Friday, December 4, 2009

Holly Gives Back for the Holidays

The holidays in Las Vegas are usually a bit different than they are in the rest of the nation. There’s no escaping the city’s sexy attitude and the party-all-night lifestyle. It doesn’t exactly match with the innocent imagery of holiday family dinners and animated children’s specials. But that doesn’t mean it’s only about Las Vegas nightclubs and parties during the holidays. There are plenty of charitable events like the Great Santa Run and the Magical Forest, but sometimes you need a global face to get global attention for a great cause, and no starlet represents Vegas as much as Holly Madison does!

She went from Girl Next Door to Las Vegas’ sweetheart, and Holly’s got her schedule full with store openings and hosting opportunities, but that doesn’t mean she won’t take time out to help the needy. The star of the burlesque revue, "Peepshow," Holly will soon be seen on E!’s "Holly’s World," where she will showcase the best of Sin City for the whole world to see on Sunday nights. She’s hoping it will boost the Vegas economy and encourage tourists to come. But before the premiere, she’s been working hard to help the less fortunate.

Over the Thanksgiving break, she teamed up with Playboy Playmate Laura Croft and Jersey Boys’ Rick Faugno to help serve meals to at-risk kids at the Le Cordon Bleu’s student run CafĂ© Bleu. Now for the Christmas holiday, Holly started her own toy drive with the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots. Holly Joy Christmas Toy Drive will be accepting new, unwrapped toys of $10 and above at various radio stations across the Las Vegas area. Holly and the organizations are hoping for a goal of 1000 toys, but plan on topping whatever they reach this year with next year’s drive. This is a great way for Las Vegans to pitch in this holiday season and maybe get to catch a glimpse of Holly in person as she promotes her charity. If you want to catch Madison’s new reality show, tune in this Sunday on E! after the Girls Next Door season finale and expect plenty of cameos including Mayor Oscar Goodman, Robin Leach and other Vegas regulars!—Provided by BestofVegas.com

Monday, November 23, 2009

New CityCenter an Architectural Wonder

Despite the economy, Las Vegas is about to experience a huge tourism boost thanks to the latest addition to the Strip: CityCenter. This enormous complex looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. The entire center took over 9,000 construction workers and 8 world-renowned architects to construct it. People are already claiming this will be an architectural wonder similar to famous structures like the Guggenheim in Spain and other breathtaking buildings in locations like London and Hong Kong—except this one belongs to the people of Sin City!

Spanning more than 80 acres, the CityCenter features dining, nightlife and accommodations to suit all sorts of Las Vegas travelers. The ARIA Resort and Casino will join the lineup of Las Vegas hotels once the establishment opens. The theatre at the hotel, simply called the ARIA Theatre, will be the host of Cirque du Soleil’s latest show Viva Elvis!, which will celebrate the life of the King of Rock and Roll. Viva Elvis! is the latest addition to the incredible Cirque du Soleil shows here in Las Vegas, and one that is sure to be as popular as it will be unique.

On the dining forefront, CityCenter will feature celebrity restaurants from Eva Longoria (Beso) and Todd English (The Pub) along with a tree house-style restaurant by Wolfgang Puck. Most of these restaurants will feature patio seating in order to get a view of the Las Vegas streets below. Due to the massive size of the CityCenter, you can plan to see the appearance of the Las Vegas skyline changed forever, but it will only bring more jobs and more entertainment to Sin City so it can shine on. A tram will be connecting the CityCenter from both The Bellagio and The Monte Carlo hotels, providing easier access to the magnificent building which is both modern and environmentally-friendly.

As for the shopping in CityCenter, it is already being called the largest world retail district. The complex has yet to open so only a few choice details have been revealed, but we’re sure this location will offer entertainment options like no other Las Vegas establishment has before. You can expect CityCenter to open before the end of 2009!—Provided by BestofVegas.com

Monday, November 9, 2009

Broadway Comes to Reno

For the last 15 years, The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts has brought some of Broadway's most loved musicals to Reno. Last Friday, November 6, the 15th season of the Pioneer Center's Broadway Comes to Reno opened with a three-day, five-show performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, "Cats." To celebrate my mother's birthday, my brother, sister, and I took her to the opening performance of the play she had not seen in more than 20 years.

Not your typical point-to-point storyline, "Cats" is based on the 1939 collection of whimsical poems, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot. Through the loose story, the audience is introduced to various Jellicle Cats and their individual quirks and eccentricities. Characters include the incorrigible Run Tum Tugger, wise Old Deuteronomy, the trouble making Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, and of course, the most clever and cunning, Mr. Mistoffelees.

Exceptional dancing and singing defined the performance, and tasteful special effects were a nice surprise. The standout performance was, with little surprise, the ubiquitous "Memory" by the outcast, former glamour cat, Grizabella.

While Sunday, November 8 was the last day of "Cats" in Reno, Pioneer's Broadway season features five more musicals: "The Wedding Singer," January 15-17; "Avenue Q," February 26-28; "The Drowsy Chaperone," March 26-28; "Stomp," April 16-18; and "The Wizard of Oz, May 14-16.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Sneak Peek: Vegas 2010


If you’re planning on coming to Las Vegas next year, you will have incredible entertainment options to choose from. As 2009 approaches its final months, the news regarding Sin City’s latest shows continues to roll in.

Earlier this year we learned the big news that Celine Dion would be returning to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. According to Canada’s sweetheart, she wanted to kick off 2010 right by returning to Las Vegas with a brand new show. She’s been hailed as the biggest draw since Frank Sinatra, and when Elton John performed at the famous Colosseum venue he reportedly referred to the hall as Celine’s Palace.

While Celine returns to her palace with her ballads, a country crooner is coming out of retirement to take his Stetson to the Wynn Las Vegas. Garth Brooks will be headlining his own show at The Wynn’s Encore Theatre. Considering Brooks hasn’t performed a major show in eight years, the official announcement generated a huge buzz amongst country music fans. He’s sold 128 million albums, second to The Beatles here in the U.S., so you can expect all of the 1,500 seats in the Encore to sell out quickly. Other performers getting their own resident show include the legendary Tony Bennett, who will be taking Barry Manilow’s place at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Let’s not forget Las Vegas always has the best of Cirque du Soleil’s performances. Along with smash hits like O, KA, and Zumanity, there will soon be an Elvis show put on by the amazing Cirque du Soleil team. The show will celebrate the life and music of Elvis and avoid the controversy that surrounded the later years of his life. While the show is unofficially titled "Elvis," an official title is expected to be announced later this year. We do know the show will take place at the ARIA Theatre in the ARIA Resort and Casino at the CityCenter, and it has been approved by the Presley family. Cirque du Soleil is using remastered Elvis hits instead of a live singer to make the performance spectacular. It’s sure to be another great hit from the Cirque du Soleil troupe.



There will be plenty to see and do in Las Vegas in the upcoming year, so make your Las Vegas show, Las Vegas hotel, and Las Vegas tour plans early.—Provided by BestofVegas.com