by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

The new Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLV) across from the D hotel will host the Great Vegas Gridiron Grill-Off BBQ and Tailgate Festival Sept. 6-7 from noon-6 p.m. The tasty competition with a purse of $10,000 invites guests to sample award-winning BBQ and meet the grilling teams as well as “The Godfather of BBQ,” Johnny Trigg. The categories include chicken, ribs, brisket and pork butt. Entry is $20 each day and includes stage entertainment, grilling demonstrations, games and all-you-can-eat barbecue in tasting portions.

LAS VEGAS HOSTS MOB-CON 2014

Las Vegas is famous for its colorful past ties to the Mob, which has been featured in countless movies, documentaries and books, now has its own convention, Mob-Con. Following its successful debut last year, Mob-Con 2014 will again take place at Palace Station on Sept. 27 and 28. Former mobsters, lawmen, true crime writers and historians and people from the entertainment industry, will be together in the same place at the same time to talk about “old times.” Attendees get to hear and meet in person the very people they've read about or seen portrayed on the big screen.

Mob-Con is a presentation of Las Vegas entertainer and businessman Robert George Allen and former mobster Frank Cullotta. They have also teamed to produce Frank Cullotta's “Casino” Tour -- The Real Story Behind the Movie.

The lineup of speakers includes: Frank Cullotta (Chicago Outfit associate and author), Tony Montana (Chicago Outfit) associate and author, Dennis Arnoldy (retired FBI), Denny Griffin (Mob historian and author), Gary Jenkins (Law Enforcement), Ronald Fino (former FBI & CIA), Jon D'Amore (author and screenwriter), Stan Hunterton (attorney and former DOJ Organized Crime Strike Force lawyer), Larry Leavitt (retired federal judge and former DOJ Organized Crime Strike Force attorney), John L. Smith (columnist and author) and a special Mob Women's panel comprised of Susan Ferritto, Lisa Caserta, Denyce Franzese and Georgia Durante.

Last year's Mob-Con truly was one of the most interesting fun events this reporter has ever attended. Two-day passes are $200 and $220 at the door; visit http://mob-con.net.

SAN GENNARO FEAST RETURNS TO GRAND CANYON SHOPPING CENTER

The 35th Annual San Gennaro Feast will take place Sept. 9-14 at the Grand Canyon Shopping Center. The Las Vegas food and music festival celebrates the spirit of San Gennaro and features more than 70 restaurant food booths, 80 amusements rides including the 100-foot Vertigo, petting zoo, midway games, and live entertainment. Tony Sacca will introduce Las Vegas' finest entertainers and best bands and also headline his own show.

The feast opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at noon Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $8 and $9 and all military (with ID) and their families get in free on Thursday, Sept. 11. Additional events include: a ceremony on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to bless the feast; a Cannoli and Meatball Eating Contest on Sunday at 4 p.m.; and fireworks on Sunday at 9 p.m.

GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE AND FOOD

This is the 42^nd year for this annual community event featuring all things Greek: food, music, and dancing. The Greek Food Festival is sponsored by St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church where the event is held at 5300 South El Camino Road. The family four-day festival, Sept. 25-28, also promotes continuous dancing to two live Greek bands, folk dancing demonstrations, food booths, a children's play area, shopping and tours of the church. Admission is $6 for those over 12 and military and their families are free. The fun begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, 3 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday.

TILTED KILT IS OPEN AT THE LINQ

The Scottish and Irish-themed restaurant and sports-bar chain Tilted Kilt that used to be at the Rio has a much bigger new location at The Link. The Celtic-themed sports pub is staffed with beautiful servers in sexy plaid kilts and matching plaid bras. Part of the fun is also Hal Savar who is billed at a “live jukebox” and takes requests. There's also a Tilted Kilt Hoppy Hour -with seven new appetizers priced from $2-$5 that pair perfectly with draught beer from 3-7 p.m. and 9 p.m.-closing. Tilted Kilt will have 95 locations operating by year's end in 21 states and Canada.

‘AMERICA'S GOT TALENT’ CONTESTANTS OPEN FOR R5

Brandon and Savannah, the brother and sister duo that appeared on “America's Got Talent,” will open for the band R5 featuring Disney's Ross Lynch at the Henderson Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. They will perform such songs as “All The Runaways” and “Hands Up” from their current extended play and debut music from their upcoming release “Introducing The Heirs.” Tickets are $20.

LGBT COMMUNITY HOLDS PRIDE WEEKEND EVENTS

Las Vegas PRIDE takes place Sept. 5-7 with events including the annual PRIDE Night Parade on Sept. 5; the PRIDE Festival downtown on Sept. 6; and a Sunday pool party at the Luxor.

For the third year, Gay Days Las Vegas will be an all-encompassing event featuring four full days of pool parties, guest DJs, a travel-retail expo and various events around town with a portion of all proceeds benefiting local non-profit organizations. This year's host hotel is the Luxor and co-host hotel Springhill Suites by Marriott.

During Pride weekend, lesbians will have a full weekend of events at Shedonism, Sept. 4-8, at the Rumor Hotel. Hosted by DJ Lisa Pittman, along with some of the hottest female DJs, this lesbian event will feature day parties, nightclub experiences, comedians, showgirls, a poker tournament, and the Las Vegas Dyke march as part of the Las Vegas PRIDE Parade Sept. 5.

JENNY MCCARTHY'S ‘DIRTY SEXY FUNNY’ VISITS THE QUAD

Jenny McCarthy is bringing her “Dirty Sexy Funny” comedy show to Las Vegas for one night only on Friday, Sept. 26 in the Q Theater at The Quad at 9 p.m. Tickets range from $49 to $89.

Her Las Vegas performance will be filmed for a future television special to coincide with the property becoming The LINQ. Along with 2,256 brand new rooms and suites, there will be a completely renovated welcome experience built around a signature lobby bar, all new retail and spa amenities and a dynamic new pool deck.

Sharing the stage with McCarthy will be an all-female slate of stand-up comedians: Tammy Pescatelli, Lynne Koplitz, Paula Bel and April Macie. McCarthy, known for her honesty and wit, is an actress, comedian and New York Times best-selling author. She is the host of “Dirty, Sexy, Funny with Jenny McCarthy” on SiriusXM, using her trademark humor and outspoken style to discuss topics such as parenting, sex, dating and marriage.

STRIKING DESERT BOULDER MARKS ENTRANCE TO DELANO LAS VEGAS

Upon arrival at the new Delano Las Vegas hotel, guests will walk between a 126,000-pound boulder that was carefully divided in half with one portion weighting 77,000 pounds and the other 49,000 pounds. The installation acts as a decompression chamber, encouraging guests to pass through the divided boulder and transition into a serene environment. Delano's design team scoured the desert to find the perfect boulder to complement the lobby design. Natural patterns seen in the veins of the stone make it an art piece in itself. The boulder is more than more than 150 million years old and composed of metaquartzite. It required a 240-ton hydraulic crane to lift it onto a truck to transport and deliver it.

KOMP 92.3 HOSTS PARTIES FOR LOCAL ‘INK MASTERS’ COMPETITOR

Every Tuesday beginning Sept. 2 through airing of the Spike TV's “Ink Masters” series, KOMP 92.3 will host a live broadcast and viewing party with personality Carlota beginning at 5 p.m. at the Silverton followed by the program at 7 p.m. Local tattoo artist “Cleen Rock One” of Chrome Gypsy Tattoo is a competitor for a $100,000 grand prize on the TV show. Other artists making an appearance at the premiere party will include Season 3 competitor Jason Clay Dunn and winner Joey Hamilton, as well as Season 4 artists Bubba Irwin, King Ruck and Sausage. There will be food and drink specials, weekly giveaways and tattoo work by Cleen himself. Grand prizes will include large scale work by Cleen, as well as a guitar airbrushed by Jason Oberly of Oberly Airbrush Studio.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Deana Martin is coming off a Midwest tour and returning to the South Point Showroom on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13-14. Martin, proud daughter of iconic entertainer Dean Martin, has made her own mark in show business presenting music from the Great American Songbook, contemporary music, some of her own compositions, and her dad's songs. Tickets range from $15 to $25.

Local dining spot, Honey Salt at 1031 S. Rampart Blvd., continues the successful Farm Table dinner series. September's featured guests will be Life is Beautiful Festival founder Rehan Choudhry on Sept. 8 and local brewery Tenaya Creek Brewery on Sept. 22. Featuring a changing menu of seasonally inspired American comfort food, Farm Table dinners are served family style and showcase unique wine and beer pairings, as well as special guests. Tickets for a Farm Table dinner are $45, call 702-445-6100.

2014 VEGAS VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL SCHEDULED OCT. 16-18

The 13^th annual Vegas Valley Book Festival will be held Oct. 16-18 in downtown Las Vegas and at the Clark County Library at 1401 E. Flamingo Road. The big event will bring together a wide variety of literary genres and cultural programs, with most events taking place at the Historic Fifth Street School at 401 S. Fourth St.

The festival will feature more than 165 authors and 100 events, including panel discussions, keynote speakers, readings, book signings, workshops, vendor exhibits, art exhibitions, spoken word performances and other special programs for a diversity of genres, ages and cultural backgrounds. Events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit VegasValleyBookFestival.org.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Historic Fifth Street School, the book festival will offer special entertainment, authors and activities for children, and a plethora of authors popular with adults and young adults. The festival site will host five stages with readings, entertainment and poetry; a food court with a variety of local food trucks; art and vendor exhibits; interactive writing projects; and many other special programs.

In celebration of the fall harvest, Tbones Chophouse & Lounge at Red Rock Resort is holding a five-course interactive wine-pairing dining experience featuring the celebrated single-vineyard wines of Napa Valley's Nickel & Nickel on Thursday, Sept. 25. The evening will start with appetizers on the poolside patio followed by dinner in the luxe private dining room. These wines offer a rich exploration of what each varietal, vintage and site expresses. This special dinner is $95; call 702-797-7517.

Los Claxons is a multi-Latin Grammy Award-Nominee Mexican Pop/ Rock band that will perform at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas at The LINQ on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. The band initially formed in 2004 in Monterrey, Mexico. They have achieved success in Mexico and most Spanish-speaking countries and will kick off their International Tour “ DIEZ” celebrating their 10th anniversary in Las Vegas. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show.

ABOUT TOWN NEWS

Wow, “VIVA VERACRUZ! THE SHOW” will not be opening at Planet Hollywood as originally scheduled.

The day-long 24^th Annual Prince Jonah Kuhio Ho'olaule'a Pacific Islands Festival will be held Sept. 13 and 14 starting at 10 a.m. at the Henderson Events Plaza. This event offers traditional island entertainment, crafts and food, as well as a health fair and seminars. Admission is free.

Caitlin Grant, 18, of Liberty High School was the winner from 1,300 entries in the Hard Rock Hotel's second Guitar Pin Design Contest. The limited-edition pin is on sale for $12.95 in The Hard Rock Store with 100 percent of the net proceeds benefitting The Public Education Foundation to help support fine art scholarships.

Mark Giovi is performing at The Mad Greek Café on West Sahara on Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 7-10 p.m. For reservations, call 702-630-6111.

The National Atomic Testing Museum is holding a 9-11 Exhibit Dedication and Special Lecture by Terrance and Chris Revella telling a compelling story of survival by two first responders to the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center on Thursday, Sept. 11. The dedication ceremony is at 5 p.m. and lecture at 7 p.m.

KRISTEN HERTZENBERG PERFORMS CONCERT AT SANTA FE STATION

Kristen Hertzenberg, best known for her role as Christine in the Las Vegas production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's “Phantom of the Opera” will perform in the Chrome Showroom at Santa Fe Station on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. Cover charge is $15.

Last summer, Hertzenberg became band frontwomen. She assembled a six-piece band and began performing an evening of cabaret, dubbed “Beyond the Stage” mixing blues, country, rock and roll, and hip-hop. She and her band played to sold-out audiences at the Art Square Theatre and the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. Most recently, they sold-out in the Cabaret Jazz room at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

Lagasse's Stadium® at The Palazzo ® is holding a five-course beer-pairing dinner with Samuel Adams on Friday Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. Cost is $55, call 702-607-2665.

Downtown at the El Cortez, for $5, guests can enjoy a half-pound Jackie Burger, chips and a 12-ounce domestic draft beer inside Café Cortez 24 hours a day.

Las Vegas' three neighborhood Grimaldi's Pizzerias, famous for hand-tossed, coal-fired brick oven pizzas and calzones, are celebrating seven years in the valley by offering guests who dine Monday, Sept. 8 from 1-3 p.m. or 7 p.m. until closing with a $25 gift card per table with the purchase of a pizza. Gift card is good for next visit.

DayDream Pool Club at the M Resort will end the summer season with its Last Hurrah Weekend with pool parties both days Sept. 27 and 28.

Leading up the final shebang, DayDream will host its third annual Beer Pong Championship, sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR), on Saturday, Sept. 13. DJ Sandman will work the turntables while teams of two go head-to-head for their chance to win the coveted grand prize - matching PBR robes and a championship belt. The first 16 teams to purchase a bucket of PBR, specially priced at $25, will have the option to enter the contest, which kicks off at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 9 will be The Boss' Night Swim party. This will be a mob-themed event with DJ Lucky La Rue on the turntables and an open bar from 8 to 9 p.m. featuring Bulleit Bourbon and Crown Royal. Guests will also have a chance to win a pair of tickets to The Mob Museum. The party is from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is free.

The High Roller at The LINQ is offering a Saturday morning package exclusively for families with children 12 and under from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The Family Hour Package is $49.95 and includes: two adult tickets, three children's tickets, three High Roller binoculars to keep, and three juice drinks from the Sky Lounge. Plus you can present the High Roller ticket at The Quad for 2-for-1 tickets to see Jeff Civillico's show. Or, guests at the Jeff Civillico show can present their show tickets at the High Roller box office to receive $5 off their High Roller ticket.

South Point Arena will host the annual Buckles and Barrels for Bailey Charity event Sept. 5-7. This event is free and open to the public.

The South Point Arena and Equestrian Center will welcome the Rocky Mountain Gun Show Sept. 13-14. The two-day exhibit opening at 9 a.m. will offer one of the largest displays of ammunition, apparel and machinery. “Door Buster” prizes will be given to the first 200 guests and four gun show attendees will take home a free gun. Tickets start at $15.

Next will be the High Roller Reining Classic Sept. 13-20., which is recognized as the international “crown jewel” of western riding competitions with riders from around the world. Coinciding with the event, the West Coast Breeders Select Sale will take place Saturday, Sept. 20. This event is free and open to the public.

The Andalusian World Cup and Feria del Caballo Horse Show will be Sept. 25-27. The largest Iberian horse show in North America features the equestrian industry's top breeders and breeds from across the world. This event is free and open to the public.