John Katsilometes

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Standing ovation? Reflections on the Smith Center's first year: Thursday, March 7, 2013; For an organization that ballyhooed every dollar raised to build a performing arts center, cheered the arrival of 2,458 tons of Indiana limestone and posed for countless photo ops, the Smith Center for the Performing Arts seems, well, quiet this time of year. And just when there’s so much to get nutty about: 10 touring Broadway productions scheduled for next season; a lingering high from the six-week run of Wicked last summer, and who could forget the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s March performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony.
Good or bad, Super Bowl halftimes have produced some memorable shows: Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013; I was on the phone with my brother the other day talking about the Super Bowl. I mentioned to him that I am writing a column about the all-time memorable Super Bowl moments. “You have to have ‘Be Bop Bamboozled’ in there,” he said. “Of course,” I said.
Holly Madison ditches the 'Peepshow' corset and prepares for motherhood: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; Ready for her biggest challenge yet, the Queen of the Strip continues to keep everyone guessing. This spring, Holly Madison and the producers of "Peepshow," the adult revue in which she has starred as Bo Peep, announced she would leave the Planet Hollywood show on December 30. It was to be the end of an era, albeit a relatively short one, for the woman who arrived in town in the fall of 2008 and quickly embarked on a hard-focused campaign to become “Miss Las Vegas.”
In search of song: Headliner Frankie Moreno treks to Europe to find inspiration: Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012; The objective is two-pronged, like a tuning fork. The three brothers will write songs. The accompanying journalist will write about them writing songs. But how does this process begin, exactly? It’s unclear how the Moreno brothers will embark on this 10-day creative adventure, this lengthy overseas road trip. The sites are laid open: Vienna, Florence and Venice.
The strange saga of the Stirling Club: Thursday, July 19, 2012; Late at night on May 17, the fate of the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place was hanging in cyberspace. Stephen Siegel had committed to buy the club, but he needed to move quickly. Stirling Club was set to close May 18, a Friday night, hosting its “last dance” at 10:30 p.m. A day earlier, Siegel sent an email to the Turnberry Place Master Homeowners’ Association saying he had agreed to buy the Mansion — home to the Stirling Club and all of its amenities — for several million dollars.
Four things to know about Surf the Musical, as it splashes down on the Strip: Wednesday, June 20, 2012; Surf's up.
Riviera CEO Andy Choy takes a gamble with classic casino: Sunday, May 27, 2012; Ask Andy Choy what he studied in college and he smiles slightly. “I was actually a probability major,” he says after a one-beat pause. “I was a statistics major. So, I actually study the odds and understand it beyond the periphery.” That quality, understanding odds beyond the periphery, is vital to the success of Choy and the hotel he operates, the Riviera.
Riviera CEO Andy Choy plays the odds on a classic casino: Thursday, May 24, 2012; The Riviera CEO is betting on classic amenities (and one bingo-ball costume) for casino resurgence.
Santana moves into House of Blues: Wednesday, May 2, 2012; The House of Blues will feel more like a big club for his new residency, which began Wednesday night.
Seven quotes from the Academy of Country Music Awards: Wednesday, April 4, 2012; John Katsilometes catches some words of wisdom on the ACM red carpet and in the media room

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Blog Entries

Live from the Billboard Music Awards: Swift wins Top Artist; Bieber wins Milestone Award; Prince burns in finale: Sunday, May 19, 2013; The 2013 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena kicked off with a great performance by Bruno Mars and some jokes from host Tracy Morgan.
Jabbawockeez shift into higher gear with 'Prism' at Luxor: Sunday, May 19, 2013; Together for a decade, Jabbawockeez continue to develop their act and have developed a wide-ranging show with "Prism."
Penn Jillette’s weekend plans: Baby-sit Trace Adkins’ kids, beat Adkins on ‘All-Star Celebrity Apprentice’: Friday, May 17, 2013; Penn Jillette and Trace Adkins have become close friends during NBC's all-star season of "Celebrity Apprentice."
LVH books a classic-rock act, and it ain't 'Rock Vault'; Brad Garrett turns to animation and stand-up after sitcom cancellation: Friday, May 17, 2013; "Raiding the Rock Vault" is a classic-rock production show, but Led ZepAgain is in town this weekend.
Horses of a different color: Crazy Horse Too-Crazy Horse III in court next week; Helldorado Days plots its future: Thursday, May 16, 2013; The famous gentlemen's club on Industrial opens next week, but what will it be called?
'KWTD': 'Rock Vault' loaded with hits — including a right hook by Howard Leese: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; In the first week of "Raiding the Rock Vault" at LVH, Heart guitarist Howard Leese landed one of his greatest hits.
From Carson City to L.A., Pasquale Rotella and EDC are a hot topic: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Pasquale Rotella and Holly Madison are starting a family in Las Vegas amid a tax debate in Carson City that threatens the future of EDC at Las Vegas ...
Elvis king crowned on Fremont Street, but Sam and Linda Thompson also win: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Chad Collins topped a field of 19 Elvis Tribute Artists, but the brother-sister combo of Sam and Linda Thompson picked up some cash, too.
Elvis king crowned on Fremont Street; Sam and Linda Thompson also win: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Chad Collins topped a field of 19 Elvis Tribute Artists, but the brother-and-sister combo of Sam and Linda Thompson picked up some cash, too. The ...
For ‘Model Employee’ octet, Mandalay Bay is the first, last and only resort: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; "Model Employee" is a contest among eight models competing to be the spokeswoman for Mandalay Bay.