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| Sunday, March 28, 2004 | PRIOR ISSUE - ARCHIVES |
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| Stone, Harry & Lauper Join Divas, The Boss Impersonated, Christina Aguilera Plays Aladdin, Gipsy Kings At Bay, Danny Gans Injured, Sandra Bullock Shoots Sequel, "No Respect" For 45, Soul Food First-Class, Sirens Cut Six, Sam Butera Hnags Up sax, PGA Tour Gets Par, Rampart Casino Turns Two, Epicurean Affair Poolside, Williams-Sonoma Cooks, Jazzing By The Lake, More... | |
New sensation Joss Stone, and musical legends Debbie Harry of Blondie and Cyndi Lauper, will join previously announced divas Patti LaBelle and Jessica Simpson at this year's "VH1 Divas" event, which will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 18 at 6 p.m. Additional performers, presenters and special guests will be announced as they are confirmed.
Tickets are $75 and $150 plus applicable service charges; call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000. VH1's "Divas" specials raise funds for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music programs in America's public schools, and to raising awareness of the positive impact that music participation has on students.
Internationally known psychic and author, Dayle Schear will be connecting audience members in the David Brenner Theater at the new Westin Casuarina, April 1-8. Tickets are $40 plus tax for the 8 p.m. shows, call 702-836-9775.
Schear's "Crossing Over" presentations allow audience members to interact with her gift of connecting with their past, present and future. She utilizes a natural-born gift called Psychometry - the art of holding onto personal items. Schear likes people to bring personal objects such as photos of loved ones, watches, or other jewelry that are closely associated with the person they want to find out about or themselves.
She is credited with solving numerous cases including finding lost possessions, locating missing items, missing persons, and murders. She was extensively used during the O.J. Simpson trial and has appeared on many national broadcasts including "Hard Copy," "Extra," "Sally Jessy Rafael," "Sightings," "CBS Hour Magazine," and "The Late Show."
Her writing credits include: "Dare To Be Different," which is an autobiography; "The Psychic Within," which gives true stories; "Believe," which is a spiritual fable; and "Tarot for the Beginners." Schear signs her books after each show and captures people's essence with an aura camera.
The $25 million Bathhouse Spa at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay is a two-story, 14,000-square-foot facility offering an extensive list of treatments from mud baths to facials. Some of the spa's unique treatments include a wasabi bath, a mist-on tan, a sun rescue body treatment and the scen-tao gemstone facial. The facility is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The facility fee is $30 for hotel guests and $35 for non-hotel quests. Any service over $50 includes the use of the spa amenities. For information, call 877-632-9636.
Matt Ryan impersonating one of America's legendary music icons presents "Bruce in the USA: A Bruce Springsteen Tribute" at the Silverton's Hideaway Showroom on April 9 and 10. Tickets are $9.99; call 1-866-946-4373 or 702-914-8557.
Canadian-born Ryan has been portraying Springsteen for a little over five years. Since signing on with the Legends in Concert cast in January 1999, Ryan has perfected his act. He has performed as "the boss" in numerous parts of the U.S. and Canada for such clients as Harley Davidson, Coca Cola, Burger King, Dominos and Paramount.
The star of Comedy Central's "Mad TV," Bobby Lee will headline the Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's, March 30 - April 4.
Lee, a native of San Diego, was spotted in 1995 by Pauly Shore who asked him to open for him in Las Vegas. He then met Shore's mother, the celebrated owner of the Comedy Store, Mitzi Shore and became a regular at the club and went on the road with Hispanic comic Carlo Mencia. In addition, Lee has appeared in more than 20 national commercials.
High-octane, freewheeling comedian, Kivi Rogers will headline the 350-seat Improv, April 6 - 11. After earning a degree in computer electronics, friends urged the class clown to enter a comedy competition, which he won.
Rogers has been showcased on HBO's "Aspen Comedy Festival," several sitcoms including ABC's "Home Improvement," "Dharma and Greg," and CBS's "Everybody Loves Raymond," and on "Diagnosis: Murder." He has also appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
Christina Aguilera and Chingy will perform at the Aladdin Theatre on May 21. Tickets are $47.35, $68.35 and $89.35; call Ticketmaster at 702-785-5000.
The Gipsy Kings will headline the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 3. Tickets are $40 and $65; call Ticketmaster at 702-632-7580.
Mirage headliner Danny Gans, due to an accident in his home, has had to cancel his shows until April 6.
Look for actress Sandra Bullock to be in town next month shooting the movie sequel "Miss Congeniality."
Latest official update on the Las Vegas Monorail is that testing will keep it from opening until sometime this summer. This is disappointing for everyone but safety comes first.
Las Vegas Monorail sponsorships are coming along. Paramount Parks has agreed to sponsor a "Star Trek" train and the Hilton monorail station. In addition, IGT- International Game Technology and BankWest of Nevada have signed to sponsor trains.
Sorry to learn that Sam Butera, the sax-playing bandleader who was propelled to fame with Louis Prima and Keely Smith, has retired. He first worked with them at the Sahara in 1954 and stayed with them for 23 years.
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Comedy legend Don Rickles, who is the only entertainer to star on the Las Vegas Strip for 45 consecutive years, has signed to headline for his fourth straight year at the Stardust. He will do three excusive engagements. He hasn't missed a year of performing in Las Vegas since his debut at the Sahara in 1959. Caught the afternoon "All U Can Dance" show at the Ovation Theater in the Desert Passage at the Aladdin. The show produced by Gino Venezia, formerly of Dancin Machine and "Splash" at the Riviera, exemplifies amazing energy and athleticism. The fast paced show features music from four decades and a variety of dances from hip-hop to salsa. Singer Jennifer Page and the smooth magic of James Dimmare round out the 13 member cast. The 2 and 4 p.m. shows are daily except Tuesday. General admission is $30.45 inclusive, call 702-946-5876. A new place on East Flamingo just a couple miles east of the Strip opened this month offering an upscale soul food restaurant. The new family-run eatery is Sweet Georgia Browns, which originally opened as Hugo's and then became Manhattan's. It's a glamorous free standing building with a spacious dining room surrounded by columns, soft maroon and white décor, chandeliers and large floral displays. The positive spin on this story is the family owned the H & H Bar-B-Q & More at a West side location that was gutted by a fire last year and is now opening under a new name and at a new location. Plans call for a bar and lounge in four to six months, pending approval of a country liquor license. "The Sirens of TI" show on the Strip is having six minutes edited from the 24-minute production. The world's best flair bartenders will converge this week at Harrah's Carnaval Court, March 29 - April 1, to contend for more than $55,000 in cash and prizes and the coveted title, "King of the Ring." The first annual "King of the Ring" competition, presented by Smirnoff Vodka and sanctioned by the World Entertainment Bartender Federation, is the nation's highest paying flair bartending competition to date. The four-day competition will culminate with a spectacular showdown from 8 p.m. - midnight on April 1 that is open to the public. The PGA Tour's Las Vegas Invitational will receive sponsorship allowing the golf event to take place from Oct. 6-10. The three-course event will continue to use the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin as its main course. This year's purse will be $4 million. The northwest valley Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin will celebrate its two-year anniversary in April with Customer Loyalty Month and on April 7, with complimentary cake and champagne from noon to 6 p.m., and for players... with complimentary anniversary t-shirts and 2X points all day. On April 30, the Rampart Casino will also host a total of $15,000 in cash drawings at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. The 14th annual Epicurean Affair is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 15. It will be held poolside at the Garden of the Gods at Caesars Palace. Signature dishes from as many as 70 Las Vegas restaurants will be spotlighted. The evening will also include Bar Alley featuring flair bartenders, dancers and signature beverages from the city's ultra lounges and nightclubs. Tickets in advance are $100 and $125 at the door; call the Nevada Restaurant Association at 702-878-9272. The Williams-Sonoma store at 1001 S. Rampart Blvd. offers cooking classes. The fee is $50 for the classes that begin at 6 p.m., call 702-938-9480. Here are the upcoming scheduled cooking classes: April 6, Emeril's New Orleans Fish House; April 14, Canyon Ranch Café; April 20, chef Gustav Mauler; April 22, Aureole; April 27, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar; May 3, Taqueria Canonita; and May 13, Rosemary's Restaurant. A big Food, Wine and Jazz Classic event is lined up at Lake Las Vegas, June 11-13. For now, times and scheduled activities are subject to change. For updated information contact 702-871-5145 and tickets are available through Ticketmaster. On Thursday, June 10, from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a Four Course Welcome Interactive Dinner and "Live" Les' Wines and Vines Radio Broadcast to start things off. Over the next three days activities include Spa-Golf, cooking demonstrations, wine lunches, wine tastings, a Coffee Cupping Seminar, a Vineyard Restaurant Chocolate Symposium with Ethel M Chocolates, an Artisan and Farmland Cheese Symposium, a Pastry Demonstration, a "Jazz Concert almost Under the Stars," an Italian Beach Party, a Mediterranean Fashion Show and Lunch, Small Batch Bourbon Tasting and Premium Cigar Sampling, a Grappa Gala Live (an Italian spirit), a Chocolate and Port Seminar and Tasting, and a silent action. Both host properties, the Ritz-Carlton (800-241-3333) and Hyatt at Lake Las Vegas are offering the "three day food, wine and jazz getaway" package. A wide variety of arts will be featured downtown during May beginning on May 7 with the monthly First Friday May Funfest from 6 to 10 p.m. The event will offer eclectic bands performing on two Showmobile stages, a variety of food booths, a beer and wine garden, gallery openings, studio previews, and the urban ambiance of a downtown arts scene. Following activities that month will include: a Mother's Day big band concert on May 9 at 2 p.m.; a "Day of Adventure" treasure hunt, Rainbow Company theatre performance and Las Vegas All Star High School Jazz Band concert in the Cultural Corridor on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; poetry readings and jazz performances on May 13 and 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.; and the drive-through Aerial Gallery, a mile-long display of 50 colorful banners on Las Vegas Boulevard. Admission is free to all of these events, which are presented in part by the Cultural Affairs Division of the city of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services. For information, call 702-229-1237.
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