stage. Real letters by real people, including Mark Twain, Frida Kahlo, and George Carlin, will offer a poignant look at the true meaning and nature of love. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door; call 702-229-6383.

On Friday, Feb. 17, you can bring a sack lunch at noon time while enjoying the free Chautauqua presentation in the jury assembly room of the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, located at 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South as part of the Downtown Cultural Series. Doris Dwyer will bring to life the story of Margaret Bourke-White, the first photojournalist for Fortune Magazine and first female photographer for Life Magazine.

The spirit of Mardi Gras will take place Friday, Feb. 24 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth Street. The event will feature New Orleans food and music featuring Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, a band at the forefront of the nouveau zydeco movement. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on event day, call 702-229-ARTS (2787).