December 2009 Archives

There's plenty going on tonight in Vegas, more than any one person could handle but there are four club openings tonight! Eve at Crystals in CityCenter, Haze in Aria, Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel and Smokin' Hot Aces in The Venetian are all opening up tonight to ring in 2010!

Eva Longoria Parker and her husband Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs will host the official New Year's Eve opening at Eve. Eve has a 360-degree screen that wraps around the dance floor and overlooks the color changing fountains in front of CityCenter.

Haze at the Aria is kicking it off with DJ Tiesto, who will fill the 25,000-square-foot nightclub with exceptional music that will blow you away through their state of the art sound systems. Opening night and all of next week will have a Moulin Rouge theme.

Body English at Hard Rock Hotel is being turned into Vanity, now featuring the exceptionally impressive cyclone chandelier and is featuring DJ Vice for the grand opening party. Finally there's Smokin' Hot Aces at the Venetian, which isn't so much a club as a happening rock 'n roll bar where classic rock is the theme (you'd think a place like that would be at the Hard Rock) but Smokin' Hot Aces doesn't have a dance floor, so guys that may become your place of choice when you want to go out without having to "dance."

Any holiday that encourages party (with people who you aren't related to) is one that is worth spending in Vegas! But there is one problem with spending New Year's Eve in Las Vegas: you can't do everything.

Thankfully, Las Vegas Weekly has put together an excellent listing of all the concerts, parties, clubs and everything else you need to ring in 2010. Some of the highlights for this year include:

For concerts, John Mayer will be performing at The Joint in Hard Rock while Maroon 5 is at The Pearl in the Palm. But there are 13 other concerts that night in the city!

If you prefer clubs, there are plenty of parties happening. Holly Madison will be hosting the party at Prive (and includes an open bar) while Body English's grand closing party will star DJs Vice and Eric Cubeechee, plus another 40-some-odd parties including Maroon 5's after party, Black Eyed Peas and Aria ringing in the new year!

Just the other day I was thinking, "Las Vegas needs more hotel rooms. And clubs!" The whole city is in a give and take, one week Binion's closes all of their rooms, the next week Aria at CityCenter Opens up! Then the Sahara closed their rooms. But this week, Hard Rock opened their newest tower and nightclub!

The new south tower includes 359 suites, seven penthouses and eight spa villas, that will be connected to the new pool in a few months. In addition to the new rooms, the 25,000-square-foot Reliquary Spa and the Vanity nightclub also opened this week - just in time for New Year's Eve!

Sometimes you just get to a point where you don't want to set foot into a casino while in Las Vegas. But it's not always easy figuring out what to do. Spend the morning at a strip club? That seems a little shady. There aren't any good shows that early either. But recently a gun range has opened up in Clark County giving residents a chance to practice their shooting in a completely safe environment.

Some people are up in arms (only not, because they're against the range...) but Don Turner, the park's manager said, "There's not many basketball players in town, but we have basketball courts, so it was just a natural thing to have a safe facility for people to come." And it really makes sense since 45% of residents own guns. Up until now, there hasn't been a shooting range and many residents would just drive into the dessert and shoot.

Turns out that isn't the best solution. But local officials are hoping that the range will be for more than just locals and could become a drawing point for travelers, showing there's more to do in Nevada than just gamble.

The park will be opening full-time in January. The cost to use the park is $7 per day for rifles, pistols and archery and $6 per 25-bird round for shotguns.

For the first time in 8 years, Garth Brooks stepped back into the light on stage and performed in front of a live audience at the Wynn last week. In a city where everything is getting bigger and bigger, Brooks' show seems like the odd-one-out. Just one guy, a guitar and a microphone in front of a small audience of people who paid retail price for their tickets since Steven Wynn has enacted harsh anti-scalping practices.

There aren't any pyrotechnics or elaborate stunts, or even a full band, just Garth Brooks singing up close and personal.

And people are loving it. Las Vegas Weekly loved the fact that Brooks was taking requests from the audience - meaning every show is going to be unique!

After a few songs and a Field of Dreams reference, Garth brings up the house lights and takes questions -- and requests! This is where Brooks really breaks from the pack, the rare superstar ready, willing and able to work on his feet. And these apparently spontaneous, unexpected requests included some early and obscure Brooksiana, providing some of the most polished and powerful moments of the show.

I haven't gotten to see the show but if the reviews are to be believed, this is going to be a show worth seeing - and with ticket prices locked in at $125 there's little reason not go try and see it when you're in the city. It may not be full of glitz and glam, but it's a down to earth show that full of heart.

Christmas is only a few days away and I'm guessing some of you haven't completely finished your shopping. There's that one person who is always hard to buy for - they have almost everything they need and never say what they want. So here's a possible solution: Exotics Racing in Las Vegas and Los Angeles!

The premise is simple: you go to a speedway and get to drive some amazing car you'd probably never get another chance to. Exotic's Racing has access to Ferrari F430 F1, Lamborghini Gallardo LP560, Aston Martin V8, and a Porsche 997 Carrera S. In addition to getting to drive these amazing cars, you get a course run through with a professional racecar driver in a Hummer.

Currently, there all the packages are on sale ranging from the basic 5 laps in the Porsche 997 Carrera S for $199 to the ultimate 4 - Exotic Car Combo Pack of 15 laps each for a total of 60 laps for $2,499! Be sure to check them out for an experience you'll never forget.

Vegas Deluxe has some sneak peak pictures of the upcoming Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis at the new Aria resort casino in City Center. And it looks absolutely insane.

Like, I'm so confused by some of these. Now, by no means am I a big Elvis fan but my brain is rattling from these.

This will probably be my final rant about Top Chef but last night was the Top Chef Las Vegas Reunion Special and I'll take any excuse I can get to write about this show (and no, I don't plan on starting a weekly column on Rejected Batman Villains - I mean, Launch my Line). But there were a few highlights about the chef'testants as they talked about their experiences with the almost-always-drunk Andy Cohen.

But the whole episode was a victim of misleading promotion - remember Kevin saying he was thinking about quitting at one point? Yeah, he was just emotional about losing Restaurant Wars. That's it. No wild story about Vegas destroying his morals or some sultry vixen seducing him. No, it was literally about the fact that he and Laurine had different views of what medium-rare meant.

But it wasn't all disappointments, some of the chefs came out much better off than they expected. While Bryan didn't win any prizes on the show, his restaurant is up 100% and his mom had a gift for him: a restored '79 Corvette. So Michael got the Prius, and Bryan got a Corvette, that seems fair.

The official numbers are in and the M Resort has the nation's biggest cut Christmas tree!

Clocking in at 109 feet, the tree is taller than the the Christmas trees at the Bellagio and White House - COMBINED! The National Mall's tree is close at 85 feet while the one at Rockafeller Center is 76 feet tall. Currently, the only decorated tree that's taller is at the Coeur d'Alene Resort in Idaho which has a non-cut, 161 foot tree!

After almost two weeks of non-stop decorating, the tree was finally lit last Saturday in front of nearly 6,000 onlookers. With over 10,000 lights and ornaments and a free treats and hot chocolates, it was a cold, but holiday filled night.

Image credit: Tom Donoghue

Big changes are coming to the brothel scene in Nevada with recent changes to the law. Up until now, only women could be prostitutes in the state for testing reasons. They were required to have regular cervical testings for sexually transmitted diseases and which meant guys had no way of being tested.

But that's changing since a new method of urethal testing is available. With this, Shady Lady Ranch is hoping to add to their offerings by giving the ladies something. Plus, in this economy, everyone is doing whatever they can to stay a float.

But the industry is wary of changing their ways too much. They've gone over 25 years now without any licensed prostitute contracting HIV. Plus, odds are some members of the legislature will be adamantly against male prostitutes servicing other men. But currently, women prostitutes can choose to service men or women clients. Oh the lovely world of double standards.

But pricing has yet to be worked out since it will be a completely different business strategy but Shady Lady Ranch is hoping to be able to offer males up starting in the new year as a test run of this new system.

Many casinos are jumping on the social media bandwagon but Planet Hollywood seems to be one of the few who really understands it. Consumerist.com has a story about Brad, who was frustrated by his experience getting a room in Las Vegas.

After a mix up with non-smoking room, Brad had to then go back to the front desk for a new room assignment. Without any apologies, he got his new room and logged into Facebook to post on their wall complaining about the event.

While many companies would probably ignore it, or delete it or log in far too late to be able to do anything about it, Planet Hollywood took a different route. Room service showed up and delivered a cart filled with fruits, chocolates, cheeses, crackers and a bottle of wine with a note saying "hope this makes up for the problems, your PH facebook friends."

Thumbs up to Planet Hollywood, this is the kind of service Las Vegas needs.

This season of Top Chef Las Vegas has been the most lopsided season ever. While only one person is now Top Chef, four people really won. Check out the Wikipedia chart on the wins:

Only FOUR people won episodes. Four of them, and they all made it to the final four. That is beyond absurd. But of these four, one of them is the biggest loser: Bryan. Because he never won a single quick fire and every elimination challenge he won didn't come with a prize. Going into the final challenge, the eliminated Jenn already won $15,000 in cash and another $10,000 to Macy's. Kevin was carrying back $45,000, a set of Calphalon cookware and a chance to compete at the Bocuse d'Or. Michael walked away with $35,000 and a brand new Prius. And then there's Bryan, who won four elimination challenges (but didn't win a single quickfire) and was entering the finale with a grand total of.... nothing, actually he won a single signed cookbook. (And before I get angry e-mails saying Michael shared his winnings from Resturant Wars, Bryan turned down his offer).

This Saturday the M Resort will be lighting their Christmas tree. Which traveled over 900 miles from Oregon and is 109 feet tall. The tree arrived late last week and staff has been spending the last week to decorate with tens of thousands ornaments and lights to have it ready for the Tree Lightning on December 12th from 5-8 pm.

"It will be an amazing sight to see when decorated, and we're hoping it spreads holiday cheer around the country," Anthony Marnell III, chairman and CEO of The M Resort who checked out the tree upon its early arrival told Vegas Deluxe. Vegas Deluxe also has several photos of the tree being set up.

Sometimes you just need that final piece to really tie a room together, and Body English's quarter of a million dollar Baccarat chandelier could be just the piece you need!

But you can't just buy the Baccarat chandelier, that would be far too easy. With Body English being shut down early next year, to be turned into an after-hours club, they plan on going out with a bang.

So the Baccarat chandelier is being given away on New Year's Eve to the patron with the highest bar tab, as long as it's over $15,000.

If you can drink that much in a night, I would like to be your friend.

With all the press saying that Vegas is ending, its almost comforting to hear about some high rollers who want something so absurd, and then find out that the casino indulged them! That happened last weekend when seven high rollers wanted to see the Zowie Bowie show but were met with a minor challenge: it was sold out for a private show.

But that didn't stop this group. Instead of being disappointed, they booked their own theater and hired Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor to perform a private show just for them in Wayne Brady's theater at the Venetian.

The hour and a half long show ended just before 6 a.m. in the 800 seat theater. ""It was certainly a first for us," Chris told Robin Leach.

Editor's Note: Sorry about the lack of photos, the Bravo website is updating properly.

After a break last week because of Thanksgiving, the final two episodes of this season of Top Chef are here! They packed up and left Las Vegas to go to the stunning Napa Valley in California. Each of the chef'testants arrive one by one at the Napa Valley train station. Jenn's hair has turned a bit curly and Kevin discovered that his beard has it's own Facebook page (no, really). Meanwhile, Michael and Bryan look just like they did last time we saw them.

But as the train arrived, and the chefs noticed the dining car, Padma got off, now sporting a baby bump and bangs. With her is the guest judge, Michael Chiarello, a Top Chef Master himself and renowned chef in the Napa Valley region. With this being the final quickfire challenge, the chefs should expect a curve ball or two. And Padma throws a couple at them.

First, they have to prepare in the train's kitchen car. Second, the dish must feature grapes. Third, it's a high stakes challenge and the winner gets a 3rd Generation 2010 Prius. So no pressure at all.

The train car adds some serious issues, like the fact that everything sways back and forth and there is a serious lack of space to prep in. Michael acts like Michael and swipes the only table to prep on. But the real interesting thing is Bryan admits he's never won a single quickfire. That just seems really odd. He's also never been on the bottom for elimination ever. Then again, only four chefs won elimination challenges this season and all four of them made it to the final four.

On Monday it was announced that Binion's will be closing all 365 of their hotel rooms, shutting down their coffee shop and ending keno. This will be happening on December 14th and about 100 employees will be getting laid off.

The reason for this is simple: financial. As rates keep dropping on the Strip, you can easily get a room for $30 a night. With such cheap rates, there's no way for Binion's to compete and determined it was easier to just close the hotel.

But the casino, sports book, poker room and Binion's Ranch Steakhouse on the 24th floor will stay open. But it may be a little awkward now to go to the steakhouse.

If you've got reservations at Binion's for after the 14th, don't worry. All reservations have been moved over to Four Queens Hotel & Casino.

There's no denying it that music video games are exceptionally popular, especially if my living room is any indication and the latest addition to the format includes a new piece of plastic: the DJ turntable.

DJ Hero takes the same idea presented in Guitar Hero and Rock Band but twists it slightly. Instead of being the lead singer or guitarist for the band, you're the DJ in a club responsible for mixing up mash-ups. But what makes games like DJ Hero unique is that you can talk to the people who actually do it for a living. You can't talk to a space marine to find out if Halo is accurate or a falling block to see how well Tetris matches up but you can talk to DJs.

And that's what Las Vegas Weekly did last week when they interviewed four local DJs, Michael Toast, R.O.B., Tina T and Ikon. Head over there to read their reactions to the game and how poorly they played the first time through. Overall they loved the mash-ups and anything that gets more people interested in DJing is a good thing. But don't expect to be able to play at the clubs just from this game.

Ikon put it best, "It's a fun video game and that's what it is: it's a video game."