AccessVegas.com Las Vegas News

Grammy winning, platinum recording artist Robin Thicke and Grammy and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson co-headline a five-week U.S. tour including a stop in Las Vegas at The Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Casino Resort on Friday, May 1, 2009.

Jennifer Hudson & Robin Thicke Tickets

The tour brings together a powerhouse of two of the most distinctive and enduring voices in the current world of R&B music. World-renowned for her astonishing live vocals, this marks the first official tour for Hudson, who recently won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for her self-titled debut album. With the release of the single “Spotlight” in September 2008, Hudson flew on to Billboard’s Top 200 chart, entering as #2, the biggest first week for a debut R&B female since November 2004. The current single “If This Isn’t Love” continues to climb the charts.

Robin Thicke, the award-winning artist returned to center stage with the 2008 release Something Else. The ’70s soul and pop inspired album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, Thicke’s highest charted album to date.

Jennifer Hudson & Robin Thicke Tickets

Palms Casino Resort

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Strip House, Las Vegas’ premiere steak house, serves up the Strip House burger at the bar.

Available exclusively at the bar and in the lounge for $16.50, the Strip House burger offers guests the opportunity to indulge in Executive Chef John Schenk’s take on an American classic. To start, the 8-ounce burger is served with choice of cheddar, Swiss or American cheese. Diners have the freedom to customize their burger with a variety of toppings including bacon, mushrooms, grilled onions, tomato, lettuce, roasted red peppers and pickle. A side dish of steak fries, fried onions or both is also served to complement the creation.

Strip House is open 5 – 11 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 5 – 11:30 p.m. Friday – Saturday. For more information, or to make a reservation, please call 702.737.5200.

Recently recognized as the home of the “best steak” by Citysearch, the only steak house awarded four stars in Forbes Magazine’s All Star Eateries 2008, a “celebrity hot spot” by People.com and one of the top ten new restaurants in Las Vegas by Zagat’s Best of Las Vegas 2008, Strip House redefines the traditional steak house. Renowned restaurateurs Peter, Penny and Mathew Glazier, along with Executive Chef John Schenk have created an atmosphere unlike any other in Las Vegas. Located in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, the innovative menu is designed to excite all the senses with prime cuts of beef charred to perfection, signature side dishes, an extensive wine list and the famed 24-layer chocolate cake.

Strip House Information

Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino

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Two female tiger sharks now rule the waters of Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. The only tiger sharks available for viewing in the U.S., these exciting new additions can be identified by their distinct tiger-striped markings in the 1.6-million-gallon aquarium.

“We are delighted to unveil these powerful predators to our guests of Shark Reef Aquarium,” said Adrienne Rowland, the facility’s director. “The tiger sharks demonstrate Shark Reef’s goal to raise awareness and appreciation of our world’s fascinating marine life.”

Attributing to the tiger sharks’ impressive reputation are their sharp, serrated teeth, powerful jaw and insatiable, non-discriminating appetite. These sharks have been known to consume unusual items such as license plates, tires, baseballs and other debris – earning them the moniker “garbage cans of the sea.”

Currently, Shark Reef’s two tiger sharks are more than six feet in length, and the species can reach up to 14 feet in length. The scavengers lurk in shallow, coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions such as Hawaii and Australia.

The tiger sharks join an impressive group of animals at Shark Reef Aquarium, a 90,560-square-foot, predator-based aquarium – the only one of its kind in North America.

Since its debut in 2000, Shark Reef Aquarium has become a must-see Las Vegas attraction and educational facility, where adults and children alike can enjoy and learn about more than 2,000 divinely dangerous animals including a rare Komodo dragon, a giant Pacific octopus, sharks, crocodiles and piranhas.

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday – Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Ticket prices are $16.95 for adults and $10.95 for children; children four and under are free. Discounts are available for Nevada residents with valid ID.

For more information, visit www.mandalaybay.com, www.sharkreef.com or call (702) 632-4555.

Shark Reef Information

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

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On Saturday, March 21, “American Idol” contestant Katrina “Bikini Girl” Darrell hosted an evening at Hawaiian Tropic Zone inside Miracle Mile Shops. Darrell showed up in her trademark bikini and partied it up in VIP with a group of lovely Las Vegas ladies. She enjoyed strawberry hookah while sipping on Ed Hardy Vodka and later joined the go-go dancers on stage. Darrell spent the evening taking pictures with fans and signing autographs.

Photo credit – Scott Harrison / Rex Features

Hawaiian Tropic Zone

Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino

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Palms Casino Resort lived up to its reputation Friday night (3.20.09) for drawing in Hollywood names and for being one of the hottest spots in Las Vegas.  Record producer Jeffrey Townes, better known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, dined in the main dining room of Nove Italiano with three friends.  They feasted on shrimp franchaise, which Jeff commented was the best thing he ever had at the restaurant.  Executive Chef Geno also brough out a mozzarella pizza, and for his main course, Jeff indulged in the Nove spaghetti.  Later that night, Jeff partied at Rain Nightclub with five friends, alongside the DJ booth.  Dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt, he was seen drinking Fiji Water.  Alison Waite, Playboy Playmate of the Month (Miss May 2006) was also seen enjoying herself at Rain Nightclub. 

Playboy  Playmate of the Month (Miss July 2008) Laura Croft had dinner at Nove Italiano with her parents and friends.  Fashionably clad in a  blue cocktail dress, Croft was seen partying at Playboy Club later that night, drinking Ketel One and Red Bull. 

Over at N9NE Steakhouse, former NFL running back Eric Dickerson stopped by for a couple drinks and to sign Executive Chef Barry’s famous door.  Dressed in a button down shirt and shades, he later was spotted at Playboy Club where he was accompanied by one friend.  Dickerson was drinking Fiji Water and left the club a little after midnight.

Also at Playboy Club was Roland “Champ” Bailey, NFL cornerback for the Denver Broncos.   He was joined by a lady friend and together were seen taking shots.  NBA player  Kenny Anderson arrived at Playboy Club with two friends.  He was stylishly dressed in a black blazer and jeans and was seen drinking Ketel One and Red Bull.

Photo credit – Joe Fury

Rain Nightclub Las Vegas

Playboy Club

N9NE Steakhouse

Palms Hotel & Casino

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Now in its 12th year, Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend is bigger and more exciting than ever. After 11 years in its original location at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, the event is moving to a larger venue — The Orleans, another Boyd Gaming property. This four-day event begins Thursday, April 9th and the party won’t stop until Monday morning.

Viva Las Vegas is an annual event that has been held in Las Vegas every spring since 1998. VLV is the largest event of its type in the world, and features bands and fans from all over the globe who come to experience Rockabilly, ‘50s music, the Classic Car Show, burlesque performers, dance lessons and contests, a Tiki Pool Party and more than 120 vendors.

Viva Las Vegas is organized by veteran promoter and Rockabilly DJ Tom Ingram, who also organizes Rockabilly Rave USA and Sin City London. “Boyd Gaming has been a fantastic partner for Viva Las Vegas over the past 11 years. Due to the high demand of previous Rockabilly Weekends, we decided the time is right to move our event to a larger venue, and The Orleans is an ideal location.” Ingram commented.

VLV will feature more than 50 bands and 15 DJs who will perform nightly between the hours of 1 p.m. and 7 a.m. Entertainers include stars of Rockabilly, legends of Rock ‘N Roll and current Rockabilly bands from all over the world. Saturday’s Classic Car Show has historically been the most attended event during the weekend, with more than 20,000 people in attendance during previous years.

Vendors are open daily from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m., offering a multitude of Rockabilly items such as vintage and reproduction clothing, event merchandise, records, car accessories, bags, hair pomade, shoes and much more.

Four-day unlimited admission passes to Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend are available now for $99.00. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800.595.4849 or visiting www.vivalasvegas.net.

Orleans Hotel and Casino

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In the UFC® light heavyweight division, one of the most talented weight classes in all of mixed martial arts, every bout is a super fight. This will never be more evident than on Saturday, May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena when champion ‘Sugar’ Rashad Evans defends his crown for the first time against fellow unbeaten Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida in the main event of UFC 98, presented by Tequila CAZADORES. The Evans vs. Machida bout replaces the originally scheduled heavyweight championship bout between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir, which has been postponed due to injury. Current top contender Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, who will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair ligament damage in his jaw, will face the winner of Evans vs. Machida at a future date.

UFC 98 Tickets

“With 32 wins and no losses between them, this may end up being one of the most memorable UFC title fights of all time,” said UFC President Dana White. “Neither guy has learned how to lose yet, and I’m interested to see if Rashad is the first fighter to figure out Machida’s style, as well as if Machida can withstand the striking power and wrestling of Rashad. The winner of this one is truly the best 205-pounder on the planet.”

In the UFC 98 co-feature, former UFC welterweight champions Matt Hughes and Matt “The Terror” Serra finally meet in one of the most highly anticipated grudge matches in UFC history. This has been a feud for years in the making, one that escalated during the two 170-pound standouts’ stint as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. However, on May 23, all the talk is over and Hughes and Serra will get their chance to settle their score in the Octagon.

One of the rare unbeaten fighters at the elite level of the game, “Sugar” Rashad Evans (18-0-1) has achieved this remarkable feat with a mix of precision striking, world-class wrestling and an unyielding will to win. A native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., the 29-year-old Evans is just approaching his prime, a scary thought considering that he already has defeated the likes of Michael Bisping, Stephan Bonnar and Jason Lambert. He had a year to remember in 2008 with knockout wins over Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin, the latter earning him the UFC light heavyweight title in December.

Evans said, “This is my time to shine. I worked hard to get this title and I’m not about to give it up now. I’ve got a lot of respect for Machida and I know we’re going to give the fans a great fight, but I also know that he’s going to bring out the best of me on May 23, and that’s going to be a sight to see.”

A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Shotokan Karate, one of the most unique styles in mixed martial arts today, Brazil’s Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (14-0) has barely been challenged thus far in his professional career; with wins over Rich Franklin, BJ Penn, Bonnar, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Sokoudjou and Tito Ortiz filling his perfect record. In addition to his technical brilliance, the 30-year-old Machida also showed his fire in his last bout on January 31, knocking out Thiago Silva in spectacular fashion at UFC 94. Now he sets his sights on Evans.

Machida said, “Rashad Evans is a great champion and it will be an honor to face him in the Octagon. I’ve been training my entire life for this moment and I will fight with everything I have to take the belt and become a world champion.”

Also announced for UFC 98 are the following bouts: Yushin Okami vs Dan Miller, Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar, James Irvin vs. Drew McFedries, Houston Alexander vs. Andre Gusmao, Patrick Barry vs. Tim Hague, Phillipe Nover vs. Kyle Bradley, Dave Kaplan vs. George Roop and Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Brandon Wolff.

UFC 98 Tickets

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

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Rod Stewart returns to Las Vegas with a stop at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Aug. 1 as part of a limited-engagement tour this summer. The tour will provide fans with the perfect summer setting to enjoy hits from throughout Stewart’s extraordinary four-decade career. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

Rod Steward Tickets

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist Rod Stewart arguably possesses one of rock’s greatest and most distinctive voices. His trademark voice has successfully commanded nearly every genre of music including folk, rock, soul, R&B, blues and more, even managing to breathe a unique modernity into the classics. Spin has called him “the single greatest male singing voice of the rock era.”

Stewart’s career spans from the seminal Every Picture Tells A Story album, to his first No. 1 album Blondes Have More Fun, through Out Of Order, Downtown Train and the chart-topping trio of the American Songbook albums. Stewart’s most recent rock album, Still The Same…Great Rock Classics Of Our Time, released in 2006, was a return to his roots and reinforced his peerless talent as a master vocalist. In 2008, Warner Bros. Records launched a revamping of Stewart’s extensive catalog with the release of The Definitive Rod Stewart, a collection of 30 of his greatest hits.

Stewart became a household name in 1971 with the release of Every Picture Tells a Story and the smash hit “Maggie May.” The album and single held the No. 1 spot in both the United States and the United Kingdom simultaneously, a chart first. His discography includes numerous other hits such as “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “You’re In My Heart” and “The First Cut is the Deepest.”

A revamped and mastered Collector’s Edition of Stewart’s classic 1993 MTV Unplugged performance Unplugged…And Seated, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard charts and features many of the songs that have come to define his superstar career, will be released this month. Stewart, whose album and single sales are estimated at 250 million, is currently one of the top-grossing musical artists in the world, according to both Forbes and Rolling Stone.

Rod Stewart Tickets

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

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On Tuesday, March 17, Hawaiian Tropic Zone hosted a MMA Ring Girl search for the Xplosion V: Coach’s Best MMA fight scheduled to be held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, March 20. Twenty contenders took to the catwalk with official ring cards for the chance to be an official MMA Ring Girl for a day. The top five contestants were determined by the crowd of onlookers and the final three were chosen by Hawaiian Tropic Zone’s guest judges.

First – Amanda Tamayo

Second – Kathy Corpus

Third – Denai Thompson

Photo Credit – Scott Harrison / RETNA

Hawaiian Tropic Zone Las Vegas

Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino

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The King of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley has entered the building. Making a special appearance at Minus 5˚ Ice Lounge inside Mandalay Place, guests can pay homage to the 7-foot ice sculpture decked out in iconic garb.

The King took more than two days to sculpt from two tons of ice and is able to maintain his bonafide style at a chilly temperature of 31 degrees Fahrenheit in the ice lounge. Touting the coolest experience in Vegas, 18 tons of ice were used to build and decorate the lounge from the walls and seats to the glasses that chill the famous vodka-based cocktails.

Open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m., the Minus 5˚ ice lounge is located inside Mandalay Place at 3930 Las Vegas Blvd. South. For more information visit, www.minus5experience.com or call 702.632.7714

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

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