Celebrate Chinese New Year At The Cosmopolitan!

Dotting the eyes of the dragon

Yesterday (Sunday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m.), The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas celebrated the Year of the Snake with a “Dotting of the Eyes” ceremony and street parade in honor of Chinese New Year.

The “Dotting of the Eyes” ceremony began at the East Side entrance of the distinctive luxury resort.  Around 40 performers “awakened” the dragon and lions by dotting their eyes with red paint in traditional fashion.  Following the awakening, the performers began to weave throughout the casino floor with the twisting and turning dragon, lions and dancers.  The moving celebration made a stop at The Cosmopolitan’s High Limit lounge for a “Collecting of the Cabbage” ceremony before completing the parade.

Special décor honoring the Chinese New Year holiday will be visible on property until Feb. 17.  Guests can also head to China Poblano through Feb. 28 to taste innovative cocktails and a delectable menu inspired by the holiday.

Fat Moon Tuesday At Moon Nightclub! Mardi Gras Party Time!

Wax Figure Of Whitney Houston Unveiled Today At Madame Tussauds!

Earlier this morning (Monday, February 11), Madame Tussauds Las Vegas unveiled a wax figure of singer, actress and producer Whitney Houston.

The first single from Houston’s second studio album was titled “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and earned the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards in 1988.  The song’s accompanying video became one of Houston's best recognized music videos and ran in heavy rotation on MTV, VH1, and BET.  At Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, Houston’s wax figure will be styled in the same way she appeared in the video, wearing a tight purple-pink tank dress and blonde curly hair.

“We are excited for one of Whitney’s four amazing figures to reside in our music room here in Las Vegas alongside other music legends,” remarked Madame Tussauds Las Vegas General Manager Rosita Chapman. 

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas offers guests the unique opportunity to “interact” with incredibly life-like iconic figures from the celebrity worlds of film, TV, music, sports and politics.  Only at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas can you “grab hold” of your favorite stars, with our many interactive experiences.  With more than 100 wax figures, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas allows you to take pictures, touch and get up close and personal in a themed setting.  Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is located on the Las Vegas Strip at The Venetian.  The attraction is open 365 days a year from 10AM.  For attraction hours and pricing, please call (702) 862-7800 or visit online at www.madametussauds.com/lasvegas.

Pat Gray/ Erik Kabik Photography -   erikkabik.com

The Actor & The Drag Racing Beauty Hit Downtown Vegas!

Saturday night, Actor Ian Ziering and drag racing beauty Ashley Sanford hung out at new downtown hot spot the D Las Vegas on Fremont Street.

19-year-old Sanford, an accomplished A/Fuel Top Alcohol Dragster rookie, was in Vegas over the weekend testing to be a NHRA. The gorgeous racer pulled her glossy pink and gray dragster emblazoned with the D’s logo into hotel valet before heading out to Fremont Street to greet adoring fans, pose for photos and sign autographs. Ziering, who just wrapped filming Snake and Mongoose, a feature film about drag racing, stopped by the new hotel to meet the blossoming drag racer and wish her luck in trials. The two stars posed for pictures beneath the glowing lights of Fremont Street Experience.

Photo credit: Tim Marshall

Monday Night...Bingo Players At XS Nightclub!

Gold Medalist Michael Phelps & Entourage Party At Hyde Bellagio!

Saturday night, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps partied at Las Vegas hot spot Hyde Bellagio with a large group of friends.

Arriving at the nightclub with an entourage, the most-decorated Olympian of all time and Las Vegas regular enjoyed dancing and drinking at a plush VIP table overlooking the dance floor. Phelps surprised the crowd when he hopped into the DJ booth to deliver several shout outs to his adoring fans. Back at his booth, Phelps enjoyed the company of an attractive blonde wearing a sexy gold dress. His group didn’t call it a night until 3 a.m., soaking up attention from the packed club as they enjoyed house beats spun by DJ Konflikt and famed views of The Fountains of Bellagio.

Photo credit: Hyde Bellagio

Sammy Hagar & Hundreds Of Fans Celebrate at Cabo Wabo!

Sammy Hagar celebrated the third anniversary of his Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino with a free performance last night.

Hundreds of fans lined up in the early hours of the morning to get tickets to the one-of-a-kind show at the Strip-side cantina.

Hagar joined the house band from the flagship restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, Cabo UNO, right before 10 p.m. After welcoming concertgoers to the anniversary celebration, Hagar launched into his hit, "I Can't Drive 55" as fans erupted in excitement.

Hagar attributed the success of his restaurant to the passion of his fans. "For Cabo Wabo to survive in Las Vegas on the Strip is because of y'all," Hagar said. "The Redheads rock this place."

With his performance projected on Miracle Mile’s jumbo marquee for foot traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard, the Red Rocker kept the crowd pumped up for just over an hour with songs including, "Mas Tequila," an acoustic rendition of "Eagles Fly" and the Van Halen single, “Why Can't This Be Love."

Hagar concluded his performance by telling the crowd, "We're giving you the keys. This place is yours now."

Prior to the anniversary party, Hagar was seen at the cantina sipping on his famous Sammy's Beach Bar Rum, spending time with his wife Kari and mingling with fans.

Sammy Hagar’s hard rockin’ dining and live music venue combines the laid-back beach-town vibe of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with the excitement of the Las Vegas Strip. Blending coastal Mexican and Tex Mex cuisine, the menu offers a tantalizing mix of flavorful food, killer margaritas and an awesome venue where it is never uncommon to catch the Red Rocker himself jamming out with a live set on stage. Cabo Wabo Cantina opens daily at 8 a.m. More information about Cabo Wabo Cantina is available at www.cabowabocantina.com, 702.385.2226, by following Cabo Wabo on Twitter and liking Cabo Wabo on Facebook.  For more information about Hagar and his famous Cabo Wabo Tequila, guests may visit www.redrocker.com and www.cabowabo.com.

Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari/WireImage

Trio Of Sports Legends Dine At Meatball Spot!

Saturday night at Meatball Spot was the restaurant of choice among athletes as heavyweight hitter, Mike Tyson, UFC champ, Frank Mir, and BMX pro, TJ Lavin, all dined at Town Square Las Vegas.

After meeting with the Sugar Factory team to discuss a future partnership, Tyson and his wife, Kiki, enjoyed dinner at the new hot-spot. A fan of "Top Chef" Carla Pellegrino's gluten-free menu options, Tyson indulged in vegetarian meatballs and gluten-free spaghetti with classic sauce. While filming for his new documentary, Tyson and his wife, Kiki, shared the Spinach and Fennel Salad. For dessert, the boxing legend ordered two scoops of the eatery's refreshing coconut gelato.

While at the popular eatery, Tyson stopped to take photos with fans and babies. When he heard a family singing "Happy Birthday" to a young girl, Tyson walked over to their table, greeted the group and gave the girl a Sugar Factory Couture Pop.

Accompanied by a group of friends, MMA fighter, Mir, tried Pellegrino's Caprese salad and an over-sized slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza.

Extreme sports athlete, Lavin, dined with his wife and friends, enjoying the House Salad, Meatball Sampler and classic ice cream sandwich for dessert.

Meatball Spot is open daily for lunch, dinner and late-night dining: Sunday through Wednesday, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., Thursday, from 11 a.m. until midnight, and Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. Meatball Spot, located directly across from Rave Motion Pictures at Town Square Las Vegas, remains open for special screenings and big opening nights. More information is available on the website, www.MeatballSpot.com, by calling 702.641.7768, on Twitter @meatballspot, and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MeatballSpot. Meatball Spot is available for parties and special events.

Foodie Gurus Anthony B. & Eric R. Take The Stage At The Pearl! Delight Fans & Chefs!

Saturday night, foodie gurus Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert took the stage at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort for a unique show that had the crowd roaring all night. While the crowd of food enthusiasts, travel junkies and restaurant industry alike, weren’t prepared for a “comedy show” the entertaining evening billed as Good VS Evil kicked off with each of the evening’s hosts roasting the other one. The duo left no topic untouched and dished about the food industry (from sustainability to ingredients), fellow chefs (Ramsey, Fieri and Paula Dean) and the current state of dining trends (Hipsters saving up $350 to experience a meal Ripert's landmark restaurant Le Bernardin). At one point, Bourdain had Ripert blindfolded and unknowingly eating a fried Twinkie and then opened up to an audience Q&A. The unique show, which they have performed several times over the past year or so, is getting ready to hit a few more markets this spring.

Following the performance, a small group gathered with Bourdain and Ripert at The View atop the Palms’ Fantasy Tower for a VIP meet-and-greet.  Guests snacked on culinary creations by Simon Restaurant & Lounge at Palms Place, N9NE Steakhouse and Heraea, the female friendly sports lounge created by The ONE Group, while sipping on Patron and Imperial Vodka cocktails. Chefs Kerry Simon (Chef/Partner at Simon), Barry Dakake (N9NE Executive Chef) and Doug Bell (Heraea Executive Chef) spent time greeting and bantering with Bourdain and Ripert.

All photos creadit: David Becker/Wire Image

Far East Movement Performs At Pure Nightclub!

Angel Management Group’s PURE Nightclub welcomed worldwide sensation Far East Movement as they put on an unforgettable performance. Arriving around 1:30 a.m. the hip-hop, electronic dance foursome made their way into the mega-club where they were greeted by hundreds of screaming fans. Joined by their entourage the group took their place at their VIP booth located on the main stage and took a moment to shake the hands of a few adoring fans.

Around 2 a.m. DJ Virman began to get the crowd ready for the performance as he took over the turntables and told the fans he wanted to spin some new music for them. The energy of the nightclub soared as Kev Nish got on the mic and said, “It looks like PURE came to party tonight!” and started rapping along with the new tracks.  With bottle in hand, Prohgress jumped atop the railing of the main stage and started to pass out shots to partygoers on the dance floor as he hyped up the crowd. After a specialty DJ set the band decided it was time to start the show. All stylishly dressed they made their way center stage and kicked off their performance with the popular hit “Like a G6.” Full of energy the boys put on a mini concert as they jumped around and showed off their best dance moves.  Pulling out all the stops J Splif put on his vest made out of iPads and segued into “Girls On The Dance Floor.”  As the performance came to an end Prohgress began to play his keytar and asked the crowd to sing along to “Rocketeer.” Before making their way off stage the boys took a moment to thank the audience for all of their love and support and suddenly Prohgress jumped atop the railing and into the crowd giving his fans an up-close meet and greet.

Far East Movement celebrated a successful performance as they drank, danced and mingled with fans into the early hours of the morning.

Photo credit belongs to Al Powers of Powers Imagery LLC.

Dizzy Wright In VEGAS!! At ghostbar!

"Warhol Out West" Exhibition Now At Bellagio Of Fine Art!

Andy Warhol once said, “The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting.” Now, the wait is officially over as one of Las Vegas’ premier cultural destinations, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) debuts today its highly anticipated exhibition, “Warhol Out West.”

Organized in partnership with The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, this pioneering collection is centered around the iconic artist’s depiction of all things Western. “Warhol Out West” features 56 of Warhol’s works including paintings, sculptures, photographs, screen prints and wallpaper. Exhibits include Warhol’s 1960s Pop paintings of celebrities and consumer products; the 1980s advertisement series; the beloved “Double Elvis” painting; and his rarely seen “Cowboys and Indians” series.

“Our exhibit at Bellagio is the only comprehensive Andy Warhol collection in the United States outside of his namesake museum in Pittsburgh and we recognize what a tremendous honor this is for our city,” said Tarissa Tiberti, executive director of BGFA. “Everywhere you look in Las Vegas, you can see the impact of Warhol’s creative genius and it is remarkable how his life and art continue to transcend generations.”

One of the most influential artists in the visual art movement known as Pop Art, Warhol based his creative depiction of celebrity, advertisements, comic books and brand products within the realm of popular culture.

Eric Shiner, director of The Andy Warhol Museum, said, “We hope visitors to the gallery think about the relationship of the images in front of them with the landscape of Las Vegas, from the kitsch to the fabulous and everything in between. As Las Vegas is key to understanding America, there is no better place than Bellagio for us to share our Andy Warhol artworks. Whether Elvis, Liz, Campbell’s Soup or a Brillo Box, Warhol’s subjects represent America in all of its many guises.”

“Warhol Out West” is on view through October 27, 2013. Tickets are $16 for general admission; $13 for Nevada residents and seniors 65 and older; and $11 for students, teachers and military with valid ID. Children 12 and younger are free. Tickets and information are available by calling (702) 693-7871 or (877) 957-9777, or online at bellagio.com. Audio tours are included in the price of admission and complimentary docent tours are available daily at 2 p.m.  BGFA is open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes prior to closing.

About Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art

Located at the heart of the elegant Bellagio Resort & Casino, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is Las Vegas’ premier exhibition space – where great art goes on vacation. Since opening in 1998, the gallery has presented exhibitions of artworks and objects drawn from internationally acclaimed museums and private collections, including “Claude Monet: Impressions of Light,” “Figuratively Speaking: A Survey of the Human Form,” “Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol and Friends,” “American Modernism,” “The Impressionist Landscape: From Corot to Van Gogh,” “Fabergé: Treasures from the Kremlin” and “Picasso Ceramics.”