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| Sunday, August 17, 2003 | PRIOR ISSUE - ARCHIVES |
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| Star Trek Plans 4D Borg Invasion, Rockers Andy Kim And Ron Dante Pair Up, Robin Leach Opens "Penthouse Vegas", "Last Comic Standing" Performs, Palace Adds New Tower, French Bistro Turns Patriotic, Siegfried & Roy Top German Search, Strip Headliners Charity Gig, Celebrities In "Images Of Life", More... | |
Paramount Parks, developers of the STAR TREK: The Experience attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton, have announced the plans to add the multi-million dollar Borg Invasion 4D galactic experience and open it in the spring of 2004.
Borg Invasion 4D will combine live actors and special effects. It will allow visitors to tour a futuristic research facility, while the drones of the Borg collectively attempt to capture and assimilate everyone using 24th century cybernetic technology.
The Riviera in conjunction with KQOL Radio (93.1 FM), will present a special evening of music with Andy Kim and Ron Dante on Saturday, Sept. 6, in the Royale Pavilion. Tickets are $30 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9433. There's also a special $50 ticket that includes a "VIP Meet and Greet" with the stars, an autographed CD and photograph of each performer, plus a keepsake photo taken with them that night.
Kim, who was born in Montreal, Canada, was a child singer who turned songwriter. His first No. 1 song and debut release on Capitol Records was "Rock Me Gently" in 1974. With Jeff Barry, Kim wrote for The Archies. He also penned songs for the Monkees. "Oh My My," "I Love You Better" and "Do You Feel It Too?" appeared on their "Changes" album.
Kim stopped recording in 1974, but returned under the name Baron Longfellow with two albums in 1984, a self-titled album and "Prisoner By Design." In 1990, he sang background vocals to "Edward Scissorhands."
Dante has a room full of platinum albums, Grammy, Clio and Tony Awards. He is probably best known for his work as a producer for Barry Manilow, Cher, Dionne Warwick, Irene Cara, Ray Charles, John Denver, Pat Benatar and others. His collaboration with Manilow produced a string of landmark hits including "Mandy," "I Write The Songs" and "Copacabana."
Pop music fans know Dante for his song "Sugar, Sugar" that topped the charts and was voted "Song Of The Year" in 1969. It's also Dante's voice you hear singing "You Deserve A Break Today" for McDonalds, as well as tunes for Coca Cola, American Airlines and Budweiser. He won a Clio for his work on Volkswagen. More recently, Dante has released his newest solo recording "Favorites" on CD.
Dante also produced "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Children Of A Lesser God" on Broadway and both shows won Tony Awards.
The man with one of the most famous voices in the world and local resident Robin Leach is launching a new late-night television show for Fox on Aug. 22 in 100 markets nationwide. Four pilot episodes of "Penthouse Vegas" have been shot in a palatal $25 million penthouse suite at the Las Vegas Hilton.
The show features a running list of celebs including Las Vegas steady headliners such as Clint Holmes, The Amazing Johnathan, Frank Marino aka Joan Rivers in "Las Cage," The Scintas, Rita Rudner, Mac King, Lance Burton, Ronn Lucas, Anthony Cools, etc. Other appearances have been made by Robert Goulet, Mayor Oscar Goodman, David Brenner, Susan Anton, the Beatles tribute group The Fab Four, and Pat Morita.
Leach's new show builds a party-like atmosphere with celebrities adlibbing in fun situations. For example, Charo using her 100-year-old flamenco guitar gave Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil lessons on how to play a guitar.
Another challenge was the "Crazy Girls" having their hands tied behind their backs in a bikini spaghetti-eating contest. The dapper Chippendale cads looked on as the "Crazy Girls" were face down in their spaghetti bowls.
Dat Phan, the recent winner of NBC's hit show "Last Comic Standing," is performing special Monday night shows at Harrah's Improv Comedy Club at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. through Labor Day with a rotation of two of the other comics from the hit show. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax, call 702-369-5222.
Phan sprang from humble beginnings in Vietnam to become one of the most sought after young talents in Hollywood today with recent appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and the "Late Show With Craig Kilborn." At 28, after seven years of striving and starvation, Phan is making a living as a comedian and can quit his day job working the doors of Budd Friedman's famous Improv Comedy Club in Los Angeles.
Phan's adversity has become an integral part of his humor, as has his upbringing in a cross-cultural family. He moved to L.A. in January 2002, and landed a part in "Last Comic Standing" exactly one year later.
Ironically, Phan was booked months ago as a warm-up act for veteran comedian Shelly Berman at the Improv in October. This could be an interesting scenario with Phan's recent stardom.
Park Place Entertainment Corp. that will change its name to Caesars Entertainment Inc. next year has submitted plans with Clark County to build a 1,000-room hotel tower and a 175,000-square-foot Roman-themed plaza for retail, restaurants and convention space at Caesars Palace. The new tower will have direct access from Flamingo Road with a porte cochere entrance.
Lance Burton, Clint Holmes, Mac King and Michael Goudeau will bring magic, song, juggling and comedy to the stage of Sam's Town Live! on Boulder Highway at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. Cocktails, dinner with pianist Michael Spadoni performing, the show, a silent auction and a raffle will benefit Boys & Girls Club of Henderson & Variety Club Tent #39. Tickets to the red carpet gala event are $150 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10, call 702-249-0341.
The Stardust has released a collector series of slot club cards honoring the resort's 45th anniversary. The cards have an image of the Stardust marquee from 45 years ago when "Lido de Paris" was the production extravaganza in the showroom, and each also has a showgirl pictured in the corner.
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Blue Blanc Rouge at Mandalay Bay along the restaurant promenade is no longer a French bistro. It is now Red White and Blue, an Americanized deli concept offering three distinct American dining experiences ranging from deli cafe to an American bistro. The spacious eatery is open daily for breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and for lunch and dinner until 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, call 702-632-7405. The Red menu features regional American cuisine and their signature Oyster Bar. The Blue menu offers up deli and grilled sandwiches plus an array of celebrity inspired triple-decker sandwiches. The White section highlights a range of tasty sweets. The bar at Red White and Blue features American wines and showcases a 42" plasma screen TV for patrons to view sporting events. Red White and Blue is the newest restaurant brought to Las Vegas by the team behind the critically acclaimed Red Square, rumjungle and China Grill. Blues singer / guitarist Susan Tedeschi will wrap up the "Night Musique: Concerts Under the Stars" series with special guest Bering Strait, a bluegrass band hailing out of Russia, on Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. The concert will take place on the Paris pool deck beneath the Eiffel Tower with guests having the freedom to roam around and enjoy the atmosphere. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 day-of show with post-show admission to the nightclub Risque included. Since her debut album five years ago, Tedeschi has become recognized for her "heart-in-the-throat" voice and sharp guitar skills. Nominated as Best New Artist at the 2000 Grammy Awards, Tedeschi's music is a combination of R&B and Rock-n-Roll and critics have compared her to the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin. TI (formerly known as Treasure Island) has opened a Canter's Deli of Los Angeles counter at the resort. It opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and closes at midnight daily. Plans call for a full-service Canter's restaurant to open by the end of the year. Another restaurant name change involves the 50 year old Caravan Coffee Shop at the Sahara. It has been renamed the Caravan Cafe. Don Rickles is appearing at the Stardust this week, Aug. 21-24, and enjoying his 44th consecutive year as a Las Vegas entertainer. The last 38 years he's been a showroom headliner. Singer Gene Ferrari, a native Italian with a rich tenor voice and a two-and-a-half octave range, is Rickles opening act. "Marie Claire" magazine did a photo shoot with Steve Connolly who performs as Elvis at Fitzgerald's in "Spirit of the King." The article is about "Expensive vs. Cheap in Las Vegas." Connolly playing the part of a groom appeared in the wedding segment dressed to the nines at the Chapel of the Bells. Due to an unprecedented, overwhelming demand, master magician David Copperfield will be starting his MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre engagement a day early on Aug. 20 doing two additional shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m. His engagement will run through Sept 3. Tickets are $97 inclusive for performances at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., and $79.90 inclusive for the matinee shows at 3 p.m., call 800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777. The Tropicana has a new beauty salon. The Michael D. International Salon offers a multitude of services and each stylist has a specialty (coloring, cuts, etc.), call 702-739-2311. It may be off the beaten path, but for gourmet food lovers this is a good deal. The Williams-Sonoma's store at 1001 S. Rampart Blvd. offers classes from 6 to 8 p.m. with chefs from all the top dining establishments around town. Registration is $50 each class. For more information, call 702-938-9480. Some of the upcoming class dates and representative restaurants are: Aug. 19 Spiedini, BullShrimp and Sazio; Aug. 24, Panevino; Sept. 2, Z'Tejas; Sept 7, Emeril's New Orleans Fish House; Sept. 10, Rosemary's at the Rio; Sept. 14, Ritz-Carlton; Sept. 21, McCormick & Schmick's; and Sept. 28, Roy's. Magicians of the Century Siegfried & Roy have been nominated by ZDF (German's public television station) in its search to find the top 100 Germans. ZDF nominated 300 people in 12 categories. Anyone can vote by Sept. 15 for whom they believe should be included in the top 100 Germans via the Internet (www.unserebesten.zdf.de) or by postcard addressed to ZDF, "Unsere Besten", D-5511 Mainz, Germany. You can also vote for a German who isn't listed. The only criteria is that the person be German or must have been living in Germany for a long time and must be known. The 100 chosen Germans will be announced on a ZDF special airing Nov. 7. Moderators Johannes B. Kerner and Steffen Seibert will then reveal the 10 leading vote getters, whose lives and careers will be featured in documentaries airing the following three weeks leading to the selection of the "best German." The Community Council of United Blood Services is sponsoring a fundraiser called "Images of Life" where celebrities and artists will be given life-sized masks to paint, decorate or incorporate into a piece of art to be auctioned to the public. Masks will be distributed and collected during the summer and fall of 2003 then auctioned to the highest bidder at a gala event to be held Feb. 7, 2004, at the Fashion Show Las Vegas. The following celebrities have agreed to participate as artists: Susan Anton, Amazing Johnathan, Lance Burton, Tia Carrere, Charo, Phyllis Diller, Danny Gans, Clint Holmes, Kenny Kerr, B.B. King, Mac King, Lennox Lewis, Page O'Hara, Monti Rock III, Rita Rudner, the Scintas, Siegfried & Roy, Emanuel Steward and community Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. For more information, call 702-228-4483, Ext. 239.
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