Hidden Treasures for Casino Player Readers
Fun new shows and restaurants to discover—and big discounts for Casino Player readers
By Steve Kieva
The Rio in Las Vegas has opened two new showrooms called The King’s Room and The Crown Theater. The King’s Room features superb acoustics, intimate lighting and a relaxing atmosphere where some of today’s hottest up-and -coming acts will perform. It’s a terrific venue for concerts, comedy shows, after-parties and even karaoke. So far, its stage has welcomed comedian Eddie Griffin, hard rock band As I Lay Dying, and a variety of local bands and comedians. It’s located behind The Crown Theater and across from Gaylord’s Indian restaurant.
Here are some of the acts currently playing The King’s Showroom:
“One Voice,” starring impressionist Bethany Owen, who’s been called “The Woman of 1,001 Voices and Faces.” She takes the stage at 2:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. The winner of two consecutive awards for “Best Female Voice Impressionist” from the IGCTA (International Guild of Celebrity Tribute Artists), she brought her show to The Rio in January after a 20-month run at the Horizon Casino in Lake Tahoe. You’ll love her impersonations of Cher, Madonna, Tina Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Palin, Katie Couric and too many others to mention.
You can book tickets by calling (702) 777-7776. Ticket prices are $50.60 for general admission and $79.95 for VIP seating, plus taxes and fees. And here’s a Casino Player special: when purchasing your tickets at the box office, mention the code “CP2for1” and you’ll get a free ticket with each ticket you buy.
Also playing now at The King’s Showroom: “2 Kings,” a high-energy production that pays tribute to Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, with Charlie Franks playing the “King of Rock N’ Roll” and Chris Gardner stepping into the shoes of “The King of Pop.”
Gardner shows off his mastery of the late superstar’s vocals and dance moves, as he performs hits including “Smooth Criminal,” “Billie Jean,” and many more. Franks, meanwhile, showcases Presley’s music and moves with his renditions of “Burning Love,” Suspicious Minds,” and other Elvis hits.
Show times are 5:30 pm Tuesdays through Sundays.You can book tickets at www.kingsroomlv.com or www.thecrownvegas.com. You can also book tickets at the box office at (702) 777-7776. Ticket prices are $39.95 for general admission and $59.95 for VIP seating, plus taxes and fees.
Meanwhile, over in the Crown Theater, a famous, long-running Las Vegas show recently took up residence. “The Rat Pack is Back! A Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean” takes the stage nightly 7 pm.
“The Rat Pack is Back!” is in its 14th year in Las Vegas and has performed over 5,000 shows. The show has multiple touring versions and has been critically acclaimed in venues across the U.S., as well as in several foreign countries.
There are several options for buying tickets to the show, some of which include dinner. You can purchase the tickets and dinner packages at www.ratpackisback.com or by calling the box-office at (702) 777-7776.
Casino Player special: For any of the shows mentioned above, when you purchase your tickets at the box office mention the code “CP 2 for 1.” You’ll receive one free ticket for each ticket you buy!
Kiss Mini Golf Rocks Las Vegas
KISS By Monster Mini Golf, a one-of-a-kind miniature golf complex inspired by the legendary hard rock band, will open in Las Vegas on March 15. It will feature an indoor, glow-in-the-dark 18-hole miniature golf course; a state-of-the-art arcade; the largest KISS gift shop in the world; the “Hotter Than Hell” wedding chapel; a private VIP Room; themed event rooms; and the “Rock ‘n Roll All Nite” Cafe. The complex with be located on Paradise Road just across from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Casino Player special: Visit this web page to purchase your tickets (which are regularly priced at $11.95):
http://www.monsterminigolf.com/kiss/
When you make your purchase, enter this code: KMMG895. You’ll receive $3 off. (You can also purchase tickets at the complex; just be sure to write down the discount code and bring it with you.)
There’s A “New” Hotel In Town
Say goodbye to The Las Vegas Hilton. The legendary hotel is now known as The Las Vegas Hotel. Basically, everything has remained the same except for the name. The LVH is a great place to stay and gamble if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of The Strip.
The hotel and casino has a very relaxed atmosphere and is noticeably quieter than Strip properties. It’s also the home of my favorite Las Vegas restaurant: T.J.’s Steakhouse. The room is beautiful; it brings you back in time to the old, romantic type of Las Vegas restaurants.
Although you don’t hear a lot about it, the LVH buffet is very good. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a champagne brunch featuring the longest list of food offerings I’ve ever seen—and at $19.95, it’s a bargain.
(I also mentioned the property’s Paradise café in a previous column. I still stand by my claim that the portions it serves are the largest in Las Vegas!)
To celebrate this new era in the property’s history, The Las Vegas Hotel is offering this special to Casino Player readers. For $169, you can book a three-night stay and receive the following amenities:
A $100 food voucher
Two buffets
Two welcome Cocktails
Two entries to the fitness facilities
2 for 1 show tickets for the Shimmer Cabaret
The booking code for this offer is: QXMR169.
You can also book a four-night stay for $169, which comes with the $100 food voucher but not the other amenities. The booking code for that package is: QXMV169.
To take advantage of these offers, call 1-800-457-3307 and book your trip.
Hidden Treasure of the Month: Pasta Cucina (at various Station Casino locations)
A new name in Italian food is making a splash at numerous Station Casinos locations: Pasta Cucina. This new concept in Italian dining, which was created by Station, is now open at Sunset Station, Palace Station, Boulder Station, Aliante Station and Texas Station. These restaurants have taken over the spaces previously occupied by the Italian restaurants at each property. That includes the former Il Vino at Aliante Station, where the menu served as the inspiration for Pasta Cucina. Entrees will be reasonably priced from $10 to $20, and the fare will include delicious appetizers, salads, pastas, pizza and entrees, served up in hearty portions.
In Other News:
After a six-year run, the Las Vegas version of “Phantom Of The Opera” will close on September 2nd. According to Scott Zeiger, co-CEO of BASE Entertainment, which produces “Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular,” the show was an artistic success but was financially hard to maintain.
Rumored to be possible “Phantom” replacements: Spiderman or Rock Of Ages.
Another Vegas showbiz rumor is that “Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert” is the show that will be replace “Jersey Boys” at the Venetian.)
In the meantime, the Playboy Comedy Club has reopened at Napoleon’s lounge at Paris. The show is now called, “Empire Comedy.” Show times are 8:30 pm Thursday and Friday, and 7:30 and 9:30 pm on Saturday. Tickets start at $39.99.
The Western casino in downtown Las Vegas is now closed. There are no plans for parent company Tamares Group to redevelop the Fremont Street property which they operated for over 40 years.
It’s official: super chef Gordon Ramsey will open a new steakhouse located inside Paris, Las Vegas. “Gordon Ramsey Steak” should be welcoming its first customers in May.
Reality stars team up: Illusionist Michael Turco from “America’s Got Talent” and Lacey Schwimmer from “Dancing With the Stars” have teamed up on “Magic and Mayhem” at the Saxe Theater in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops. “Magic and Mayhem” will run at 4 pm daily. Theater owner David Saxe had this to say: “This show is perfect for all ages. Its youthful energy and innovative style will definitely set it apart from the rest.”
A new Public House just opened the Venetian’s “restaurant row.” Public House will be home to Nevada’s first and only certified beer cicerone. The restaurant and bar will be open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 am until 11 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 11 am until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Opening at the Plaza in March: “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas.” Also, look for Anthony Cools’ “Avant Garde,” a comedy-magic show which should open at the property at around the same time.
“Bite,” the topless vampire show at the Stratosphere, has officially lasted seven years. Many early reviews said the show wouldn’t last a year. The show will be reworked and tweaked, according to producer Tim Molyneux.
A new restaurant called Beach Boys Good Vibrations will open soon at Bally’s.
The Hangover: Part Three? The third installment of the very successful Hangover movies is scheduled to start filming next fall. The plans reportedly call for the majority of the movie to be filmed in L.A., with “side trips” to Las Vegas.
Buca di Beppo has just opened at the Excalibur. Meals are served family style and the selection is enormous. I recently spoke with regional general manager, Gretchen Heppler, and she told me she was thrilled that Buca was finally on the Las Vegas Strip.
V Theater owner, David Saxe, has announced a three-year contract extension with comedic hypnotist Marc Savard. The new deal extends the performance agreement for Marc Savard Comedy Hypnosis through 2014, which would mark a total of 8 years at the theater inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
The world famous Gregory Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is back at V Theater with new purr-formers, unbelievable tricks and outrageous fun for the whole family. $1 from every ticket sold supports local animal shelters.
Comedy Pet Theater features an amazing cast of housecats, dogs, even geese! Critics describe it as a unique blend of physical comedy, world-championship juggling and the extraordinary talents of performing pets, all of which have been rescued from animal shelters and transformed into Las Vegas stars.
Comedy Pet Theater takes the stage daily at 4 pm and is dark on Wednesdays. Log onto VTheater.com for ticket information or call 866 932 1818.
Food Specials
The Rampart Casino, located at 221 N. Rampart Blvd, offers a selection of $3.99 Early Riser Specials from 5 to 9 am daily, and a $9.99 prime-rib dinner from 3 to 11 pm daily.
The Mad Onion restaurant at Hooters Hotel and Casino serves 25-cent wings from midnight to 6:00 am for its Owl Rewards Club members. To get these cheap eats, you just need to purchase a $1.50 Bud, Bud Light or fountain drink. The minimum purchase is 10 wings. The Mad Onion also serves a $9.95 prime rib dinner that’s available 24/7.
Bill’s Gambling Hall has a $6.99 Late Night Steak and Eggs special served from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am at The Victorian Cafe.
Check out the Early Bird special (4 pm-6 pm) at Billy Bob’s Steakhouse at Sam’s Town. For only $9.99 you get a prime rib dinner that comes with soup or a dinner salad, fries, baked or mashed potatoes, and a bread basket.
Bacio, Carla Pellegrino’s restaurant at the Tropicana, features a “Happy Prefix Menu” that’s offered from 5 pm-6:30 pm. The cost is $33 per person and includes a three-course menu, plus a glass of house wine along with coffee or tea.
