AccessVegas.com Las Vegas News

The public is invited to attend the “Las Vegas Perspective: Reflections of the African-American Artist” exhibit, which opens tomorrow, Feb. 12, at the Bridge Gallery in Las Vegas City Hall, located at 400 Stewart Ave. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

The exhibit features artwork from the following local artists: Abraham Abebe, Dayo Adelaja, Harold Bradford, Sylvester Collier, Lolita Develay, Vicki Richardson, Lance Smith, Mario Smith and Joseph Watson.

The exhibit runs through April 23, 2010, and is presented by the city of Las Vegas. The Bridge Gallery is located on the second floor of City Hall, near the information desk. Visitors may enter through the breezeway from the second floor of the parking garage, which is on the southwest corner of Fourth Street and Stewart Avenue. Parking is by paid meter only. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Call (702) 229-1012 for more information.

Abebe was born and raised in Ethiopia. He came to the United States at the end of 2003. He received an Associate of Art degree at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nev., in 2007. In 2010, he will receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at UNLV.

Adelaja received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from West Virginia University in Morgantown, W. Va. He received his Master of Arts degree, also in Graphic Design, at California State University in Los Angeles. He presently works as an art specialist with the Clark County School District.

Bradford was born and raised in New Orleans. He began his interest in art at age 3. He earned both Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees. He has worked both as a commercial designer and fine artist and has spent more than 28 years as a designer in the sign industry, including seven years as an art director.

Collier was born in 1931 in Dallas, Texas, and is now a resident of Las Vegas. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in painting and printmaking from UNLV and his master’s in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass. He taught secondary art with the Clark County School District for many years. He has been in numerous exhibits over the past 35 years.

Develay was born in the small California town of Pearblossom, the daughter of a Tuskeegee airman and a homemaker. She spent 20 years in the advertising industry before committing to her true passion of painting. She currently resides in Las Vegas and will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at UNLV in December 2010.

Richardson received her undergraduate degree from Fisk University in Nashville and her master’s degree from the University of Chicago. She is owner and director of the Left of Center Art Gallery. Richardson has been a resident of Las Vegas for 28 years and a teacher in the Clark County School District for 18 years.

Lance Smith was born in 1988 in Dayton, Ohio. Presently he is working toward his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at UNLV. Since 2007, he has exhibited his work in approximately 24 group/invitational exhibits.

Mario Smith is a native Bahamian and was raised in the Bahamas and Holland. As an artist, he is primarily self-taught. His art is based on his experiences living in different cultures and his imagination.

Watson grew up in Gardena, Calif., a small city south of Los Angeles, but now resides in Las Vegas. In 1994, he received a degree in commercial art at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Since then, has earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif.

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The first and only virtual Las Vegas Wedding Show launches today in Las Vegas. It is a project developed by the Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce to help the wedding industry in Las Vegas reach the over 100,000 wedding couples throughout the world that come to Las Vegas to get married.

Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the country, hosting over 5% of the nation’s weddings every year. According to Charlie Bass, president of the LVICC, “Even though Las Vegas has several wonderful Bridal Shows every year, the vast majority of people who get married in Las Vegas don’t live here. Those couples are not in town when the Wedding and Bridal Shows happen. Traditional wedding shows are not convenient for most people getting married in Las Vegas. This does not help our wedding industry reach the people who need and want their services. It’s a problem for everyone and is unique to Las Vegas since we are such a large destination for weddings.”

To meet the needs of the tens of thousands of people who will get married in Las Vegas and also the thousands of wedding providers serving Las Vegas and the surrounding area, the Online Wedding Show is announced today with a starting date of March 1, 2010. Every show will have an online virtual show floor of booths with links to the provider’s websites as well as a convenient list of exhibitors by categories that make it easy for people to find the providers they are searching for.

There will be four shows a year starting March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. Since each show will be online and available to anyone in the world 24 hours a day during it’s run, there will always be access to the best most current list of wedding providers in Las Vegas.

Every show will also have a spectacular free to enter contest for wedding couples to enter. Prizes will be donated by the sponsoring organizations providing wonderful gifts for potential wedding couples who visit the virtual show floor. Contest prizes will include hotel stays, wedding photography and videography packages, show tickets and many other gifts to ensure couples have a wonderful experience during their stay in Las Vegas.

Exhibitor space is now open for purchase by wedding industry providers who serve the Las Vegas Wedding Market. There are big incentives to purchase their virtual booth space early.

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Painted skies, living statues and Las Vegas’ first celebrity chef. The Forum Shops at Caesars continues to lead the retail industry both domestically and internationally by setting trends and being “first” in the Las Vegas market. Early 2010 will be no exception as Las Vegas’ first Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man and Christian Audigier are set to be opened this year.

With these openings to look forward to in 2010, The Forum Shops has long enjoyed its plethora of industry firsts. In 1992, Wolfgang Puck became the first celebrity chef to open a restaurant in Las Vegas. Spago’s set the trend of world-renowned chefs breaking the city of its stereotypical buffets and midnight specials by bringing California cuisine to guests. Today, Las Vegas is known around the world for having the largest prestigious collection of chefs along the Strip.

For retailers, The Forum Shops at Caesars proved to be a Mecca of sorts for shoppers, being the first to bring the world’s most celebrated designers to the destination. Versace, Armani, Dior, Fendi, Valentino, Bulgari, and many more all tell tales of how The Forum Shops was their first location and how today those stores continue to be some of the top producers for sales in their respective companies worldwide.

Coming this summer, for Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man, chocolate is not just about taste; it also represents romance, sensuality and decadence. A worldwide phenomenon with menu primarily made from chocolate, Max Brenner’s location at The Forum Shops will hold the distinction of being the largest at 9,400 square feet. Also to catch the guests’ eyes: enormous white vats mixing chocolate that will flow into pipes that run throughout the entire space. The décor will also feature huge bricks, candles, pralines, colorful toy tines and crates overflowing with cocoa beans. Currently, including Las Vegas, there will be 29 total locations, with two in the United States: New York City and Philadelphia.

Las Vegas’ first Christian Audigier location will feature his luxury street wear apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The French designer behind the popular rhinestone-encrusted Ed Hardy brand adds to his empire when the store opens this summer.

Now open and new at The Forum Shops, Paradiso for the “ultra-cool shopper.” Apparel, handbags and accessories include the latest must-have labels from legendary brands such as True Religion, Rock & Republic, BCBG, Betsey Johnson, and Stuart Weitzman. Irresistible looks ranging from funky fun to outrageous.

Also now open, Marshall Rousso. For more than 30 years, Marshall Rousso has beautifully dressed women who want to look dazzling for a night out on the town, especially in a city like Las Vegas. From glamorous evening wear to hip casual clothing, Marshall Rousso offers remarkable styles to women who appreciate being noticed. The location will include a wide assortment of stylish accessories, including an extensive collection of handbags and an impressive selection of footwear from such shoe designers as J Renee, BCBG Girls, Desario, Chinese Laundry and Onex, among others, add the finishing touches.

When shoppers arrive and experience these new offerings, one of the immediate experiences they will encounter is the ambience. This was the arena shoppers first experienced the fantasy recreation of an ancient Roman Forum streetscape with classic columns and arches whose painted skies reflected the change from sunrise to sunset. Central piazzas also feature ornate fountains and the classic statuary, Fountain of the Gods reflecting that of an ancient forum in towns, where the center was created to be the formal area that led people to the marketplace.

When Phase III expansion debuted in 2004, a three-level, freestanding spiral escalator became the first of its kind in the United States and was designed exclusively for The Forum shops by Mitsubishi.

Another “first”: a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium stocked with colorful tropical fish located in the Roman Great Hall. Of heroic proportion, the hall is 160 feet in diameter and 85 feet high.

In this same hall is one of two locations where guests can see awe-inspiring statues that come to life. Today, these statues are a “must see” for Las Vegas visitors of all ages. The Atlantis Show has more than 400 moving parts in each of the characters.

As for the Festival Fountain statues, Bacchus hosts a party for Forum Shops visitors with assistance from Apollo, Venus and Plutus. Each character adds their special talent to the festivities, accompanied by music, sound effects, animatronics and special scenic projections on the dome and computerized waterscape effects.

ABOUT THE FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS

The Forum Shops at Caesars opened 283,000 square feet in May 1992 to immediate success. An August 1997 expansion to 500,000 square feet continued the momentum. The third phase of The Forum Shops’ growth was a three-level expansion extending from the existing retail, dining and entertainment icon to the famed Las Vegas Strip adding 175,000 square feet, with completion October 2004. A grand pedestrian plaza entrance on Las Vegas Boulevard further validates The Forum Shops as one of the finest luxury shopping streets in the world. The Forum Shops is recognized for its unique combination of top retail, dining, entertainment, excellent location and exciting ambiance featuring 150 specialty shops and 15 restaurants.

Related Links:

Forum Shops At Caesars Palace Information

Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino

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Captivating, never-before-seen works by cutting-edge choreographers including local artist Gail Gilbert, New York powerhouse Thaddeus Davis and nationally renowned choreographer, James Canfield.

Nevada Ballet Theatre announced today it will present Brave New World, featuring three world premiere works: Song of the Nightingale, a story ballet based on the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Nightingale, choreographed by local artist Gail Gilbert; a fascinating new work by Wideman/Davis Dance Company Artistic Director Thaddeus Davis; and Cyclical Night, a tango-inspired piece by Nevada Ballet Theatre’s own Artistic Director James Canfield. This eclectic program will be presented on Saturday, March 27 at 8 pm and Sunday, March 28 at 2 pm at UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Ticket prices range from $10 – $75 and can be purchased by calling the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office at (702) 895-ARTS (2787) or ordering online at www.nevadaballet.com.

Set to Igor Stravinsky’s riveting score by the same name, Song of the Nightingale tells the story of an emperor who covets the beautiful voice of a nightingale living in his kingdom. When he is presented with a mechanical jewel-encrusted version, he loses interest in the real one. The mechanical bird eventually breaks, and as the emperor nears death, he realizes the treasure he pushed aside. The struggle between reality and imagination leave the emperor longing for the beauty he has lost.

Described by Gilbert as “a play without words,” Song of the Nightingale uses imagery and symbolism, with strong movement and props used to tell the story. “Many older story ballets have moments where the dancers use pantomime to convey the story,” said Gilbert. “In Song of the Nightingale, I am not interested in “telling” the story; rather, I want to allow the audience to witness the story as it unfolds.”

As a graduate of the famed North Carolina School of the Arts, and a former dancer for the renowned modern troupe Parsons Dance in New York City, Gilbert’s accomplished career has included setting Parsons’ work on dance companies throughout the world, leading the Taos Dance Festival as artistic director and choreographing her own works on companies, colleges and universities. The New York Times once described Gilbert as having “one of the most vivid, bizarre imaginations in New York Modern Dance.”

Next on the program is a compelling and purely contemporary piece by the talented and creative Thaddeus Davis, choreographed especially for Nevada Ballet Theatre. Davis’ rhythmic aesthetic will captivate Las Vegas and inspire local dance lovers. Deemed one of “25 to watch” by Dance Magazine in 2002, Davis has worked with numerous companies, setting works and teaching master classes around the world. As a teacher and choreographer, Mr. Davis has participated in residencies at The Julliard School and Alvin Ailey among others. The premiere of his first work, Once Before Twice After, was named one of the top ten moments in dance by The New York Times, calling it “reassuring evidence of New York Dance’s promising future.”

Nevada Ballet Theatre rounds out the program with James Canfield’s Cyclical Night, his first original work for Nevada Ballet Theatre. Set to the music of Argentine Tango composer, Astor Piazzolla, dancers will bring to life the composer’s unique blend of jazz and classical music. This sultry ballet will showcase physically-appealing movements based on the famous “forbidden dance,” the Tango.

Prior to Brave New World, “Insights,” a free pre-performance perspective will offer patrons an insider’s view into the performance they are about to see. Held in the lobby, “Insights” will take place 45 minutes prior to curtain. Furthering this, the company will present “Talk Back,” an interactive Q & A following the performances that will lend patrons a greater understanding into the world of dance and the artists who make it happen.

This is the first in Nevada Ballet Theatre’s new “Signature Series,” Sponsored by Wendy & Richard Plaster.

SPECIAL EVENT: DINNER & THE BALLET

Mix and mingle with an exclusive VIP circle of patrons. In celebration of Brave New World, the company will host a special pre-performance dinner on Saturday, March 27 at Lawry’s The Prime Rib at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $100 per person. For reservations, please call Jessica Erali Milazzo at (702) 243-2623 ext. 222 or email jerali@nevadaballet.com.

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Bob Kephart, producer of the award winning Comedy Stop at the Sahara Hotel/Casino, has assembled three of the top comedians in the country for the week of Feb. 15 through Feb.21. Headlining the week will be comic/magician Fielding West, along with Jim Carroll and Patrick O’Donnell.

West is not only a magician’s magician, he also possesses that very rare and impeccable sense of comedic timing that has landed him the opening spot for some of the biggest names in show business. His finale, “Fighting a vicious Lion,” has to be seen to be believed.

A winner in the prestigious Desert Magic Seminar’s Comedy Magic Competition, Fielding has opened the show for such A-list celebrities as Liza Minnelli, Glen Campbell, Earth, Wind and Fire, Mel Tillis, Phyllis Diller and dozens more. His numerous network television appearances include spots on The Smothers Brother’s Comedy hour, A&E’s An Evening at the Improv, Caroline’s Comedy Hour, NBC’s The World’s Greatest Magic and World’s Wildest Magic specials.

Fielding also works as a writer, and has been a magic consultant and technical director for Lance Burton and Siegfried and Roy for many of their TV specials. Last July, West performed in his first one hour comedy magic special, “Hocus Pocus it’s Fielding West” aired on WGN.

O’Donnell has been a comedian for more than 20 years, and was a $10,000 winner on ABCs “America’s Funniest People.” Patrick is a high energy comedian and his impressions of past Presidents of the United States are considered to be classics. During his time on stage he can go into a dissertation about the Catholic faith, his family life or touch on current events.

Jim Carroll has been touring the comedy circuit for more than a decade and has appeared on many of the top comedy television channels. He is a favorite of the various services, and was asked and accepted a flight with the U.S. Navy’s “Blue Angels.”

The Comedy Stop in the Congo Room at the Sahara consistently books three of the best comedians, seven nights a week. Tickets for the 9 p.m. show are priced from $19.95 for residents of Nevada (proof of residence) plus tax and fees, with general admission tickets priced at $24.95 plus tax and fees.

Related Links:

The Comedy Stop Tickets

Sahara Hotel and Casino

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The Fourth Annual Sly Smith Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Palm Valley Golf Course and will donate its proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Reservations are now being accepted by calling the JDRF office at 732-4795 or by e-mailing gregwoman@cox.net. Reservations in advance will qualify each golfer for a discounted rate of $100.00 ($400 per foursome) over the $125.00 which will be charged the day of the event.

The tournament will be a shotgun start at 12 noon at Palm Valley Golf Course followed by an awards banquet at the hall next door to the course. As is the tradition, the tournament not only raises funds for a worthy cause, but is fun for golfers at all levels of experience. Awards will be given for: closest-to-the-pin, longest drive, best score-individual and worst score-individual. Raffle prizes will also be awarded to lucky participants.

Any businesses or individuals who would like to donate raffle prizes or are interested in sponsorship may get more information by calling the JDRF Office at 732-4795 or emailing Mary Grego-Smith at: gregwoman@cox.net.

The tournament was started by Joe Roach, to honor his friend, Lt. Ernest “Sly” Smith, who succumbed to cancer after working for 26 years as an investigator for the Clark County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Roach established the “Sly Smith Memorial Golf Tournament” with the help of Lt. Smith’s widow, Mary Grego-Smith, as a non-profit with its goal to donate to diabetes research. Last year Joe Roach passed away and his family has taken up the challenge along with Ms. Grego-Smith to continue the tournament.

JDRF is the leader in research into a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal. Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump – each day, every day of their lives. And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke and amputation.

JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes. Last year, it funded more than $100 million in diabetes research, in more than 20 countries. For more information, go to http://www.jdrf.org or contact the local office at 702-732-4795.

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International pop sensation Matt Goss will continue the rich history of headline entertainers at Caesars Palace debuting Singing Sensation Matt Goss Live From Caesars Palace Produced by Robin Antin on Friday, March 12, at Cleopatra’s Barge.

Presented by Robin Antin, creator of The Pussycat Dolls, Goss’s show will offer a dynamic blend of musical talent. Backed by a 9-piece band and sexy female dancers known as The Dirty Virgins, Goss, who has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, will entertain guests with a production featuring a mix of his career hits, songs from his new album and popular covers. Recognized for appreciating the renowned Rat Pack performers in his show, Goss performs “I’ve Got the World on a String” and “Luck be a Lady,” recorded by legendary Frank Sinatra, who headlined numerous dates at Caesars Palace from 1968 to 1983.

“I am so delighted to be bringing the Gossy Room to Caesars Palace. It’s been a dream of mine to be in Vegas and to be at Caesars Palace. This resort personifies the best of Las Vegas,” said Matt Goss.

“I am so incredibly proud and honored to a part of the Caesars Palace family. Gary Selesner believed in me four years ago with The Pussycat Dolls Casino, and now today with Matt Goss,” said Robin Antin. “Every night Matt performs his remarkable voice and high energy performance leaves the audiences wanting more. I truly believe the Las Vegas Strip is about to embrace a new living legend.”

Widely known for its long roster of headliners from Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jr., to Cher and Jerry Seinfeld, Caesars Palace also has a proud tradition of celebrated late-night entertainment – from The Ritz Brothers, who opened Nero’s Nook, when the resort debuted in 1966, to the August 1970 opening of Cleopatra’s Barge – “a nightspot that really rocks” – to the New Year’s Eve 2004 opening of PURE Nightclub, which was named E! Entertainment’s Hippest Hotspot in the nation in 2005. Numerous celebrities have performed in the Pussycat Dolls Lounge, which opened adjoining PURE in April 2005, and has featured Eva Longoria, Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton to name a few.

“We are delighted to be the new home of recording star Matt Goss,” said Gary Selesner, president of the famed resort. “This production will add another exciting entertainment dimension to Caesars Palace and revive the Las Vegas tradition of presenting major recording artists in the city’s most popular late-night venues. I can imagine that Frank Sinatra is looking down from heaven smiling, as we make this announcement. During his tenure, he often made impromptu visits to late-night theaters starring headliners like Don Rickles. From Robin’s immense creativity to Matt’s talents and charm, this production promises to offer a high-energy show that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.”

On August 6, 1970, Cleopatra’s Barge opened at Caesars Palace with the addition of the hotel’s Centurion Tower. The venue will be transformed into the Gossy Room every Friday and Saturday night, offering a vintage Vegas feel with Maitre’d setting, tableside cocktail service and specialty cocktails. Following the show, ticketed and non-ticketed guests are invited to enjoy the lounge experience with Goss and his band, as they linger to enjoy the Barge with their fans. Prior to the March 12 opening of Goss’s show, Cleopatra’s Barge will be refurbished with new red curtains, carpet and furniture. Adjustments also will enhance sight lines to create an intimate showroom experience for its 165 guests.

The show will be presented on Friday and Saturday evenings, beginning March 12, 2010. Performances begin at 10pm, doors open at 8:30pm.

Tickets for Singing Sensation Matt Goss Live from Caesars Palace Produced by Robin Antin will go on-sale Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 10am.

Related Links:

Matt Goss Tickets

Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino

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We usually only hear about homes this cheap in Detroit. But this house here in Las Vegas has an asking price of $7000! Now… it obviously needs some work, and it is in a neighborhood some would call questionable, but co’mon. Think about a house that many can pretty much put on their credit card!

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Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza today announced that the Town Square pizza restaurant will offer a prix fixe menu in celebration of Valentine’s Day. For just $49.95, couples can enjoy their choice of salad, appetizer, small specialty pizza and bottle of house wine. For reservations please call (702) 361-7500. Please note that the full menu will also be available.

About Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza:
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza’s food and service have continually been ranked “very good to excellent” by Saga Survey, the distinguished dining and entertainment ratings guide. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza was recently named one of the “Next Big Chains” by AOL and now has 18 locations throughout South and Central Florida and in Las Vegas.

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is open locally 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. – 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

In addition to dining in, patrons have the option of take out and delivery by calling (702) 361-7500. For more information, please visit www.anthonyscoalfiredpizza.com.

Related Links:

Town Square Las Vegas Information

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