Friday, Dec. 15, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.
Wearing a grin on his face and a tiny martini-shaped pin on his lapel, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman didn't hesitate when asked for his favorite Las Vegas New Year's Eve celebration.
"I can tell you that my favorite was before I was the mayor, because I went to bed at 9 o'clock at night," the mayor said Thursday morning after a news conference announcing "America's Party: Las Vegas New Year 2007." The party's wide scope - from the Strip to Fremont Street - was evident by those who participated in Thursday's event. Also taking the stage were Las Vegas Events President Pa t Christenson, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Vice President Vince Alberta, Fremont Street Experience President Jeff Victor and Pyro Spectaculars President Jim Souza. The fireworks show - produced by Pyro Spectaculars - is titled "Vegas Royale 2007" and will have a soundtrack composed of James Bond film music.
The fireworks show will be launched from seven Strip rooftops, pared from 10 in past years. Bally's and Excalibur are not needed for this party, as they are close to other hotels participating in the show, and also sitting it out is the shuttered Stardust. Resorts launching explosives will be Monte Carlo, MGM Grand, Flamingo Las Vegas, Treasure Island, Venetian, Circus Circus and Stratosphere.
"The truth is, each year since I've been mayor has been more spectacular than the last," Goodman continued. "The thing I like most about it is walking around the Fremont Street Experience and seeing how well-mannered the crowd is, and at the same time enjoying the revelry and having a good time."
For this year's celebration, Fremont Street will share the spotlight with the fireworks show in Direct TV's coverage on its music show "CD USA." The music lineup of All-American Rejects, Five for Fighting, Rockstar: SuperNova, Smash Mouth, OK Go and Chicago is the most ambitious booking ever on Fremont Street for New Year's Eve (damning with faint praise, yes, if you consider that the remains of Bachman Turner Overdrive was the headliner in 1999-2000). Cost for the 18-over party is $80, and that doesn't include flat beer served in plastic footballs.
"It's huge, absolutely the most important New Year's Eve we've had downtown," Goodman said. "It's not just our party, it's the world's party." And we are accommodating hosts - according to Alberta, 301,000 visitors are expected to drop in on Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.
NoteMart
The Downtown Coffee Co. at 231 S. Third St. (at the northeast corner of Bridger Street) is still holding its Friday night no-cover jazz jams called "Jazz at the Church." You never know who might show up: Last Friday it was Keely Smith, who took to the stage to join venerable drummer Bobby Morris (she performed from around 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.) The music at the former First United Methodist Church of Las Vegas starts at 7 tonight ...
Remember, your four-figure dinner tab is helping groom future star chefs: Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace will host a food and wine benefit on Jan. 6 on behalf of the James Beard Foundation and the Guy Savoy James Beard Foundation Scholarship Fund. A portion of the proceeds from the dinner will fund a scholarship for outstanding students majoring in culinary arts at UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. The Beard Foundation will also receive funds from the seven-course event. Tickets are $600 apiece, $500 for James Beard Foundation members (call Laura Savoy at 731-7482 for information) ...
Richard Cheese (aka Mark Jonathan Davis) and Lounge Against the Machine, an ensemble rooted in the classic lounges of Vegas, will be featured on NBC's "Las Vegas" tonight at 9. Cheese's Christmas song, unambiguously titled "Christmas In Las Vegas" is to be played in the show's first five minutes ...
Today's Las Vegas gift item can be found at John Fish Jewelers at the Commercial Center on East Sahara Avenue, which is selling its own brand of watches (They are stylish! Yet durable!), which start at $100. The family-owned business is celebrating its 50th year of operation in Vegas ...
In an odd turn of events, this week I was named to Gov.-elect Jim Gibbons' transition team (I joke of course) ...
Human airs: Untangling a couple of factual snarls from the past few days, venerable comic David Brenner is performing at the Orleans (not the Suncoast) Dec. 29-31 and my MAN David Hasseloff is portraying Roger DeBris (not Franz Liebkind) in "The Producers" at Paris Las Vegas ...
Tony Eason behind the wheel? Plate on a white Dodge Durango reads, P8TRIOTS.
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