by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

For two weeks straight, South Point will hold property-wide rodeo activities in celebration of 30 years of National Finals Rodeo (NFR) history in Las Vegas. To kick start “Vegas Cowboy Central” festivities, South Point will host the 6th Annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Hall of Fame Gold Buckle Gala in the Grand Ballroom on Monday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The following day, rodeo fans will mingle with the top rodeo stars during the official PRCA NFR Welcome Reception in the Grand Ballroom from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition, all PRCA members and NFR competitors will be honored at the PRCA Awards Banquet in the Grand Ballroom Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.

Coinciding with the NFR, the IX World Series of Team Roping (WSTR) Finals, the third richest horse event in the world, will return to the South Point Dec. 7-14. Throughout the finals, more than 3,000 roping contestants will attend the event as the world's best ropers compete for a share of the $9 million prize pool.

Country music headliners in the showroom will perform nightly from 9-11 p.m. The lineup includes: Susie Dobbs Dec. 2-4; Curtis Grimes Dec. 5-7; Cody Johnson Dec. 8-10; and Aaron Watson Dec. 11-13. All performances are free and open to the public.

The Benny Binion Bucking Horse and Bull Sale, Dec. 4 and 6, will feature two- and three-year-old colts and yearlings as well as two-year-old bulls. This year's event will feature the top permit-holders from the 2014 season in all six events. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will go to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Tickets start at $12.

The World Bronc Futurity Finale, an international event, will feature the next generation of world champion bucking horses along with many of the top 50 Saddle Bronc riders in the world on Friday, Dec. 5. Tickets start at $18.

The following four events will be free and open to the public.

Flint Rasmussen and Randy Corley will host the nightly Montana Silversmiths Go-Round Buckle Awards for that evening's NFR event winners in South Point's Showroom Dec. 4-12 at 11 p.m.

Throughout NFR, South Point will host the official RAM Rodeo Tailgate Party in the Grand Ballroom Dec. 4-13 at 6 p.m. and watch the live feed of each NFR performance.

The South Point Western Gift Show with more than 100 vendors will run Dec. 4-14 and span more than 65,000 square feet across the South Point Arena Concourse and Exhibit Hall.

The Art of the American Cowboy Fine Art Show & Sale will run Dec. 7-14.

INSOMNIAC ANNOUNCES ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL DATES FOR 2015

Insomniac announced the 19^th annual Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), North America's largest music festival, will return to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway June 19-21, 2015, making it the fifth year in Las Vegas. EDC Tickets will go on sale Monday, Dec. 1 at noon Pacific Time. Three-day general admission tickets will start at $329 and VIP passes at $699 plus service fees. No single day tickets will be made available. Passes can be purchased at the EDC's website. Fans 21 years of age and over now have the opportunity to enter to win a full-paid EDC Las Vegas trip package from 7UP.

In 2014, EDC Las Vegas had a sold-out crowd of more than 400,000 attendees from all 50 states and 40 countries. Fans were treated to performances from over 200 artists across eight stages, 20 art installations, wedding ceremonies, local food trucks, a three-course dining experience and 30 carnival rides, including five Ferris wheels.

TOM'S URBAN WILL OPEN AT NEW YORK-NEW YORK

Tom's Urban, a modern casual dining concept, will make its Las Vegas debut with a differentiated approach to fun, food and big drinks at New York-New York. The new restaurant and bar will offer indoor and outdoor dining options with views along the resort's Brooklyn Bridge and serve around the clock.

The mastermind behind the concept is Tom Ryan, recognized by “Gourmet” as one of the top 25 food entrepreneurs of the last quarter century, and who is also a co-founder of the Smashburger brand. Ryan founded the concept with restaurant financier, Rick Schaden, in 2012. The first Tom's Urban opened in 2012 in downtown Denver and the second location recently opened inside the LA LIVE complex in downtown Los Angeles. Ryan attended Michigan State University and earned a Ph.D. in Flavor and Fragrance Chemistry, a Masters in Lipid Toxicology, and Bachelors in Food Science.

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN OPENS IN DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN

California Pizza Kitchen opened a new location in Downtown Summerlin and it is being touted as CPK “Next Chapter.” The grand opening festivities included hosting several Make-A-Wish families to a ceremonial “first pizza slicing” and “pizza dough tossing.”

SUGAR FACTORY PARTNERS WITH PLAYBOY BRAND

Sugar Factory has embarked upon a sweet new partnership with famed lifestyle brand, Playboy. Merchandise, such as Playboy Couture Pops, chocolate bars, packaged lollipops, bunny gummy bears, candy bras and candy pails, will be created with the signature Playboy Rabbit Head logo embedded on each item. Select pieces of the line were revealed at the iconic Playboy Mansion's annual Halloween bash. Sugary confections, created specifically for this one-of-a-kind collaboration, will be available for purchase at Sugar Factory retail locations and online and for wholesale purchases as well.

FANTASY LADIES INTRODUCE THREE NEW ROUTINES TO LUXOR SHOW

In honor of the show's 15th anniversary the lovely ladies of the adult revue “FANTASY” at the Luxor have introduced three new numbers in their nightly 10:30 p.m. shows. The routines were choreographed by FANTASY's headliner Jaime Lynch and dancer Danielle.

Lynch choreographed the show's newest opening number, which is a mash up comprised of Beyonce's “Run the World (Girls)” and Mötley Crüe's “Girls, Girls, Girls.” For this the ladies are doing their dance moves in new costumes. Lynch and Danielle choreographed a high-energy dance number to Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj's smash hit “Bang Bang.” Danielle also choreographed an original closing number set to the music of Lady Gaga's “Applause,” which is performed by the entire cast.

TRAVIS CLOER FEATURES CHRISTMAS SHOW AT SMITH CENTER

Travis Cloer who starred as Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys on Broadway and in Las Vegas will headline his show “Christmas at My Place” at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on Monday, Dev. 8 at 7 p.m. He will have numerous special guests including Niki Scalera, Paul Vann, Chris Phillips, Lydia Ansel, Frankie Moreno, and the girls of “Jersey Boys.” Tickets are $36 and $46.

THE WORLD SERIES OF BEER PONG WILL BE HELD AT RIVIERA

The 10^th Annual World Series of Beer Pong will be held for the first time at the Riviera Jan. 1-5, 2015. The event will attract thousands of beer pong enthusiasts from around the world, who will compete for the $50,000 grand prize and ultimate bragging rights as the World Beer Pong Champion.

Players interested in participating can register now at bpong.com/WSOBP through Monday, Dec. 8. Registration begins at $500 per player and includes a four-night stay at Riviera and a minimum of 12 games of play in the tournament.

‘DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS LET'S CELEBRATE!’ IN JANUARY

“Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate!” presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt will bring a colossal party on ice to Las Vegas Jan. 14-18 for eight performances at Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets go on sale Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. Opening night tickets start at $12.

The show features more than 50 characters from 16 Disney stories live on ice, including Tiana from Walt Disney Pictures' “The Princess and the Frog.” Audiences will enjoy some of the world's most popular festivities, including a winter wonderland with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains, a Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch, a Royal Ball with the Disney Princesses, a Very Merry Unbirthday Party and more.

THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF® RAISE PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf® Las Vegas is helping create awareness in the fight against pancreatic cancer, the nation's fourth leading cause of cancer deaths, by participating Dec. 2 on “Giving Tuesday” and offering free holiday specialty drinks from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Las Vegas Strip locations and from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. at all neighborhood locations. Customers will be encouraged to sip, snap a photo and share the following hashtags: #purplestrawforapurpose, #pancreaticcancer, and #wagehope. Holiday specialty drinks include the Toffee Nut Latte or Ice Blended® drink, Red Velvet Hot Chocolate and Winter Dream Tea® Latte.

RAINBOW COMPANY YOUTH THEATRE PERFORM ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’

The Rainbow Company, the City's own nationally acclaimed children's theater group will present “Meet Me in St. Louis” at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street, at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 7, 13 and 14. Tickets are $5, call 702-229-6553. Now in its 38^th year, the company's core is its ensemble, a group of 44 dedicated students ages 10 to 18.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Local celebrity magician and acrobat Seth Grabel has announced the launch of vegasperformers.com, a directory-based platform. The online directory was designed to help promoters find performers and allow performers to promote their acts. Agents can also post jobs and auditions. According to Grabel, each member will have their own customized page, similar to a Facebook page but geared toward promoting the member's talent or skill. Members can view profiles and offer reviews and recommendations. Members who sign up before Jan. 1, 2015, will receive a free Pro account. There is no fee to sign up for a general account. Grabel and his wife, Tammy Shaw Grabel, are also “launching” their first baby in the spring.

Brian Lhee, Executive Chef of Yusho at Monte Carlo, was named “Chef of the Year” in Las Vegas for the 2014 Eater Awards. Lhee competed against Giada's Giada DeLaurentiis, Carson Kitchen's Kerry Simon, DB Brasserie's David Middleton and Japanese Cuisine by Omae's Takeshi Omae. This is Lhee's first Eater Award.

Each year, Eater's local editors in 24 cities nominate a diverse group of the finest culinary talents for five major local categories that include, “Restaurant of the Year,” “Chef of the Year,” “So Hot Right Now,” “Bartender of the Year,” and “Stone Cold Stunner.” “Eater” readers are invited to vote and narrow the finalist pool to three nominees in each category. From that elite three, the “Eater” editorial team selects one winner.

Renowned Chicago Chef Matthias Merges introduced Yusho, a Japanese-inspired street food concept, to Las Vegas' BLVD Plaza at Monte Carlo in April 2014. Along with the award-winning concept, Merges brought Lhee, who previously served as Chef de Cuisine at Yusho in Chicago, to oversee the culinary team and influence the menu.

The Laugh Factory at the New Tropicana will feature comedian Gerry Bednob and Harry Basil with John Crist hosting, Nov. 24-30. Shows are at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Trinidad born East Indian comic Bednob is a self-described school “class clown” and also a well-known actor and producer. After graduating from the University of Toronto and working as a teacher, Bednob was lured to the Yuk Yuks nightclub for open mic night and invited back. Two years later, he moved to Los Angeles. He placed second in the Los Angeles Comedy Contest, which led to his first of many appearances on the Merv Griffin television show. He made appearances on “The Wonder Years” and “Encino Man,” before winning the 1993 Star Search International Stand-Up Competition. Bednob was cast on the Fox television show “Undeclared,” which led to numerous roles in film and TV including “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Wilfred,” The Five-Year Engagement” and VH1 comedy series “Free Radio.”

Comedian and impressionist Harry Basil literally “lives the movies.” Basil is a human movie trailer with a trunk of outrageous props. He was Rodney Dangerfield's exclusive opening act for 17 years, appeared in two of his HBO specials, and wrote and directed five of Dangerfield's films.

AMY SCHUMER BRINGS HUMOR TO THE COSMOPOLITAN

Amy Schumer with special guest Mark Normand will headline at The Cosmopolitan on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

Schumer is a fresh face on television. The comic made her network debut in 2007 when she starred on NBC's “Last Comic Standing,” co-starred on “30 Rock” and received her own Comedy Central Presents special. Since then, she has appeared in critically-acclaimed series such as FX's “Louie,” HBO's “Girls” and more. Schumer is the creator, writer, executive producer and star of “Inside Amy Schumer,” the Comedy Central television series, which premiered in April 2013 as the network's highest season premiere ratings of the year.

On the big screen, Schumer has filmed the feature “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” starring Steve Carrell and Kiera Knightley, as well as “Price Check,” an independent feature opposite Parker Posey that premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. This past summer she worked on Universal's “Trainwreck” feature film that she wrote with Judd Apatow producing. It is scheduled for release in July 2015.

The funny woman's 2011 album, “Cutting,” placed in the Top 5 of the Billboard Charts and has been included on multiple Best Comedy Albums of the Year awards' lists.

Brooklyn Bowl at The LINQ has booked Big & Rich for 9 p.m. shows on Dec. 5 and 6. Tickets are $46.50 and $50 the day of the show.

Individually, John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin are first-rate musicians, songwriters, producers, entertainers - and now the creative force behind their own label imprint, Big & Rich Records. Their new label is fueling even more passion to produce and present their music like their new project “Gravity.” The duo has made a career of being relatable and musically relevant since exploding into the public consciousness in 2003. With 2004's triple-platinum “Horse of a Different Color,” they produced a sound that is instantly recognizable.

Malina Moye, one of the world's top female guitarists, was presented with a memorabilia case at Hard Rock this month. The case features the guitar she played during the 2010 Cowboys/Vikings game where she was the first African-American female to perform the National Anthem on a guitar at a major sporting event. Also in the case are the jersey and boots she wore during the performance and a video playing of the performance.

Moye, who plays left-handed, has opened for performers such as Journey and Robin Thicke and was the only female guitarist on the 2012 Hendrix Experience tour. She has scored several hit records including her most recent single, K-yotic featuring Bootsy Collins. Her new album is “Rock & Roll Baby.”

Comedian, actor and writer Rodney Carrington will return to the Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand with his stand-up comedy show “Laughter's Good” Dec. 7-13 during the National Finals Rodeo and perform nightly at 10 p.m. Tickets range from $59.99 to $89.99 with $2 from each ticket going to the Rodney Carrington Foundation.

Carrington has recorded eight comedy albums including “Hangin'” with Rodney and Morning Wood, selling more than three million copies combined. He also wrote and co-starred in the movie “Beer for My Horses” with country star Toby Keith. Already this year, Carrington has had two specials on CMT - the previously released “Live at The Majestic” and the new “Laughter's Good.” He also will be releasing two new albums on his own Laughter's Good Records and has recorded the introductory song and video for “Colin's New Football Show,” which airs on ESPN every Sunday during the 2014 NFL season.

Bill Cosby's Nov. 28 performance at Treasure Island has been cancelled due to recent controversies.

For NFR, Westgate has Sammy Kershaw headlining Dec. 5-6, Lee Greenwood Dec. 7-8, and John Michael Montgomery Dec. 9-10. Shows will be at 10 p.m. with tickets ranging from $49 to VIP at $79.

Gladys Knight will be headlining the Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill's in Primm, Nev., on Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.

Whist Stove and Spirits and Due & Proper at The District in Green Valley Ranch, will kick off their happy hour specials on Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday with all-day happy hours on Nov. 26 and 28. Regular happy hour for both venues will be Monday through Friday 3-6 p.m. and reverse happy hour midnight to 3 a.m. with 50 percent off selected late night menu items.

The Cooking Experience by Mise En Place at 9500 South Eastern Ave, suite 170 is holding a Moët & Chandon Champagne Dinner on Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. The exclusive five-course dining and learning experience in Champagne appreciation and pairings is $100, call 702 754 4400.

The comedians performing at the Improv at Harrah's Nov. 25-30 will be Vince Morris, Brian McKim and Traci Skene.

Iconic rocker and lead vocalist for band Yes, Jon Anderson had to postpone his Nov. 22 Boulder Station performance due to laryngitis. His performance has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at 7 p.m. at The Railhead.

Andre's Restaurant & Lounge at Monte Carlo is launching Thanksgiving To Go, a special menu prepared by their Michelin-starred chefs for up to 12 people. The Thanksgiving To Go menu offers guests two selections to choose: four to six guests for $245 or 10 to 12 guests for $425, call 702-798-7151.