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Celine Dion’s opening night at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 15, 2011.
Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 | 6 p.m.
If you’re still under the covers shaking off the hangover horrors of the monster 100-hour-plus New Year’s Eve party marathon, don’t fret it. The entertainment directors on the Strip have accommodated you with an almost near-zero activities list, so remain in recovery mode.
In fact, if it wasn’t for global superstar Celine Dion and hometown hero Clint Holmes headlining above Downtown’s First Friday, all of Las Vegas would be in the ZZZ Zone. Celine is back at her Colosseum home in Caesars Palace, and Clint rules over Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Thankfully, we also have 53 beautiful 2013 Miss America Pageant contestants to brighten up the sleepy-town blues.
You can meet the cast of The History Channel’s “American Restoration” at First Friday, which at this New Year kick-off showcases 75 artists, 15 bands, DJs on four stages and 25-plus food trucks. This festival continues to grow each month, and it’s great how it attracts locals and tourists.
I confess that I’m a little worried about one thing this first month of 2013: It also is National Blood Donor Month, so I have to ask if there are extra bonus points for infused donations with vodka, tequila and champagne?!
Before the Consumer Electronics Show starts the convention year Tuesday and star invasions begin again, we have the most abbreviated package of the year. We’ll still plug in and scroll through all those myriad devices for the first Royal Robin Rundown of 2013:
FRIDAY, JAN. 4
MUSIC
Clint Holmes is at Cabaret Jazz all weekend. Black Veil Brides, William Control and Scream the Lie are at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip. And High Voltage is at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel.
COMEDY
For all-weekend-long comedy, Vargus Mason and Sam Fedele are at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in MGM Grand; Vince Morris headlines at Harrah’s Improv; John Bizarre is at Sin City Theater in Planet Hollywood; and Kathleen Dunbar and Derek Richards are at Big Al’s Comedy Club in The Orleans.
OF SPECIAL NOTE
First Friday’s arts and culture festival continues to draw huge crowds for art, music, food and more. First Friday recently celebrated 10 years of community in Downtown, and organizers promise to keep us warm with heating stations and hot beverages. A stop has been added to the shuttle routes at Rick’s Restoration/Artistic Iron Works, so patrons can jump off to check out entertainment and a car show and meet the cast of “American Restoration.”
A collection of artwork, “The Collective,” created by Cirque du Soleil employees from around the globe, opens and will continue through Jan. 25 at Trifecta Gallery.
The cast of “Evil Dead: The Musical” at V Theater in Planet Hollywood invites the public to donate during a National Blood Donor Month event. All donors at the vans parked at Maximum Comics receive a free pair of tickets to “Evil Dead” and a comic book from the store.
The World Finals of Beer Pong at the Flamingo with 500 U.S. and global teams is slowly being pinged down toward the weekend-long finals.
It’s Las Vegas Legends vs. Tacoma Stars at The Orleans Arena.
How can we resist this wipe of the napkin? It’s National Spaghetti Day, and Trevi in the Forum Shops at Caesars celebrates with special pasta and sauce dishes.
SATURDAY, JAN. 5
MUSIC
Super songstress Celine Dion is back at the Colosseum for two nights. “Rock of Ages” has its official gala premiere and party for its long run at The Venetian. Empire Records are at Vinyl. And The Eagles tribute band Hotel California is at Suncoast for two nights.
COMEDY
Comedian Ralphie May cracks the yolks at South Point for two nights.
OF SPECIAL NOTE
All 53 Miss America contestants walk the runway in dazzling outfits at Fashion Show mall before an autograph and meet-and-greet session.
In advance of the Disney on Ice spectacular skating here Jan. 16-20, Dare to Dream partners with Wigs for Kids for a hair donation event at Galleria mall.
It’s the Las Vegas Wranglers vs. Utah Grizzlies at Orleans Arena.
SUNDAY, JAN. 6
Eva Longoria and her new partners open SHe nightspot in Crystals with an industry preview in advance of the grand opening Super Bowl weekend.
OF SPECIAL NOTE
Local stars and Strip headliners join forces for “Our Town for Newtown: A Concert for Sandy Hook Elementary School” at Boulder Station to raise money for families of the shooting victims in Connecticut.
The Wranglers face the Grizzlies again at Orleans Arena.
Check back throughout the weekend as we wrap up 2012 NYE coverage and post Miss America activities and a Q+A with new Mirage headliner Boyz II Men. On Monday, we’ll preview the stars headed here for the annual CES.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
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