reservation (“It’s the Atmosphere,”

Luxor, AGTVegasLive.com

A True Tele-Vision

America’s Got Talent has been must-watch television in my household for many years. It’s a very well-produced reality competition series, providing plenty of memorable moments. Even if you’ve never seen the show, odds are you’ve been to see some of the past winners: Terry Fator, Shin Lim, Tape Face, Pi the Magic Dragon ... the list goes on and on.

And now you get to see some of next generation of future Strip performers all in one place: America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live, a variety show at the Luxor like no other on the Strip, pulling together some of the most beloved acts of the last few seasons in a show that’s as well-produced as the NBC hit series it’s based on. You’ll hear the incredible musical talents of Kodi Lee. Magician Dustin Tavella will confound you with his illusions while touching your heart at the same time. There’s also the incredible acrobatic talents of husbandand-wife team Duo Transcend, as well as the nail-biting, death-defying knife-throwing skills of Deadly Games.

But wait—we’re just getting started. You’ll also get to see the magic of Léa Kyle’s quick changes, thrill to the mixture of dance and technology with Light Balance, and wonder how Peter Antoniou pulls o his mental feats. –Ken Miller

It’s the Atmosphere

With room for only 22 people, and found behind a discreet entrance inside the larger Commonwealth bar and lounge, The Laundry Room is worth seeking out. This cocktail haven serves up some of the best cocktails in the entire city— many tailored to guests’ specifi c tastes and wants. There’s also a specialty cocktail menu with fun stories behind the cocktails’ names and recipes. The speakeasy-inspired space harkens back to the Prohibition era and might possibly be one of the coolest spots you’ll visit while in town. To gain entrance to this downtown hot spot, you must make a reservation. –Kiko Miyasato

Laundryroomlv.com

Savor This Sampling

While many of us let ourselves go to pot over the pandemic, some came out refreshed and revitalized—sort of like Bacchanal Bu et. It reopened with a makeover of the carving station, American and Latin sections, and introduced 100 new dishes!

Grilled elote is custom-coated, including classic, with Hot Cheetos and with Takis; street tacos are nearby, or maybe you’d prefer duck carnitas. Charcuterie and a cheese board dominate the Mediterranean section, hummus, baba ganoush and pita will also catch your eye. The Asian section features Laotian, Indonesian, Filipino, Thai and Vietnamese dishes, plus sushi. Roving dim sum carts bring around Chinese specialties.

And the desserts! They’re pure decadence, from gelato and salted caramel cupcakes to a “sunny side-up egg” made of lightly whipped yogurt and a mango sphere. –Nina King

Caesars Palace, 702.731.7928

Chemistry, Charisma and Cards

TV show alumni prove to be a magical pair

Be prepared for an audience participation trick right out of the gate when attending Limitless, Shin Lim’s close-up magic showcase on the Strip. Spoiler alert: It involves cards. Although Lim resists his act being referred to as “magic,” as in supernatural defi ance of physics, he can’t argue that it’s not magical. He draws too many “oohs” and “aahs” from fans who were introduced to his spectacular brand of sleight-of-hand on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Lim exchanged a future playing 88 piano keys for one that orbited around decks of 52 playing cards, when he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome while preparing for a career in music, a point woven into the biographical thread running through the show. The stage set-up is simple: piano, table, crystal-clear jumbo screen above the stage, mentalist Colin Cloud, and Lim’s graceful hands.

Scottish-born Cloud, himself an AGT alumni, transcends mentalist tropes with a rapid-fi re delivery and razor-sharp timing. He keeps the show moving quickly with segments that contrast with Lim’s ethereal fl ow and graceful delivery. One might think carpal tunnel would have hampered Lim’s ability to pull o amazing feats of dexterity, but if he’s feeling any pain, he hides it well.

Lim draws some of the most enthusiastic audiences on the Strip, creating an atmosphere that causes the proceedings at Limitless to climax in standing ovations. It’s like being part of a big club, with Lim demonstrating his skill to the music of Sting or making cards disappear, only to re-emerge from his mouth with a pu of smoke. He might just be the No. 1 close-up magic performer in the world, a virtuoso demonstrating the art of illusion in contemporary style . –Matt Kelemen

The Mirage, ticketmaster.com

3542 S. Maryland Parkway, 702.620.5103

Knight Up!

The medieval theme has proven extremely popular when it comes to pop culture, with the Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones franchises enjoying renewed success. And up until now, if you wanted a taste of medieval-themed entertainment in Las Vegas, Tournament of Kings at Excalibur was your only option. But not anymore. Primal Steakhouse has opened at Boulevard Mall, and it’s a hit with locals. One visit, and a look at the medieval décor, and you’ll understand why.

Guatemalan-born chef Angel Lopez has created a varied menu full of flavors and surprises, all served up by some of the friendliest, most professional staff in the entire valley. Some restaurants promise that you’ll feel pampered throughout your experience, but Primal seriously delivers on this pledge.

Appetizers include bone marrow, beef carpaccio (served with the dry ice for a beautiful effect) and black ceviche, served in a shell made of ice that melts as you eat the contents within. Main courses include smoked halibut (arriving under a cover that is skillfully lifted by your server, revealing wafts of smoke) and a 32-ounce tomahawk that might be one of the best cuts of meat I’ve ever tasted. Everything here is just bursting with flavor and personality. –Ken Miller

Mental Magic

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 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, or one where he and a youngster from the audience bend forks while barely touching them. Enjoy the magic! –Ken Miller

The STRAT, 702.380.7777

Puzzling Adventure

The Strip’s first escape room adventure, PanIQ Escape Room & Lounge features a variety of different scenarios, guaranteeing you’ll be coming back again and again.

The seven scenarios are all a blast, including: Casino Heist (rob a casino); Atlantis Rising (scoop up the lost treasure before it sinks); and Wizard Trials (cast some spells). In each, you get between 45 to 60 minutes to accomplish your mission. Whatever you choose, make sure to visit the facility’s full-service bar and lounge, serving up themed cocktails.

“Our location in Las Vegas offers diversity and originality,” said PanIQ Room & Lounge CEO Akos Gabossy in a recent release. “There’s an escape room experience for everyone, whether it’s a bachelor(ette) party … or a local couple planning their next date night with friends.” –Ken Miller

The Venetian & The Palazzo, 775.507.2727

Percussive Design

Once upon a blue moon, a trio of intrepid travelers left their home Blueniverse and landed in Las Vegas, looking for intelligent life. They found a pyramid-shaped structure where a being named Carrot Top built a successful outpost, and calculated that they could draw intelligent life there for performative engagements as did the Red Man. Their theater materialized, a marshmallow supply chain was formed, and the Blue Man Group sent for their intergalactic instruments.

Whether the Blue Man Group gets nutrients and energy from marshmallows has yet to be determined. Inquiries are met with blank stares, but it has been theorized that a Blue Man brain experiences increased bluerotransmitter levels when catching a marshmallow from a distance. It’s as if the marshmallows were fl ying on a stream of consciousness, pulled by a magnetic force into Blue Man mouths, never to be seen again.

While the show is monochromatic for much of the evening, the Blue Man Group has a fondness for color, and technique was decidedly not obtained from Bob Ross. Their mouths have more functionality than for marshmallow catching, and demonstration of the method they devised for creating canvases is one of the splashiest parts of the proceedings. –Matt Kelemen

Have You the Will to Try?

Up for a food challenge? Head to Sickie’s Garage and check out the Victory Lap Challenge, a beast of a meal that will stretch the boundaries of every stomach.

You’ll defi nitely want your camera ready when this meal arrives at your table—it starts with patty melts acting as the outer buns and a grilled cheese sandwich acting as the middle bun. In between all this, you’ll fi nd more burger patties, pulled pork, bacon, two fried eggs, fried jalapeños, fried pickles and boneless chicken wings, all smothered with barbecue and sriracha sauces. Add fries and this all comes to—wait for it— more than 5 pounds of food.

Here’s all you have to do: Finish it in 60 minutes. If you show a clean plate after that time, the $49.99 meal is free. In addition, you’ll received a T-shirt, your name on the wall (you sign a tray) … and bragging rights to last a lifetime. –Ken Miller

Town Square Las Vegas, 702.735.5400

Luxor, 702.262.4400

Kick Back

It’s one of the biggest venues which front the Las Vegas Strip, and also one of the funnest: Margaritaville is your headquarters for kicking back, ordering a tall, cold drink and forgetting the cares of the day. And with 12,000 square feet spread across three levels, there’s never going to be a problem fi nding a table or a seat at one of the six bars. Indulge in entrées like the Land Shark fi sh and chips and the Cheeseburger in Paradise, featuring a 7-ounce patty and all the toppings. If you don’t have the time of your life here, it could be your fault. –Ken Miller

Flamingo, 702.733.3302

Flamingo, 18+. 702.777.2782

It’s Got Legs Iconic revue celebrates two decades on the Strip

There is a number in “X” Burlesque that creates a legacy loop of sorts when fi ve of the six dancers onstage for the night line up and turn their backsides to the audience. A large prop picture frame turns the scene into a sexy living photo. It’s an homage to an iconic image of Crazy Girls, a topless production that opened at the Riviera in 1987 and once employed “X” Burlesque co-creator Angela Stabile.

Crazy Girls closed , but Stabile and husband/ partner Matt Stabile, with daughter and co-producer Ti any Mondell, are observing the 20th anniversary of “X” Burlesque this year at its home inside Flamingo. The risqué revue continues to pack in enthusiastic audiences, opening shows with a signature segment involving levitating neon trumpets that fl oat and spin on the darkened stage before the dancers are revealed. They embark on a series of sensual, choreographic escapades delivered with contagious enthusiasm and physical abandon.

The performers are completely in control of themselves, though. Whitney Giron may look like she’s losing herself carnally during Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused,” but she’s completely focused while she’s in the moment. “It’s a very sensual and sexual number,” she says. “Anyone who’s in the audience has had those feelings of sensuality and being aroused.”

The “X” dancers pull people in, dazzle with dance moves, fl ip hair and fl irt, saunter through the audience and spin on a stripper pole in the center of the showroom fl oor. They appear fl awless in physical movement and appearance, don thematic costumes such as fl ight attendant uniforms during Lenny Kravitz’s “Fly Away,” and at one point pull an audience member onstage for a semi-private dance.

The show feels fresh in its current state, due to the delivery of the dancers and dedication to precision among cast and crew. Giron, who came to “X” Burlesque after getting her start in Crazy Girls right after high school, says she didn’t have dancing topless in mind when she was growing up. “Then you meet, and you get to know these incredible women, and realize they are talented, strong, independent and smart. … I love being onstage. It’s my favorite thing.” –Matt Kelemen