Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009 | 7 p.m.
If you go
- What: Michael John’s Billy Joel Tribute Show
- When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- Where: : South Point
- Tickets: : $15-$25; 797-8055, www.billyjoeltributeshow.com
Las Vegas native Michael John Pappageorge got a late start in his entertainment career.
The 46-year-old Clark County employee was 24 before he learned to play the piano, 36 before he began focusing on a Billy Joel tribute act.
Today, when he isn’t training government employees in time management, leadership and customer service, Pappageorge may be found in Los Angeles or in the East – sometimes in Las Vegas.
On Friday and Saturday, Pappageorge and his seven-piece backup band will be at South Point, his second gig there. On Aug. 28-29, he will perform at the Eastside Cannery.
In between, he will be in Southern California with a show that includes Elton John tribute artist Jeffrey Allen. The two recreate the classic “Face to Face Tour.”
“We’d like to find a place here in town to do it, but haven’t yet,” Pappageorge says.
This weekend’s concert will be straight-up Billy Joel.
Until he started college at UNLV Pappageorge was more interested in sports than music. One night local entertainment guru Tommy Rocker pulled the 21 year old up onstage and had him sing.
“I couldn’t sleep that night,” Pappageorge says. “I knew then that I had to do this. It was too cool.”
Located South of the Strip, South Point is a hot spot frequented by locals. The hotel-casino is decorated in a Pacific Coast feel, with golds, reds and browns, mixing an island feel with the ambiance of Southern California.
Guests rooms feature 42-inch flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations and plush linens. Outside, the property features landscaped gardens, a hospitality to entertain poolside and a sand volleyball court.
When it comes to gaming, the South Point has more than 120,000 square feet of casino games, as well as a separate race books and sports books, a bingo and poker room. South Point also has some family friendly features, like a 64-lane bowling center, an arcade and a 16-screen movie theater.
Dining options range from an upscale meal at Michael's Gourmet to ice cream at Kate's Korner. The 24-hour Coronado Cafe is the perfect spot for a late-night craving, which include six midnight to 6 a.m. "graveyard" specials. Other restaurants include the Big Sur Oyster Bar, Don Vito's, Garden Buffet, Seattle's Best Coffee House and the Del Mar Deli.
One of South Points more unique features is the Equestrian Center and Arena, a first for Vegas. The Equestrian Center holds a variety of events, from college basketball to Championship Bull Riding.
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