Vegas Weekend Update

Election is over, Back to Unreality
Las Vegas Happenings

Aliante Station Celebrates Grand Opening Tuesday: Station Casinos’ newest property, Aliante Station, will open Nov. 11 in North Las Vegas. The $675 million Aliante Station will offer 202 hotel guest rooms and suites; six restaurants and a food court; 14,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and convention space; Regal Cinemas’ 16-screen movie theatre; Access Showroom, a 600-plus-seat entertainment concert venue and an array of popular gaming choices including traditional table games, a poker room, state-of-the-art race and sports book and slot machines. Aliante Station will represent Station Casinos’ 11th hotel-casino and its 18th property in Southern Nevada. For more information, contact Lori Nelson, Station Casinos, at lori.nelson@stationcasinos.com.

Caesars Palace Tops Off $1 Billion Expansion: Caesars Palace topped off its new 23-story, Octavius Tower as part of a $1 billion expansion. The resort’s sixth tower will add 665 hotel rooms to the property and will be located next to a new 263,000 square foot meeting and convention center and three new pools. The expansion is slated for completion in mid-2009. For more information, contact Debbie Munch, Caesars Palace, at munchd@harrahs.com.

CityCenter Tops Out Mandarin Oriental: CityCenter celebrated the topping out of its third high-rise tower Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. The 47-story tower is part of MGM MIRAGE’s CityCenter project, a more than $9 billion urban metropolis set to open late 2009. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas are comprised of approximately 227 luxury condominiums situated on the upper floors of the 400-room hotel tower. Met with strong demand, Mandarin Oriental has sold 93 percent of its residential units, generating $656 million in sales. For more information, contact Natalie Mounier, Kirvin Doak, at nmounier@kirvindoak.com.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Celebrates Expansion Milestone: As part of its $850 million expansion project, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino topped off its new North Tower slated for completion in September 2009. The 17-story building will feature 479 guest rooms, state-of-the-art meeting space, 10 luxurious pool suites and a 3,400 square foot penthouse. For more information, contact Cherryl Kaopua, Kirvin Doak, at ckaopua@kirvindoak.com.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts Announces New Development Plans: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts has announced new development plans for the world-class performing arts center to be built Downtown. Citing recommendations from design architect David M. Schwarz, the exterior of the Smith Center will now be built using Indiana Limestone instead of rose met quartzite. In addition, the 650-seat small hall previously envisioned for the campus has been removed from the building program. Plans for the cultural center now include a total of three theaters. The 2,050-seat main hall will be home for the Las Vegas Philharmonic and touring Broadway shows, in addition to housing the Nevada Ballet. A smaller, 300-seat theater will have a stage facing Symphony Park and host jazz, cabaret and other performances. The third theater will be a 200-seat flexible studio used for rehearsals, children’s theater and local community events. Groundbreaking for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is slated for early 2009. For more information, please contact Morgan Kise, Kirvin Doak, at mkise@kirvindoak.com.

Harrah’s Las Vegas Unveils Modern “M” Suites: Harrah’s Las Vegas recently introduced the new “M” suite product featuring sophisticated design and an array of high-tech accessories. The focal point of the bedroom is the dramatic headboard featuring a bold white frame with a chocolate brown patent leather center, set against a deep brown wall with vivid red velvet striping. Convenience and technology meet in the “M” suites with digital amenities including a top-of-the-line Denon sound system with MP3 player docking station and CD/ DVD player, sleek Bang & Olufsen telephones and wireless internet connection. Rooms also are equipped with 42” flat-panel, HD television sets and built-in screens in the bathroom mirrors. The 33 new “M” suites are located in the Mardi Gras tower and complement the property’s other recently renovated standard guest rooms and suites. For more information, contact Jamie Nielsen, Harrah’s Entertainment, at jnielsen@harrahs.com.

ELEVEN Spa to Open at Town Square: ELEVEN, South Florida’s top spa escape, has announced that it will open a 20,000 square-foot sister location on the Las Vegas Strip before the end of the year. ELEVEN Vegas will be located in Town Square, the 1.5 million-square-foot regional lifestyle center with more than 100 shops, 12 restaurants and several entertainment venues. The spa will open in early December. The ELEVEN brand includes spas, signature skincare and makeup lines, a clothing boutique and more. ELEVEN Vegas will offer features such as a pool area with crystal chandeliers dripping into the water, a large specialty hair salon, 30 treatment rooms, 11 makeup stations, a signature brow bar and its very own helipad. For more information, contact Danika Daly, Shamin Abas PR, at danika@shaminabaspr.com.

Disney’s The Lion King to Open at Mandalay Bay: Disney Theatrical Productions and Mandalay Bay have announced the award-winning Broadway phenomenon THE LION KING coming to the Mandalay Bay Theatre May 2, 2009, with preview performances beginning April 20, 2009. This production will join the six other highly successful companies of THE LION KING around the world in New York, London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo and Fukuoka. Mandalay Bay’s production of THE LION KING will be virtually identical to the other companies seen around the globe and will be staged with all of the same spectacular music, sets, and costumes that have made it a worldwide phenomenon. For more information, contact Erin Randell, MGM MIRAGE, erandell@mgmmirage.com.

Donny & Marie and Flamingo Sign Two-Year Deal: Flamingo Las Vegas has announced that brother-sister duo Donny & Marie will extend their contract as the resort’s headliners for two years, through October 2010. Presented by Danny Gans and Chip Lightman of GansLight Entertainment, Donny & Marie is an energetic, 90-minute variety show that incorporates singing, dancing, comedy and the stars’ signature brother-sister banter. For more information, contact Jamie Nielsen, Harrah’s Entertainment, at jnielsen@harrahs.com.

The Real Deal! Premieres at The Venetian: The Real Deal!, the first ever live, interactive poker-themed stage show, has arrived at The Venetian Showroom at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino. Starring comedian roaster Vinnie Favorito as the host, the world’s greatest poker professionals and the entire audience, the show introduces a new paradigm in entertainment and establishes a completely original live show format that combines fast-paced action and humor with the latest in wireless technology and abundant prizes, including a chance to win $1 million. The Real Deal! occurs Tuesday through Sunday with shows at 5 p.m. and primetime performances on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 - $125. For more information, contact LeAnn Tinch, The Venetian, at leann.tinch@venetian.com.

SUSHISAMBA Strip Launches Signature SAMBAbrunch and SUSHI+SAKE 101:
SUSHISAMBA Strip is now serving its signature SAMBAbrunch every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located on the retail level of The Shoppes at The Palazzo, SUSHISAMBA now offers a family-style brunch menu complete with Continental and Brazilian, or Feijoada, breakfast selections for $22.95 per person. Additionally, the restaurant has announced an interactive, two-hour teaching and tasting event called SUSHI+SAKE 101. Beginning Nov. 5, participants will learn what it takes to become a master sushi chef while sipping sake alongside a five-course meal. The class introduces students to the art and history of this unique cuisine. For more information, contact Marina Nicola, Wagner Junker, at marina@wagnerjunker.com.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Extends Popular Exhibition Through New Years:
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has announced the extension of its “American Modernism” exhibition. The compelling collection now can be viewed through Jan. 2, 2009. Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), the exhibit features masterworks by Georgia O’Keeffe, Stuart Davis, Marsden Hartley, Arshile Gorky and others. For more information, contact Rebecca Ingram Frisch, MGM MIRAGE, ringram@mgmmirage.com.

Paris Las Vegas to Host 2nd Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration: Following last year’s inaugural celebration, Paris Las Vegas has announced its 2nd Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration set to kick-off at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 20. Honoring the long tradition regulated by French law, Beaujolais Nouveau, a red wine made from Gamay grapes in the Beaujolais region of France, is released no sooner than the third Thursday of November when it is ready for consumption just six weeks after the harvest. Paris Las Vegas will host special events, tastings and unique Beaujolais Nouveau wine pairing menus at its restaurants. For more information, contact Tanesa Medlin, Mixed Media Entertainment, at tanesa@mmelv.com.

Virgin America Expands New York-Las Vegas Route: Virgin America, the California-based airline, announced it will add another daily non-stop flight between New York’s John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and Las Vegas McCarran International (LAS) airports. Effective Dec. 11, 2008, Virgin America will have two daily flights on this busy travel route. On Sept. 4, Virgin America launched the non-stop JFK-LAS route with a star-studded inaugural flight. For more information, contact Abby Lunardini, Virgin America, at abby.lunardini@virginamerica.com.

Catholics Humble in Las Vegas: Little known facts about the Catholic Church in Las Vegas --There are more churches in Las Vegas than casinos. During Sunday services at the offertory, some worshipers contribute casino chips as opposed to cash. Some are sharing their winnings - some are hoping to win. Since they get chips from so many different casinos, and they are worth money, the Catholic churches are required to send all the chips into the diocese for sorting. Once sorted into the respective casino chips, one junior priest takes the chips and makes the rounds to the casinos turning chips into cash. And he is known as .....................The Chip Monk! For more information put your tongue in your cheek and pass this one on to a friend.

A little blogging music Maestro… “Viva Las Vegas,” By Elvis.

Dr. Forgot

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