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| Sunday, December 26, 2004 | PRIOR ISSUE - ARCHIVES |
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| Manilow Settles In, Chippendales Complex Nears, Aaron Lewis Returns, 'Spellbinder' Rocks Dimensions, Art Of Cooking Begins, Temptations & Sonny Turner Welcome New Year, Hootie & The Blowfish Perform, Flamingo History Celebrated, "Legends On Ice" Closes, Ricky & The Redstreaks Retire, Hammerhead Shark Dies, Penn & Teller Tickets For Blood, New Year's Action, More... | |
| LAS VEGAS: |
| ATTRACTIONS |
| BUFFETS |
| CONCERTS |
| DISCOUNTS & DEALS |
| GROUP TRAVEL |
| HOTELS |
| LIMOS / CAR RENTALS |
| MAPS |
| NIGHTLIFE |
| RECREATION |
| RESTAURANTS |
| SHOPPING |
| SHOWS |
| TOURS |
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The superstar of the '70s and '80s and one of the world's top-selling recording artist, The 58-year-old Manilow just completed his final road tour "One Night Live! One Last Time!" where he sold out venues in 22 cities and promoted his latest album, "SCORES -Songs from Copacabana and Harmony." He's ready to settle down and get off the road.
Manilow's show at the Hilton will have special effects, a band plus dancers and singers. He's even written a theme song for the occasion.
The Rio is about to unveil on Dec. 27 what its calling Ultimate Girls Night Out ® destination, an entertainment complex designed by women, for women located on the second floor of the Masquerade Village. The $7 million, 21,000 square-foot project will feature a 400-seat Chippendales ® Theater housing the Rio's popular Chippendales show, a 1,500-square-foot ultra lounge with a walk-up bar, a 2,100-square-foot retail boutique and a ladies' room with an exclusive gossip pit and mini-makeover stations.
The ladies' room and gossip pit were designed with lighting that makes everyone look beautiful. In addition, the all-male wait staff has been hand picked and trained in the art of chivalry.
A menu of specialty cocktails has been created for Ultimate Girls ' Night Out, and the "cocktail program" features a wide variety of drinks appealing to women.
The Chippendales show will also re-open on Dec. 27 with a new look in the new theater. Under the direction of Emmy nominated choreographer, Brian Thomas (Pink, Usher, Beyonce), the 75-minute show has been revamped into an even more scintillating performance with 12 men pushing themselves beyond human endurance. Tickets are $34.95 through Jan. 28. On Jan. 30, tiered pricing will be in effect, call 702-777-7776.
The world premiere of "SpellBinder: The War of the Wizards -- A Rock 'n' Roll Illusion Spectacular" will debut at the Orleans Arena on Jan. 28. Tickets are $32.50, $42.50 and $52.50, call 702- 284-7777.
This "3-M" visual treat for all ages utilizes the battle between the forces of good and evil as its theme while integrating three separate art forms: a live rock concert with original music; the world's largest magic show stringing together 20 illusions; and a theatrical vehicle.
The 16-member cast, which includes a five-piece rock band brings to life the saga of two all-powerful wizards - The SpellBinder; Emissary of the Light and Blackthorn; Sorcerer of the Dark that fight for supremacy in their world.
Starring as The SpellBinder is the show's creator and producer, Paul Haynes, who has long been a well-known and highly respected figure in the magic community. Through his Las Vegas-based companies, Creative Illusions and Production Stageworks, Haynes has designed, developed and constructed illusions for master magicians and illusionists throughout the world, including Siegfried & Roy, David Copperfield, Lance Burton, and many more. Haynes has been working on "SpellBinder" for the last four years and wrote all the original music in the show that has no dialogue and tells a story visually,
On Dec. 23, the AAA Five Diamond Bellagio introduced the Tuscany Kitchen, the first exhibition kitchen of its kind in Las Vegas offering meeting groups a customized experience. For information, call April Black-Kreft in catering at 702-693-7155.
The Tuscany Kitchen draws upon an impressive list of culinary talent. Bellagio is home to two AAA Five Diamond restaurants, one James Beard award-winning restaurant, four James Beard award-winning chefs including Nevada's first James Beard award recipient, Julian Serrano, and a Gold Medalist from the 2002 World Pastry Team Championship.
Designed with meeting and convention groups in mind, flexible packages have been created to offer attendees a customized experience. The 1,170-square-foot Tuscany Kitchen, outfitted with top-of-the-line Viking equipment, offers a variety of cooking demonstrations that are coupled with a reception, a formal dinner or a tasting of food, wine or spirits. The presentation options incorporate three menu types - seasonal, themed or specialty items. Demonstrations vary in length but most range from one to four hours and accommodate 15-60 guests.
Wine will be an integral part of the Tuscany Kitchen experience with Wine Director and Master Sommelier Rob Bigelow designing a variety of classes including WINE 102, food and wine pairings and how to order wine in restaurants.
Groups will be able to use the kitchen for team-building activities, spouse activities, cocktail receptions and much more. Companies will be able to incorporate their logo into the demonstration. Fun gift items such as aprons, boxed sets of chopsticks and mini-jars filled with various salts or spices can be added for keepsakes of the day's event. This experience also can be professionally taped in-house on DVD to be given as a personalized gift to attendees.
Ricky & the Redstreaks, the California-based show band that is a favorite after-hours entertainment group for the rodeo circuit and during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas every December, have retired the band as of Dec. 11 as we know it. The group was founded by Ray Brown and Ricky-John Jackman (aka Ricky Zucchini), who graduated together from high school in Placerville, Calif., in 1968. They were discovered by the rodeo crowd in Cheyenne, Wyo., in 1976. The major reason for the split is Jackman's ill health.
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Aaron Lewis, front man for the rock group Staind, returns to the Golden Nugget Jan. 8-9, 2005. Lewis played a series of sold out shows in July, and is bringing his acoustical style back to the downtown property. General admission tickets are $75, plus tax, call 702-386-8100 or 866-946-5336.  Founded in 1994, Staind released its debut album, "Tormented" independently in 1996, and followed that with their first major label offering "Dysfunction" in 1999. Their 2001 release "Break the Cycle" had the singles "Outside" and "It's Been Awhile" that catapulted the band to multi-platinum status. "14 Shades of Grey" in 2003 continued the band's rise, with the breakout hit "So Far Away." Currently, Lewis can also be heard on the single "Fallin' Out," which he co-wrote, from Jimmie's Chicken Shack 2004 record, "Re.present." The Temptations, the vocal quintet that help popularize the "Motown Sound," and Sonny Turner, former lead singer of the Platters, will appear Dec. 30 - Jan. 1 in the resort's Wayne Newton Theater. Tickets are $49.95 plus tax on Thursday and Saturday and $74.95 plus tax on New Year's Eve, call 702-732-6325. Originally known as the Primes, the Temptations were signed by Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1960. The group that was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 consisted of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin. Williams, who is the sole surviving member of the original group, heads the current contingent. A productive chemistry was established when the Temptations joined forces with Motown composer / producer Smokey Robinson. Starting in 1964 with "The Way You Do The Things You Do," the Temptations placed six Robinson-penned tunes on the charts in rapid succession. Turner became the lead vocalist for the Platters in 1960 and was instrumental in introducing the group's music to a worldwide audience over the course of their frequent overseas tours. The Platters were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Easy rock supergroup of the '90s, Hootie & the Blowfish will headline at the Silverton, which is located three miles south of the Strip, on Saturday, Jan. 8. Tickets are $35, call 702-914-8557 or 1-866-946-4373. Hootie & the Blowfish, named after the nicknames of two college friends, was formed at the University of South Carolina in the late '80s. In 1994, the group released its debut album "Cracked Rear View," which eventually sold 13 million copies worldwide. The band's sophomore effort, "Fairweather Johnson," was released in 1996, and in 2004, the band released its latest effort; a collection of their greatest hits with new songs, like "Innocence" and "Space." Since the hotel originally opened in December 1946, the Flamingo has been an integral component on the famed Las Vegas Strip. With Las Vegas' Centennial celebration next year, the Flamingo has announced a tribute to its illustrious past with a commemorative gaming chip, photo museum and the chance to be immortalized on personalized paving bricks. The Flamingo has recently released into circulation a piece of history with a $5 commemorative gaming chip that depicts the original pool area of the landmark property, photographed in the 1950s. In addition, the Flamingo has assembled an extensive photo display in the East Lobby that is free 24 hours a day and offers guests the opportunity to take a stroll through the famous hotel's colorful history. As part of the commemorative activities, the Flamingo has also developed a program offering visitors the opportunity to create their own history by purchasing a personalized brick that will be permanently installed in the Flamingo's 15-acre tropical gardens. Very sorry to say the "Legends On Ice" show at Caesars Amphitheater that was suppose to run through Jan. 16 has closed. Sadly, the great hammerhead shark that has been on display at Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef since last year died suddenly and unexpectedly. The unusual 6-year-old rectangular-headed shark was the only one in captivity in the United States, and one of just two in the world. Penn & Teller are donating two tickets to their show at the Rio to anyone who donates blood. The Penn & Teller Dreaming of a Red Christmas campaign is running through Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005. Potential blood donors can call 702-233-9620 for appointments and directions to the nearest blood collections center or 702.228.4483 for eligibility questions. Cloudburst 2005 will be a New Year's Eve celebration on the Plaza at the Fashion Show under the retail center's massive 10-story-high landmark, The Cloud and will serve as headquarters for "America's Party." The evening will feature DJs as well as hot models and dancers in four major fashion presentations and other entertainment to mark New Year's Eve celebrations for each of the four U.S. time zones starting at 9 p.m. The party will feature two levels of party access to revelers ages 21 and over. Ticket are $59.95 and $99.95 and available at all Ticketmaster outlets. The event features two admission levels - Cloud Lounge and Cloud Nine. Mandalay Bay's New Year's Eve Celebration includes dinner, music by Boogie Knights, party favors and champagne toast in the South Pacific Ballroom. Tickets are $195, call 702-632-7580
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