by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

After a couple years of legal battles, Wayne Newton's 52-acre Casa de Shenandoah estate is now open to the public at Sunset and Pecos for tours starting at 9 a.m. with prices starting at $35. Visitors start the tour at a visitor's center and then shuttle across the street to the ranch to see the crooner's memorabilia, jet, cars, house, gift shop and animals including Arabian horses, the capuchin monkey and penguins.

Newton moved to Las Vegas in 1959 and purchased the first five acres of the estate in 1966. The first house built between 1966 and 1968 was the one where Newton, his parents and his brother lived. Newton purchased additional adjoining acreage and then built the mansion that was completed in and in 1976.

SPEEDVEGAS PROJECT BREAKS GROUND

SPEEDVEGAS, a 100-acre speed and supercar experience, broke ground for the start of construction on the $30 million motorsports complex that will feature a 1.5-mile supercar track, multilevel welcome center, large event center and much more on South Las Vegas Boulevard about 10 minutes from the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. SPEEDVEGAS is scheduled to open early next year and is taking reservations for March 2016. The destination will offer activities such as drifting, demonstrations, simulators and driving the world's most sought-after exotic and muscle cars.

Invited groundbreaking guests were given a SPEEDVEGAS token to sign. The autographed tokens will become a permanent piece of the venue's inaugural wall.

GEORGE STRAIT AMONG FIRST HEADLINERS AT NEW LAS VEGAS ARENA

George Strait will be one of the first entertainers to perform at the new $375 million, 20,000-seat Las Vegas Arena behind New York-New York that's scheduled to open in April 2016. The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee's exclusive concert engagements at the new venue will be April 22 and 23, and Sept. 9 and 10, 2016. Tickets go on sales Oct. 2 and will range in price from $75 to $200.

Strait's opening act will be Grammy, ACM and CMA Award-winning singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves, who recently released her second studio album “Pageant Material.”

Strait's new album “Cold Beer Conversation” was released Sept. 25 featuring 13 songs including his latest single with the album's title premiering on country radio. This is CMA Awards most-nominated artist's first new studio album in two years.

FERRARI DEALERSHIP AT WYNN WILL CLOSE

The Ferrari dealership opened inside the main entrance at Wynn Las Vegas when the hotel opened in April 2005. It's been announced that the 10,000-square-foot space will close before the end of the year and will make room for a different attraction.

With an eye for the high rollers, Penske Wynn Ferrari offers six-figure priced luxury Ferrari and Maserati vehicles and even has a service and parts department. Visitors pay $10 to tour the showroom that features 50 high-end cars.

ARISTOCRAT'S BRITNEY SPEARS™ SLOT GAME REVEALED

Britney Spears premiered her Aristocrat's Britney Spears™ Slot Game at Planet Hollywood. The newest addition to casino floors across the country features Spear's most popular top-charting hits, including “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” “Toxic,” “3,” “Oops I Did It Again” and “Crazy.” The game has two base features, four entertaining bonus features and a $10,000 single site progressive jackpot.

BELLAGIO REVEALS CONSERVATORY'S AUTUMN DISPLAY

The Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens new autumn display running through Nov. 30 features gigantic pumpkins, mythical creatures, a scarecrow, and a 28-foot-tall talking Sugar Maple tree. The visual experience includes a 33-foot-long vine-covered bridge guarded by four 16-foot root-engulfed trees speckled with wild mushrooms, two playful chipmunks, two scarecrow topiaries, three oversized LED dandelions as well as striking floating acrylic leaves. There's also an original 1870s Newton wagon overflowing with pumpkins, gourds and bales of hay.

Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is open 24/7 and free to the public.

‘NF HOPE CONCERT’ AT Venetian LINES UP MANY HEADLINERS

Prominent Las Vegas entertainers will share the stage at the fifth annual “NF Hope Concert” Oct. 18 at The Venetian®. Benefit organizer Jeff Leibow, formerly of “Jersey Boys” has assembled headliner performers including Frankie Moreno, Clint Holmes, Bob Anderson, Human Nature, “Showstoppers” star Nicole Kaplan, actress Pia Zadora, performance ensemble Molodi and Kristen Hertzenberg from “Million Dollar Quartet” and “Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular,” and more in an afternoon fundraiser to fight against Neurofibromatosis (NF). Tickets start at $45, call 702-414-9000.

GREAT AMERICAN FOODIE FEST FINDS NEW HOME AT SUNSET STATION

The Great American Foodie Fest has a new home this year outside in Henderson at Sunset Station Oct. 15-18. Now in its eighth event, the former Las Vegas Foodie Fest will be held Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.

Great American Foodie Fest will showcase 50 of some of the Nation's top food trucks and food vendors that have been featured on the Food Network, Cooking Channel and the Travel Channel. In addition, there will be carnival rides, midway games, a beer garden, the Tequila Party Tent, vendor booths and other family attractions. Tickets range from presale at $8 for a four-day pass to $10 per person for unlimited entry and re-entry throughout the event. www.greatamericanfoodiefest.com

AGE OF CHIVALRY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO SUNSET PARK

Clark County Parks and Recreation will present the 22^nd Annual Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival at Sunset Park Oct. 9–11. The event is a chance to travel back through centuries when knights and kings, maidens and wenches, minstrels and jesters ruled the world. Festivities begin on Friday, Oct. 9 and will feature various shows per day, more than 200 artisans, historical reenactments and plenty of food and drink.

The festival presents jousting tournaments, medieval pageantry and more than 200 artisans - including blacksmiths, stained glass designers, jewelers, wood workers, toy makers, perfume blenders, stone carvers and sword, dagger and armor craftsman - to demonstrate and sell their wares.

The fair will also have a royal parade, ending with a public stoning, featuring kings, queens, warriors and peasants on Saturday and Sunday. The festival also offers rides such as the Chiver Me Timbers Pirate Raft Ride on the lake and live camel and horse rides throughout the day. There will be strolling minstrels, contortionists, magicians, storytellers, jokers, jugglers, flame eaters, belly dancers, trained parrots and pirates. Additional attractions include bow and arrow and axe target games, medieval barber and surgeon demonstrations, Princess Tea Party, storytelling, scavenger hunts and Renaissance guilds.

The medieval festival will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Advance admission is $13 per day and $8 for seniors age 60 and older as well as children age six to 12. Price increases the day of the event and there are combo packages. Parking is available for free at Sunset Park.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Celebrating a decade of wine events and entertainment, Rock ‘n Roll Wine returns with the “Wine Amplified” Festival Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 and 10 at the Las Vegas Village. The larger-than-ever event will begin at 5 p.m. both days and feature Panic! At the Disco, Passion Pit, Sublime with Rome, 50 Cent featuring G-Unit, Fitz and the Tantrums, Cold War Kids, Robert DeLong, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Sheepdogs and many more.

The interactive festival will have more than 60 wineries, more than 150 wines by the taste or by the glass, a craft beer garden with more than 20 selections, specialty cocktails, New Amsterdam Speakeasy, rave and barrel room, restaurant row, The Farm and live performances. This year's festival will once again be completely cashless utilizing the latest in radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Single day tickets are $59 for general admission and $139 for VIP. Two-day general admission tickets priced are $109 and VIP $249. Visit www.rocknrollwine.com.

On Saturday, Oct.10 at 1 p.m., Major League Eating and Martorano's at Paris Las Vegas will partner to present the first Martorano's Masters World Pasta Eating Championship under the Arc De Triomphe at Paris. The contest will bring 12 professional and amateur competitive eaters together to eat as much Martorano's signature pasta as they can in eight minutes. Participants will include current Major League Eating Champion, Matt Stonie, and other notable eaters.

The event is free and open to the public. South Philadelphia cook Steve Martorano will host the event in honor of National Pasta Month and the first anniversary of his restaurant at Paris. Prizes include $2,000 for first place down to $150 for fifth place.

BUGATTI - FALCONE FEATURE BENNETT - EVANS MUSIC AT CABARET JAZZ

For the first time, the legendary recordings of Tony Bennett and Bill Evans will come to life in Las Vegas with two music veterans, singer George Bugatti and pianist Vincent Falcone, celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the recordings of two musical masters. A perfect fit both Bugatti and Falcone have worked with Tony Bennett, Falcone as his pianist and musical director and Bugatti making his Los Angeles concert debut alongside the icon. This show will debut at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39 and $45.

Bennett and Evans first met in 1962 when both were performing in a special jazz event on The White House lawn during the Kennedy years. In June 1975, 13 years later they recorded together at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, Calif., and their album was followed by another session a year later. Both albums are acknowledged in the jazz world as quintessential and important vocal/piano collections.

This performance by Bugatti and Falcone is not a “note for note” recreation of the recordings, but rather their homage to the mastery and artistic integrity of the songwriters. This is the first time this collection is being presented live.

This month alternative rock band Blue October was honored with a memorabilia case dedication at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The display showcases the snare drum Jeremy Furstenfeld used to record “Into The Ocean;” a violin that Ryan Delahoussaye accidentally smashed during the Crazy Making Tour; the guitar with which Charles Britton “C.B.” Hudson recorded “Foiled;” Matt Noveskey's bass guitar that was played on the Sway Tour; Justin Furstenfeld's original, handwritten, scratch lyrics for “Fear;” and much more. The case dedication took place before the band performed a sold-out concert at Vinyl.

The 43^rd annual Las Vegas Greek Food Festival will again take place at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church Oct. 1-4. Highlighting the Greek culture, there will be food, music by two continuous live bands The Olympians and Etho Ellas, dance, church tours and festivities including a kids' area. General admission is $6. Children 12 and under, active duty military and their immediate family members are free with valid ID.

This year's grand raffle prize is a brand new 2016 BMW 328i along with nine more valuable prizes. Raffle tickets are $100 each, and only 800 tickets will be sold. Hours are Thursday 5-11 p.m., Friday 3-11 p.m., Saturday noon-11 p.m., and Sunday, noon-10 p.m.

First Friday Las Vegas will celebrate its 13^th anniversary downtown by returning to its roots with a celebration including art, vendors, live musical performances and food on Friday, Oct. 2 from 5-11 p.m. There will be an unveiling of 13 murals painted by 13 professional artists each mentoring and collaborating with a talented teenage artist in the community.

For the first time, Andre's Restaurant & Lounge at Monte Carlo started a $50 five-course tasting experience that is served on one plate. The Chef's Tasting Plate enables guests to experience five small versions of courses Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 5:30 p.m. The plate includes an unscripted selection of three hot or cold appetizers, one entrée and one dessert item that will be up to Executive Chef Christopher Bulen each time.

The Downtown Grand will launch its landmark 250K Grand Slot Tournament on Oct. 1. Unlike most slot tournaments that require a buy-in, players can enter one of four ways. Players who qualify will be notified the following month and be given a choice of two semi-final session dates to play in. The top 50 scores each month from the semi-final slot sessions will automatically win a spot in the Grand Finals in December 2016, where 600 players will compete for finalist prizes, with one lucky winner taking home $250,000 in cash and free play.

Las Vegas' Jabbawockeez dance crew will perform their all-new, high energy show, created exclusively for “Halloween Horror Nights,” inside Universal Studios Hollywood's Castle Theater through Nov. 1. The famed troupe will return to the Las Vegas Strip in November to debut their new show inside the intimate, newly-renovated Jabbawockeez Theater at the MGM Grand. Tickets start at $49.99.

Latin pop star Wisin will perform live at Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop at Paris Thursday, Oct. 1. Wisin, best known for his work in the Latino R&B group, Wisin & Yandel, rose to fame as a solo artist in 2004 with his first album, “El Sobreviviente” and then again with a second hit album in 2014. Admission to the party will start at $50.

Dunkin' Donuts has expanded its espresso beverage lineup with Pumpkin Macchiato hot or iced that should be available nationwide by Sept. 28. The introduction of the Macchiato comes approximately one year after the launch of Dunkin' Donuts' Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Dark Roast Coffee.

TREVI Italian Restaurant inside The Forum Shops at Caesars will partner with Susan G. Komen® of Southern Nevada to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a specialty “Pretty in Pink” menu available the month of October. The special menu will include $5 hand-crafted Italian sodas in watermelon, cherry and strawberry flavors and sweet strawberry gelato starting at $6.50 per scoop. Ten percent of each specialty item sold will be donated but you must mention the Pretty in Pink menu at time of purchase.

Dress for Success Southern Nevada will hold its semi-annual, two-day “Shop for Success” excess inventory sale at the Opportunity Village Thrift Store at 390 S. Decatur Blvd. on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shoppers will be able buy professional apparel and accessories at greatly reduced prices. Two special tents will be dedicated to just teen and high-end designer clothes. On Sunday, shoppers can buy a shopping bag for $25 and fill it with as many items as it will fit.

New to the October sale is a partnership with Southwest Medical Associates, which will have a team present on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. offering complimentary wellness checks and health coaching for all shoppers.

For the eighth year, Nevada Ballet Theatre and Cirque du Soleil® will present “A Choreographers' Showcase” featuring bold new works in the Mystere Theatre at Treasure Island at 1 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 18. Ticket range is $25 - $45.

The 14th annual Vegas Valley Book Festival will be held Oct. 15-17 and it is free and open to the public. For the full schedule of events, list of authors and all the details, visit VegasValleyBookFestival.org.

On Thursday, Oct. 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Ron Decar's Event Center, 1201 Las Vegas Blvd South, Tony Sacca will celebrate his 30-year anniversary hosting his long-running Las Vegas Entertainment TV variety show. The evening will include entertainment, live music, historical video footage and it is open to the public. Admission is free and a buffet is available for purchase, call 702-555-5555 for reservations.

Also on Oct. 1, The Speakeasy Swingers will celebrate legendary tap dancer Prince Spencer's 98^th birthday at the Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara Ave. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with the PBS special “Watch Your Step, Brother” film clips, free Shim Sham dance lesson at 6:30, social dancing 7-8 p.m., and an 8 p.m. floor show featuring 98 dancers doing the Shim Sham for guest of honor Spencer. There's a $10 cover charge, which includes three raffle tickets.