A Fond Farewell: Brett’s Last Entertainment Column Updates

BRETT’S VEGAS VIEW

Contributed by Jackie Brett

*** A FOND FAREWELL*** 

My decision to retire my column comes after years of writing about Las Vegas. The timing just feels right. After 45 years in print nearly every week, first in newspapers and then online, it has been a privilege to watch the destination grow from a metro area population of 345,000 in 1976 to more than 2.5 million in 2020.

Back in the 70s, there were no mega-resorts, large stadiums, sports teams, Strip shopping malls, paid parking, etc. You used to dress up for the dinner show followed by the midnight concert with maître d’s doing the seating in showrooms. There was usually an opening act and sometimes an act in between. Siegfried and Roy and fellow magician Lance Burton were headlining in the spectaculars with showgirls like “Folies Bèrgere” and “Hallelujah Hollywood.” Headliners didn’t need bodyguards and could party in the casinos and make surprise visits onstage at one another’s shows. It was a fun time, which will never be duplicated again, and it was affordable.

At the time, Las Vegas had the market on gaming, which was about 97% of the city’s profits, and then there was Atlantic City followed by Indian casinos and major corporations owning multiple properties and expanding to other places including Macau.

Over the years going through numerous recessions, 911, and the recent pandemic, it has been amazing to watch the destination’s resiliency and now a transformation into “The Sports Capital of the World,” adding to other nicknames like “The Entertainment Capital of the World” and “The Wedding Capital of the World.”

Never fear, if there is something new for adults to enjoy, Las Vegas will make a transformation and keep up with the times. It will remain an exhilarating “Adult Disneyland!” Enjoy…

Jackie 

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LUCHA VAVOOM ANNOUNCES HOUSE OF BLUES RESIDENCY: Lucha VaVOOM (LVV), Los Angeles’ longest-running variety show where world-class Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, and comedy collide, is coming to Las Vegas for a nine-show residency at the legendary House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay. The first five show dates will include Thursday-Saturday, April 27-29 and Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 27-28. Tickets start at $39.50. Hosting the residency, dubbed “7 Deadly Sins,” will be House of Blues Las Vegas’ multi-level Music Hall, legendary for showcasing musicians from the likes of James Brown, Guns N’ Roses, Santana, and Billy Idol ‒ making it the perfect location for this glam/slam extravaganza. Founded in Los Angeles in 2002 by Rita D’Albert and Liz Fairbairn, LVV is good vs. evil played out in quick, exhibition-style, one-fall lucha libre matches. It all comes together to make for one fun, surreal, glam-bam spectacle of raucous entertainment. The wrestling lineup will feature Taya Valkyrie, four-time Reina de Reinas champion and former WWE superstar, along with incendiary burlesque goddesses, twisty contortionists, and death-defying aerialists, including Emma Vauxdevil, fire eater, sword swallower, tattooed goddess, and burlesque queen.

CHEF MARTIN YAN’S M.Y. ASIA IS OPENING AT HORSESHOE LAS VEGAS: James Beard Award Winner and public television star Chef Martin Yan brings his internationally loved style and Asian flavors to his first Las Vegas restaurant, M.Y. Asia in the newly rebranded Horseshoe Las Vegas on March 13. The legendary chef’s restaurant brings elements of his decades-long career and extensive travels together, giving diners a true “Yan-tastic” experience with unique “Yan-tertainment” paired with impeccable food and beverage offerings. The exhibition kitchen with a noodle-pulling chef and the only changing face kung-fu dance performance chef in Las Vegas will perform several times a night. The Lucky Bell Bar, a Yan signature, features classic cocktails, an extensive beer and wine menu, and offers a late-night lounge vibe on weekends. The 5,300-square-foot space is designed to create a casual atmosphere with rich, deep tones and textures, and contemporary Asian murals adorning the walls encompassing the fusion of Asian cuisine. Chef’s “Yan-tertainment” noodle preparation and open kitchen cooking will anchor the 150-seat restaurant. Guests can enjoy the private dining room, grab a seat at the noodle bar, browse through Chef Yan’s retail area featuring autograph books, cookware and merchandise, or just pick up their dinner from the restaurant’s food lockers. As the first food lockers in Las Vegas, guests can order, pay, and pick their dishes from a warmed locker perfect for hotel guests seeking a non-contact experience or for those on the run. M.Y. Asia will be open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m-11 p.m. and Friday-Sunday until 1 a.m. for lunch and dinner.

NURSE BLAKE WILL MAKE TOUR STOP AT THE COSMOPOLITAN: International touring comedian, nurse, and viral video star Nurse Blake will bring his 100-city North America/Canada “Shock Advised Comedy Tour” to The Cosmopolitan on Saturday, July 29 at 8 p.m. Nurse Blake’s 2022 PTO Comedy Tour began as a 14-show run and grew to 55 shows due to demand. He is the creator of NurseCon at Sea, one of the largest and most popular nursing conferences, and the NurseCon App which provides the free continuing nursing education courses. Nurse Blake is also the author of the best-selling children’s book “I Want To Be A Nurse When I Grow Up.” Blake Lynch, aka @NurseBlake, worked in trauma centers around the country before his comedy career. To cope with stress on the job, Lynch started posting original comedy videos aimed at his profession. His lighthearted videos connected with nursing professionals around the world gaining Nurse Blake 3.5M followers on social media and more than 300M views. Turns out his humor appeals to everyone.

EATALY LAS VEGAS DEBUTS RAMAZZOTTI POP-UP BAR AT PARK MGM: Eataly Las Vegas has opened the world’s first house of Amaro at Park MGM with the launch of the Ramazzotti Rosato Pop-Up Bar at Grand Caffé Milano. The limited-time experience located at the casino floor entrance to the Eataly store features an exclusive menu for Las Vegas incorporating the traditional Italian herbal liquor. Open now through March 31, the venue is open Sunday–Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight and until 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

‘BROADWAY’S ROCK OF AGES BAND®’ WILL VISIT M RESORT: The driving music force that rocked Broadway and millions of fans in the ground-breaking musical “Rock Of Ages” will make its way to Las Vegas for a performance at M Resort. Comprised of rock star musicians and lead singers from the original Broadway cast, “Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band®” will perform inside the M Pavilion on Saturday, May 6 at 8 p.m. These players have collectively performed more than 10,000 performances of the five-time Tony Award nominated show, including the long-running Broadway production, the critically acclaimed national tour, and/or one of the amazing international Broadway show companies. Audiences will sing and dance along to performances by the show band performing a concert for everyone. Tickets start at $20.

JIMMY KIMMEL’S COMEDY CLUB ANNOUNCES MARCH LINEUP: Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in the heart of The LINQ Promenade announces its March comedian lineup, college hoops watch parties, trailer park parties and other new programming. Special weekend headliners and other notable guests appearing in March include rapper, actor and stand-up comedian Tip “T.I.” Harris as well as radio personality, comedian, actor and podcaster Adam Carolla. Notable resident performers in March include Farrell Dillon, known for combining hilarious comedy and mind-melting magic into a modern style; Vicki Barbolak, a top 10 finalist on season 13 of “America’s Got Talent,” renowned for her stand-up comedy acts; and Luenell, American comedian and actress known for her roles in “Borat,” “A Star Is Born,” “That’s My Boy,” “Hotel Transylvania” and more. In celebration of basketball season, the club will host Cousin Sal’s college hoops watch party on Thursday-Friday, March 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kimmel’s Cousin Sal and Harry from the Extra Points Podcast team will host the watch parties during the first round of college basketball’s marquee tournament. Each day promises laughs, fun and good times with contests and betting slip giveaways. Admission is complimentary. Every Tuesday in March, guests are invited to a trailer park party with Vicki Barbolak, who had been extended for Tuesday shows through September. Parties will include trailer park-themed trivia, prizes and drink specials for two hours beginning at 7:30 p.m. In addition, Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club has also launched “Roast & Toast,” which takes place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Wednesday. Visitors to the club during these hours can enjoy coffee, espresso drinks, espresso martinis and pastries while the venue’s TVs play iconic comedy roasts on screen.

BATTLEBOTS: DESTRUCT-A-THON’ HELD ITS PREMIERE EVENT: The “BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon” premiere event took place last week at the BattleBots Arena near the Las Vegas Strip. The show’s cast, creators and robot stars walked the signature BattleBots Red and Blue Carpet, mirroring the red and blue teams that battle throughout the live show experience. Shows take place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at noon. “BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon” has all the drama, action and destruction of the TV series, condensed into an intense, fast-moving, 75-minute theater show. All the fights are real, and no one —not even the drivers— know which robot will be victorious each night. Chock full of surprises, the bots weighing up to 300 pounds and their weapons—such as deadly spinning blades and flame throwers take over the arena. Each show, consisting of six one-on-one robot battles, features the kind of robot-on-robot carnage for which BattleBots is famous. BattleBots is the world leader in the fast-growing sport of robot fighting and now seen in over 150 countries.

TERRY FATOR, USAF THUNDERBIRDS KICK OFF PENNZOIL 400: Las Vegas headliner Terry Fator and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will get race fans in the patriotic mood prior to the March 5 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fator, winner of season two of “America’s Got Talent,” will perform the national anthem before the start of the race. The Dallas-bred entertainer had a record-breaking 11-year run at The Mirage. Recently he opened his new Las Vegas show, “Terry Fator: Who’s the Dummy Now?” at Liberty Loft inside New York-New York. After the anthem, the Thunderbirds will make a six-jet, Delta formation flyover, launching from their Nellis Air Force Base. America’s “Ambassadors in Blue” are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. The team performs more than 70 aerobatic demonstrations at approximately 35 locations annually.

FILIPINO POP-ROCK BAND PAROKYA NI EDGAR WILL VISIT SAHARA: Filipino pop-rock sensation Parokya Ni Edgar will visit the Sahara on Saturday, March 25 during their exclusive west coast tour to just four U.S. cities. Guests will experience one of the Philippines’ biggest bands inside the Sahara Theatre on Saturday, March 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. General admission tickets are $114. Guests must be 21 years or older. For more than 30 years, fans across the globe have raved over the band’s chart-topping hits, including “Buloy,” “Halaga,” “Picha Pie,” “Please Don’t Touch My Birdie,” “Inuman Na” and “Bagsakan.” In addition, the band’s hit “Harana” also received the 1999 MTV Southeast Asia “Viewer’s Choice Award” for its music video. Attendees can look forward to a musical performance by the six-piece band performing original rock novelty songs and satirical covers of popular songs both local to the Philippines and foreign.

FREMONT COUNTRY CLUB HOSTS APOCALYPSE IN THE DESERT: The apocalypse is returning to Downtown Las Vegas, as Apocalypse in the Desert takes over Fremont Country Club at 601 E. Fremont St. Friday, March 24 through Saturday, March 25. Featuring more than 60 bands, including Las Vegas’ Hemlock, Fate DeStroyed, Ovtlier, Breaking In A Sequence, Semper Acerbus and more. Tickets for Apocalypse in the Desert start at $25. Guests must be 21 years or older and doors are at noon.

BELLAGIO GALLERY OF FINE ART’S NEW EXHIBITION IS ‘IN BLOOM’: Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) is celebrating spring with its newest exhibition, “In Bloom,” which is open through Sept. 10. Showcasing nationally and internationally recognized artists, this collection of 30 works explores themes of rejuvenation, humanity and collective change. Curated for Bellagio, “In Bloom” highlights various approaches to art, from still life and landscape paintings to kinetic and large-scale sculptures. In collaboration with Tia Collection from Santa Fe, N.M., this exhibition assembles art from the 20^th century American Southwest with globally recognized contemporary artworks. In harmony with the floral displays of Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the gallery’s entrance transports guests to the visual world of “In Bloom” through an immersive corridor of lush floral and playful neon. Beyond the corridor, brightly painted walls of magenta, orange and yellow energize the intimate two-room gallery, offering a vivid canvas for the mixture of works experienced throughout the space. Part of the exhibition is Martine Gutierrez’s “The Flower Prince” from her comprehensive work Indigenous Woman (2018). “In Bloom” is on display daily from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults; $17 for Nevada residents, seniors 65 and older, students, teachers and military with a valid ID; children 5 and under are free.

INDOCHINO DEBUTS MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH RESORTS WORLD: INDOCHINO, the made-to-measure brand, has announced a multi-year marketing and apparel partnership with Resorts World Las Vegas. The collaboration will focus on suiting up the resort’s onsite staff, as well as showcasing INDOCHINO, the global leader in custom suiting, to guests with branded visuals throughout the property.  INDOCHINO will suit up all Zouk Nightclub VIP hosts and management in their custom apparel as they host sell-out crowds for star-studded musical acts from Tiësto, Kaskade and deadmau5, to Travis Scott and Jack Harlow. In addition to the focus on apparel needs for management, staff, wedding and corporate opportunities, INDOCHINO will have substantial product and brand integration across the entire Resorts World Las Vegas campus. The brand will be highlighted with strategic placement at key moments throughout the year on marquee digital platforms including the iconic LED Globe, Zouk Tower, screens in The District, and the full East and West Tower LEDs. The world-famous West Tower LED offers a particularly exciting canvas for these placements, as its more than 100,000 square feet of lights make it the third largest such display in the world.

PINKBOX DOUGHNUTS^® MAKES ST. PATRICK’S DAY TREATS: From March 1 through 19, Pinkbox Doughnuts, will offer St. Patrick’s Day themed doughnuts to celebrate the lucky holiday. Pinkbox created three new doughnuts to celebrate the luck of the Irish this year: Shamrock, Lucky Lime Cheesecake and Mint Face DoughCro. Other St. Patrick’s Day-themed doughnuts include Lucky Charms Bar, Clover, Pot O’ Gold, Irish Unicorn, Minty, It’s Ya Birthday, Leprechaun Ring, and Lucky Blackjack. In addition, Pinkbox’s Doughnut of the Month for March highlights the color green. The Green Machine is a glazed pistachio cake topped with pistachio buttercream and pistachio cake crumble.

VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS WINS 2022 GAY TRAVEL AWARD: Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, is the winner in the Gay-Friendly Casino Hotel category in in the seventh annual Gay Travel Awards℠, presented by GayTravel.com. The Gay Travel Awards support and promote LGBTQ+ travel and tourism by identifying and rewarding select destinations, properties, events, influencers and other organizations exemplifying a spirit of inclusiveness and hospitality excellence. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas was selected from hundreds of distinguished nominees.