HASH HOUSE A GO GO OPENS NEW LOCATION INSIDE IMPERIAL PALACE

by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

A popular Las Vegas eatery, Hash House A Go Go opened its second Las Vegas location inside the Imperial Palace on Dec. 10 and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's in the space previously occupied on the second floor by the Teahouse. Hash House A Go Go is famous for its creative menu offerings, over-sized portions, interesting presentations and fresh ingredients.

Column Continues Below Advertisement

The first Hash House A Go Go opened in San Diego in 2000 and the first in Las Vegas debuted in 2005. Hash House A Go Go has been featured on The Food Network's “Rachel Ray's Vacation,” the Travel Channel's “Man v. Food,” the Fine Living Network's “Martha Stewart,” NBC's “Dr. Phil” and ABC's “What Would You Do?”

CITYCENTER OPENINGS

What a way to start off the holiday month of December with the unveiling of and opening of three major components to CityCenter: Vdara, Crystals shopping center and Mandarin Oriental. CityCenter is an urban metropolis located on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts and it is a joint venture between MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World.

VDARA HOTEL & SPA WAS FIRST TO OPEN

Vdara Hotel & Spa, a sophisticated, smoke-free, non-gaming all-suite urban resort destination, marked the first opening at CityCenter on Dec. 1. This is a boutique property with spectacular architecture and no squared-off lines in the lobby and ultra dramatic Silk Road Restaurant. Vdara's 57-story condo-hotel tower houses 1,495 residential units, ranging from 526 to 1,750 square feet.

CRYSTALS INTRODUCES UPSCALE SHOPPING AND DINING

Crystals at CityCenter opened its doors on Dec. 3. The upscale shopping center is introducing an incredible array of prestigious brands including one of the largest Louis Vuitton stores in the world, as well as flagships for Tiffany & Co., Prada, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, and Ermenegildo Zegna.

New to the market are the following retailers: Tom Ford, Assouline, Carolina Herrera, de Grisogono, Kiki De Montparnasse, Kiton, Lanvin, Marni, Mikimoto, Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Porsche Design, Rodney Lough Gallery, and Tourbillon.

Other luxury retailers opening large format stores are: Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Cartier, Christian Dior, Fendi, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Versace. Many of these brands will be opening this month, with the balance opening the first half of 2010.

Eva Longoria Parker hosted a private party when she opened her new Latin steakhouse Beso the same night. At Crystals, Beso is joined by dining destinations Mastro's Ocean Club, a new offering by Todd English, Todd English P.U.B., and two new concepts by Wolfgang Puck, The Pods by Wolfgang Puck and Brasserie PUCK. Additional retail, restaurant and entertainment offerings will be announced throughout 2010.

The 500,000-square-foot Crystals is a three-level experimental environment creating an abstract 21st century park. It's fairly sterile inside with a wide open area and decorative elements like a colorful flower carpet.

PARKER's BESO AND EVE GRAND OPENING WILL BE NEW YEAR's EVE

Eva Longoria Parker will introduce her contemporary steakhouse Beso, and her luxurious new nightclub, Eve, with a New Year's Eve grand opening celebration. Located at Crystals, Beso and Eve occupy two stories at the entrance at The Park across from ARIA. Beso, the Spanish word for kiss, combines Parker's Latin heritage and her passion for cooking with the culinary talents of celebrated chef, Todd English.

Beso's 6,000-square-foot interior is enveloped by deep chocolate browns and gold finishes with a splash of red marking the exhibition kitchen as tribute to the brand's signature kiss. Custom-designed chandeliers handmade from the Swarovski Crystal curtain created especially for the 2009 Academy Awards are the prevailing design feature of the dining room, where floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the backdrop of CityCenter's striking architecture. There's also a lounge and a patio overlooking the ARIA porte cochere offering outdoor dining year round.

The 8,000-square-foot Eve nightclub will feature a 50-foot arched ceiling and lavish VIP booths. The hotspot will be enveloped in black with accents of sparkling gold, and mirrored windows will showcase the nighttime views outside. A one-of-a kind colossal video screens will surround the dance nightclub. Advance tickets to the party are $125, call 702-227-EVE8 (3838).

MANDARIN ORIENTAL IS ALL ABOUT SERVICE

Mandarin Oriental is a luxury Asian-inspired, 47-story, non-gaming hotel and residences that create a sophisticated sanctuary of modern elegance. Upon entering the lobby, there is no front desk. Instead… guests are whisked via one of three elevators to the 23rd floor where they are acknowledged and then personally guided to their room via another bank of elevators. The hotel is below the 23rd floor and residences are above. There are 41 Mandarin Oriental hotels in the world and their reputation is for superb five-star service and they deliver.

‘AMERICA's GOT TALENT LIVE!’ WILL RETURN FOR EXTRA WEEK-LONG RUN

“America's Got Talent Live!” hosted by Jerry Springer at Planet Hollywood is nearing the end of its successful 10-week run. But, it's been announced that the live show featuring million dollar winner, singer Kevin Skinner and runner-up, opera singer Barbara Padilla will return to the CHI Showroom for a week of 6:30 p.m. shows just after Christmas, Dec. 26-30.

The recent fourth season of the hit NBC show was USA's highest rated show of the summer with 15.5 million people watching the final. Also in the show will be fan favorites including drumming band Recycled Percussion, comedian Grandma Lee, break dancer Hario Torres and singing trio Texas Tenors.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Las Vegas comedy clubs give new meaning to “the price is right.” The headliners are topnotch and deliver noteworthy material, all for reasonable ticket prices.

The Comedy Stop at the Sahara will feature Mitchell Walters, Tom Segura, and Al Ducharme, Dec. 14-20. Walters has been an opening act for Michael Bolton and Neil Sedaka. He also toured across America for three years with the late Sam Kinison as one of the outlaws of comedy.

Ducharme offers a combination of observational humor, comical characters and celebrity impressions. This versatile artist hosted the first season of a show called “Mission: Organization” on HGTV (Home and Garden) and now takes on the hosting duties of a new show called “Comedy Cooks.” He has also starred in several television commercials including Heineken Beer, Papa Gino's, Ford Motor Co. and GTE.

The Riviera Comedy Club will star Mike Saccone, John Bizarre and newcomer Penny Tha Prince, Dec. 14-20. Saccone has co-starred on several network television shows including “Cybill,” “The John Larroquette Show” and “Empty Nest.”

Sammy Hagar celebrated the grand opening of his Cabo Wabo Cantina in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip on Friday, Dec. 4. As a surprise to Hagar, longtime friend Kenny Chesney stopped by for a surprise performance. After singing their own rendition of “I Fall in Love Again,” other musicians joined Hagar on stage, including Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Van Halen guitarist Michael Anthony, and Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul.

Terry Fator is presenting “A Very Terry Christmas,” a holiday-themed version of “Terry Fator & His Cast of Thousands” at The Mirage through Dec. 26. Fator has added holiday jingles including his newly released Christmas single, “Christmas In Vegas,” that he wrote. A free download of “Christmas In Vegas” is available on www.TerryFator.com.

“Free Jazz Fridays” series presented by KOAS 105.7 The Oasis is taking place at Sam's Town on Boulder Highway in Sam's Town Live! from 7 to 10 p.m. through the end of January except for Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For information, visit www.samstownlv.com or call 702-456-7777.

For the fifth year in a row, Rock ‘n Roll Wine will be partnering with Cafe Ba Ba Reeba on the Strip at the Fashion Show Mall for their annual New Year's Eve Bash. The dinner package includes a five-course dinner, entertainment courtesy of a live DJ, and complimentary valet parking. Reservations prior to 8:30 p.m. are $65 and after are $95, call 702-258-1211.

Lawry's The Prime Rib is offering strolling carolers through Dec. 24

Mac King, the afternoon headliner at Harrah's, recently celebrated his 50th birthday with a surprise party held at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville at the Flamingo. The party was thrown by King's longtime business partner and manager. The party included Lance Burton, Jeff Hobson and Vinnie Favorito, and a lap dance from a Cher drag queen.

The 2009 MAACO Bowl Las Vegas on Dec. 22 at Sam Boyd Stadium will feature the champion or first selection from the Mountain West Conference against the fourth/fifth selection from the Pacific-10 Conference. The annual showcase has sold out for four consecutive years with attendance exceeding 40,000. The MAACO Bowl is televised on ESPN and heard on the Sports USA Radio Network.

The 150 specialty shops and 15 restaurants at the Forum Shops at Caesars will be open all day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Devi Kroell is now open at The Forum Shops. This is the New York designer's first and only store outside of New York City.

Louis Vuitton has been present in the United States since 1898 and began this month by opening its 134th store in North America and first location on the Strip at CityCenter. This is the company's largest store in North America and the fifth largest location worldwide.

Two new stores at Town Square include Monaco-based swimwear company Banana Moon launching its first franchised concept store in the United States and The Pottery Shop.

“Fighters Only Magazine,” the world's leading Mixed Martial Arts and lifestyle publication, will present its World Mixed Martial Awards Show at The Joint by Rogue inside the Hard Rock on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Comedian John Heffron, NBC's Season Two winner of “Last Comic Standing,” will host the ceremony. There will be recipients in 18 categories. This year's event will stream live on www.Versus.com and be nationally broadcast on the Versus Network Jan. 6, 2010 at 9 p.m. EST and PST. Tickets start at $125, call 702-693-5000.

The next Rock ‘n Roll Wine event will be held at the all new BB King's Blues Club in the Mirage on Friday, Dec. 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. A mix of 20 wines that pair well with BBQ will be poured accompanied by entertainment highlighted in opening act Anne Donahue and featuring Nashville based Shane Dwight. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door, call 702-240-3066.

The Renaissance Hotel will host the 4th Annual Holiday Reception and Christmas Tree Silent Auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is complimentary and ENVY The Steakhouse will serve hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Six elaborately decorated Christmas trees are on display in the hotel lobby. Last year the event raised approximately $30,000.

Sunset & Vines at Lake Las Vegas is offering a series of Wining and Dining Specials for the month of December. Every Sunday in December is “No Corkage Night.” Every Monday is “Martini Monday!” with a 40 percent discount. Ongoing “Tuesday Tasting” offers complimentary wine and cheese tasting from 6 to 7:30. Every Wednesday in December is a 2-for-1 offer. Every Thursday (except New Year's Eve) is “Prime Time” featuring a 10 oz. cut for $15.95, and 16 oz. cut for $22.95. “Fridays are for Frenchies!” with all French wines discounted 33 percent off their normal list price.