17 minute read
SPOTLIGHT
The Linq Hotel, 702.777.2782
Get to Know Him
Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly
is guaranteed to make you laugh, gasp in wonder and, just maybe, shed a tear or two. Best of all, unlike many magicians on the Las Vegas Strip, you really feel like you get to know Franco—his humble beginnings, early home videos of his attempts at magic, and his relationship with his family .
In between those delightful, touching tidbits, Franco displays deft sleight-of-hand skills, making money appear in the craziest places, producing cards from thin air, making certain cards multiply until they spill all over the table, and much more.
What really sets this show apart from all others is the way it ends— Franco guarantees that no two shows are alike. In other words, this is a show that never gets old. –Ken Miller
Getcha Good
Singer ready for fi nal ‘Let’s Go!’ shows
If the timing of the fi nal stretch of dates in Shania Twain’s Planet Hollywood residency, Let’s Go! (coming a month after the release of a career-defi ning documentary, Not Just a Girl, on Netfl ix), is any indication, the singer may be taking her last lap as a live performer. If so, she’s writing that fi nal chapter in Las Vegas where her career started—sort of.
Most of her fans know she started o as Canadian country music prodigy, singing country songs in bars, and later supported her orphaned siblings by performing in a Vegas-style stage show at an Ontario resort. It was the fi rst time she had performed o -Broadway tunes and then-popular hits such as “Wind Beneath My Wings” while wearing glamorous gowns. “It was pretty scary,” Twain recalls in Not Just a Girl. “I really didn’t know what I was doing at all. I had no idea how to sing and wear high-heeled shoes, for example, at the same time.”
It was good training for a future Vegas headliner. Twain sings in high heels during Let’s Go! as well as some of the iconic outfi ts worn in videos such as “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “I’m Gonna Getcha Good.” Her horseback riding skills wound up coming in handy, too.
Twain’s comeback from Lyme disease, with the encouragement of Lionel Richie, is a major narrative arc in the Netfl ix doc, but her voice sounds fragile in scenes fi lmed during the pandemic. She had been doing a lot for interviews for director Joss Crowley and the vocal fry is alluring, but there was no sign she lacked the signature energy she delivers during the nearly 20 songs that make up her Zappos Theater setlists.
She found a new sweet spot within her range as demonstrated on her latest single, which shares the title of the documentary. Whether she adds it to the set remains to be seen, but Twain’s skill at performing in heels will be amply demonstrated. –Matt Kelemen
Planet Hollywood Resort, Aug. 26-27 & 31, ticketmaster.com
Next Level
Gamers and beer drinkers, unite! There’s now a new, totally awesome bar and lounge to play and drink—Player 1 Video Game Bar. The beer selection here pours out of 50 taps and nearly 150 bottle selections covering everything from lagers, ciders and stouts to pilsners, ales, wheats and more. When it comes to games, there’s something for nearly every generation. Choose your play on either classic arcade and pinball machines or fire up old-school gaming consoles from Atari, Sega and Nintendo and more current ones like PS4 and Xbox One. –Kiko Miyasato
2797 S. Maryland Parkway, 21+. 725.204.11399
Aria, 702.590.5284
Lavish and Delicious
Some of the best Mexican food on the Strip meets one of the most stunning restaurants in Javier’s, a lavish space with plenty of art and a “tequila tree” to keep your eyes entertained while you sip on signature cocktails and nosh on south-of-the-border classics.
It would be almost unthinkable to not have a margarita while enjoying the environs here, from the Javier’s, made with Patron reposado and Grand Marnier, to the Aroma de Mujer, which blend Chambord with Patron silver. Pair them with appetizers like a trio of ceviches—choose from among ahi, shrimp, fish or octopus. All your favorite Mexican classics are here, from chile verde made with braised pork, onions, spicy tomatillo sauce, arroz and refritos, and chicken fajitas featuring sautéed onions and tomatoes, pasilla and refritos, to a trio of enchiladas—shrimp, Dungeness crab and Maine lobster.
Desserts here are serious business, so save some room! Pan de elote is a nice twist on street corn—a sweet Mexican cornbread served with vanilla ice cream. –Ken Miller
Never Slowing Down
There’s no stopping Penn & Teller from inventing tricks for their 20-year residency at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The iconoclastic duo continually come up with concepts for their shows, and although they have no shortage of interests outside of magic, Penn & Teller used pandemic-mandated time away from the stage to come up with more than a half-dozen illusions.
The downtime also allowed Teller to convalesce following prepandemic back surgeries, making it easier to make his pain invisible to audience members as he engages in the more physical aspects of the performance.
Audiences will still see him defy death (especially during “Whack-A-Teller”), while Penn maintains his penchant for fire-eating, but for new and returning fans, Penn & Teller present a set of almost entirely new material. –Matt Kelemen
Rio, 702.777.2782
Monster Mash
Nu metal powerhouses headline ‘Rockzilla Tour’
The nu metal scene is alive and well if the Rockzilla Tour, featuring Papa Roach and Falling in Reverse, is any indication. The bands welcome Hollywood Undead and Bad Wolves for a rap-rocking, head-banging expedition that grew out of the soundtrack of upcoming horror fl ick The Retaliators, which stars Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix in his movie debut and includes songs by three Rockzilla bands.
Shaddix is no stranger to the camera due to the slew of videos Papa Roach has made since exploding onto the scene in 2000 with “Last Resort.” The band demonstrates continuing dedication to innovation on latest full-length album Ego Trip. Making a cameo in the fi lm is Five Finger Death Punch’s Zoltan Bathory, whose label Better Music may have played a signifi cant role in helping the musical core of Bad Wolves evolve into its next phase after the controversial departure of singer Tommy Vext.
Vext, the voice on the Los Angeles band’s 2017 cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” has been replaced by former Acacia Strain vocalist Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz, who appeared on last year’s Dear Monsters album and the Sacred Kiss EP released in July.
Hollywood Undead appear in Vegas on the heels of the release of new album Hotel Kalifornia, which sounds designed to make Glenn Frey spin in his grave. The Undead are the most stylistically diverse band on the bill, with hip-hop and EDM infl uences, bombast and emo sensibilities conspicuous on preview tracks which were made available before Kalfornia’s Aug. 14 release.
Falling In Reverse hasn’t had a full-length recording out since 2017’s Coming Home but released the single “Voices in My Head/ Zombiefi ed” in May. Singer Ronnie Radke sounds as on the edge as ever, with the band’s music pushing state-of-the-art production boundaries and blending contemporary styles. Radke’s memoir I Can Explain is set to be released this fall, but until then fans must settle for hearing the Las Vegas native’s lyrics of life experiences live at Rockzilla. –Matt Kelemen
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, 6 p.m. Aug. 25, starting at $29 plus tax and fee. axs.com
Perfect Place to Puff
Swanky is the easiest descriptor for Eight Lounge. It’s here that you can kick back with a stogie—brands include Montecristo, El Septimo, Arturo Fuente, Padron and more, with pricing from $14 all the way up to a $5,000 cigar, a Gurkha Maharaja proprietary blend. The filtration inside is state of the art, too—instead of circulating stale air, new air is pumped in every four minutes creating a fresh, clean smell. Besides cigars, Eight offers handcrafted cocktails, indulgent bites from next-door eatery Brezza, huge outdoor patio and live music and DJs throughout the week. –Kiko Miyasato
Resorts World Las Vegas, 702.676.7405
Sahara Las Vegas, 702.737.2111
A Night of Revelry
Reckless in Vegas modernizes the look, feel and sounds of classic Las Vegas. The three-piece band, led by lead singer and guitarist Michael Shapiro, takes audiences on a journey of music’s biggest hits—many of the artists who made a name for themselves or revitalized their career in Las Vegas. The music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Sonny and Cher, Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton and more come to life again thanks to Reckless … but there’s a twist! The band takes all the classic songs, like “Luck Be a Lady,” “The Beat Goes On,” “Danke Schoen,” “Mambo Italiano,” “Sway,” “Mr. Bojangles” and “All Shook Up” and musically arranges them with a modern, rock ’n’ roll twist. The band likes to say, “It’s Green Day meets the Rat Pack.”
And the Rat Pack vibes go beyond the music, too. The Reckless in Vegas crew is adept at comedy and interaction. Each member playfully heckles the others to great comic effect. There are beautiful showgirls with top-notch dancing. It’s all-out entertaining, from beginning to end. –Kiko Miyasato
Choice Selection
For a taste of what it must have felt like to be a bigwig back in the day, you really can’t do better than Andiamo Steakhouse at downtown’s The D casino.
The steak program here is world-class all the way—the top 8 percent of beef in the U.S. aged at a minimum of 30 days. No matter your choice—filet mignon, bone-in ribeye, porterhouse or tomahawk—you’ll be guaranteed one of the tenderest, most flavorful cuts in all of Las Vegas.
Not in the mood for red meat? Andiamo has plenty of other options guaranteed to satisfy, including a seafood section with an impeccable Chilean sea bass, served on a pea risotto cake and topped with a beurre blanc, garlic and roasted tomatoes. Pasta fans will love lobster ravioli and shrimp scampi, while vegetarians should check out the cauliflower steak, prepared with Italian grains and seasonal vegetables. –Ken Miller
The D, 702.388.2220
A Taste of Italy
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s love of Italy is readily apparent at his Caesars Palace restaurant, Amalfi by Bobby Flay. There’s ambience to spare, from the seaside-resort feel of the décor to the display of fresh fi sh o ered on any particular day. You can select the exact fi sh you want, whether grilled whole or fi lleted and served with your choice of anything from Meyer lemon and capers to Calabrian chili pesto.
You’ll really fi nd plenty to dig into on the antipasti menu. In addition to charred octopus, mussels and tuna tartare, Flay has spiced things up with roasted garlic soft scrambled eggs and crispy squash blossoms . Pasta courses are designed for both fans of seafood (squid ink fettucine, spaghetti limone with Dungeness crab) and vegetarians (crushed pea agnolotti and orecchiette, smothered in eggplant Bolognese). If you’re more of a carnivore, the steak menu features Prime certifi ed Angus beef in the form of fi let mignon, New York strip and bone-in ribeye.
For dessert, try the Lemon, Lemon, Lemon, served with cake, custard and crisp. –Ken Miller
Buckle Up
There is no shortage of WTF moments in Las Vegas, but the thrill rides atop The STRAT SkyPod might top them all. At nearly 1,000 feet in the sky, a triple threat of death-defying experiences await: X-Scream, Insanity and Big Shot, all with their own OMG that will stir you to the core.
Undoubtedly, you’ll all scream on X-Scream, a roller coaster that resembles a seesaw, which teeters over the edge of the SkyPod and vigorously wobbles back and forth like a rock-a-bye baby gone wrong. As for Insanity, there’s no better name for this carousel (which is controlled by a monstrous mechanical arm) that dangles and spins 64 feet away from the tower.
But the ride that really makes the STRAT SkyPod an adrenaline-infused cuckoo’s nest is Big Shot, a pneumatically powered ride that shuttles up and down the tower’s iconic needle. –Las Vegas Magazine Sta
The STRAT, 702.380.7777
Caesars Palace, 702.650.5965
Live Luxe
Just as precious as a gem, maybe, is a nightclub, which is probably why Tao Group Hospitality’s nightclub at Aria is named Jewel. The moment you step foot inside the intimate venue (as it holds approximately 2,000 patrons), you’ll be immersed into a luxurious nightlife experience. Besides the nightclub’s aesthetics, Jewel sure knows how to pack a house with its stellar talent and DJ roster. This week, see M.O.S. on Aug. 19 and Tyga with Sourmilk on Aug. 20. No matter when you go, Jewel will defi nitely live up to its namesake. –Kiko Miyasato
Aria, opens at 10 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. & Mon., cover charge applies, 21+. 702.590.8000
Sahara Las Vegas, 833.624.4265
Leading the Boys Emcee provides comedic relief for steamy show
She takes a seat at a table in a room packed with women anticipating the USDA Prime selection of male dancers at Saturday night’s edition of Magic Mike Live Las Vegas. A few good men are in the audience joining wives, partners and friends out of curiosity or obligation, but she is solitary as a murmur of voices becomes a mix of cheers and screams and a group of dancers makes its way toward her. They are … completely inept.
That’s OK. She is actually Magic Mike Live Las Vegas’ newest emcee—Jaclyn Marfuggi, who now alternates with original company member Chelsea Phillips-Reid as the host of the proceedings, and starts out the show as an audience plant. A New Jersey girl and veteran of L.A. comedy clubs The Comedy Store, HaHa Comedy Club, The Hollywood Improv and The Laugh Factory, Marfuggi has a long curriculum vitae that includes work in fi lm, dance, fi tness, podcasting and stand-up.
Her casting in Magic Mike Live Las Vegas as the hype woman who holds the acts together and interacts with dancers was a serendipitous career she immediately embraced. The cast and crew made that easy.
Great personnel in a Vegas production can make all the di erence and is palpable in presentation. Magic Mike Live Las Vegas has all the bases covered, from talent and choreography to cultivating near-riot hysterics from the audience. Marfuggi is a natural at channeling that energy, amplifying it and relaying it back to the crowd.
“Moving to Las Vegas and this whole experience has been very eye-opening in a great way,” says Marfuggi, whose stand-up and Where Should We Eat? podcast will inevitably be infl uenced by her latest gig. “I defi nitely have material. I’m not going to lie.” –Matt Kelemen
Be Pampered
Indulge in some true relaxation with the newly reopened—and refreshed and rejuvenated— Oleksandra Spa & Salon, which has long been a favorite with those seeking to be pampered in Vegas. Check out the newest treatments, “designed to reconnect the mind, body and spirit,” like the Radiance Hydrafacial, which includes LED red light therapy. Sure to be a hit, the O Spa Signature Massage includes massage, paraffin treatment for hands and feet, and a scalp massage. Plus, Oleksandra has a whirlpool, sauna and steam room—all of which can be enjoyed by visitors who are not hotel guests. –Nina King
Treasure Island, treasureisland.com
The Linq Promenade, 702.597.0434
Smoking Hot
Virgil’s Real Barbecue, an outpost of the New York original, produces some of the most authentic barbecue you’re likely to find this side of Memphis. Or Kansas City. Or the Carolinas. Or Texas. And that’s because they do all those styles—and they do them well.
Virgil’s smokes up to 2,000 pounds of meat daily, and hickory and fruit woods provide plenty of flavor, as all meats are smoked in-house at low temperatures for up to 14 hours. If you’re having difficulty picking a favorite, you’ll want to order the Pig Out!, which features a bit of everything. Explore the rest of the menu and you’ll discover there are so many more things that Virgil does so right, from seafood like a flaky and flavorful catfish fillet to American classics like The Burger, a beast with a half-pound of certified Angus beef.
For vegetarians, the menu sports a black bean burger, and there are plenty of sides that are vegetarian-friendly, including an extraordinarily decadent mac and cheese, lightly grilled vegetables like squash, asparagus and eggplant, a super-tasty potato salad, and huge buttermilk biscuits. –Ken Miller
Let Loose
Towering palm trees and lush foliage cover the winding pathway down to this pool wonderland. It really does feel as if you’ve landed in paradise and you’re making your way toward your own private escape. Think Hawaii on the Strip. Bare Pool Lounge is a secluded, intimate and upscale European-style pool lounge where guests can book spacious lounge chairs, cushy daybeds or a well-appointed cabana and sunbathe topless all day.
Bare also offers an elevated VIP section with private daybeds and see-through glass dipping pool. Order from a menu packed with specialty cocktails (you can make them pitcher-sized). If you’re spending the day poolside there’s a large menu of elevated poolside bites and a covered patio with tables to sit and enjoy a light nosh. Currently, Bare is open Friday through Monday. –Kiko Miyasato
The Mirage, 21+, 702.791.7416
