Veags Prime Magazine (V1.3) - June 2, 2024 Issue

50 Best Restaurants

+ Shania, Blaine, ‘X,’

Cloud and pickleball

3

34

Cover Feature

It’s a foodie paradise as Resorts World hosts

Indulge from June 3-7 and Wynn Las Vegas

offers Revelry from June 5-8.

10

12

14

20

22

That’s Hot!

Vegas Prime Magazine Editor-in-Chief

Don Chareunsy’s top to-do picks while

you’re in Las Vegas.

Our Five Faves

These are our five favorite headliner

shows in Las Vegas right now.

Out + About

Power of Love honors Blake Shelton.

Also: Snoop Dogg and Kendall and

Kylie Jenner.

Celebrity Spotlight

Mentalist Colin Cloud is headlining solo

on the Las Vegas Strip for the first time.

Showtime

Shania Twain and David Blaine return,

“X Burlesque” turns 22 and behind-thescenes

at “Jersey Boys.”

42

Attractions

Deadmau5 and Cannabition take over

AREA15, and Particle Ink opens at Luxor.

54

Time to Dine

Mixology legend Francesco Lafranconi

and our five favorite buffets.

62

Health +Wellness

Looking to play pickleball while in

Las Vegas? Here are five free courts.

66

The Last Word

Vegas Prime Whispers: Celebrity and

Las Vegas gossip and sightings. Ssshhh!

6

VEGASPRIME.COM | June 2, 2024

JAMAL M. PARKER

Publisher

DON CHAREUNSY

Editor-in-Chief

ARTURO PERALTA

Art Director

DANIEL HOWARD

Account Executive

JEN AVISON SMITH, BOB BARNES,

PATRANYA BHOOLSUWAN,

CHRISTIANA CINN, MARISA FINETTI,

STACEY GUALANDI + EMMY KASTEN

Contributors

DARIN FEINSTEIN

Founder/CEO

VEGAS PRIME MAGAZINE

3753 Howard Hughes Parkway, #200,

Las Vegas, NV 89169

www.vegasprime.com

Advertising and business inquiries

(702) 479-5022 | info@vegasprime.com

ads@vegasprime.com

@vegasprimemagazine

Copyright 2024 by Vegas Prime Magazine. All rights reserved.

Vegas Prime Magazine is published 26 times a year. Reproduction

of any materials, images or editorial content contained in this

publication without permission of the Publisher is strictly prohibited.

Vegas Prime Magazine, 3753 Howard Hughes Pkwy, #200,

Las Vegas, NV 89169, vegasprime.com

EDITOR'S LETTER

Food, glorious food! The beginning of June is a food

lover’s paradise as The World’s 50 Best Restaurant

Awards celebrates in Las Vegas for the first time, and

this Dining Capital of the World has responded with

Indulge at Resorts World from June 3-7 and Revelry

at Wynn Las Vegas from June 5-8. The World’s 50

Best Restaurants has praised the world’s diverse

culinary landscape since 2002.

Scheduled culinary royalty includes Wynn’s Master

Mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini; Happy Accidents

Master Mixologist Kate Gerwin; Daniel Humm of

Eleven Madison Park; Thomas Keller of The French

Laundry and Per Se; Devin Hashimoto, Executive

Chef of Resorts World Las Vegas; Nicole Brisson,

Executive Chef and Partner of Brezza and Bar Zazu;

and many, many more.

Also in this issue of Vegas Prime Magazine: Our

five favorite headliner shows in Las Vegas right now,

along with our five favorite buffets (yes, they still exist

post-pandemic); mentalist Colin Cloud in his first solo

Strip headliner show at Harrah’s; Francesco Lafranconi

of Carver Road Hospitality; Shania Twain, David Blaine

and “X Burlesque”; Deadmau5; and so much more.

Vegas Prime Magazine loves Las Vegas, so save the drama

for Wilmer Valderrama and Michelle Obama. We’re

here to happily help the nearly 800,000 weekly visitors

in Las Vegas have the best time possible. Are you trying

to figure out which Cirque du Soleil show to see? Which

headliner is worth your hard-earned money – Maroon

5, Shania Twain, Barry Manilow or “Jersey Boys”?

We’re here for you.

Friends and family reach out all the time seeking advice

about their next Las Vegas vacation. Please feel free to

do the same at dc@vegasprime.com. Vegas Prime Magazine

is a resource for visitors – residents might find it

useful, as well. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, enjoy

your time in the desert (stay cool as summer approaches),

and let’s start planning your next trip here.

Editor-in-Chief | Vegas Prime Magazine

THAT’S HOT!

By Don Chareunsy

Editor-in-Chief | Vegas Prime Magazine

INDULGE + REVELRY

Early June is an embarrassment

of riches in the culinary world

of Las Vegas, as The World’s 50

Best Restaurant Awards are celebrated

here in conjunction with

two culinary festivals: Indulge

at Resorts World from June 3-7

and Revelry at Wynn Las Vegas

from June 5-8.

RWLasVegas.com and

WynnLasVegas.com

Photo by Denise Truscello

‘POTTED POTTER’

Expelliarmus! “Potted Potter: The

Unauthorized Harry Experience” is a

parody starring Nicholas Charles and

James Edwards, and it is celebrating its

fifth anniversary at Horseshoe Las Vegas

this month. If you’re a fan of the blockbuster

novels and movies, you’ll enjoy

this intimate theatrical performance.

Caesars.com

‘SPOT ON SUNDAYS’ AT HARLO

Starting June 2, Harlo Steakhouse in Downtown

Summerlin will kick off “Spot on Sundays,” a Sunday

series from 7-9 p.m. in June, including June 9, 16 and

23, with Spot Whiskey. The bar and lounge will showcase

Spot Whiskey cocktails complemented by Harlo

Hour bites, great ambiance and more. HarloSteak.com

10


VEGAS ELVIS FEST

Elvis is back in the building, at least for three

days during Vegas Elvis Fest at Alexis Park All-

Suite Resort. Vegas Prime Magazine friend Ryan

Collingwood will be in town from San Diego as

a celebrated Elvis Tribute Artist – and he cuts hair,

too. Is there anything more Vegas than this fest?

June 13-15. VegasElvisFest.com

PICASSO

As acclaimed Chef Julian

Serrano plans his upcoming retirement,

you have until August

to dine at his award-winning

Prime at Bellagio. His nearby

Lago at Bellagio, with an

incredible fountain view, will

operate under new leadership,

and he will remain at the helm

of Julian Serrano Tapas at Aria.

Bellagio.com

PRIDE MONTH

June is Gay Pride Month, and

there are experiences focused

on the LGBTQ+ community:

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” at

Flamingo; drag brunches at

Senor Frog’s at Treasure Island

and The Garden Las Vegas and

the new The Queen Las Vegas,

both in Downtown Las Vegas;

the Fruit Loop; and more.

QLifeMedia.com

Vegas

Prime

Magazine

Our Five Favorites …

… (Non-Music Artist)

Headliner Shows in

Las Vegas Right Now

“Atomic Saloon Show”

at The Venetian

3377 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

(702) 534-3419

Spiegelworld.com

Spiegelworld’s “Atomic

Saloon Show” is a rowdy,

raunchy riot of drop-dead

sexy circus, variety and

comedy mayhem – a racy,

ridiculous romp through

the Wild West. The talented

Colin Cahill, alongside fantastic

castmates, shines in

his sexy cowboy role as Blue

Jackson that showcases his

great voice, acting, dancing

and charisma.

“Awakening” at

Wynn Las Vegas


(702) 770-9966

WynnLasVegas.com

“Awakening,” the modern

“only-in-Las Vegas” spectacle,

celebrated its 500th

performance in the custom-designed,

360-degree

“Awakening” theater March

25 at Wynn Las Vegas. The

cast celebrated with a cho-

Courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas

reographed dance video

highlighting specialty

acts and the fan-favorite

whale puppet from the

water realm.

Chippendales at The Rio


(702) 777-7777

Chippendales.com

RioLasVegas.com

The legendary male

revue features the hottest

men in the hottest

routines and oftentimes

includes celebrity guest

hosts, among them over

the years Tyson Beckford,

Vinny Guadagnino, Nyle

DiMarco, Ian Ziering

and, most recently, Gleb

Savchenko of “Dancing

With the Stars.”

“Jersey Boys” at

The Orleans

4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas.

(702) 365-7111

JerseyBoysLV.com

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They are just too good

to be true. The popular

and beloved Tony- and

Grammy-winning production

“Jersey Boys”

is back in Las Vegas for

its third residency, now

at The Orleans Hotel &

Casino after headliner

performances for years

at The Palazzo Las Vegas

and Paris Las Vegas.

“Mad Apple” at New

York-New York

3790 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las

Vegas. CirqueduSoleil.com

Cirque du Soleil’s “Mad

Apple” at New York-

New York features New

York-inspired acrobatics,

music, dance,

magic and comedy, a

departure from other

Cirque shows on the Las

Vegas Strip that place

a strong focus on theatricality

and artistry.

“Mad Apple” transports

audiences to New York’s

wildest night.

Honorable mentions:

Shin Lim at The Mirage,

“Fantasy” at The Luxor,

Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

“Mystere” at Treasure

Island and Criss Angel’s

“Mindfreak” at Planet

Hollywood

Have we missed any

headliner shows?

Let Vegas Prime

Magazine know at

editorial@vegasprime.com.

Courtesy of Spiegelworld

Photo by Jimmy Smith/Theactivity.org

VEGASPRIME.COM | June 2, 2024 13

OUT +

ABOUT

Photos by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

Power of Love Honoree

Keep Memory Alive honors Blake Shelton

in 27th gala at MGM Grand

Keep Memory Alive honored Blake

Shelton at the 27th annual Power of Love

gala on May 10 at MGM Grand Garden

Arena, and the lineup of entertainers

included Shelton’s wife Gwen Stefani, Jay

Allen, Colbie Caillat, Kristin Chenoweth,

Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Gary

LeVox, Cassadee Pope and Jay Pharaoh.

Attendees also included Lisa Vanderpump,

Crystal Minkoff and Rob Minkoff,

Meredith Marks, Deniece Williams,

Tommy Thayer, Mark Davis, Elaine

Wynn, Jeffrey Soffer, Steven Lagos and

Maria Shriver, founder of The Women’s

Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and

Research Center at Cleveland Clinic.

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Chefs Wolfgang Puck and Evan Funke prepared

the dinner paired with wines from

Southern Glazer’s Wine, Spirits & Beer

of Nevada, followed by dessert from the

MGM Grand pastry team. KMA co-founders

Camille and Larry Ruvo welcomed the

1,500 guests, with Camille saying, “Before

there is a cure, there is a caregiver. Until

the cure, there is a caregiver. A topic we

rarely think about, yet it is more prevalent

than we realize.”

The Ruvos presented Shelton with the Lou

Ruvo Philanthropic Award for his charitable

work, praising Shelton for “living a life

of true generosity and giving so freely to so

many causes.” Grammer, Chenoweth, Guyton,

LeVox, Pope and Caillat performed

before Shelton took the stage with his hits.

More: KeepMemoryAlive.org


OUT +

ABOUT

Photos by Sophie Sahara

Dynamic Duo

Kendall and Kylie Jenner take over

Marquee and new Kassi Beach dayclubs

Hundreds of bachelorette and birthday

parties have reached out to Kendall

Jenner’s 818 Tequila and Kylie Jenner’s

Sprinter Vodka Soda to join in on their

parties. On May 10, the sisters surprised

unsuspecting bachelorettes and

21st birthday parties in Las Vegas and

celebrated with Sprinter Vodka Soda and

818 Tequila at Marquee Dayclub at The

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Arriving at the dayclub in the late afternoon,

Kendall wore a black mini dress,

and Kylie was in a bright red leather

dress. The two sisters were spotted lounging

in a VIP cabana sipping 818 Tequila

and Sprinter Vodka Soda cocktails. Kylie

interacted with the crowd, approaching

fans to say “cheers” and toast with cans

of Sprinter Vodka Soda.

Since one dayclub in a day isn’t enough,

the Jenners also made an appearance at

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas’s new 21+ pool

experience Kassi Beach Club. The sisters

were in attendance to celebrate the dayclub’s

partnership with 818 Tequila and

Sprinter Vodka Soda.

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Photos by Resorts World Las Vegas

Dropping It Like It’s Hot

DJ Snoopadelic leads the daytime pool party

at Ayu Dayclub

DJ Snoopadelic, aka legendary rapper

Snoop Dogg, led the daytime revelry at

Ayu Dayclub in Resorts World Las Vegas

on May 4, and the “Drop It Like It’s Hot”

hitmaker was joined by surprise guests

T-Pain (who also performed), David

Price and C.C. Sabathia.

In celebration of Lovers and Friends

weekend, which was canceled last-minute

due to high winds, Snoopadelic, hit the

decks with some of his classics, including

“Gin and Juice” and “Young, Wild &

Free,” and new sounds to entrance the

outdoor party oasis.

The view from the second-level bungalow

is awesome – and with it cocktails, Veuve

Clicquot, Dom Perignon and small bites

including sliders, chicken tenders, fries,

chips and fruits and vegetables.


OUT +

ABOUT

Photos by Bethany Paige Photography

Kassi Beach Club Opens

Reality-TV stars and influencers

check out latest pool offering

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas hosted the grand

opening party of the property’s 21+ pool

experience Kassi Beach Club on May 4,

and guests included reality-TV personalities

Brittany Cartwright, Nikki Hall and

the recently engaged Jenn Pedranti and

Ryan Boyajian.

Cartwright celebrated the birthday of

a friend while at Kassi Beach Club.

Her group partied with birthday shots

of Casamigos and viewed The Kentucky

Derby from a VIP cabana. They finished

the day with dinner at Kassi Beach

House.

Other guests at Kassi Beach Club: cast

members of “The Bachelor,” including

Season 25 lead Matt James and Season 21

contestant Kristina Schulman, MMA fighter

Bubba Jenkins and influencers including

Taylor Hudson, Ella D’Souza, Maclain

Farrell, Reggie Castro and Jorge Cueva.

More. VirginHotelsLV.com

Hall was seen posing for photographs

with fans of hers and “Double Shot at

Love.” Cartwright and Hall were spotted

congratulating Pedranti and Boyajian

as they enjoyed Ace of Spades champagne

to celebrate their engagement.

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CELEBRITY TAKEOVER

By Colin Cloud

All good mysteries start with an

impossible situation being posed.

This is no different. The mystery in

question here is how did a shy kid

from the middle of nowhere in Scotland

become the newest Las Vegas

Strip headliner?

You know the feeling you get before

you have an important test to take?

Or when you’re standing in front of

an audience to talk about something

you are passionate about? Time

seems to be moving in slow motion,

yet 1 million mph simultaneously?

Adrenaline and cortisone rush in,

your reptilian brain takes over, and

you just hope you are performing at

your best?

I can only explain it as an out-ofbody

experience, where you feel like

you are leaving yourself at the door

and someone or something takes

over. That feeling? It’s often referred

to as “situational anxiety” or “test

anxiety.”

Well, imagine that lasting most of

your life. That’s how it’s felt so far.

Maybe I’ve always felt like I’ve had

something to prove, but that drive to

constantly be better is undoubtedly

what’s landed me here.

The Adventures of the

Real-Life Sherlock Holmes

in Las Vegas

So, let’s start at the beginning. I

spent my childhood fascinated with

Sherlock Holmes, skimming stories

to find examples of him doing “the

cool stuff.” I was fascinated with how

he was able to know impossible facts

about strangers and will never forget

the day I was told he was a fictional

character. Gutted.

But, by then, it was too late. The

“Sherlock” bug had bitten me, and I

knew I would spend the rest of my

life trying to find my own ways

Courtesy of Colin Cloud

to replicate his unique skills.

I was accepted to study

forensic investigation at the

University of Glasgow at age

15 and started at 16. By then,

I was watching “CSI”

religiously and becoming

engrossed with Las Vegas

culture. It was the first time

I really saw my two worlds

merge – the science and the

performing.

In my early 20s, I’d finally

built up enough confidence to

perform my own show at the

Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

If you have never heard of

Fringe Fest, it is the biggest

performing arts festival on

the planet. It is basically like

a mini-Vegas in a 1,000-yearold

city that most definitely

is not designed to host

4,000 daily shows.

Since 2011, I have written

and performed 10 one-man

shows in which I have killed

a member of the audience

(nightly and without legal implications),

survived a lethal

game of “Hide and Seek” and

even manipulated a nation

through social media. It was

quite a journey full of soldout

runs and reviews.

The one-man shows got the

attention of “The Illusionists,”

where, for four years, I

performed in London’s West

End, on Broadway and across

America. That final Broadway

run reacquainted me with

the master of sleight-of-hand,

Shin Lim, who invited me

to join him at The Mirage

in Las Vegas.

I remember being terrified on

opening night of “Limitless.”

Audiences were coming to see

Shin, and the type of magic I

was showcasing throughout

the show is opposite his

style. How were they going to

react to me? Thankfully, they

were stunned. Since 2019, we

have been a formidable duo,

astounding audiences with

our mix of mentalism and

card wizardry.

When Caesars Entertainment

approached me with the

opportunity to open my own

show, I jumped at the opportunity

faster than Sherlock

jumping off Reichenbach

Falls. In a city routed in

gambling, it was finally time

to risk the most important

gamble of them all – on

myself. My run with Shin

ends July 1, and, on July 2, I

will cross the street and open

my own show, “Mastermind,”

at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Sherlock Holmes said, “You

see but you do not observe.”

Well, for the first time in my

life, it feels like the situational

anxiety is gone, and

I’m able to observe and enjoy

every step of this process.

To be honest, the biggest

and most exciting challenge

has been deciding what

routines to take from all the

Edinburgh shows to create

the greatest “best of” show I

could possibly create.

I feel like I’m finally home

(I resisted the temptation to

say “Holmes”). I’ve never felt

more prepared as a performer

to deliver a world-class

performance, and I truly

cannot wait for people to

come and experience something

unlike anything they

have witnessed before.

I promise.

If You Go

“Mastermind” 6 p.m. daily

Starting July 2.

Caesars.com


SHOWTIME

Shania Twain

Impresses Much

New residency ‘Come on Over’ debuts

at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood

Superstar singer-songwriter Shania Twain took

the stage at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood

on May 10 to debut her third Las Vegas headlining

residency “Shania Twain: Come on Over – The Las

Vegas Residency – All the Hits!” Twain is the creative

director, and “Come on Over” commemorates the

25th anniversary of her timeless third studio album

“Come on Over.”

On display in the new show: Twain is beautiful inside

and out and from head to toe; she has written some

of the best, catchiest and loveliest country and pop

songs ever; and “Come on Over” doesn’t disappoint.

Also: Twain talked about losing her virginity at 15;

she wore an original black outfit from the “That

Don’t Impress Me Much” music video; and fellow

Canadian Lindsay Ell joined her onstage for

“Party for Two.”

Twain performed fan-favorite hits including “Man!

I Feel Like a Woman!,” “From This Moment On,”

“You’re Still the One,” “Any Man of Mine” and “That

Don’t Impress Me Much” along with songs from her

latest album.

“Returning to Las Vegas feels like coming home,

especially to the beloved Bakkt Theater! Celebrating

‘Come on Over’ with my fans each night is an

incredible experience. I’m thrilled to continue this

unforgettable journey with everyone here in

Las Vegas!” Twain said.

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Photo by Denise Truscello

If You Go

Shows start at 8 p.m.

Ticketmaster.com/ShaniaVegas


SHOWTIME

Mission

'Impossible'

David Blaine draws fans, celebrities

to his new show at Encore Theater

Poof! Blink – and you missed it! Extreme illusionist,

magician and stunt artist David Blaine debuted “In

Spades” at Resorts World on Sept. 30, 2022. At the

end of 2023, Blaine jumped the Las Vegas Strip and

premiered “David Blaine: Impossible” at Encore Theater

at Wynn Las Vegas to sold-out crowds Dec. 29-31.

“In Spades” was a high-energy, full-on production that

included balloons, high jumping, needles, nails, ice picks,

breath holding and more. “Impossible” is more intimate

and even low-key, and there is a lot more audience

interaction and participation. In fact, every act included

audience participation. Both shows entertain and

certainly please fans of the longtime entertainer.

Legendary WWE star Rey Mysterio attended “Impossible”

on May 8. The audience went wild when Mysterio, in his

signature Versace, took the stage to assist with a trick

involving a $100 bill. At intermission, Mysterio happily

posed for photographs with his many fans.

In a touching moment, Blaine’s daughter Dessa, 13,

visiting from Paris, joined her father onstage twice, the

second time to close the show with a trick and a big hug.

Days after Mysterio was in the audience, Blaine was joined

by Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino and boxer Mike Tyson.

Blaine has announced additional dates of “Impossible”:

Aug. 21 and 23-24 and Dec. 29 and 30-31. “David Blaine:

Impossible” VIP experiences are available for purchase.

In addition to Premium Reserved seating in the first three

rows of Encore Theater, the VIP package includes a photo

opportunity and close-up magic experience with Blaine;

an autographed, limited-edition print; a VIP show

laminate; on-site venue concierge; VIP entry; and

a VIP beverage voucher.

24


Photo by Paul Citone/Kabikphotogroup.com

If You Go

Tickets and VIP packages,

visit WynnLasVegas.com

SHOWTIME

The driver’s seat

Angela Chan-Stopa conducts the band in ‘Jersey Boys’ at The Orleans

Assistant Conductor Angela Chan-Stopa leads

the band in “Jersey Boys” in Orleans Showroom

at The Orleans, and she answers questions

from Vegas Prime Magazine:

How is it going as the Assistant Conductor for

“Jersey Boys” Las Vegas at The Orleans? What

is it like conducting the show?

It’s going great! I really love the show and making

music with our band of talented musicians

and cast. It’s exciting and nerve-wracking all at

the same time. It’s so fun to be in the driver’s

seat of a show, but it’s also a lot of pressure.

When you’re conducting a show, you’re in

charge of every musical entrance and cutoff,

making sure the music times out with the

scenes onstage and keeping the band and the

cast synced during the musical numbers.

Being in a remote situation instead of an orchestra

pit in front of the stage can be a little

tricky when it comes to catching visual cues on

the stage. While we have video monitors in the

band box, it’s not quite the same as being in

the middle of the action. But when everything

times out just right and we hit all our cues

perfectly, it just enhances the show experience

that much more.

What have you enjoyed most about being part

of the “Jersey Boys” band?

I love that the band is a mix of some “Jersey

Boys” veterans from the previous production

here, as well as a few new faces. The music is

28


so iconic and timeless, it’s really fun to play, especially

with so many friends. It was great to dive back

into this music again after all these years.

“Jersey Boys” is such a beloved show. Why do you

think there is such an enduring appeal?

The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is

really a universal tale for any aspiring singer or musician,

isn’t it? You have a group of singers creating

their own music and sound, trying to make it in the

world. They face struggles along the way, get caught

up with the mafia, they sacrifice everything for their

art and overcome adversity to make it to the top

after a lifetime of trying to beat the odds.

Everyone always dreams of being a huge star, but

few ever truly make it in the business. And it doesn’t

hurt that the songs are so catchy! Music is one

medium that is truly universal. People all over the

world sing these songs, whether they speak English

or even know what the songs are about.

The story has so much heart. It's about regular people

making music and sacrifices and surviving and

becoming a success, and it’s set to the background

of some of the greatest hits of the last century at

a pace that just doesn’t let you get bored.

Strip. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to be a part

of so many different things: Super Summer Theater,

local music and theater, the Las Vegas Philharmonic,

Nevada Ballet Theatre, Cirque du Soleil, convention

work, various productions at the Smith Center and

working and coaching students.

Two of my favorite nonprofits to work with are

Positively Arts and Broadway in the Hood because

I believe access to the arts is so important. These

organizations have programs that welcome students

of all economic backgrounds and provide them with

an outlet to make music and create art and opportunities

for themselves. It’s been a privilege to have

been a part of both organizations for over

a decade now.

Anything else you’d like to add?

One of the most profound things I like to keep in mind

when I’m performing is something a conductor used

to tell us in rehearsal. “Performing is a privilege, and

each show we do is someone’s first and someone’s

last show, so we should always give it everything

we’ve got.”

What do you like about living and working in Las

Vegas?

One of the things I love most about Las Vegas is

that it is ever evolving. It’s so hard to be bored here

because it’s always rapidly changing, and you have

to learn to change with it. When I first moved here,

I was subbing on most of the Broadway shows on the

If You Go

The Orleans Showroom

4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas.

(702) 365-7111; Orleanscasino.com

For tickets: JerseyBoysLV.com


SHOWTIME

An ‘X’-cellent

Milestone

‘X Burlesque’ at Flamingo toasts

to 22 years of taking it off

“X Burlesque” commemorated its 22nd anniversary

on the Las Vegas Strip with eight new dance numbers

and choreography from Emmy-winning Chucky Klapow

(“High School Musical,” Michael Jackson’s “This Is It”)

and costumes in X Burlesque Theatre at Flamingo on

May 3.

The celebrated female revue’s new dance numbers

include a high-energy disco montage featuring “I Feel

Love” by Donna Summer and “Staying Alive” and “You

Should Be Dancing” by The Bee Gees and a tribute to

legendary burlesque star Venus De Light.

The new numbers in “X Burlesque” also include “Disco

Inferno” from The Trammps, “Up, Up and Away” by The

Fifth Dimension and Josephine Baker’s “I Just Want to

Make Love to You.”

Set in an intimate, cabaret-like environment, the

75-minute “X Burlesque” allows for distinctive, close

proximity to guests as the performers treat the

audience to high-energy performances. Enjoy bathtubs,

boas, tassels, pole dancing and more along with a

comedian during an intermission for the dancers.

Matt and Angela Stabile created, produce and direct

“X Burlesque” alongside co-producer Tiffany Stabile.

Guests must be ages 18 or older. And announced postshow

on May 3: It was dancer Emily’s last night – as she

has a little Emily on the way. Keep up with “X Burlesque”

on Instagram at @XBurlesque.

30


Courtesy of X Burlesque

If You Go

7 and 10 p.m. Wed-Mon, Dark on

Tuesdays. 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

(855) 234-7469;

Caesars.com

10 Years

in the Loop

CUE THE VIEWS

SCAN TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Indulge

Revel

Wynn hosts culinary festival Revelry and Resorts World offers

Indulge in celebrating The World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards

Early June is an embarrassment

of riches in the

culinary world of Las

Vegas, as The World’s 50

Best Restaurant Awards

are celebrated here in

conjunction with two

culinary festivals: Indulge

at Resorts World from

June 3-7 and Revelry at

Wynn Las Vegas from

June 5-8. The World’s

50 Best Restaurants has

reflected and celebrated

the richness and diversity

of the world’s culinary

landscape since 2002.

REVELRY AT

WYNN LAS VEGAS

Revelry at Wynn Las Vegas

brings together the world’s

most-esteemed chefs,

best-in-class vintners, mixologists,

art installations

and live entertainment

from June 5-8. Revelry

will showcase events

and curated experiences

throughout Wynn Las Vegas

featuring top culinary

talent from the resort and

across the country.

“Wynn Las Vegas is known

for creating innovative, oncein-a-lifetime

experiences, and

our inaugural Revelry festival

will be no exception,” Wynn

Las Vegas President Steve

Weitzman said. “The array

of events coupled with the

unique pairing of world-renowned

chefs will offer guests

an unparalleled culinary

adventure.”

Revelry will include master

classes, collaborative dinners

featuring talent from the

Wynn culinary team and

34 VEGASPRIME.COM | June 2, 2024

a speakeasy concept,

the Living Room, from

Wynn’s Master Mixologist

Mariena Mercer

Boarini. The week’s

events will culminate in

the festival’s signature

event, Revelry: The Feast,

a gastronomic grand

tasting featuring four

experiences showcasing

a different cuisine.

THE REVELRY

FESTIVAL LINEUP:

East Meets Best Collaboration

Dinner: Wednesday,

June 5, at Wing Lei

Chef Xian Ming Yu from

Wing Lei at Wynn Las

Vegas will welcome Chef

Andre Chiang of Sichuan

Moon at Wynn Palace,

Chef Tam Kwok Fung of

Chef Tam’s Seasons at

Wynn Palace; Chef Henry

Zhang of Golden Flower

at Wynn Macau; and Chef

Jen Yee, Executive Pastry

Chef at Wynn Las Vegas,

to prepare the finest haute

Chinese cooking.

Master Class Collaboration

From Wynn Master Mixologist

Boarini and Master Mixologist

Kate Gerwin: Thursday, June 6,

at Casa Playa

Dubbed “Class in the

Glass,” this master class

will feature Boarini and

award-winning mixologist

Gerwin of Happy

Accidents as they lead guests

through a mixology class and

tasting showcasing how to

reimagine classic cocktails.

50 Best Signature Session:

Icons Dinner: Thursday, June 6,

at Lakeside

An iconic group of chefs

previously recognized by

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

Awards will present

this world-class experience.

The epic lineup includes

Chef Daniel Humm of Eleven

Madison Park; Chef Junghyun

Park of Atomix; Chef Thomas

Keller of The French Laundry

and Per Se; Chef Kyle Connaughton

of Single Thread;

Chef Dominique Crenn of

Atelier Crenn; Pastry Chef Pía

Salazar of Nuema; and Pastry

Chef Dominique Ansel of

Ansel Bakery.

This once-in-a-lifetime dinner

will form part of 50 Best Signature

Sessions, an exclusive

calendar of collaborative dinners

between chefs from The

World’s 50 Best Restaurants

list and some of the city’s most

exciting restaurants.

Revelry All-Star Chefs Dinner:

Friday, June 7, at Lakeside

Hosted by Wynn Vice

President of Culinary

Operations and Development

Chef Christopher

Lee, this experiential

collaboration dinner will

include dishes from Chef

Brad Kilgore of Kilgore

Culinary, Angie Mar of

Le B, Chef Philip Tessier

of Press, Pastry Chef

Margarita Manzke of

République and Yee.

Revelry: The Feast: Saturday,

June 8, at Wynn Event

Pavilion and Lawn

Revelry concludes with

The Feast, the signature

grand tasting event that

will take guests on an

immersive, multisensory

journey through four culinary

experiences:

• Four Sixes Ranch Country

Cookout: Brought to life

by Chef Christopher Lee,

with guests Chef-Owners

Andrew and Michelle

Muñoz of Moo’s Craft

Barbecue and Pastry Chef

Heather Wong of Flouring

Cake Shop, guests can

expect masterful sample

cuts from Taylor Sheridan’s

Four Sixes Ranch

cooked to perfection on

wood-burning rotisseries

and barbecued specialties

from a custom-built outdoor

smoker, plus a selection

of artisan brews, great wines

and spirits.

• Road to Tulum: This celebration

of coastal Mexican

fare will feature fresh and

colorful options from Chef

Sarah Thompson of Casa

Playa joined by Chef Gilberto

Cetina of Holbox, as well as

desserts from Yee.

• The Casbah Marketplace:

James Beard Award-honored

Chef Alon Shaya of Safta

1964 at Wynn Las Vegas, in

collaboration with Chef Laura

and Chef Sayat Ozyilmaz of

Dalida, will entice guests with

the flavors of the Mediterranean

and Middle East with a

variety of dishes, pastries and

beverages.

• Shibuya Crossing: Guests

can taste their way through

sushi preparations and

small dishes prepared by

Michelin-recognized Chef

Jeff Ramsey of Mizumi at

Wynn Las Vegas, alongside

Pastry Chef Erika Chan

of Dunsmoor and L.A.

culinary innovators Liwei

Liao and Yakitoriguy, with

elevated interpretations of

Japanese street foods.

MORE: LASVEGASREVELRY.COM

INDULGE AT

RESORTS WORLD

Resorts World Las Vegas’s

Indulge: A Week of Food,

Culture and Entertainment

from June 3-7 celebrates

The World’s 50 Best

Restaurants debut in Las

Vegas and promises meticulously

crafted events and

collaborations lauding the

culinary world and the

allure of diverse dining

experiences.

Featured culinary talent

for Indulge:

Daniel Ontiveros, Corporate

Executive Chef of

Carver Road Hospitality:

An acclaimed graduate

of Le Cordon Bleu,

Ontiveros has served at

multiple award-winning

restaurants under globally

renowned chefs.

Devin Hashimoto, Executive

Chef of Resorts World

Las Vegas: Hashimoto

has extensive experience

delivering elevated

award-winning cuisine

and inventive dining concepts

to the ever-evolving

culinary landscape in

Las Vegas.

Francesco Lafranconi, VP

of Beverage & Hospitality

Culture for Carver Road

Hospitality: Lafranconi is

a world-renowned mixologist

and spirits industry

educator with a career

spanning across the globe

and is a sought-after

consultant.

John Liu, Executive Chef

of Chifa: John Liu is a selftrained

chef and, along

with Wendy, Ricardina

(“Rica”) and Humberto

Leon, leads the Michelin

Bib Gourmand restaurant

Chifa in Los Angeles.

Max Boonthanakit and

Lijo George, Co-Executive

Chefs of Camphor: At

the helm of the Michelin-starred

Camphor in

Los Angeles are Boonthanakit

and George. The

duo brings an impressive

background and were

first introduced during

their time working at Alain

Ducasse’s Blue in Bangkok.

Nicole Brisson, Executive

Chef and Partner of

Brezza and Bar Zazu: In

2018, Brisson was named

the first female chef of

Eataly in the U.S. after

relocating to Las Vegas

and was the first chef appointed

to the Southern

Nevada Health District’s

Board of Directors.

Phillip Frankland Lee,

Owner and Executive

Chef of Scratch Restaurants:

Lee is an owner

of Scratch Restaurants,

which includes two

Southern California

restaurants that have

earned a Michelin Star.

Lee has competed on

The Food Network and

Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

Ray Garcia, Owner and

Executive Chef of ¡VIVA!:

The native Angeleno and

classically trained chef is

known for his critically

acclaimed restaurants

Broken Spanish and BS

Taqueria in Los Angeles.

Tal Ronnen, Owner

and Executive Chef at

Crossroads Kitchen: The

acclaimed vegan chef

founded Crossroads in

2013 in Los Angeles and

has since expanded to

three locations. He is also

a New York Times bestselling

author, co-creator

of Kite Hill and board

member for Impossible

Foods.

As an official partner

of The World’s 50 Best

Restaurants, Resorts World

Las Vegas will host the

opening and closing events

of the week.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

- Welcome Dinner at

Carversteak (private event)

To kick off The World's

50 Best Restaurants,

Carversteak is hosting an

exclusive welcome event

featuring a one-of-a-kind

dinner prepared by Carversteak’s

Ontiveros and

Lafranconi alongside chefs

from No. 1s in The World’s

50 Best Restaurants list.

Official 50 Best Closing Party

at Allē Lounge on 66 (private

event)

Allē Lounge on 66 is

hosting the closing event

for The World’s 50 Best

Restaurants. The chefs are

Hashimoto and Ronnen.

The event will focus on

clean dishes, including

vegan and vegetarian

options, juices and regular

cocktails.

THE INDULGE LINEUP:

Industry Only Afterparty at

Jalisco (private event), Monday,

June 3

Food writer Andy Wang

hosts an evening at Jalisco

Underground. The event

will bring omakase from

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants

and Chef Phillip

38


Frankland Lee alongside

caviar bumps from Astrea

Caviar and a beer station

from Big Noise.

A Night With ¡VIVA! x Brezza,

Thursday, June 6

Garcia and Brisson

collaborate on a culinary

experience showcasing the

rich tradition of Mexican

cuisine. Combining

Garcia’s culinary history

of Mexican flavors, Brisson

will showcase her modern

Italian influence on classic

dishes. The six-course dinner

will accompany chefled

tableside moments and

a wine pairing.

Camphor Presents Steak Frites

at RedTail, Thursday, June 6, to

Friday, June 7

Camphor will bring

L.A.’s popular monthly

Steak Frites night to Las

Vegas for two nights only.

Hosted by members of

the Camphor community

– musicians, entertainers,

designers and more

– Steak Frites is a night

of great music, food and

company.

Chifa Takeover at Fuhu, Friday,

June 7

Chifa will serve signature

dishes on Fuhu’s patio for

one night only. Chinese-Peruvian

menu items will

include Trinity Fried Rice

(created in collaboration

with singer-songwriter

Solange), Black Pepper

Shrimp and more.

Humberto Leon’s Birthday

Celebration at Zouk Nightclub,

Friday, June 7

Following the Chifa takeover,

the former co-creative

director of Kenzo and

co-founder of Opening

Ceremony, Humberto Leon,

will celebrate his birthday

at Zouk, bringing together

the worlds of food and

fashion.

More: RWLasVegas.com/

experiences/indulge

Christiana Cinn is a four-time

Penthouse cover model. Cinn

is a frequent adult entertainment

performer in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is one her top 10

cities to perform and visit.

Cinn is a foodie at heart and

appreciates superior quality

and creativity. Cinn also loves

sour licorice and No Doubt

and enjoys natural mineral

spas in nature.

40


Break in your shoes.

I know it can seem

simple, but being comfortable

while having fun

begins with a comfortable

pair of shoes. Wear

new shoes around the

house with a thick pair of

socks to get comfortable

walking in them. Don’t

forget to bring sneakers.

Walking confidently and

comfortably in your new

shoes will make you look

and feel like you’ve won

the jackpot.

Pack lightly. Everything

you could ever need is

in Las Vegas. There are

so many excellent places

to shop for something

last-minute. My recommendations

are Fashion

Show, The Forum Shops

at Caesars Palace, North

Premium Outlets and

Neonopolis. If you didn’t

pack it, don’t sweat it. Las

Vegas is prepared for you.

Adult entertainment performer

Christiana Cinn offers five tips to

make your Las Vegas trip all it can be

Get player's cards.

Make sure to get your

player’s card when you’re

gambling at the casino.

You can ask the pit boss

for a player’s card by

giving them your ID, and

they will come back to

you with a player’s card

registered under your

name. This will make

sure to keep track of the

money you are spending

in the casino, which will

provide a lot of benefits

and discounts you

wouldn’t want to miss.

Stay put if you want.

Many casinos offer excellent

food and world-class

entertainment. Oftentimes,

you may not even

have to leave the casino

where you’re staying.

My favorites include

Bellagio, MGM Grand,

The Venetian and

Caesars Palace.

Take care of yourself.

If you’re feeling hung

over or drained from the

desert heat, get yourself

an IV in the comfort of

your hotel room. Reset

IV is my favorite, and you

can find them online. We

all get a little exhausted,

so to recharge your batteries,

self-care is your

best bet to return home

from Las Vegas refreshed

instead of ragged.


An

‘Immer5ive

Experience’

Deadmau5 and Mu5eum Fia5co to present

eight-week interactive exhibition at AREA15

AREA15 has announced it is hosting

“Immer5ive Experience” in celebration

of “Retro5pective: 25 Years of

Deadmau5” for eight weeks inside

Mu5eum Fia5co.

Launched May 16 and continuing

through July 11, the “Immer5ive

Experience” will take over AREA15’s

Mu5eum Fia5co, an immersive lightand-sound

showcase all based on

Deadmau5.

Fans will walk through visuals for

Instagrammable moments and interactions.

Lighting scenes for the eyes

and a Deadmau5 soundtrack for the

ears make it a can’t-miss activity for

fans. Tickets for Deadmau5 “Immer5ive

Experience” are at AREA15.com.

Alongside the “Immer5ive Experience”

launch,” Mau5shop hosted “Mau5shop

Las Vegas” in The Wall area of

AREA15 during EDC festival week May

16-19. Deadmau5 was in attendance

for a signing on May 19.

Also, on May 16, AREA15 invited

guests to dive into EDC weekend with

two stages of trance at Dreamstate

at the A-Lot and The Portal. Attendees

enjoyed into euphoric beats of

trance with performances by Ferry

Corsten, Markus Schulz, Infected

Mushroom, Blastoyz, Giuseppe Ottaviani

and more across the stages.

If You Go

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun-Thurs

11 a.m.-1 a.m. Fri-Sat

3215 S. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas;

AREA15.com

1/2 Price Games

on Wednesdays!

20% Off for Military & First Responders with Military I.D.

Located across from Mystère Theatre.

Guests under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.

1/2 Price Gam

on Wednesday

A

Kaleidoscope

of

Cannabis

Planet 13 to open

immersive experience

Cannabition this summer

Cannabition: An Elevated Immersive

Experience is set to open this summer

at the entertainment complex

Planet 13 west of the Las Vegas Strip.

Designed by Emmy Award-winning

Creative Director David Korins,

Cannabition offers interactive, reality-bending

cannabis exhibits through

a kaleidoscope of entertainment, art,

technology and education.

Cannabition follows a pop-up experience

in Downtown Las Vegas. The

reimagined, 12,000+-square-foot

concept will span two stories and

include more interactive, high-tech

and futuristic elements. A 14-foot-tall

bong greets guests at the entrance. As

they enter to view dozens of exhibits,

they will be welcomed by the Altar of

Ganjess, mythical goddess of cannabis.

One highlight: a collab with music

legend and cannabis entrepreneur

Willie Nelson’s brand Willie’s Reserve.

“Partnering with Cannabition to

create this experiential exhibit in Las

Vegas allows us to celebrate Willie

Nelson’s legacy in a setting that’s as

unconventional and innovative as his

journey," said Andrew Davison, CEO

of Long Play. “It will be a must-see for

both lifelong fans, as well as newer

generations.”

Korins added, “Cannabition is designed

as a kaleidoscopic journey

through the vibrant and playful spirit

of cannabis. Within our fully immersive,

multisensory installations, we

traverse every realm of cannabis

culture, appealing to a wide spectrum

of the cannabis community.

“From wellness to leisure, history to

mythology, social justice advocacy to

ongoing cultural narrative, Cannabition

ignites a fresh perspective from

an iconic destination.” Visitors must

be ages 21 or older to visit.

More: Cannabition.com

If You Go

Planet 13

2548 W. Desert Inn Road, Suite 100,

Las Vegas. (702) 815-1313

Planet13.com | Open 24 hours


Particle Ink: House of Shattered Prisms

offers immersive experiences at The Luxor

11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-11 p.m.

Wed-Mon and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.


ParticleInk.com/LV

If You Go

Courtesy of Particle Ink

Particle Ink opened its doors on April 20

at The Luxor, beckoning 3D beings to step

into a new dimension for an out-of-thisworld

adventure that unlocks imagination

and sparks child-like wonder. Particle

Ink offers two choose-your-own-adventure

experiences: Wanderlust, a daytime,

self-exploratory exhibit, and Particle

Ink, a performance-based show in the

evening.

Wanderlust is a self-guided, daytime

attraction that invites guests to explore

the mystical and interactive universe of

Particle Ink at their own pace. To be fully

immersed, visitors are encouraged to

download the Particle Ink app on their

mobile device and bring headphones to

unlock even more magic. The experience

is open to guests ages 6 and older and

ends at 5 p.m.

Particle Ink: Beginning at 7 p.m., the story

of Particle Ink unfolds in a fully immersive

show as dynamic live performers,

acrobatics and street dance blend with

magical technology in a 75-minute journey

of light, ink and creativity. Particle

Ink transports guests into a universe

while blurring the lines between reality

and imagination and envelops them in a

mix of entertainment and technology. The

show is open to guests ages 13 and older.

All guests younger than 16 must be always

accompanied by an adult for both experiences.


Refreshing

Your Look

Three barbers discuss men’s haircut

trends, popular styles and more

Fidel "Gucci" Hernandez

Three of Las Vegas’s finest barbers – Nick

Karel, Smerling “Rockstar” Montero

and Fidel “Gucci” Hernandez at The

Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails in The

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – discuss

popular men’s haircuts, trends and

more. After a cut, don’t forget to

grab a cocktail in the adjacent and

super-cool speakeasy.

Smerling "Rockstar" Montero

Courtesy of Clique Hospitality

What is the most popular haircut right now?

Karel: “There are a lot of popular cuts right now.

Recently, I’ve been seeing long curly mullets, Quifs

and classic combovers with a hard part.”

Montero: “Most patrons like the high skin fade with

the combover in the hard part.”

Hernandez: “In my professional opinion, the most

professional hairstyle right now is the Edgar cut.”

What hot and upcoming hair trends are you seeing

right now?

Karel: “It seems like curly fringe cuts with drop

fades, messy pompadours and crop cuts with low

tapers are starting to trend.”

Montero: “The mullet is back again. That’s what’s

happened now and what it’s gonna be for the next

few years.”

Hernandez: “I’ve been seeing more and more of the

mullet and its trends coming back.”

What is the best haircut you provide?

Montero: “I provide image consultation with the

customer first to achieve the look he’s going for,

then perform a business haircut. It gives a lot of

longevity to the personal image and fits any trend

or room that a man needs to look good in.”

Hernandez: “I provide the best service all around,

so I’d have to say all of them! My growth and

knowledge have taken me on this journey!”

What is your favorite haircut?

Karel: “All hairstyles are a form of art. But if I had

to choose, I do like to do spiky mullets or spiked

burst fades. They have a certain energy to them

I enjoy.”

Montero: “My favorite cut is actually the shave.

While it’s not a haircut, it’s properly done because

I use a 14-step method for shaving. It’s satisfying

seeing the results for the client with a real professional

shave and relaxing finish.”

Hernandez: “My favorite cut would have to be the

Gentlemen’s cut because it gives the client more

hair to work with and better options to style.”

Karel: “I feel like I do a lot of gentlemen’s cuts and

classic combovers with a low drop skin fade and a

hard part. That experience translates into a better

cut each time.”

Straight-Up

Success

Master Mixologist Francesco Lafranconi

talks Indulge, Revelry and cocktails

Francesco Lafranconi knows of what he

drinks: “When you wake up on Monday and

you start to taste a drink, it’s a great week.”

The master mixologist is the distilled spirits

industry’s most in-demand drink maker, so

starting off the week judging a spirits competition

is just the first round of what will be a

very busy month for this cocktail culture icon.

In other words, Lafranconi has a lot on his

plate … or, should I say, palate.

On June 3, as Carver Road Hospitality’s Vice

President of Beverage & Hospitality Culture,

Lafranconi is on tap to kick off The World’s

50 Best Restaurants debut in Las Vegas when

Resorts World hosts Indulge: A Week of Food,

Culture and Entertainment through June 7.

Lafranconi and Carversteak’s Executive Chef

Daniel Ontiveros – along with World’s 50 Best

award-winning chefs Virgilio Martínez, Pia

León, Joan Roca and Jordi Roca – are hosting

a one-of-a-kind dinner and four signature

cocktails he created for the event.

Lafranconi follows that with a two-night drink

activation “chaser” on June 4 and 5 at the

Wynn Las Vegas-hosted Revelry 2024 culinary

festival, another fantastic feast featuring oncein-a-lifetime

experiences with the world’s best

chefs.

This all comes on the heels of Carver Road

Hospitality’s recently opened Seamark (with

a 16-seat speakeasy called Old Wives’ Tale), an

elevated steak and seafood experience at The

Encore in Boston and the expanding sports

bar properties with the Flanker brand.

Oh, and this Italian transplant is currently

stirring things up in New York City with Rosevale

Kitchen & Cocktail Room in the 2-year-old

Civilian Hotel.

“Rosevale has the largest vermouth-by-theglass

selection in the world – 220 labels!”

Lafranconi boasts.

54


Courtesy of Carver Road Hospitality

I say, give that man a drink! It’s straight-up

success for the one-time teenage bartender-turned-tireless

teacher whose motto is

“We’re not drinking. We’re learning,” after

years of sharing his techniques.

“It’s a very strong effort, so I’m pleased that

at least all my drinking didn’t go in vain,”

Lafranconi jokes.

Lafranconi took a quick timeout from tasting

to talk about the first Indulge in Las Vegas,

the state of mixology and, of course, his go-to

cocktail. (Nope, it’s not his signature espresso

martini.)

Explain why The World’s 50 Best and the

Indulge and Revelry events surrounding it

are so unprecedented for Las Vegas?

Bringing 50 Best to a city like Las Vegas, it

allows it to gain recognition to be more commercially

available. Due to the tourism, the

volume and the conventions, Las Vegas is

a great platform to host international events.

And now, if you want to make a splash in the

United States with over 300 million people

and also internationally for Europeans to

look into it, beside New York and Miami, it’s

definitely Las Vegas. We are able to be the

next benchmark for many cities in the future.

Some of the very strong cities, they lost the

ground. On the other end, we are not; we keep

on growing.

Check out the full interview and the recipes

for the four cocktails at VegasPrime.com.


Courtesy of Bellagio

AYC E

IS A-OK

WITH US

Our favorite buffets – yes, they’re still

around – grouped in with all-you-can-eat

options in Las Vegas

AYCE Buffet at The Palms

It’s been a minute since the last trip there, but we do

know reservations are now required for the lobster

buffet from 2-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. It’s

a good option for dinner before a show at nearby Pearl

Concert Theater. Palms.com

58


Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace

Touted as one of the largest buffets in the world, Bacchanal

is the buffet of all buffets in Las Vegas in terms

of size. There is something for everyone; otherwise,

you’re high maintenance. Lines are long to enter and

eat. Caesars.com

The Buffet at Bellagio

This buffet was known for featuring caviar and cookies

with brownies inside them, sometimes called brookies.

These items are sadly gone, but, like most everything

at Bellagio, the ambiance of this buffet is unparalleled.

Bellagio.com

Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan

of Las Vegas

We waited in line for hours with family during the

grand opening. A recent brunch visit proved Wicked

Spoon hasn’t lost its touch, but the long wait to enter

is ever-present. Plating vs. trough style is appreciated.

CosmopolitanLasVegas.com

Wynn Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas

We dined there in the fall during F1 Las Vegas weekend

to avoid traffic, and it was the best decision

because the food and service were still outstanding.

This is no surprise at Wynn. Mission accomplished on

all counts. WynnLasVegas.com

Makino

Dining off the Las Vegas Strip, Makino is a solid

seafood, sushi and Asian buffet option without the

Strip price. The Downtown Las Vegas location is

closed, but the Decatur restaurant is still thriving.

MakinoLasVegas.site

Imperial Sushi Seafood Buffet

We shockingly went for the first time in May, and we

were blown away by the quality and large variety

of seafood. We’ll return. Golden Spring Plaza looks

new, and we could spend weeks trying all the Asian

restaurants. ImperialBuffet.Vegas

AYCE Korean BBQ: Gen and Top

As locals, two of our favorites are Top Korean BBQ

with late-night hours in Henderson and Gen with

locations in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood

and Henderson. We can smell the grills now.

GenKoreanBBQ.com

AYCE Sushi: Top and Its Sushi

As locals, two of our favorites are Top Sushi & Oyster

in Henderson and across from South Point and Its

Sushi in Chinatown and Southwest Las Vegas. Pro tip:

Its Sushi’s menu includes fresh spring rolls. Yummy!

TopSushiandOyster.site

Courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

Courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

Have we missed any buffets and AYCE restaurants? Let

Vegas Prime Magazine know at editorial@vegasprime.com

Courtesy of PALMS

By Bob Barnes

Photo by David Canela

Las Vegas Brewing Opens Second Location

Las Vegas Brewing Co. took over the brewing

facilities that formerly housed PT’s Brewing

and was the original Tenaya Creek brewhouse

in March 2022. Now the brewery has

branched out with a second taproom/restaurant

location in The Arts District.

Set in a building built in the 1960s at 1226 S.

Third St., an old-style Vegas décor features

vintage white brick walls, garage doors that

open, a marquee sign with chasing lights and

neon replicas of Vegas Vick and Vegas Vickie.

A plus is free parking with spaces on both

sides of the building.

The taproom is equipped with 24 draft lines

pouring mostly Las Vegas Brewing brews. It’s

worth noting this is the only local brewery

with an all-female brewing team, highly

respected Brewers Amanda Koeller and Becca

Halpin, who said, “We have three different

rotating series styles: IFYKYK IPA, Brewers’

Batch Pils and Setlist Sour.

“This gives us a chance to experiment with

yeast strains, hops, hop products and grain

different from what we would normally use in

our core beers. We are excited to be with all

the hustle and bustle of The Arts District. It’s

a great community that we are happy to be

able to share our beers with.”

In addition to the beer, a kitchen helmed by

acclaimed Chef Jean Paul Labadie is turning

out an elevated pub food menu that includes

a smash burger with onion jam, house-made

kettle chips, beer fondue and a trio

of sausages.

Photo by Ace Buhay

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The selection provides for one-stop-shopping

for local beer and is possibly the largest collection

of local beer in Southern Nevada, with

36 individual brews covering a wide range of

beer styles.

In this recurring feature, we spotlight

establishments that appreciate our local

breweries enough to serve only beer made in

Nevada. Since day one of its opening in 2021,

Rebellion Pizza, in the Anthem Village Center

in Henderson, has poured exclusively beer

brewed in Southern Nevada.

Photo by David Canela

A recent check found nine breweries represented,

including Able Baker Ducky Trail Pale

Ale, Big Dog’s Tail Wagger Wheat, CraftHaus

Rebel Spirit Golden Ale, HUDL Salty Swabber

Imperial Double IPA, Juxta Nomad Grandma’s

OG Pastry Stout, Lovelady 9th Island Pineapple

Fruited Sour and Tenaya Creek Bonanza

Brown Ale.

You may come for the beer, but you’ll stay for

the pizza, as this artisanal pizza restaurant is

owned and operated by longtime pizza business

veterans Ricky Lewis and Ryan Perras,

who spent several years at Pizza Rock and

know how to make a great pie.

2540 Anthem Village Drive, Henderson.

(702) 268-8268; rebellionpizzalv.com

595 Craft and Kitchen

Local Beer Showcase

595 Craft and Kitchen, which I deem

to be one of the premiere craft beer

bars in Southern Nevada and one that

has always been a steadfast supporter

of locally brewed beer, will commemorate

its seventh anniversary with

a week of special and unique beers

from our local breweries.

The six-day celebration will begin on Monday,

June 17, with four new local beer handles being

added each day until all 24 taps are taken

up with rare and rad local brews by Saturday,

June 22. Breweries represented will include

Able Baker, Beer Zombies/Tenaya Creek, Big

Dog’s, CraftHaus, HUDL, Juxta Nomad, Las

Vegas Brewing, Lovelady, Mojave and North

5th. 595 also partnered with North 5th to

brew a hoppy pilsner, which will be in the

mix of brews pouring.

Stopping in is a way to support local beer,

but also an opportunity to hang out with the

numerous brewers and brewery industry

reps who will be in attendance throughout

the week.

4950 S. Rainbow Blvd. #100, Las Vegas. (702)

586-1050; 595craftandkitchen.com

Our favorite free pickleball courts in

town for locals and visitors alike

Photos by Matthew Navarra

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Black Mountain Recreation Center

599 Greenway Road, Henderson.

6 a.m.-10 p.m. Eighteen courts; free.

Black Mountain has become a favorite spot

for Henderson residents when Sunset Park

and Dundee Jones are busy. The courts are

reportedly busiest in the morning and can

be rented for $8 per hour for as long as 6

hours.

Dundee Jones Park

10561 Jeffreys, Henderson.

7 a.m.-11 p.m. Two courts; free.

There can be a wait with only two courts,

and play used to be later until neighbors

called police on loud, unruly picklers. The

new park is an especially nice place to take

family and pets if pickleball isn’t your thing.

Durango Hills Park Pickleball Courts

3548-3598 N. Durango Drive, Las Vegas.

7 a.m.-11 p.m. Seven courts; free.

Durango is one of the highest-rated public

parks on the west side, and the two bottom

courts are usually reserved as competitive

and challenge courts. Summer play starts

early, and evening play varies, with pickup

games a challenge.

Lone Mountain Regional Park

4445 N. Jensen St., Las Vegas.

Four courts; free.

Lone Mountain in Northwest Las Vegas

is another popular outdoor court with

residents, but securing a court for play

can be difficult because the regional park

is always jam-packed. Tennis courts have

marked pickleball lines, which can be confusing

to players. No posted hours.

Sunset Park

2601 E. Sunset Road, Las Vegas,

6 a.m.-11 p.m. Twenty courts and four champion

courts for league play; free (except for league play

and reservations).

One of the largest and busiest free courts,

it gets busy with players and families (who

don’t always play pickleball). Be sure to

secure your belongings and lock your

vehicles.

Whitney Mesa Tennis Complex /

Whitney Mesa Recreation Area

1575 W. Galleria Drive, Henderson;

6 a.m.-10 p.m. Four courts; free.

The four courts are free, but they also can

be reserved for $8 per hour for as long as 6

hours. The location in a residential area is

nice and quiet, but there can be a wait with

only four courts, which are adjacent

to tennis courts.


Noe Knows

the fresh guacamole made table-side. My personal favorite

is the al pastor, and people rave about the filet and lobster

tacos. The flan is fantastic. The pozole, which is a customer

favorite, is offered in pork and chicken. Take caution! We

are known to have plenty of heat in our food.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

One thing that stuck out moving from hotel to hotel over

the years is how elevated and modern the industry became

with the opening of The Cosmopolitan. It was a much

younger workforce targeting much younger customers. It

was definitely an eye-opening reality check for me.

I’m Noe Alarcon, and I’ve lived in Las Vegas since

1981 – where did the 43 years go?! – and grew up in

hospitality working at Caesars Palace (1988-1996) and

then opening Bellagio (1998-2005) and Wynn Las Vegas

(2005-2011). I left the Wynn for The Cosmopolitan of

Las Vegas to work at Scarpetta, then returned to Wynn

in 1998.

During COVID-19, the opportunity to work for Darin Feinstein

and Black Star Investments presented itself. I now help

Black Star Investments with El Dorado Cantina, Tix4 and,

most recently, Vegas Prime Magazine.

I know Las Vegas, I love Las Vegas, and I hope, through my

Noe Knows Vegas column, to share interesting anecdotes

about The Entertainment Capital of the World, my home

unbelievably for more than four decades now.

Shania Twain

Shania Twain started her third residency in Las Vegas,

“Come on Over,” at Planet Hollywood on May 10. I’ve had the

pleasure of taking care of her during my time at Scarpetta

at The Cosmopolitan. We discussed horses. For Shania,

they're not just props. They are a passion and a way of life.

She considers them her family, and they provide her with

much-needed moments of relaxation. You may recall, she

rode down the Las Vegas Strip atop a horse to announce

her first residency at The Colosseum.

Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones is a longtime hospitality guy in Las Vegas, and

I’ve heard he’s looking to open a new restaurant locally. He

was part of the opening team for Mandalay Bay –

China Grill, Red Square, Rumjungle and more. He and his

team would come over to Circo at Bellagio to tell stories

about their trials and tribulations in Las Vegas.

Secret Drinking

One of my favorite memories in my many years in Las Vegas

is tasting Chateau Petrus and Margeaux out of a porcelain

coffee cup because I wasn’t old enough to drink. I was 18

or 19 at the time, so not too far off. For obvious reasons, I

won’t say where.

Sirio Maccioni

To end my first Noe Knows Vegas, I must pay tribute to Italian

restaurateur Sirio Maccioni, who was known for opening

Le Cirque in New York and its popular outpost at Bellagio

and passed away in 2020 at age 88. Many greats passed

through his kitchen in New York and Las Vegas, and Sirio

was the common denominator. When Steve Wynn brought in

Sirio to open Bellagio, everyone followed.

Signing off until next time,

Noe

El Dorado Cantina

I work for El Dorado Cantina – all three locations – and it’s

won many awards for many years by Yelp. You can’t beat


“OUTRAGEOUS AND

UPROARIOUSLY FUNNY”

- CT Fashion Mag

TICKETS AT

SPIEGELWORLD.COM

The

LAST WORD

In honor of the late Robin Leach, Vegas Prime

Magazine has reimagined his longtime Wicked

Whispers & Racy Rumors as Vegas Prime Whispers

– as a tip of the toque to the very-muchmissed

colleague, mentor and friend.

VEGAS PRIME WHISPERS

Which Las Vegas singer-songwriter has traded in his

sculpted beard for a mustache that reminds of 1970s porn

stars? Fan reception has been mostly of surprise, but he

looks good no matter what.

Which superstar singer-songwriter was criticized

for wearing all black during his concert and that his

setlist and theatrics were disappointing and outdated,

respectively?

Which superstar singer-songwriter has been inundated

with plastic surgery rumors since returning to the

Entertainment Capital of the World?

Which female revue is down one dancer due to

pregnancy?

Was that the smell of marijuana during DJ Snoopadelic’s

(Snoop Dogg’s) set at Ayu Dayclub? Do you really have to

ask? LOL.

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS

Lance Bass celebrated his 45th birthday with

a dinner at Cathédrale in Aria. Joined by friends,

the ’N Sync singer toasted to the night with The

Quaternary cocktail, a martini served in an ice

block alongside Kaluga caviar. After a feast of

Mediterranean dishes, Bass made a wish and

blew out a candle atop a piece of Decadent

Chocolate Cake.

Which newly opened restaurant is receiving a lot of

praise for its menu but a lot of criticism for its customer

service?

Which Las Vegas Strip headliner continues to talk about

retiring – that this last run will be the final run?

Culinary pro tip: When a customer is waiting at the host

desk to check in for dinner, perhaps the host shouldn’t

continue talking with a bar patron – in the bar – for 15

minutes instead of doing their job – at the host stand. It’s

not a great way to start a meal.

This isn’t a secret or blind item: We wish The Smith Center

President Myron Martin a full recovery from pneumonia

that has sidelined him for weeks.

Email your Vegas Prime Whispers to

editorial@vegasprime.com.

Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino, boxer Mike Tyson and WWE

legendary star Rey Mysterio were recent audience members

at “David Blaine: Impossible” at Wynn Las Vegas. Mysterio

assisted Blaine onstage during the $100 bill trick, while Tyson

took part in the ice pick act.

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Veags Prime Magazine (V1.3) - June 2, 2024 Issue

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