Jenna Dosch
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 | 10:23 a.m.
The Kats Report Bureau has yet to set up at Eastside Lounge in Encore Las Vegas, but maybe it’s time to find a station there over the next few weeks.
An explanation follows in this latest raking of the scene:
• The Spiegelworld Production “Vegas Nocturne” lives on, if in a scaled-back form. The show that closed a year ago at Rose. Rabbit. Lie. in the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is set for a one-off Thursday night at the Slipper Room in New York. The production also played, in a reduced capacity, at that club in October.
This is “VN3,” as Spiegelworld founder Ross Mollison describes, and the show is a short series of sketch-comedy-based acts designed to keep the “Vegas Nocturne” production afloat as a show and brand. The difference between now and then, Mollison says, is there will be “41 fewer cast members” in the show in New York.
• Years ago, Teller said that Mac King, in his 15 years as a headliner at Harrah’s, was the only sleight-of-hand magician who could consistently fool him. That quality would seem to give King a good chance to fool Rio headliners Penn & Teller in Monday night’s edition of “Fool Us,” the contest show on the CW. The program airs at 8 p.m.
The trick itself is to be a surprise to viewers and also Penn & Teller. As King said in a statement, “This was such an amazing opportunity to work with Penn & Teller since we have known each other for so long.
“We have seen each other’s shows in Las Vegas a number of times, so choosing a trick that they hadn’t seen before proved to be a challenge. The one that I ended up going with was one that I knew they would get a kick out of trying to figure out.”
• One of the great photos taken down before the closing of the Riviera was a shot of Elvis and Engelbert Humperdinck at the hotel after one of Humperdinck’s shows in 1972. The two were good friends, and Humperdinck was back in town last week to visit Elvis’ old haunt, Westgate Las Vegas (formerly International and Las Vegas Hilton), while filing a documentary about his life and 50-year career.
Humperdinck performed at the Hilton theater for nearly a decade and filmed scenes from the stage in that since-renovated showroom. He also visited “Elvis: The Exhibition” at the Westgate and reportedly enjoyed the traipse down memory lane.
• An act whose heart is in the right place and who has ample rock ’n’ roll chops, Reckless in Vegas, is now set up in Las Vegas, and frontman Michael Shapiro is taking on Cabaret Jazz in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Shapiro has booked 8 p.m. Aug. 14 for a full-scale production of his rock trio playing such classic ’60s Las Vegas remakes of “Luck Be a Lady Tonight,” “My Way,” “Danke Shoen,” “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” and “Mr. Bojangles.”
It’s Vintage Vegas, run through a Green Day filter, and, as the band showed in previous appearances at Downtown Grand, a great deal of fun. Those who purchase tickets by Aug. 1 are in line to win a new Apple Watch (as opposed to an antique Apple Watch, I suppose), so hit the Smith Center website at TheSmithCenter.com or call (702) 749-2000.
• Janien Valentine, known for her recent role in Frankie Scinta’s stage show and, previously, as a vocalist in Clint Holmes’ show at Harrah’s, is performing three shows at Eastside Lounge. Her dates are Aug. 3-4. Valentine also has appeared onstage in “Notre Dame de Paris” and “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.”
Great talent, and these shows at Eastside are free for locals.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas dares to be different. From the hotel’s red reservations desks to fine art found throughout the resort, The Cosmopolitan’s signature style is helping to pave its own path on the Las Vegas Strip.
Upon entering the resort, you’re greeted by pillars of video boards playing video art by Digital Kitchen and David Rockwell Studio exclusively produced for The Cosmopolitan. Just beyond that, you’ll find all your favorite casino games on the resort’s 100,000-square-foot casino floor.
The Cosmopolitan’s rooms standout as the resort’s most unique feature. About 2,220 of The Cosmopolitan’s 2,995 rooms have 6-foot deep terraces that span the length of the room, a first at a modern Strip hotel. Other in-room amenities include soaking tubs, kitchenettes and quirky accessories like artsy coffee table books.
The dining experience at The Cosmopolitan isn’t something you’ll find at other Strip resorts, either. All of The Cosmopolitan’s 13 restaurateurs are new to the Las Vegas market. You’ll find American steakhouse fare in a modern setting at STK, top-notch sushi at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill and the freshest fish flown in from the Mediterranean daily at Estiatorio Milos.
Whether the sun is up or down, Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub is the place to find the party at The Cosmopolitan. The venue is a dayclub/nightclub, complete with a pool and cabanas outside and three different rooms with three different vibes inside.
If nightclubs aren’t your thing, you can grab a drink at one of The Cosmopolitan’s five other bars, like The Chandelier, which is encased in 2 million dripping crystals.
Carnival lasts all year at the Rio. With a float occasionally passing overhead and dropping beads while feathered dancers fire up the gamblers below, the Rio tries to keep its 120,000-square foot casino jumping with excitement. Special Brazilian mixed-drinks are also served throughout the casino. The hotel suites tend to be larger than similar priced rooms on the Strip and many offer excellent views with floor to ceiling windows.
The Rio offers some quality shows like "Penn & Teller" and "Chippendales." Many come to the Rio for the nightlife at the VooDoo Lounge, located on the 51st floor, or McFadden's Irish Pub on the casino level.
Others come for a bit relaxation at the Rio Spa or pool area and still others come to shop at the hotel's 60,000 square feet of shops. In each of these endeavors, the Rio attempts to make the experience a bit more fun and spontaneous.
The Rio also offers guests a variety of dining choices from all-American food at the All-American Bar & Grille to Gaylord India Restaurant for something a little spicier and even Carnival World Buffet for the indecisive.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
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