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| Sunday, September 12, 2004 | PRIOR ISSUE - ARCHIVES |
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| Toby Keith Brings Country Venue, Aladdin Switches Hands, Allen Fawcett Opens Show, Mac King & KFC® Partner, I-Bar Ultra Impanema, Final Table Challenge Ready, Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan Farewell, David Brenner Moves, "Forever Plaid" Plays Gold Coast, "Havana Night Club - The Show" Hot, Revamped Downtown Sports Book, Rocktoberfest Rocks, Rock N Roll Wine Cruises, Mindvention Goes Mental, More... | |
Harrah's has announced that it will build a new country-themed bar, restaurant, entertainment venue and retail store with country music star Toby Keith in the summer of 2005.
The new venue will offer American casual food, and the bar/lounge will feature Keith music and videos, a special recording studio, private dining area, stage and dance floor for live country acts and surprise personal appearances by Keith.
The more than 17,000-square-foot structure will be located at the interior promenade situated directly adjacent to the resort's monorail concourse. Plans are to break ground on the project during the fourth quarter, 2004.
In addition, a similar concept for Toby Keith is being developed at Harrah's North in Kansas City.
Keith, Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year for 2003 and 2004, is one of the most successful artists in country music history racking up 19 number one singles and selling more than 20 million CDs.
His current album, "Shock 'n' Y'all" is certified quadruple platinum and he recently launched his "Big Throwdown" tour. His new single, "Stays In Mexico," from his upcoming album, "Toby's Greatest Hits," has exploded on to the charts for the highest debut of his career.
It's official, the Planet Hollywood chain, which includes Starwood Hotels & Resorts, now owns the Aladdin and they will invest $100 million in upgrading the property over the next year and a half. Renovations will include a new Planet Hollywood facade, remodeling the casino, and adding restaurants, a 1,300-seat showroom, and a 500-seat TV studio.
Allen Fawcett, best known for hosting Dick Clark's hit TV show "Puttin' On The Hits" in the '80s, will open his new interactive celebrity tribute show "Lippin' to the Hits" at the Palace Station's Laugh Trax Comedy Club on Sept. 29. He'll be doing his show at 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturdays. Tickets for the 75-minute show will be $14.95 plus tax and fees, call 1-866-830-0282.
"Lippin' to the Hits" will be a multimedia stage production that will add a twist to the celebrity tribute show format. Willing audience members will be "made over" to look like celebrity artists and at the end of the show will be in a talent contest to win a prize and the coveted title, "Lord of the Lips."
Other interactive show segments will include group superstar imitation lessons, audience celebrity makeovers, the "Prettiest Elvis" and "Ugliest Madonna" contests, a tongue-in -cheek "Edge of Lost Vegas" interactive soap opera, fun prizes, and singing and comedy by Fawcett as the show's host.
Fawcett is the veteran of four Broadway musicals: "Shenandoah," "Rex," "King of Hearts" and the American premier of Andre Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." His television background includes playing Lars Hansen on "General Hospital" and Kelly McGrath on "The Edge of Night." He recently filmed a co-starring role on Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) as Matt, a Golden Nugget assistant casino manager.
The Rio has opened the I-Bar Ultra Lounge, which is a new wave of ultra lounge, in the center of the main casino pit near the front entrance. It has replaced the Ipanema Lounge. The I-Bar's d‚cor combining natural elements of earth, rock and water, with stunning lighting and sleek lines is a celebration of its namesake, Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro.
In addition to a full bar, 12 signature drinks such as Tropical Hypnosis, Peachy Keen, Exotic Spice and Passion Pulse are featured with intricate, hand-made, whimsical garnish. The I-Bar is also debuting the I-Girls, 10 handpicked model / mixologists who wear flesh-colored costumes and provide cocktail and bottle service.
The I-Bar's mood and music changes with the various times of the day. It opens with a classical embrace of Las Vegas history with an extensive mix of "Rat Pack" style tunes and a display of iconic Las Vegas images on the surrounding flat screens and ends with upbeat sounds and erotic imagery.
The I-Bar Ultra Lounge is open daily from noon to 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 4 or 5 a.m. on weekends. For table and bottle service reservations, call 702-777-6869.
Sam's Town on Boulder Highway will be hosting the 2004 Final Table Challenge, which kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 14.
Final Table Challenge (FTC) is a made-for-TV, no-limit Hold 'Em poker tournament that brings 11 of the country's premiere poker players to Las Vegas to play in the Grand Championship game.
FTC's overall tournament consists of 10 players qualifying in 10 different card rooms across the United States, who along with a "Wild Card" player, will come together in Las Vegas for the Final Table Challenge. The winners of each of 10 Final Table Challenges will play in the championship event with a prize pool of $500,000, with $200,000 going to the Grand Champion.
The Wild Card position will be an eleventh chair added to each game based on home video auditions submitted by non-professional poker players and judged by the studio audience. Wild Card audition videos will be judged on humor, creativity, personality and overall appeal, as well as the player's enthusiasm for and knowledge of the game of no-limit Hold 'Em poker.
The event will be hosted by John Daly, host of Real-TV and "House Detective" on national cable channel HGTV, as well as the local show, "This Week in Las Vegas" and Tom McEvoy, the 1983 World Series of Poker Champion and respected author of nine poker instructional books.
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Mac King, the afternoon headlining comedian and magician at Harrah's, has partnered with the national Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain and he is now being showcased on the KFC Kids Laptop Pack at KFC's nationwide through Sept. 26. Mac King's Magic in a Minute Laptop Pack features brightly illustrated and interactive magic tricks and helpful hints for kids to try making some magic on their own. It contains a choice of chicken and an individual side item, Mott'sr Apple Sauce, and General Millsr Fruit by the Footr snack. The food items are compartmentalized. Café Ba Ba Reeba, which is a Spanish tapas restaurant and bar, has opened inside the Strip's Fashion Show Mall. It is open from 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Verandah at the Four Seasons has reopened and its full-scale weekend brunch has been reinstated at a price of $25. In her farewell performance, Tony Award nominee and two-time Olympic Gymnast Cathy Rigby is taking flight in the 100th Anniversary of the immortal James M. Barrie Tale, "Peter Pan." This timeless musical masterpiece will fly into the Cashman Theatre for a six-night engagement beginning Oct. 19 as part of the Las Vegas Broadway Series. Tickets range from $40.70 to $73.70 plus service charge through Ticketmaster. Rigby's name is synonymous with "Peter Pan," having played the part on Broadway, on a major National Tour in the 1990-'91 season, in the revival in 1998 and in the Emmy Award wining A&E special. She made her professional debut 21 years ago as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." Most recently, Rigby performed as the 'Cat in the Hat' in "Seussical" on Broadway and on tour. Headliner comedian David Brenner is no longer at the Westin. He's now doing his show in the Shimmer Cabaret Theater at the Las Vegas Hilton at 8 p.m., Fridays through Wednesdays. "Forever Plaid," the theatrical tribute to the '50s vocal groups that played successfully at the Flamingo for six years until it was replaced by The Second City comedy troupe in early 2001, will be returning to town at the Gold Coast. They will take over the 400-seat showroom that the "Honky Tonk Angels" have been occupying for seven years. The Angels, comprised of Sharon Haynes, Corrie Sachs and Lori Legacy, will make their farewell with a Christmas show edition in mid-December. Meanwhile the Angels are providing dinner entertainment for the Westward Ho's "Grubstake Jamboree" on Wednesdays and Saturdays through Nov. 13. The three gals have recorded a Christmas album and want to do a country album and tour as themselves rather than impersonating stars. This year marks magician Rick Thomas' seven-year anniversary with his show, "The Magic of Rick Thomas" at the Tropicana. Thomas is constantly updating his elaborate afternoon production. "Havana Night Club - The Show" recently made a special engagement at the Stardust. Had the privilege of catching the show and thought it was fabulous. The revamped sports book at the Plaza downtown, which is an independent book, is now open. The book also allows you to "bet ahead" on any NFL game scheduled this year. Comic impersonator "Downtown" Gordie Brown will be adding shows and changing show times on Oct. 9. He currently performs at 7:30 p.m., Friday-Tuesday. His new schedule will be 8:30 p.m. shows with additional 6 p.m. appearances on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. The Cannery in North Las Vegas will present Rocktoberfest on Sept. 24 and 25 from 5 to 11 p.m. The special event will feature the $15 bottomless mug, with more than six different German beer brands to sample, and a selection of traditional German dishes. The entertainment line-up will include performances by Mirage, a tribute band to Fleetwood Mac, and Escape, a tribute band to Journey. Admission is $5 and includes all applicable fees. The Fiesta Rancho has opened its $7 million, 500-seat 31,000-square-foot ice arena. General admission during public skating hours is $6; skate rentals are $2.50. For information, call 702-631-7000. Vegas Knights Tuxedo Shop, located inside the Tropicana, is the only place where a tuxedo can be rented on the Las Vegas Strip. The shop offers a wide variety of tuxedos styles in sizes from sizes 3 to 73. The cost for a full tuxedo starts at $75 and it can be ready within two hours. Vegas Knights also picks up and delivers tuxedos free of charge and offers brides the service of having their dress steamed for $25. The store is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For information, call 1-800-320-1281 or 702-739-3691. Back by popular demand is the Fall edition of the Rock N Roll Wine Cruise scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9 at Lake Las Vegas. The evening's main experience featuring wine tasting, live music and food will take place aboard the 80-foot vessel "La Contessa" from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. The night will start out at 5:30 p.m. with the "Hip-Hop Happy Hour" in the Montelago Village Resort at Captain Chris' two-story casita and end with a Post Party. The package is $120 per person and includes tax and gratuity, call 702-561-3498. For information on an overnight stay at an additional cost, call 1-866-564-4799, and say you're with the "Rock N Roll Wine Cruise" group. Las Vegas is known for unusual conventions and a couple of them are happening at the Hotel San Remo. This week is The Las Vegas Magic Invitational, Sept. 12-14, followed by The Magic University, a special one-day event on Sept. 15. For information, check out www.lvmi.net. The Mindvention, Nov. 14-16, will be Las Vegas' first All Mentalism Convention.
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