13 minute read
SPOTLIGHT
Luxor, 702.262.4400
Move and Groove
Before the Blue Man Group show even starts, you’re in a great mood, and once the propulsive EDM music begins, it’s hard to not move your body around.
The Blue Men instantly appear, making sounds with objects that don’t look like instruments at all, moving their bodies rhythmically, their eyes wide and full of curiosity. Families with young children should know that this is as all-ages as a show can get.
The Blue Men wordlessly discover the musical properties of Cap’n Crunch and cell phones, not to mention the artistic possibilities of chewed gumballs, mouths full of marshmallows, and paint spilled on drums that are being furiously pounded.
By the time the show climaxes with large, mechanical insects that can be played like a percussion instrument, followed by smoke rings billowing from drum sets, you’ll be on your feet and working up a sweat. –Ken Miller
The Magic of Funny Family show blends illusions with comedy
When a show opens with the tune “If You’re Happy and You Know It” blasting through the speakers, there’s a certain silliness and enjoyment that takes over—and this silliness and enjoyment is a high that lasts throughout The Mac King Comedy Magic Show.
Blending comedy and magic is not something that is the norm, King explains; usually a magician has an air of mystery and remains stoic throughout a performance. But for King, a man that came from a family of self-proclaimed comedians, the dinner table was the premiere pulpit to see who could be the funniest. Comedy was ingrained—and so was magic. Both his grandfathers dabbled in it; one of his grandfathers taught King his first trick involving a rope. Audience members are introduced to this trick, and while it requires nothing more than a rope and a pair of scissors, they’ll be pleasantly surprised and quite taken aback by its power to confound the mind.
While King possesses the air of an unassuming magician, looking more like a 1970s salesman with his plaid suit and briefcase full of tricks, the man truly sets the stage afire with his impressive skills. Whether it’s the bit where he goes “fishing” and conjures up a real goldfish at the end of his fishing pole or guesses the correct audience member’s playing card and pulls it out of a sealed cereal box, King’s parade of illusions constantly leave the audience stunned—and laughing.
During one trick, King calls up two audience members, giving them each a pile of playing cards. He puts on a “cloak of invisibility” and proclaims to everyone that he will transfer three cards out of one volunteer’s pocket into the other volunteer’s pocket using only magic. The laughs come in when King is doing the transferring, one card at a time, and asks one volunteer in a disembodied voice: “Did you feel No. 2 land in your pants?” –Kiko Miyasato
Excalibur, 702.597.7600
Star Treatment
Drag queen extraordinaire Frank Marino is one of the most recognized names on the Las Vegas Strip, having entertained at multiple venues over the last 40 years. And his latest appearance is one you don’t want to miss, not only for the entertainment value but for the food!
For a limited time, you and your friends can get the real star treatment at Frank Marino’s Red Carpet Brunch at Westgate Las Vegas. The experience at “The Frank Marino Cabaret” starts with you and your party walking a red carpet and posing for the paparazzi, after which you sit down to enjoy delicious food and cocktails while being entertained by some of the best female celebrity impersonators in the world, with Marino hosting as Joan Rivers (and Chief of the Fashion Police!).
In between each impersonator’s performance—Liza Minnelli, Cher, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Taylor Swift, Tina Turner and many more—Marino will appear in a different costume, engaging in some hilarious banter with his audience. Doors open at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (showtimes at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) on April 24, 30 and May 1. Show packages range from $49.99 to a $99.99 VIP package, which includes bottomless mimosas. –Ken Miller
Westgate Las Vegas, westgatelasvegas.com
Tasty Twist
For steak lovers, it’s hard to beat One Steakhouse. And now there’s another meaty option added to the menu, one that will appeal to both steak and burger fans: The One Steak Burger, featuring an 8-ounce patty made with certified Angus chuck and brisket and served on a bun with the textures and flavors of both brioche and a sweet Hawaiian roll. It’s all topped with butterkäse cheese and applewood-smoked bacon. –Ken Miller
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, 702.693.5000
Crowd Pleaser
Meat lovers can indulge in burgers that are all griddled and served medium rare on a potato roll at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer. There are all types of recipes from Mexican, Texan and all-American to bison, wagyu and turkey. For the veggie lovers, enjoy the Impossible burger, a vegan Nashville hot sandwich and Korean barbecue cauliflower. There are plenty of wing options, too, like the fan-favorite Korean barbecue wings.
Black Tap is famous for CrazyShakes, taken over the top with slices of cake, cookie-rimmed cups, cupcakes, Rice Krispy treats and more. For the drinking-age peeps in the group, Black Tap excels in its spirits and beer offerings. Enjoy many beers on tap; canned limited-edition selections; collaborations with local microbreweries; and craft concoctions like the Black Tap mule and Dole Whip cocktails. –Kiko Miyasato
The Venetian, 702.414.2337
Throwing Herself Into the Art ‘America’s Got Talent’ winner brings vibrant persona to genre
Darci Lynne was only 12 when she debuted on NBC’s America’s Got Talent with her bunny buddy Petunia in 2017. The two traded off vocals during a duet of “Summertime,” and although Petunia tried to cover Lynne’s mouth, judge Mel B was so impressed that she awarded the tweenaged ventriloquist a coveted Golden Buzzer, catapulting Lynne into the finals and towards a destiny of performing on the stages of Las Vegas.
Lynne is an 18-year-old adult now, headlining at the same theater inside The Mirage where her idol Terry Fator was booked for his first residency. One of the youngest contestants to win AGT in the show’s history is now positioned to help nurture ventriloquism and move it forward by introducing to the next generation the art of speaking through hand-held companions.
She already reigns supreme as YouTube’s most-viewed ventriloquist, thanks to AGT’s channel, and has performed at Planet Hollywood Resort and Caesars Palace. Lynne has the highest profile of any female voice-thrower since the late Shari Lewis warmed hearts with her beloved Lamb Chop. But where Lewis relied on comedy, Lynne sings with a song-stylist’s maturity. She’s toured nationally, performed at the Grand Ole Opry, starred in her own NBC Christmas special and appears in an upcoming biopic of Ronald Reagan starring Dennis Quaid.
Veteran “vent” Jay Johnson gave a seal of approval in a 2017 blog post on behalf of himself and household names Fator and Jeff Dunham as well as other torch bearers like Gary Owen.
“It is not that Darci is just a wonderfully talented girl, nor that her ventriloquism technique is near perfect, and her singing chops could stand alone without the puppet assistance,” Johnson wrote. “It is that Darci seems to understand the long history and tradition that she has now become a part of. Her dedication to the art and her young spirit will influence a generation of belly talkers to come.” –Matt Kelemen
The Mirage, 7 p.m. April 29, starting at $39.99 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
Songs That Move You
The question on the minds of fervent Michael Bublé fans who plan to attend his limited engagement at Resorts World Las Vegas is likely, “Which songs from Higher will be part of the set?” Tracks from the new album, released March 25, fit in well with the catalog of standards and easy listening chestnuts he draws on for live performances. Naturally, he’ll satisfy audience expectations with arrangements he’s preparing with a full orchestra for his Vegas shows. “Sway” will surely be in there. “Quando, Quando, Quando” and “I Only Have Eyes for You” are likely to be holdouts from his 2021 sets, as well as his version of the stirring “When I Fall in Love.”
The man from Burnaby, British Columbia, has a slew of options from Higher to choose from, including Paul McCartney’s “My Valentine,” which could replace “My Funny Valentine.” “Crazy,” his duet with Willie Nelson, might fit well alongside “You Were Always on My Mind.” Bublé faithful should keep fingers crossed that he’ll take the opportunity to add his cover of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me,” which would be a great complement to his rendition of the Bee Gees “To Love Somebody” in his concert repertoire. –Matt Kelemen
Resorts World Las Vegas, 866.740.7711 axs.com
Options Abound
Have you got a crew who aren’t quite sure if they want burgers or pizza or steak? Haul them off to Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar, where you can find all those items, but given a lift with quality ingredients and an extensive wine list for the vino aficionado.
Recent spring additions to the menu include a roasted beet salad with honey yogurt goat cheese, pistachios and beet chips, hearth-roasted Scottish salmon served with lemon glaze, and a 32-ounce, 25-year-aged tomahawk steak with garlic mashed potatoes and truffle jus.
The restaurant makes a mean Impossible burger, too, with vegan cheese and an avocado spread. Hearthstone offers an array of entrées, from steak and chicken to salmon and pasta. And as might be expected with the onsite wood-burning ovens, there are pizzas like pepperoni, meatball, short rib and truffle. –Las Vegas Magazine Staff
Red Rock Resort, 702.797.7344
Nibble and Sip
S Bar specializes in craft cocktails, and, boy, they’re good. Tucked close to Light Nightclub in Mandalay Bay, S Bar is the elevated lounge in the former Red Square area, but it has been entirely redone. Got a group? Get handcrafted mixers along with a bottle of your choice. If you want a few snacks or a light meal to take the edge off, try gourmet deviled eggs, lobster mac or tuna poke. For meat lovers, try steak tartare, smoked salmon flatbreads and wagyu sliders. –Nina King
Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7707
THE ONLY SURE BET IN VEGAS.
Resorts World Las Vegas, 702.676.6014
Picture Perfect
Italian restaurant excels at presentation
If you’re like us, there’s just no beating Italian food for its belly-satisfying goodness. There are just so many ways to approach this cuisine, from your basic spaghetti and meatballs to veal Parmigiana. And one of the Strip’s brightest Italian spots, Brezza, excels at every single one of them, thanks to the watchful eye of chef Nicole Brisson, who knows that a memorable meal is as much about presentation as the food itself.
The décor here is pleasantly spacious, with plush booths, bar seating, a main dining area and comfortable patio. It’s the perfect environment to sample any one of the incredible signature cocktails, from the Sirocco (Codigo reposado tequila, Cointreau, lime and pineapple) and the Brezzacello (Kelel One vodka, limoncello, Cointreau and lemon) to any one of the Negronis (we’re partial to the Sbagliato, made with Campari, Carpano Antica and Prosseco).
Appetizers are customized to any taste, from filet mignon in the Tuscan carne cruda for carnivores and the buffalo mozzarella in the heirloom caprese for vegetarians. Seafood fans will enjoy Littleneck clams al forno, charred octopus and fried calamari, served with pickled peppers, crispy guanciale and Calabrian aioli.
You can go the pasta route for your main course with so many choices, including herb pappardelle with lamb ragu, rigatoni arrabiatta with cherry tomatoes, cappellacci “oregenata” with cauliflower and spinach (pictured), and salt-roasted potato gnocchi with fennel sausage. Brisson’s attention to detail is all over the menu, and she often uses local purveyors. Try the osso buco with saffron orzo and gremolata, or the veal marsala, which uses local mushrooms.
If you decide to go for a steak, veal chop or whole branzino as your main, make sure to pair them with sides like mascarpone mashed potatoes, made with a poached egg, guanciale and pickled peppers.
Save room for desserts, which include tiramisu, panna cotta, cannoli, and the lemon olio verde tart, with lemon curd and an olive oil meringue. –Ken Miller
Sip Tips
Start your cocktail experience at Juniper Cocktail Lounge with a classic gin and tonic—except here they up the experience. The GNT (gin and tonic) is like an adventure; along with the bartender, guests get to use a paper fortune teller to pick the gin, tonic and the garnish like juniper berries or bay leaves. Also in the fun category is the A Little Birdie cocktail mixed with Sipsmith gin, fresh strawberries, Dolin dry vermouth and fresh lemon. But don’t stop there. Simple, yet elegant and tasty, is the True to the Roots cocktail with Spring 44 gin, clover honey, fresh lemon and fresh-squeezed orange. –Kiko Miyasato
Park MGM, 702.730.7777
Paris, 702.946.7000
Parisian Delights
Two words: stunning and beautiful. Two more words: romantic and luxurious. This is reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump’s and husband Ken Todd’s newest restaurant and bar Vanderpump á Paris. The interior design here whisks people off to the City of Lights with Parisian-inspired furnishings including posh seating, exquisite lighting and fixtures, bold statues, lush florals and greenery.
Sit down for a charming food-and-beverage experience. Dinner includes highlights like butter prawns, bourguignon pot pie, cast iron filet mignon, goat cheese cakes, crispy chicken confit and more. Desserts are a sweet lover’s delight, with choices like pain au chocolate bread pudding, crème brûlée beignets and apple tarte tatin rosettes.
Besides a wide selection of wine (including Vanderpump’s own line) and champagne, guests would be remiss not to indulge in inventive specialty cocktails. Besides classics, try the Tarte Aux Pommes, an apple-butter Old-Fashioned with bourbon, spiced apple butter, and Angostura and orange bitters. Or try the Flora Bora Bora with coconut rum, jalapeño aguardiente, pineapple, lime, coconut cream, dragon fruit and orange bitters. –Kiko Miyasato
Speaking His Mind
When you go see Eddie Griffin perform at his reopened stand-up comedy residency, you better be ready.
The veteran funnyman has never shied away from controversial or taboo topics over the course of his 30-year career onstage, and he’s not about to change his ways. Griffin’s latest comedy special, Laughin’ Through Your Mask, captured his performance the day after the Capitol attack last year. “It wrote itself,” he laughs. “Those (rioters) proved building a wall does not work, the way they climbed the Capitol walls.”
A longtime Las Vegas resident, Griffin has maintained a Vegas residency for years at the Rio and then SLS Las Vegas, which transformed into Sahara Las Vegas in late 2019 but wisely held onto their in-house comedy star. Now settled into the Sahara Theater, Griffin continues to bring insightful comedy to audiences. –Brock Radke
