SPOTLIGHT

MGM Grand, 866.740.7111

All the Feels

If you haven’t been to a David Copperfield show yet, know this: The illusions are grand. They’re not just immensely visual, with lots of lights and dramatic music, they’re often downright emotionally powerful.

As much commitment as Copperfield has to his craft, he’s got just as much passion about his past. In bringing his childhood to life, Copperfield enlists the aid of several “assistants,” including an alien and a dinosaur named “Frank.” We know, we know … it sounds corny, right? But don’t be the least bit surprised when you find a lump in the back of your throat as the illusion unfolds.

There are moments during a Copperfield show when you stop thinking about how he does any of the amazing things he does and just ... accept them. Call it believing, call it what you will—it all feels tangibly real. But mixed in with all this is a genuine sense of fun. Copperfield is very aware of his legend looming large, and takes plenty of potshots at it, keeping the audience laughing and relaxed. And as great as your memories of Copperfield may have been over the years, get ready for a whole new set of them after seeing this show. –Ken Miller

Just Dance

This celebrated crew dominates the stage

They wear masks but follow no mandate except their own. Facial coverings sported by the internationally renowned and respected body rockers of Jabbawockeez are more about having audiences focus on their moves than their facial features and expressions. They currently express themselves twice nightly in the Entertainment Capital of the World through Timeless at MGM Grand Las Vegas, save for dark Tuesdays, which essentially means they are the No. 1 dance crew on Planet Earth.

It was a long, head-spinning, freestyling way to the top for Jabbawockeez, starting in early ’00s San Diego with original members Kevin “KB” Brewer and Joe Larot gathering like-minded souls who wanted to transcend then-current conventions saturating dance competitions. The road to Vegas began in earnest when America’s Got Talent made them a household name in 2006. Two years later, they reigned supreme on MTV reality series America’s Best Dance Crew.

By then, the white masks and gloves, often topped with a bucket hat, had become iconic in the dance scene. The next step was global domination and, in 2010, they became the Strip’s first hip-hop dance headliners with MÜS.I.C at the Monte Carlo (now Park MGM).

Jabbawockeez were an instant smash and kept envisioning new shows for bigger theaters. In 2013, they created PRiSM for Luxor, then joined MGM Grand’s A-list of Strip resident entertainers with JREAMZ in November 2015. That show was so innovative that it ran for five years, culminating in the current iteration.

There is no experience in Las Vegas like Jabbawockeez, from lighting, costume design and sound to kinetic choreography that at times seems superhuman. The Jabbawockeez have stated their intention to change the world through dance, and it’s hard to not feel a little transformed after experiencing them live. Appearances at places such as last month’s NFL Pro Bowl in Allegiant Stadium are giving them wider exposure and larger platforms to carry out their mission. It’s like seeing the future now, expressed through extraordinary kinetic movement. –Matt Kelemen

MGM Grand, 866.740.7711

Tournament Treats

For fans of college basketball, the most exciting time of year has arrived: The beginning of March Madness, in which 68 teams begin battling for a national championship. The action gets underway on March 17, and venues all over town offer great viewing options.

Tailgate Social at Palace Station hosts “Buckets & Brews,” featuring appetizers like crispy-style chicken wings and hanger steak with roasted balsamic butter and french fries, and cocktails like the Raging Bull (Grey Goose vodka, ginger beer, lime and smoked cherry syrup) and the Buzzer Beater (Cazadores tequila, hibiscus, grapefruit liqueur and lime).

The Still at The Mirage hosts “Brackets & Beer,” with dishes like the Triple Play (guacamole, salsa, queso blanco and chips) and deep-fried Oreos with red velvet batter, and mules with lime juice, ginger beer and choice of spirit.

Azilo Ultra Pool at Sahara Las Vegas hosts “Hoop Madness” parties in front of its 240-foot LED video wall, including a specially curated menu from executive chef Lyle Kaku, plenty of drink specials and complimentary poolside games like beer pong and corn hole. –Ken Miller

Scope the Southwest

FlyOver Las Vegas is an immersive attraction near the Hard Rock Cafe, and The Real Wild West show takes you to the California coast, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and other sites. You’ll be seated in front of an enormous curving screen before rising in the air. The flight motion ride seems to dip and dive; you almost feel you are in a helicopter, but in truth are only a few feet off the ground. –Nina King

3771 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 866.498.2023 or flyoverlasvegas.com

Boogie on Down

An Evening With Silk Sonic is the only way to catch Bruno Mars with neo-soul companion Anderson .Paak. Continuing on selected dates through May 29, the duo will make live music magic exclusively in Vegas.

“Silk Sonic Intro,” the opening track from An Evening with Silk Sonic, the album, seems designed to open a show featuring music that pays homage to styles from the pre-rap ’70s. (Sample lyrics: “Who y’all came to see tonight? / Who gon’ get the ladies feeling somethin’?”) Translating that vibe into a live presentation is key.

The recording incorporates Philly soul à la The Delfonics, Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium era and layered harmonies laced with the sounds of string sections and glockenspiels. Mars paid attention to the big picture and smallest details, while .Paak made sure the funk was not faked and maintained the flow. –Matt Kelemen

Park MGM, ticketmaster.com

Las Vegas Boulevard South and Spring Mountain Road, 702.369.8382

Surprises Around Every Corner Find shopping, dining and more at this retail mecca

Spring is sparkling at FSLV—Fashion Show Las Vegas. From dazzling shoes at Nordstrom to designer dresses at Neiman Marcus, sequins, spangles and glitter seem to glimmer everywhere as the masses return to mask-optional shopping. Ask a Nordstrom team member and they’ll likely tell you sparkles are always in style, but the superlative shopping complex is prepared for a glamour revival as lockdowns are left behind.

Free valet is available exterior to Forever 21, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, with free electric charge stations adjacent to the latter’s parking garage elevators. Look out for the Tonal fitness area at Nordstrom and register for a demo to get a 30-minute workout before heading to Dick’s Sporting Goods for some putting on their second-floor practice green. Dick’s has an enormous inventory of equipment, gear and games (cornhole boards for under $200) upstairs and clothing downstairs, while Shoe Palace has the most comprehensive selection of footwear for discerning sneakerheads.

Look for Macy’s to add a Toys R Us section before the holidays this year. Already open is Galpão Gaucho, a Brazilian steakhouse on the plaza next to Ra Sushi, where meats are sliced tableside in a gorgeous dining room with a tall wine rack and fine, leather-sheathed cutlery for sale in a glass case behind the hostess.

Sweet-tooth satisfaction can be found at Lolli & Pops, which has everything from gourmet popcorn to packs of Pocky. It also offers one of the best finds in all of FSLV: Pez dispenser sets featuring cast members of Game of Thrones and The Office. They are great gift ideas, but FSLV has a special giveaway this season for a sparkling bride-to-be: a Christian Siriano wedding dress and $500 gift card. Register at FSLV.com by May 22 to be eligible. –Matt Kelemen

Staking Its Claim

The two-story Smith & Wollensky pairs warm woods and dark textile colors with an art-deco, bistro vibe, setting the scene for an upscale evening out where the spotlight shines on meat. Here, folks get a sneak peek into the butcher shop, where chefs hand-butcher your chosen cut, which has been dryaged onsite for a minimum of 28 days. The results are rich flavors, intensified tenderness and even marbling throughout all the USDA Prime cuts—filet mignon, porterhouse, T-bone, New York Strip, rib eye and the coveted American wagyu.

For a limited time, guests can book the American wine and wagyu experience where the chef and S&W team will pair Snake River Farms American wagyu with five world-class Napa Valley wines by the glass.

Classic steakhouse sides, seafood, shellfish towers and soups and salads round out the menu. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention S&W’s extensive cocktail program, which we suggest enjoying at the beautiful second-floor bar. –Kiko Miyasato

The Venetian, 702.637.1515

Anatomical Journey

REAL BODIES at Bally’s lets you explore every little thing about anatomy in a very in-depth way, thanks to a preservation process called plastination. Bodies are presented in different ways so you see not only full forms participating in various activities, but also galleries that inform you about how everything works, including the brain, the nerves, the muscles and much more. Other displays include installations from Las Vegas artists like a wall of bones and sculpture that moves. It’s educational, but impressive as well. –Nina King

Bally’s, 702.777.2782

Hearing Voices

The Las Vegas Strip is populated with America’s Got Talent contestants, but Terry Fator was the first.

His skill as a singer, ventriloquist and impersonator is unmatched on the Las Vegas Strip; he has a wide variety of dummies he works with while impersonating the voices of everyone from Garth Brooks and Michael Jackson to Etta James and Paul McCartney. What adds to the entertainment value of Fator’s show, Who’s the Dummy Now?, is the unique personality all his dummies have. There’s Elvis impersonator Maynard Thompkins, who keeps getting ready to perform but can never seem to actually do so; Vikki the Cougar, whose libido threatens to take the entire show off the rails (but never does); and Duggie Scott Walker, a very chill dude who would have been great friends with Cheech & Chong (if you know what we mean). –Ken Miller

New York-New York, 866.606.7111

Brunch All the Time

If you’re a brunch lover—the food, the atmosphere, the bottomless cocktails—and you don’t want to have to wait until the weekend to enjoy all the best things brunch offers, there’s a Las Vegas Strip spot for you: Primrose, where guests can enjoy brunch-type cuisine and cocktails and French countryside-inspired décor. Order all-you-can-drink sparkling rosé or mimosas (until 2 p.m.) or try one of Primrose’s specialty cocktails like the passionfruit mimosa, Greyhound or Lavender Sgroppino with Absolut Elyx vodka, lavender syrup, Prosecco, crème de violette and lemon sorbet.

When it comes to bites, sink your teeth and appetite into the deep-dish pancake, brioche French toast, steak and eggs, smoked salmon bagel, eggs Benedict and more. Or try the Mary’s organic roasted chicken, four-cheese ravioli, the grilled chicken sandwich or the Mediterranean plate piled with goodies like avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, yogurt, feta, lemon, hard-boiled eggs, olive oil and your choice of protein like salmon or chicken. –Kiko Miyasato

Park MGM, 702.730.6600

Stories and Song

Mr. Las Vegas himself has returned to the Flamingo to begin a new residency show, Wayne: Up Close and Personal. Wayne Newton, who first performed in Las Vegas in the late 1950s as a teenager with his brother Jerry, first achieved headliner status in 1963 at this very resort.

And he’s recounting many of the memorable tales from his unique career in entertainment—in Vegas and beyond— with this latest evolution of his celebrated performances. You simply cannot separate Las Vegas from Wayne Newton; one is not the same without the other. And that’s why his show at the Flamingo’s intimate Bugsy’s Cabaret theater space is so significant—every performance is making more history.

Never before have his fans had such access and proximity to this legendary entertainer, and he’s going out of his way to connect with every member of the audience through music, stories and constant interaction. –Brock Radke

Flamingo, ticketmaster.com

Belt It Out

Do you warble in the shower? Well, get out of there, dry off and head to the ultra-cool night spot KAMU Ultra Karaoke, where you can show off your skills to all your friends. KAMU features 40 separate, themed karaoke rooms for different sized groups, gourmet eats and cool cocktails plus bottle service. Choose from thousands of songs from any genre, sing to your heart’s content and be as loud as you want—and since you won’t need to try to remember the words, you should be able to blow away your shower performance. –Nina King

The Palazzo, 702.445.7664

The Mirage, 702.791.7188

A Learning Paradise Mirage attraction honors legendary duo’s legacy

Dolphins have excellent vision and make eye contact with humans. They can distinguish between individuals at the surface visiting them at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, but only look with one eye at a time. So says the announcer at a pool deep in the heart of The Mirage, where aquatic headliners Maverick, Osborne and K2 strut their stuff.

As nearby exotic big cats sun themselves in late-morning sun, the dolphins are ready to play and interact. Low-impact hijinks and swim-bys segue into aerial maneuvers and increasingly complicated choreography. They perform synchronized somersaults in pairs, then double somersaults. They “walk” on water and wave at people above the surface as well as below, where observation windows provide an aquarium view of the dolphins. Some folks take off their shoes and have photos taken on the wet deck, while several others in wet suits listen to instructions preceding dives into the pool.

Elsewhere in the Secret Garden, a small child calls to a white lion from Southern Africa’s Timbavati region, which subsequently opens its eyes. Timbavati means “the place where something sacred came down to Earth from the heavens,” but Timba-Masai looks majestic whether in repose or while wide awake and holding court.

The regal resident presides over a realm that includes spotted leopard Neruda, black spotted leopard Shadow, snow-white Bengal tiger Cosmo and gold Bengal tiger Svengali. Svengali is a rare heterozygous cat capable of producing white cubs, which late, legendary magicians Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn were committed to sustaining.

Secret Garden functions as a preserve as well as a scientific research and education destination. Casual learning is part of the fun. Bronzed signs share information about the big cats, and take-home packets full of activities are available for kids at the exit. Look sharp for “The 21st Century Ark of Noah,” an artwork donated by Romanian nuns in appreciation for Siegfried & Roy’s help in building an orphanage. –Matt Kelemen

Seek Comfort (Food)

All offerings at Robert Irvine’s Public House reflect Irvine’s travels around the world, and all have one aim in mind: Comfort. Start with signature cocktails like the Robert’s Margarita, featuring Patron reposado tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime and agave nectar, and the PH lemonade, made with Malibu coconut rum, citrus vodka, lime juice and strawberry reduction. Appetizers include wagyu beef slider BLTs in servings of two, four or six, and hummus and crispy chickpeas, served with grilled naan, roasted garlic and feta cheese.

Main courses include sandwiches like the Mother Clucker, made with pickle brine chicken, crispy buttermilk sriracha crust, pickles and PH sauce, as well as a killer pastrami sandwich with sauerkraut, grain mustard, Swiss cheese on marble rye with a pickle.

If you want to go a bit more substantial, try the bourbon maple salmon accompanied with roasted broccolini, bacon and tater tots, and cod fish and chips, served with Kennebec fries, lemon, capers, aioli and green onion. –Ken Miller

Tropicana Las Vegas, 702.739.2307

Hop On In

It’s a little dizzying, the sheer variety of spirits you can enjoy at Mama Rabbit, the nightlife spot inside Park MGM. It’s named for Mayahuel, a Mesoamerican fertility goddess with many origin tales, one of which references rabbits that she fed tequila and mezcal that eventually transform into the agave plant. Enjoy signature cocktails such as the Salt of the Earth, with Los Nahuales reposado mezcal, Amontillado sherry and Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, plus tequila and mezcal flights, custom margaritas, bottle service, a selection of wine and beers, and churros— to balance out the tequila, of course. –Nina King

Park MGM, 702.730.6773

Dancing in the Dark

iLuminate uses a completely dark showroom and lights up the stage with a troupe of dancers that wear customized LED suits rigged with wireless lighting programs. The result is an explosion of neon colors animated by the dancers who perform all manner of street dancing.

The troupe landed a finalist spot on the sixth season of America’s Got Talent and has since gone on to perform its unique show in more than 15 countries. iLuminate takes you on an in-the-dark journey where they follow a group of dancers as they wind their way through Club iLuminate. Each room inside the club brings a different dance adventure all set to ’90s hip-hop, R&B and pop. The show uses quirky comedy and creative set designs, and the visuals created by the kaleidoscope of LED programming on each dancer’s suit creates some pretty cool illusions. –Kiko Miyasato

The STRAT, 702.380.7777