SPOTLIGHT

The STRAT, 702.380.7777

Shining Bright

It’s a mix of music, art and dance in simply one of the coolest shows on the Las Vegas Strip. 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 fi nalist 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 you will follow a group of dancers as they wind their way throughout Club iLuminate. Each room inside the club brings a di erent dance adventure, all set to top 40 hits—fans of ’90s hip-hop, R&B and pop will especially enjoy the show. There’s simply nothing else like iLuminate. –Kiko Miyasato

Bellagio, 702.693.8865

Fine Experience Dine where the food and décor are works of art

Even after 23 years, Bellagio continues to be one of the most elegant, picturesque locales on the Las Vegas Strip. Its combination of impeccably detailed interiors, galleries and exhibits draws in millions of visitors a year, and its restaurant o erings are top-to-bottom excellent. But Picasso truly stands alone. Not only has executive chef Julian Serrano created an incredible menu, the venue itself is stunning, with décor that includes actual works from Pablo Picasso himself.

There are numerous ways to work your way through Serrano’s magnifi cent creations. The menu degustation is the most popular and includes the Chef’s Feature—jamon Iberico de bellota, served with pan de cristal and marinated tomato. Your fi rst three courses include delights like a Maine lobster salad with sauce American, tomato, citrus and caviar, pan-seared U-10 day boat scallops served with potato mousseline and jus de veau, and sautéed steak of “A” foie gras, accompanied by sa ron-poached pears, cranberry and wild rice granola. Then you get your choice of main courses—Japanese wagyu fi let mignon, sautéed fi let of Chilean sea bass or prime petit fi let mignon.

The prix fi xe menu is also a great way to go, where your fi rst- and second-course choices include poached oysters with vermouth beurre blanc and Osetra caviar and sautéed crispy gnocchi made with Alaskan king crab and nantua sauce. Main courses include a roasted milk-fed veal chop served with rosemary potatoes and au jus, and a pan-seared branzino smothered with court bouillon sauce.

There’s also a decadent and fl avorful vegetarian menu. Enjoy roasted delicata squash, served with mushroom escabeche, plancha Chinese eggplant accompanied by hazelnut, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and raisins, and sautéed asparagus and mushrooms.

Please take the time to sit back and really take in your surroundings. This one-of-a-kind restaurant is one you’ll be thinking about years after dining there. –Ken Miller

The STRAT, 702.380.7711

So Very Tasty

Top of the World at The STRAT is taking advantage of some of the freshest ingredients around with seasonal summer dishes. Executive chef Chad Castanino has put together a mouthwatering menu that will tempt you as the restaurant rotates.

You’ll want to sample starters like the lobster cannelloni with heirloom tomato purée, preserved lemon and herbs; a refreshing burrata panzanella salad with pickled tomato, cucumber, and country bread in red wine vinaigrette; lump crab fritters with mango and habanero chutney. Entrées include garganelli pasta with lobster Bolognese, spring peas and whipped ricotta; and Icelandic salmon. Top your steak with several new accompaniments like bacon jam and tomato and garlic butter prawns. A new side, baked corn pudding, comes with honey and poblano butter.

Adding on a cocktail is sure to mellow out any anxieties you might have. Try the Summer Solstice, with Myers’s dark rum, Campari Milano, pineapple and lime juices, with demerara syrup. For a more citrusy take on an Aperol spritz, order the Not from Concentrate, made with Jameson Orange Irish whiskey, Aperol, Cointreau, lime sour and simple syrup. –Nina King

Expanding Horizons

If you love art, then a trip to Park West Fine Art Museum & Gallery is in order. The gallery plays host to a number of changing displays of contemporary and classic artists, and everything here is for sale! That means you could acquire a piece from a master like Salvador Dali or Pablo Picasso—or start your collection with an up-and-coming artist like photorealist Alexa Jacobs. And there are now two locations in the shopping complex, both close to the famous spiral escalator, which means it’s more accessible than ever. –Nina King

The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.630.1037

Tempered Temptations

I’ve said it many times to people who have visited me in Las Vegas, “If you’re on the Strip and you’re a sweets lover, you’ll find nirvana at Hershey’s Chocolate World.”

The two-story destination has all the Hershey’s candy products on the market, huge sections of different varieties of Reese’s, Jolly Ranchers, Hershey’s Kisses, the list goes on and on. Plus, there are gifts, collectibles, apparel and even chocolate-flavored lipstick.

But the real heaven lies in the in-store bake shop. Yup, freshly made sweets fill case after case of goodness—cupcakes, candy, cookies, cakes, pastries—you’ll have a hard time deciding what to try.

With the weather warming up, guests can also stop by the in-store milkshake bar for an ice-cold, thick sweet treat made with real ice cream and Hershey’s chocolate syrup. –Kiko Miyasato

New York-New York, 702.740.6969

The Linq Hotel, 702.777.2782

Quick-Witted Wizardry The real magic comes from the crowd

Something very interesting happened at a recent performance of Mat Franco—Magic Reinvented Nightly I attended (and I’ve attended a lot; it’s one of my favorite shows in town): Midway through the show, an audience member, to whom Franco had earlier tossed a bag of ramen noodles as a souvenir (ramen plays a huge role in one of Franco’s signature illusions) tossed it back to him, got out of her seat, and began an incoherent rambling about something or other. It went on for minutes, and Franco’s attentive ushers were about to intervene, but Franco shooed them away, pleasantly engaging in a conversation with the audience member until she left the theater of her own accord. As soon as she left the theater, Franco sat down, let out a huge sigh and said, “I’ll never forget this night!”

And that, in a nutshell, is the appeal of Mat Franco and his illusion-fi lled show: Not only is each show unique because of his interaction with audience members of all ages (and states of inebriation), but Franco genuinely enjoys that interaction. He’s a people person of the highest order, remembering the most specifi c details at the end of the show, in which he “customizes” each performance to refl ect the people he meets, their stories, and maybe a few embarrassing moments. This is where the show gets its title, and it’s precisely the reason why Franco’s show continues to have infi nite appeal more than seven years after he won America’s Got Talent.

And then, of course, there are the close-up illusions themselves—Franco’s skill at making objects appear from thin air—cards, coins, wine bottles, you name it—is on full display here, and the various volunteers Franco brings onstage are in a constant state of amazement. No matter how close they are to him, they can’t fi gure out how the illusion works.

And, as Franco is quick to ask, why would you want to? The memories of his show are what are important. –Ken Miller

Augmented Worlds

Arcadia Earth is a newer option for Las Vegas but has a precedent in Lower Manhattan, where industrial designer Valentino Vettori debuted the first exhibit three years ago. The installations were created by artists and are treated as such, with a security detail on hand to make sure visitors don’t immerse themselves too far into the environments. There is also a shop at the end of the tour where guests can buy books or environmentally friendly bathroom and beauty products. –Matt Kelemen

3785 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Suite 102, arcadia.earth or 866.633.0195

Planet Hollywood Resort, 702.777.2782

Intense Illusions

It’s over the top. It’s mind-blowing. It’s equal parts scary and funny. What we’re trying to say is that you won’t soon forget Criss Angel MINDFREAK once you’ve experienced it. The master illusionist was wellknown to millions for his extreme stunts on television. This Las Vegas production turns that all up to 11.

A live rock band keeps the energy high during the entire show, during which Angel re-creates a fight scene from a video game, saws a woman in half (in the craziest way you’ve ever seen), walks on air and reads minds, all with a wink and a nod to the audience—Angel is clearly having fun, especially when he brings volunteers onto the stage to reveal their greatest fears.

But as edgy as the show can get, it has a softer side as well. Angel is deeply involved in charitable causes, and uses part of his show to raise awareness of how necessary it is to help the less fortunate. Regardless of your views on magic, there really is something for everyone in this production. You’ll feel like you know more about the world we live in after seeing it. –Ken Miller

Uncork Your Inner Vino

Wine lovers will want to have their cameras ready for the spectacle that awaits them at Aureole. Its centerpiece is now world-famous, and deservedly so: A four-story, see-through, climate-controlled wine tower, stocked with thousands of bottles and manned by “wine angels” who descend by cables a la Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible. It’s one thing to make your way through the truly mind-boggling array of vintages available on the menu; it’s another to see your particular choice hunted down and collected by your very own wine angel.

But that’s only the beginning of what makes Aureole special. This award-winning establishment has been serving up the highest-quality meals for decades, and excels at its wine-tasting menu. If you’ve never had the delight of pairing your food with wine selected from the sommeliers here, you are truly missing out. –Ken Miller

Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7401

Taste the Tradition

When you take that fi rst bite of a steak at Saltgrass Steak House, you’ll taste hundreds of years of tradition. The Golden Nugget restaurant takes its name from a famous trail that Texas ranchers would use to take their cattle to market, not to mention the rich plant the longhorns would graze on. But Saltgrass Steak House serves up so much more than a great Silver Star porterhouse; you can also enjoy a variety of madefrom-scratch breads, soups, dressings and desserts.

In addition to an excellent meat program that utilizes certifi ed Angus beef (cooked to your specifi cations with top-secret Saltgrass-7 Steak Spice), Saltgrass has plenty of options for fans of seafood (blackened redfi sh, Atlantic salmon and grilled shrimp), poultry (chicken Laredo with Jack cheese, avocado, grilled onions, tomatoes and poblano peppers) and pork (double-bone pork chop). The smoked macaroni and cheese is a great accompaniment for anything you choose!

But great dining is just the beginning here. If your favorite team is playing that night, check out the action on any of 23 TVs while sampling selections from 28 whiskeys, 15 tequilas and 10 vodkas. –Ken Miller

Golden Nugget, 702.474.2588

Impressive Moves

Magic Mike Live Las Vegas originally opened in Vegas in April 2017 at the Hard Rock Hotel. Channing Tatum—who starred in both Magic Mike and sequel Magic Mike XXL—helped bring the movie to the stage as co-producer and director and it ran for more than two years before Hard Rock closed . The show has a new permanent home at Sahara Las Vegas, where the theater was specifi cally designed for the show and give guests a truly immersive experience.

Combined with some of the hottest hits, impressive dance numbers show o all the guys’ dancing skills while they make moves that’ll make the most liberal of women blush. The whole theater continually erupts with shrieks of delight and thunderous applause after each number; fake dollar bills are provided so you can make it rain for some of your faves. –Kiko Miyasato

Sahara Las Vegas, 18+. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster

Hot Stu

Some Las Vegas hotels have pretty cool front yards. Bellagio has its iconic fountains and The Venetian has its faux canals. And while those sights are impressive, they don’t hold a candle to the original, free large-scale entertainment attraction—the fi re-spewing volcano in front of The Mirage. For more than 30 years, the volcano has attracted children and adults alike with its booming explosions, fi reballs, faux lava and fl ames that are so hot you can practically feel them across the boulevard. Su ce it to say, it’s a real blast! Catch it on the hour from 7-10 p.m. nightly. –Las Vegas Magazine Sta

The Mirage, 702.791.7416

Flamingo, 13+, 702.777.2782

Fire-Breathing Fun Magician keeps crowd giggling

Nonsense reigns supreme during a performance of Pi the Magic Dragon. There’s no rhyme or reason to any of the proceedings; the point is to just have fun and laugh as much as possible. Whether it’s a bit of shrubbery producing strange fruit, a fortune cookie that reveals all the intimate details of an audience member’s marriage, or a volunteer producing a card from an unexpected part of their body, this is a show to make you just shrug your shoulders and get lost in the rambling, ridiculous and riotous world it creates.

The process of fi nding volunteers is a big part of the show’s entertainment value—Pi grabs a large fl ashlight and points it into the audience, often singling out individuals whom he continues to harass throughout the show (all in good fun, of course!). Those called onstage truly get their 15 minutes of fame—for better or worse.

The silly antics that pepper this production are almost too numerous to list, including: • An audience member’s $100 bill, which goes through a series of torture tests throughout the show. Of course it will eventually reappear, but you won’t be able to guess when (or where); • The transformation of an audience volunteer into “Jimmy,” a poor orphaned boy who helps Pi in producing cards seemingly at random (and from, uh, random places).

In perhaps the show’s most delightful bit, Pi becomes a magical therapist, helping a couple “fi x” their relationship, complete with literal olive branches (with rubber gloves on the ends), the aforementioned piece of shrubbery, Mr. Pi es and some music by Enya. It’s hard to imagine anyone watching this unfold and keep a straight face. Even Pi occasionally lets loose with a laugh over how outrageous this all is.

But Pi can’t let the show end without demonstrating some serious magic skills. He may call himself “The Loser of America’s Got Talent,” but as a Strip performer, Pi is a winner in every department. –Ken Miller

Seasonal Delights

If you’re a fan of Maryland soft-shell crab, which is now in season, you’ll definitely want to head over to Water Grill in The Forum Shops at Caesars, which has several specials for a limited time.

All blue crabs arrive daily from the Chesapeake Bay, and the female blue crab stock is at its highest level in 28 years, so fans can plan on taking full advantage of Water Grill’s menu.

In addition to the classic presentation of the crabs, served with a watermelon and cucumber salad and a brown butter soy ginger sauce, fans of the crustacean can also enjoy a soft-shell crab roll, made with mango, pickled jalapeno, snow pea shoots, eel sauce and cilantro oil.

There are plenty more dishes to enjoy at the restaurant as well, from wild North American hard shell lobster to Norwegian red king crab. –Ken Miller

The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.832.4777

Read This!

You may be a bit intimidated by the prospect of going to a mentalist’s show, but trust us: the star of Banachek’s Mind Games Live is very approachable. He’s a humble guy who fully admits at the beginning of his show that he’s not a psychic—just an entertainer who uses his five senses and, for lack of a better word, magic. But that doesn’t make him any less impressive when he tells you the numbers that are on your hundred-dollar bill or driver’s license. Enjoy the magic! –Ken Miller

The STRAT, 702.380.7777

Hoops Forever!

No doubt some of you watched the Golden State Warriors defeat the Boston Celtics 4-1 in the NBA Finals a few weeks ago to become the 2022 champions. And some of you may still be jonesing for NBA action. Well, this week see your favorite team again, only this time in Sin City, as the Las Vegas NBA Summer League hosts all 30 NBA teams, all of which will play five games up to July 17 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

All teams play four games by July 15. Then, the league seeds the teams for one final game each. Whichever two get the highest seeds play a championship game on July 17. Throughout the event, fans can geek out on meet and greets with players, scoring merchandise, taking advantage of photos ops and more. –Ken Miller

4505 S. Maryland Parkway, nbaevents.nba.com