Move Over Michael Phelps! OVIP Kyle Wins Specials Olympics Gold!

Congratulations to OVIP Kyle who won gold in the Special Olympics World Games! He won a gold medal in the 100M Freestyle, silver in the 50M Butterfly and another gold in the 4x50 Freestyle Relay. His whole family was there to cheer him on and he even met Michael Phelps! Way to Go !

www.opportunityvillage.org/

It's Back! The Sand Dollar A Vegas Iconic Lounge Is Now OPEN!

Long revered blues and jazz bar, The Sand Dollar Lounge, has reopened its doors under new ownership, with an expanded lineup of live music genres, top-tier hospitality, popular local food trucks and expertly crafted cocktails. The Sand Dollar Lounge will celebrate its Grand Opening on Tuesday, August 18 through Saturday, August 22, reigniting the more than three-decade long legacy of one of Las Vegas’ most beloved dive bars.  

The Sand Dollar Lounge’s Grand Opening lineup and festivities include:

·       Tuesday, August 18 – Industry Appreciation with Rustyn Vaughn Lee
Kicking off the week is homegrown musician and renowned local mixologist Rustyn Vaughn Lee, a singer, songwriter and cover artist with original music influenced by indie, post-alt and acoustic rock mixed with a pop sensibility. The Sand Dollar Lounge’s industry night has already gained a following of in-the-know food, beverage and entertainment professionals. Hungry guests can enjoy Hector’s Tacos in the parking lot. Doors open at 6 p.m., band begins at 10 p.m.

·       Wednesday, August 19 – Special Guest: Zach Attack
This Contmprary outfit combines classic hits of rock and roll music while remaining up to date with the latest rock radio.  Whether you want to listen or to dance, this band will establish the booty shaking, head knockin’ party vibe you’re looking for.  With a hip and classy appearance, this show this four piece puts on will be just what you’re looking for in a good time.
Hector’s Tacos will be on-site. Doors open at 6 p.m., band begins at 10:30 p.m.

·       Thursday, August 20 – Lou Lou White on Thursday Nights
Another staple on The Sand Dollar Lounge lineup, French Soulstress Lou Lou White studied performing arts in Paris. Her dynamic set revisits “old school” classic blues and modernizes it in a new and unique way: a mixture of jazz, funk just tinged trip-hop, sensuous and radiant. Also, Fukuburger will be the food truck on Thursdays. Doors open at 6 p.m., band begins at 10 p.m.

·       Friday, August 21 – Blue Fridays with Chris Tofield
The Sand Dollar Lounge takes it back to its roots each Friday night with Chris Tofield, a performer whose unique and masterful guitar style is matched by his energetic and soulful vocal delivery. His international blues-rock act of over 16 years, Chris Tofield and The Bluesbenders, was known for intense, high-energy shows. A food truck from Southern Kitchen and Chef John Courtney will be parked out front all night. Doors open at 6 p.m., band begins at 10 p.m.

·       Saturday, August 22 – Special Guest: Stoney Curtis Band
Rounding out its Grand Opening Week celebration, The Sand Dollar welcomes special guests, The Stoney Curtis Band, whose unique brand of psychedelic blues rock has gained international notoriety, resulting in several headlining tours and album releases. House food truck Hector’s Tacos will be on-site. Doors open at 6 p.m., band begins at 10 p.m.

Another differentiating component of The Sand Dollar Lounge will be its guest mixologist series, which kicks off on Tuesday, August 25 with J.R. Starkus and Max Solano of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada.

The Sand Dollar Lounge is currently open every Tuesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. until late, with plans to expand the hours of operation. It is located at 3355 Spring Mountain Rd. on the corner of Polaris.

Visit www.TheSandDollarLV.com for additions to the lineup and follow @TheSandDollarLV on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for promotions, special events and real-time updates.

Bravo TV Series My Fab 40th Viewing Party Coming To Dal Toro Las Vegas

Best friends and long-time supporters of the Children’s Heart Foundation, Francine Sanchez and Julie Marcus Downs have another title to add to their resumes…television reality stars.  The dynamic duo are set to make their small screen debut on Bravo’s “My Fab 40th” on Tuesday, Aug. 25 and are hosting a viewing party to celebrate.  Friends, family and fans are invited to Dal Toro Las Vegas (lower level of the Palazzo® Las Vegas) for the local viewing party with festivities beginning at 9 p.m., followed by the premiere of the first episode of the series at 10 p.m.  Donations collected at the viewing party will benefit the Children’s Heart Foundation.

Soul sisters is a common reference that is used when describing Julie Marcus Downs and Francine Sanchez.  While not officially related, their lives have paralleled from the beginning to today.  Both ladies were born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Las Vegas in the early nineties, where they became students at UNLV and even ended up in the same Delta Zeta sorority pledge class.  From there they lived in the same community, had daughters within a month of each other and excelled in their careers in the pharmaceutical sales industry selling cardiac drugs.  Sadly, both of their daughters also became heart patients of the Children’s Heart Center of Nevada.  It was during this time the women became highly involved with the Children’s Heart Foundation, becoming board members to the organization, whose mission is to make a different in the lives of heart families through emotional, educational and financial support to inspire a higher quality of life for all.  The duo founded Operation Heart Reach to fund the organization’s “backpack program,” which provides heart families with basic necessities they need to make it through hospital stays.

Downs and Sanchez are now set to star in the premiere episode of Bravo’s new reality show “My Fab 40th.”  Although current Las Vegas residents, the best friends opted to have their birthday blowout in Laguna Beach.  Coincidentally, the location was where the friends celebrated the success of their baby’s heart surgeries years before.  Their episode traces the planning of their entire party and is sure to be an entertaining and fun kick-off to the new series.

When it comes to over-the-top birthday parties, forty is the new sweet sixteen! Bravo Media takes viewers into the world of wildly extravagant fortieth birthday parties in “My Fab 40th”. From lavish venues to priceless gowns and custom cakes, these 39-year-olds are kicking off the next chapter of their life with a bang. Follow two former sorority sisters hell-bent on having their favorite band serenade them at their party; watch a formerly straight single dad attempt to unite his two worlds into a “Hunger Games” party theme; and enjoy the chaos that ensues when two hapless husbands try to pull off a double-surprise party for their suspicious wives. Marriage proposals, vow renewals, and even live "conscious uncoupling" are featured in this series that celebrates the milestone birthday and the journey to get there. Star-studded cameos include TV personality La La Anthony, actor Lorenzo Lamas, actress Nicole Eggert and Reverend Al Sharpton.

Celeb Sightings In Las Vegas! Where??

Kylie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers was spotted at TAO Thursday night with a group of friends taking in the sounds of DJ Five.

Also at TAO was former college teammates, Luke Walton of the Golden State Warriors and Richard Jefferson of the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Venetian Rose Is Unveiled By Loni Love

In an exciting ceremony at The Venetian® Las Vegas, actress and comedian Loni Love led the unveiling of a new variety of rose, The Venetian Rose, named after the Las Vegas resort. Loni Love traveled to the ceremony, which was held at Saint Mark’s Square in the Grand Canal Shoppes, in a gondola adorned with Venetian Roses.

The new breed of rose has warm coco peach undertones and champagne hues. It was chosen to complement The Palazzo Rose, which was introduced in a similar ceremony in December 2012, by Bachelor host Chris Harrison. The rose was grown and bred in Ecuador, the world’s third largest exporter of cut flowers. It takes around five years to develop a new variety of rose and this ceremony culminates and celebrates all of the hours of work from the breeders to create this new and beautiful rose.

“In the floral and horticulture industry, this is quite an honor,” said Dana Beatty, director of floral and horticulture at The Venetian and The Palazzo. “New breeds of roses are only announced every few years and we’re grateful to have been able to have this rose named after our resort.”

The Venetian Rose will exclusively be available at The Venetian for the first year of its introduction. The rose can be purchased through the floral department as a special enhancement to a guest’s stay or brides can incorporate the rose in their Venetian weddings.

ABOUT THE VENETIAN LAS VEGAS
Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Venetian Las Vegas features all-suite accommodations, exquisite restaurants by celebrity chefs and world-class entertainment and shopping. The luxury resort offers 4,028 elegant suites, including standard suites that are nearly double the size of the average Las Vegas hotel room. The Venetian is home to restaurants from celebrated chefs including Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, Emeril Lagasse and Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro. The resort also features Canyon Ranch SpaClub; a five-acre pool and garden deck; TAO nightclub; the Grand Canal Shoppes retail and dining mecca; a 120,000-square-foot casino and The Strip’s largest poker room; and more than 2.25 million square feet of meeting and convention space. Dynamic live entertainment includes concert headliners at The Venetian Theatre; ‘80s rock musical “ROCK OF AGES;” Motown favorites from the multi-platinum quartet Human Nature; and the all-female comedy series LIPSHTICK – THE PERFECT SHADE OF STAND UP. For more information, visit venetian.com, @venetianvegas and facebook.com/venetianlasvegas.
 

Slightly Stoopid Takes Over Blvd. Pool At The Cosmopolitan

On Friday, Aug. 14, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas welcomed American reggae folk band Slightly Stoopid for a performance at Boulevard Pool as part of the “Set Your Life to Music” summer concert series. Hip-hop rock band Dirty Heads warmed up the packed crowd before Slightly Stoopid took the stage playing a collection of its top songs including “Closer to the Sun,” “We Don’t Wanna Go,” ”Wiseman” and “Don’t Stop.”

The “Set Your Life to Music” series continues at Boulevard Pool this summer with HartBeat Weekend Presents Drake at Boulevard Pool Hosted by Kevin Hart (Sept. 6), Catch A Fire Tour 2015 with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Morgan Heritage and Tarrus Riley (Sept. 24), Flogging Molly with special guest Sean and Zander (Oct. 2), Counting Crows: Somewhere Under Wonderland Tour with special guest Citizen Cope (Oct. 3), Charli XCX and Bleachers with special guest Robert DeLong (Oct. 9), Garbage with special guest Torres (Oct. 10), Father John Misty with special guest Mikal Cronin (Oct. 15) and The Neighbourhood with special guests Bad Suns and Hunny (Oct. 30).

For Ticket Info - www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/

Credit: © Erik Kabik/ erikkabik.com

Hip Hop's Fetty Wap Onstage In Chicago

Hip-hop sensation, Fetty Wap, owned the stage with a surprise performance in celebration of the owner's birthday at Parliament Chicago on Friday night.

Fresh off of his gig at Kylie Jenner's birthday party several days prior, the talented artist arrived shortly after midnight with an entourage of friends, ready to bring the house down. The crowd went wild as Fetty got the party started with his hit single, "Come My Way," followed by "Trap Queen" and "679."

Following his performance, the rapper jumped behind the bar and took shots of Remy 1738 with the bartenders while mingling with friends and fellow partygoers. The party continued as Fetty and friends enjoyed premium bottle service at a VIP table until the early hours of Saturday morning.

Exuding sexiness and style, Parliament Chicago offers an exclusive nightlife destination with the hottest DJs and entertainers in the business. The stylish yet intimate upscale lounge features a multi-level state-of-the-art venue and rooftop garden with stunning skyline views that combines classic club ambiance with sophisticated appeal. The 10,000-square-foot unparalleled setting is designed to cater to the elite with a 40-foot floor-to-ceiling glass elevator, elaborate crystal chandeliers and a rich interior with touches of gold accents throughout. Recognized as one of Chicago's celebrity hotspots by the Chicago Tribune, the trendy venue also boasts a members-only lounge, reserved specifically for VIP guests. Parliament Chicago is complete with its signature rooftop terrace, Kensington Roof Garden & Lounge, offering the ideal rooftop destination featuring skyline views complemented with specially crafted libations and small plates. The alluring ambiance provides a picturesque backdrop combined with bold graphic patterns, intimate lounge seating and raised greenery throughout, allowing for the perfect summer escape.

Parliament Chicago is located at 324 W. Chicago Ave, near the corner of Chicago Avenue & Orleans Street, in Chicago's River North neighborhood. The nightclub is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 p.m. to close and Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to close. Dress code is strictly enforced. For table reservations and VIP bottle service, email reservations@parliamentchicago.com. More information is available by calling 312-380-0004, at parliamentchicago.com, on Facebook, on Twitter and on Instagram @parliamentchicago. Parliament Chicago is owned and operated by MD Hospitality, a Chicago-based management and technology services company.

Former "American Idol'" Winner Kelly Clarkson Wows Audience In Las Vegas

On Saturday, August 15, Mandalay Bay Events Center welcomed “American Idol” winner and GRAMMY Award-winning artist Kelly Clarkson during a stop on her Piece by Piece Tour. The American singer, songwriter and actress entertained the crowd with famous hits such as “My Life Would Suck Without You,” “Catch My Breath,” “Miss Independent” and “Since U Been Gone.”

American acappella group and GRAMMY Award-winning Pentatonix helped kick off the evening by singing popular covers such as “Daft Punk,” “Problem” and “Rather Be.”

Coming soon, Live Nation will present more exciting concerts in 2015 including Luis Miguel (Sept. 12), Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives (Sept. 14), Pitbull (Sept. 23 – Oct. 7), the final Las Vegas performance of Mötley Crüe (Dec. 27) and Maroon 5 (Dec. 30 & 31). Tickets are on sale now at www.LiveNation.com, www.TicketMaster.com, all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800.745.3000.

Credit: © Erik Kabik / erikkabik.com

Kabuki Spectacle At Bellagio Fountains Brings Out Tourists & Locals

The traditional Japanese art form of Kabuki debuted on the Las Vegas Strip this past week-end in a never-before-seen spectacle at Bellagio that ran August 14-16. Larger-than-life animations and stunning water choreography  delivered an extraordinary rendition of Kabuki masterpiece Koi-Tsukami, or "Fight with a Carp," as an enormous fish and turbulent sea are projected onto the Fountains of Bellagio in an epic battle scene.

In a classic tale of good versus evil, renowned Japanese actor Ichikawa Somegoro  played a handsome samurai who falls in love with a beautiful maiden - depicted by fellow Kabuki actor Nakamura Yonekichi - only to discover she is actually a giant carp's spirit taking the form of a woman to seek revenge against humans for killing her carp lover. The 30-minute production culminates with a dramatic clash between Somegoro and the carp from an impressive 165-foot stage constructed on Lake Bellagio.

Shochiku, the world's premier Kabuki producer and global ambassador - with artistic partners Panasonic, teamLab and WET and support from MGM Resorts International - aimed to raise worldwide awareness for the art by orchestrating an elaborate, high-tech performance unlike anything Las Vegas and traditional Kabuki have ever seen. Water screen projection by Japanese artists and masterminds teamLab, Panasonic's state-of-the-art digital technology and spectacular water effects by WET bring the historic Japanese narrative to life in a Vegas-style production.

"We are honored to collaborate with Shochiku to present Kabuki in Las Vegas," said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. "The Kabuki Spectacle is the largest-scale production ever seen on the Fountains of Bellagio, and we are thrilled about the opportunity to participate in the celebration of this Japanese cultural tradition on the Las Vegas Strip."

Jay Sakomoto, President and CEO of Shochiku Co., Ltd., stated, "To be able to realize this new effort as Shochiku welcomes its 120th anniversary is extremely meaningful for us. As the one and only producer and exhibitor of Kabuki, we are dedicated tocommunicating Kabuki and other aspects of Japanese culture to the world, as well as preserving the traditions of Kabuki. We are excited to present this vast and new Kabuki performance with collaborations of Japanese music and cutting-edge video projections on water fountains in a never-before-seen scale, with Kabuki stars Ichikawa Somegoro and Nakamura Yonekichi."

Program Elements:
Music- New music was composed for this performance and recorded by musicians in Japan. As the scene transitions from spring and summer to autumn, the Fountain will display a sweeping art form in sync with the beautiful melody of the Shamisen, a Japanese three-stringed musical instrument. Traditional Takemoto chanting will bring the music to a dramatic climax for Somegoro's fight scene with the carp.

Water Screen Projection- teamLab, a group of technology specialists from various fields of the digital society, will be projecting delicate yet dynamic CG images on the vast Fountain screen that are based on original images drawn by Kabuki artists. The beauty of Kabuki will unfold over Lake Bellagio using teamLab's digital technology and Panasonic's 3-Chip DLP™ Projector PT-DZ21K, which realizes a brightness of 20,000 lumens.

Fountains of Bellagio - The most ambitious, choreographically complex water feature ever conceived, the Fountains of Bellagio romance the senses with water, music and light thoughtfully interwoven by WET to mesmerize spectators. Set within the 8.5-acre Lake Bellagio, which for the Kabuki Spectacle will be transformed into Japan's Lake Biwa, the attraction features a total of 1,214 fountains that can soar to 460 feet and span more than 1,000 feet.

The Kabuki Spectacle is part of MGM Resorts' larger commitment to celebrating Japanese culture and the arts, which also includes a recently debuted art installation at Bellagio by renowned sculptor Masatoshi Izumi and the first-ever Japanese-inspired display at Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
 
Inspired by the beautiful villages of Europe, the AAA Five Diamond Bellagio overlooks a Mediterranean-blue, 8 ½-acre lake in which fountains perform a magnificent aquatic ballet.  Award-winning dining, a world-class art gallery, the exquisite Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the stunning performance of "O," by Cirque du Soleil, a sumptuous spa and salon and exclusive luxury shopping all work together to compose the symphony that is Bellagio. Bellagio is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International

Pet Industry Tradeshow SuperZoo 2015 Had Record Breaking Year

Pet retail tradeshow SuperZoo, held in Mandalay Bay from July 21-23, rallied in people and products of all colors and sizes by the thousands, once again proving to be the leading event of the pet industry. With 8% more companies in attendance than the previous year, SuperZoo 2015 brought together the most diverse group of pet professionals in the show’s 54-year history.

A show for the people of the pet industry, SuperZoo 2015 provided resources to bolster the professional retailer’s business to the next level, including 85 educational sessions and special keynote seminar on leadership presented by former Black Hawk Down Army ranger Keni Thomas. With Monday solely dedicated to education, which resulted in a 25% increase in SuperZoo University participation, attendees had more dedicated time to roam the bigger 2015 show floor. This year alone, retailers had access to over 2,100 booths on the show floor, not including the 696 new and never-before-seen products introduced in the New Product Showcase. All while 130 talented groomers from 9 different countries, including India, United Kingdom, Brazil and China, displayed their skills on the big stage in 22 challenging and diverse grooming competitions.

“SuperZoo 2015 was very exciting for us on several levels,” said Doug Poindexter, president of WPA. “We launched the first SuperZoo apparel line, held a new networking reception, and expanded the educational opportunities offered on Monday. We made some bold moves this year, and plan to make another big move in 2016; specifically into the two new halls in Mandalay Bay. The 2016 SuperZoo show floor will cover over 300,000 square feet!”

The larger show floor, which will cover an additional 85,000 square feet, will allow SuperZoo to be even more so a show for the industry. Just at SuperZoo 2015 alone, 10 dogs were adopted through the fan-favorite Rescue Rodeo grooming competition, which transforms ragged shelter dogs into primped pups ready for a home. On the show floor, Petco presented the Coral Restoration Foundation with a $25,000 giant check donation and Dog For Dog founder, Rocky Canata, announced his new CW show Save Our Shelter, to hit TV screens this fall. The SuperZoo show floor is grounds for greatness, especially considering SuperZoo itself is not-for-profit; its producers, the World Pet Association (WPA), use the proceeds of the event to benefit the pet industry as a whole. Annually, WPA donates over $950,000 to charitable organizations spanning the pet world, some of which include the Coral Restoration Foundation, Pets in the Classroom, PIJAC and HABRI. For more information on how WPA gives back, view their video:
worldpetassociation.org/goodworks

SuperZoo 2016 will return to the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, August 2-4; education sessions will run Aug 1-3, with the show floor open Aug 2-4 and expanding into Mandalay’s two new halls. For more information about SuperZoo, visit www.superzoo.org.

Saturday Night At TAO It's DLux Edition

Brio Tuscan Grille Adds Savory, Delish New Dishes

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Brio Tuscan Grille (BRIO) will add an array of enticing Italian dishes to its brunch, lunch and dinner menus. The new menu items are part of a nationwide refresh and will be served at both Las Vegas locations in Tivoli Village and Town Square.  Diners can look forward to delicious new offerings such as the Tuscan Brunch Bowl, Pesce Piccata and Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad. The recent menu additions follow the national celebration of the ristorante’s “Sweet 16” birthday demonstrating its commitment to continue serving unparalleled Italian flavor.

“We’re excited to serve up the new menu items here in Vegas,” said Lou Sassetti, District Partner, BRIO BRAVO Restaurant Group. “BRIO has been and continues to be a local favorite, and we’re sure our guests will enjoy the bold flavors each new dish has to offer.”

Starting Tuesday, Aug. 18, the below items will be available:

Brunch:
·         BRIO Brunch Burger ($13.95) – A juicy burger topped with a cage-free poached egg, warm provolone cheese and a tangy, house-made tomato jam is finished with fresh arugula and accompanied by crispy fries
·         Tuscan Brunch Bowl ($10.95) – A delicious medley of tasty sausage, quinoa, crisp kale, crimini mushrooms, fresh zucchini and roasted tomatoes blended together and topped with a cage-free poached egg and a spicy Sirracha-mayonnaise sauce

Lunch and Dinner Menu:
·         Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon or Chicken ($15.95 with salmon, $13.50 with chicken) – Crispy tri-colored lettuce and marinated kale is topped with savory pancetta, roasted tomatoes, chopped egg, crunchy croutons, fresh parmesan and finished in a creamy Caesar dressing with a choice of grilled salmon or chicken *lunch menu only*
·         Crispy Chicken Salad ($14.50 lunch and dinner) – Crispy romano crusted chicken sits on top of fresh tri-colored lettuce, marinated kale, farro, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, cool cucumbers, orzo and crunchy croutons, topped in a savory Tuscan Italian dressing
·         Pasta Toscano ($13.50 lunch/$14.50 dinner) – Perfectly cooked spaghettini noodles topped in a classic, rich Bolognese meat sauce and finished with fresh parmesan cheese
·         Braised Beef Pappardelle ($16.95 lunch/$17.95 dinner) – Tender rosemary pappardelle noodles topped with crimini mushrooms, roasted carrots and red onions in a creamy tomato porcini sauce
·         Pesce Piccata ($17.50)– Fresh cod sits on top of tender angel hair pasta topped with toasted almonds, lemon capers and a savory roasted garlic sauce and accompanied by perfectly-grilled vegetables *dinner menu only*

BRIO locations in Las Vegas are at Tivoli Village and Town Square. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. at Tivoli Village and 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. at Town Square. Reservations are highly suggested and can be made online by visiting BrioItalian.com.

Reservations can also be made at Tivoli Village by calling 702-433-1233 or at the Town Square location by calling 702-914-9145. For the latest news on BRIO Tuscan Grille follow Brio on Facebook www.facebook.com/brioitalian - , Twitter twitter.com/brioitalian and Instagram.