Las Vegas
Las Vegas News

Sunday, May 18, 2003 PRIOR ISSUE   -   ARCHIVES
Wynn Hits Art Jackpot, Hilton Spotlights 80's Pop Stars, Soul Desire Is A "Happening" Experience, A Show For Ladies, Guggenheim Museum Changes, Foxworthy Takes Redneck Slant, Bellagio Creates "Terrace of Dreams", Club Rio Presents G-Spot, Fiesta Rancho Opens Club Tequila, Rudner Celebrates Two, Annual PowWow Next Weekend, More...

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by Jackie Brett
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Le Reve developer Steve Wynn just purchased two extraordinary art pieces that are on display along with nine other fine works as part of the Wynn Collection at the Desert Inn. One masterpiece is Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "In the Roses (Madame Leon Clapisson)" that he purchased for $23.5 million at Sotheby's. The other one he bought at Christie's was Paul Cezanne's self-portrait, which hasn't been displayed for more than six decades. It went for $17.3 million.

Wynn said the masterpieces make the Wynn Collection as fine as any private collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art in the world.

Pop-rock sensation Huey Lewis & The News will appear at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, June 5-7, at 10 p.m. This group formed in 1979 has been a notable presence in rock n' roll for the past two decades with over 20 million albums sold. Huey Lewis & The News have produced multi-platinum albums such as "The Heart of Rock n' Roll" and "The Power of Love," and been honored with nine Top 10 singles. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55 plus tax and handling fee, call 800-222-5361 or 702- 732-5755

Songbird Sheena Easton will return to the Hilton Theater from June 3- July 13 with 7:30 p.m. shows nightly except Mondays and June 21. The 80's diva, whose career has also spanned the past two decades, will perform her Top 40 hits like "For Your Eyes Only." Easton's talent has been recognized with Grammys for Best New Artist in 1981 and Best Performance for a duet with Luis Miguel in 1984.

Easton has also recorded duets with Prince, "U Got the Look" and Kenny Rogers, "We've Got Tonight." She has accrued Gold and Platinum albums in the United States, Europe and Asia and was the first artist in history to have Top 5 hits on five major charts-- Pop, R & B, County, Adult Contemporary and Dance. Tickets are $30 and $40 plus tax and handling fee.

The multi-talented show group, Soul Desire, is another hidden jewel performing crowd pleasing shows with twists and turns at the Big Apple Bar in New York-New York nightly except Tuesday. Each show highlights four band members, two female back up singer/dancers and sensational leaders Tony Perry and Tezz Yancey doing Rock 'n' Roll, Funk, R&B and Pop sounds.

A wide range of dancing, whether it's on stilts or roller skates, and costume/character changes are key elements to Soul Desire's fun factor and certainly one reason for the creative team of Perry and Yancey receiving a long-term 18-month contract with the hotel.

The unstoppable duo, who became a team in 1996, met starring in lead roles in Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of "Starlight Express" at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1994. Even back up Reva Rice worked with the boys playing "Pearl" in the show.

Perry actually moved to Las Vegas and joined the Stardust cast of "Enter The Night" as a dancer in June 1991, and left the show as the principal dancer / singer in 1993.

After "Starlight Express" in May 1996, Yancey and Perry did a one-night show in the Stratosphere's lounge and management considered it too over the top. A year later, they headlined a musical revue in Guam. Upon their return to Las Vegas, they began getting various dates at some of the top hotels in town and were discovered in David Wright's "Xtreme Scene" at the Union Plaza by an agent.

While Perry was raised in Miami and Yancey in Boston, they both had their affinity for music and dance at early ages. Another similarity is both men were athletic. Perry played guard on the high school football team and starred in the 100-dash in track and Yancey became a three sport letterman in soccer, baseball and basketball.

On May 21, "Men" will open in the La Cage Theater at the Riviera and play nightly except Tuesday at 10 p.m. Tickets are $39.95 inclusive with VIP seating available for an additional $10, call 702-794-9433. Patrons must be 18 years or older to see the 80-minute show.

"Men of Paradise" debuted in 1987 at Vegas World, which is now The Stratosphere, and eventually became "Vegas Bad Boys." Now, producer Collin Foster's gorgeous and talented men are from Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, Sweden and the United States. He introduces "Men!" with clever story lines and sensual fantasies all choreographed into charming, intimate vignettes.

The "Art Through the Ages" exhibit has closed at the Guggenheim Heritage Museum at The Venetian after an extended stay. This past week, "American Pop Icons" opened with works from Andy Warhol, Robert Fauscheberg, Jasper Johns, and others. This third exhibition at the Guggenheim, which displays fine art and will remain open, includes 28 works of art that follow the beginnings of the pop art genre. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., call 702-414-2440 for information.

The other news is the larger 63,700-square-foot Guggenheim Museum that housed the motorcycle as art display will be converted into a more conventional showroom for stage productions and will open next year.

Bellagio broke ground a couple weeks ago on its new $375 million Spa Tower. The 925-room expansion that will increase the size of the spa as well as retail, convention and restaurant space, is slated to open in December 2004. This growth will follow similar-sized room expansions at the Venetian and Mandalay Bay, which is adding a $225 million, 1,125-suite tower. These projects are targeted to open in June and November of this year, respectively.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy, best known for his "redneck" humor, will appear at Paris Las Vegas, May 30-June 1, in the 1,200-seat Le Theatre des Arts Tickets are $65 & $75 with tax included, call 877- 374-7469 or 702- 946-4567.

Foxworthy has sold more than 12 million albums, making him the largest-selling comedy recording artist in history. With several Platinum albums to his name, Foxworthy has been nominated for a Grammy Award four times.

Foxworthy has been a regular guest on late night television and starred in several specials on HBO and Showtime. In addition, he was bestowed with a People's Choice Award for "Favorite Male Newcomer" for his sitcom, "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," which ran for two seasons on NBC.

Beginning May 27, the Bellagio is making its famous choreographed soaring fountains a wedding option by creating Terrazza di Sogno (Terrace of Dreams). The dream-like setting is an Italian balcony with toasted marble flooring and walls tinted in a warm golden patina along with the fountains in the background that can perform to a romantic song of the couple's choice. The terrace can accommodate up to 34 guests and is available daily for day and evening ceremonies.

This one-of-a-kind experience can be reserved by selecting any of Bellagio's Wedding Chapel Packages ranging in price from $1,800 to $15,000 and upgrading to this terrace venue for an additional $1,800. Wedding renewals and commitment ceremonies can also be performed. The overall experience is enhanced by special lighting and a state-of-the-art sound system and live musicians can be added for a fee. The Chapel serves as back up space if inclement weather occurs. For information, call the Bellagio Wedding Chapels at 888-464-4436 or 702-693-7700.

Every Friday night, The Rio and John D. Guzman's Naked Hollywood are now running a nightclub event called G-SPOT. The sexy party heats up at 11:30 p.m. with 30,000 square feet for clubbing, 12 massive virtual video walls, interactive 3-D laser light visuals, go-go dancers called The Naked Hollywood Kittens and resident deejays.

Club Rio is located in the Masquerade Showroom and doors opens at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday and 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5 for out-of-state women and $10 for men. A dress code is enforced. For information and Friday night VIP booth reservations, call 702-675-3202.

The off-Strip, locals oriented Fiesta Rancho earlier this month opened Club Tequila, a new nightclub in the northwest part of the valley with a southwestern decor, "Intoxicologist" flair bartenders and VIPER girls.

Club Tequila features two levels of full-service bars showcasing specialty drinks, six semi-private plush VIP booths that seat up to 14 people with a minimum $100 bar tab, a central dance floor and stage surrounded by plenty of seating, and the VEMON bar with daily Happy Hour from 5-8 p.m. and $1 off all drinks. There's also a full-service appetizer menu.

Club Tequila opens nightly at 5 p.m. and admission is free for guests 21 and over adhering to the club's dress code. The After Midnight Party featuring top DJs follows the live performances, Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call 702-638-3771, or 702-638-3629 for VIP services.

The premiere of the new Cirque du Soleil show, "Zumanity," at New York-New York is being delayed by two weeks, from July 31 opening to Aug. 14, due to technical demands mounting the production.

A possible sale of the Four Queens downtown may happen since Magoo's Gaming Corp., the owner of 15 video poker bars around Las Vegas, is offering $20.5 million to buy it. A deal to sell the casino to Magoo's last summer fell through at the last second.

The onslaught of new Las Vegas nightclubs continues with Wolfgang Puck's Chinois restaurant inside the Caesars Forum Shops opening OPM on May 22. The operating hours will be 10 pm-6 am, Wednesdays through Sundays, with dinner service until 3 a.m., call 702-369-4998 for information.

Cabo Cantina has opened at Santa Fe Station in the northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley. Entrees are served from 4 to 10 p.m. nightly and appetizers and drinks until midnight. Happy Hour featuring 2 for 1 drinks runs 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.

Comedienne Rita Rudner is a permanent fixture at New York-New York since the resort built her the $1.2 million Cabaret Theatre. To think that in 2000, she began with a one-month booking at the MGM Grand.

In the meantime, she completed her third book and first novel entitled, "Tickled Pink," and launched her first syndicated daily TV show, "Ask Rita," on Jan. 27, in key markets across the country. Her light-hearted show features a panel of four celebrities attempting to solve personal problems submitted by viewers.

Rudner performs at 8 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, call 702-740-6815. Tickets are $49.

The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe has scheduled its 15th annual Snow Mountain Powwow, May 23-25, at the reservation 20 miles northwest of downtown Las Vegas on US 95. The event will highlight grand entries, artisans with native crafts, traditional American Indian music, and food items. General admission is $4 and $3 for seniors. Children 10 and younger are admitted free. For information, call the powwow hot line at 702-658-1400, ext. 147, or 702-658-1400, ext. 143.143.

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Editorial Content Copyright(c) 2000-2003 Jackie Brett; Internet Presentation Copyright(c) Las Vegas Leisure Guide