Monkey See, Monkey Do
23 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Las Vegas, My Latest Publication Tags: Las Vegas, history, news, bobby berosini, court case, peta
Bobby Berosini & his Orangutans
My close friends and colleagues like to joke that after more than a year in the writing, I no longer had an article about animal trainer Bobby Berosini, but instead an article about writing an article about Bobby Berosini. But after more than a year of writing, I’m so tired that I can’t write another word about this fascinating piece of Las Vegas history. So, you’ll just have to read the article. It was a cover story for Vegas Seven.
A Weekend in the Life of an A&E Editor
20 Jun 2010 2 Comments
in Las Vegas, My Latest Publication, This Writer's Life Tags: crown theater, the wailers, lotus of siam, friday night live, the hard rock, pool, devo, camp 107, wasted space, la comedy club, the arts factory, weekend plans
Shattered Time: I accidently broke the Todd English P.U.B. promo
If you’re wondering why I never write, it’s because I’m so dang busy researching the Las Vegas Arts&Entertainment scene. Here is an example of my weekend. I don’t even have time to write this now, but I’m making the sacrifice for your reading pleasure.
In Vegas, the weekend starts on Wednesday. This weekend, I had it easy and enjoyed a calm family dinner at the best Thai restaurant in North America, Lotus of Siam in Sahara Commercial Center, but previous Wednesdays in June included a First Friday Fundraiser at the Downtown Firefly and the opening of Encore Beach Club and Surrender at the Wynn Encore.
Thursday morning started early with Coffee + Convo, this wonderful art networking event at the Arts Factory is from 8 to 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month. If you have any interest in the local art scene and you can wake up that early, I highly recommend it. Also, the coffee is out of this world. Thursday evening, I went to the Photo Unveiling for Neal Preston‘s rock ‘n’ roll photos at the Hard Rock Hotel. (Read my article about him here.) It was a pleasant evening outside at the Hard Rock’s new Skybar and I got to meet my idol, Cameron Crowe. But I was woefully underprimped due to my busy schedule. Kind of like one of those dreams where you go to a job interview only to discover, too late, that you aren’t wearing pants. (In my case, I was wearing a dress.)
Friday night, I returned to the Hard Rock for a new LA Comedy Club series at Wasted Space. I’m not a big fan of standup comedy, but the comics Jimmy Schubert and K-Von kept me laughing. Next I walked through the casino and dropped by the Hard Rock’s pool for Friday Night Live to say hi to my co-workers and catch a little bit of The Wailers. I love the park atmosphere of these concerts; it’s a relaxing end to a busy week. Of course, my week was nowhere near over. I still needed to hit Camp 107, the new Friday night outdoor movie series at the Arts Factory. But I didn’t make it because I went to Blue Martini in Town Square to celebrate Mericia’s birthday. That place isn’t my scene, but I had fun anyways. Happy Birthday Mericia!
Saturday night was the opening of the Crown Theater and Nightclub with a performance by Devo. It was a great show, with creative use of video screens and a lot of fun costume changes. My favorite was when the band stripped down to T-shirts, shorts and knee pads. Without the masks and funny hats, they looked like a crew of PTA dads taking the stage. But they weren’t and they’re music was great. I wanted to stay for the transition from concert venue to nightclub, but I had various other friends to see.
Now it’s noon on Sunday, which leaves me with a little time to tackle my to-do list before the whole thing starts over again.
New Exhibit at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
05 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Art, Las Vegas Tags: a survey of the human form, Art, bellagio, figurative art, figuratively speaking, gallery, hockney, Las Vegas, of fine art, picasso
Graphic patterns of eaten chocolate at Bellagio's "Figuratively Speaking" opening reception
You may not know this about me, but I have been passionate about art my entire life. In fact, for the majority of my life I was certain that I would become an artist. (My parents must have been relieved with I chose the much more stable career path of writer.)
This passion was nourished by lots of art supplies and near-religious trips to the art museum throughout my childhood. Growing up in the Dallas area, we had a lot of art museums to choose from (The Kimbell was my favorite and I even had a college internship there). Unfortunately, Vegas is fresh out of traditional art museums (though the Atomic Testing Museum often runs free art exhibits).
In Sin City, when all else fails you can generally find what you’re looking for in a casino. Thus when I attended the opening of the new show at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art: “Figuratively Speaking: A Survey of the Human Form,” I was overjoyed to find something akin to the art museums I used to frequent in Texas.
READ MY REVIEW OF THE ART SHOW HERE or read the hard copy in this week’s issue of Vegas Seven.
“Jersey Boys” and a Chat with Bob Gaudio
04 May 2010 1 Comment
in Las Vegas, Music Tags: Las Vegas, interview, the venetian, jersey boys, four season, frankie valli, bob gaudio, michael jackson, two-year anniversary
Jersey Boys Anniversary Party (photo by Erik Kabik)
By the powers vested in me as A&E Editor for Vegas Seven, I assigned myself the story about Jersey Boys’ two-year anniversary in Las Vegas. I have to say that this story was truly a joy to write and Jersey Boys ranks as one of my favorite shows in Vegas. Additionally, musician/writer/music producer Bob Gaudio goes down as one of my favorite interviews ever because he was so smart and personable.
Here’s an interesting little tidbit that didn’t go in my article because I didn’t happen to have my recorder on me at the two-year anniversary reception: After having interviewed Gaudio on the phone a few days previously, I chatted with him at the reception and asked him his opinion on the upcoming Michael Jackson-Cirque du Soleil collaboration. Though I can’t remember his first reaction, he launched into this wonderful story about how he had recorded Jackson when Jackson was only 16. Gaudio said that at that age, Jackson was a joy to work with and that all he cared about was the music and he wasn’t yet affected by the trappings of fame. Gaudio then told me about how he was in a meeting with Neil Diamond when he found out that Jackson had passed, explaining that they immediately cancelled the meeting because everybody was so sad.
Read my Jersey Boys article here.
30-Day Yoga Challenge
05 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
in This Writer's Life Tags: 30 day yoga challenge, yoga blog
I haven’t had much time to blog lately…for a lot of reasons. But mainly all my freetime has been spent doing a 30-Day Yoga Challenge and blogging about it on my yoga blog. I’ve just completed Day 8. So, instead of visiting this site and seeing the same old, same old for the next 22 days, you should keep up with my yoga blog. And for the love of weight loss, will you please comment? I need all the encouragement I can get!
Follow all my crazy, self-deprecating yoga adventures at: www.yogarantsandraves.com
Matt Goss Opening at Cleopatra’s Barge
13 Mar 2010 Leave a Comment
in Las Vegas Tags: caesars palace, cleopatras barge, gossy room, guitar, matt goss, photos
Matt Goss at The Gossy Room
Lat night I went to Matt Goss’ opening show at the Cleopatra’s Barge/Gossy Room at Caesars Palace. I have lots to say about the event, but I’m running off to Terry Fator’s 1-Year Anniversary party, so I have no time to say it. Perhaps I will one day find the time to offer a more complete blog. (In the meantime, you can read my magazine’s article about him.) But for the moment I’m reduced to appeasing the Goss fans (who indeed seem to be out there) with a photo album of the photos I snapped from my front and center seats. Enjoy.
Click photo to view slideshow
Sunday Afternoon Netflix Picks: Performance
28 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Film Tags: 1970, anita pallenberg, identity, mick jagger, movie recommendation, performance, review
If you want to trip out that eternal stretch of nothingness between Saturday night and Monday morning, then do what I did and watch the beautiful, bizarre Performance. Filmed in 1968 and released in 1970, a 25-year-old Mick Jagger makes his acting debut as a doe-eyed retired rockstar with Pantene hair and angel lips. It’s shocking to see such a hardened rocker look so innocent and unassuming, which was much of the appeal. That and he looks hot. (Actually, the entire cast is beautiful, especially Anita Pallenberg and except for those portraying the Establishment.)
Perhaps it just goes to show how successful the film was in spreading its message that I spent most of the film taking home-decorating notes from the set of his dilapidated bohemian lair. The questioning of identity, sexual mores, gender roles, the mixing of fantasy and fiction and the challenging of the Establishment have in and of themselves become the Establishment in the intervening 40 years. Nonetheless, the film takes a huge amount of artistic risks that filmmakers wouldn’t dare take in these enlightened days. I won’t go into the plot, because it is secondary to this artistic, cultural and musical experiment. Just go watch the film. It’ll expand your mind.
Read More:
Random Vegas Photo: Pinball Hall of Fame
21 Jan 2010 5 Comments
in Las Vegas Tags: pinball hall of fame, random vegas photo
Self-Portrait @ Pinball Hall of Fame
As a photographer, I had a field day at the Pinball Hall of Fame, arguably one of Vegas’s best secrets. Here is the first of many images and videos.
Ghost Adventures at Vanity Nightclub
15 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in Las Vegas, Shiny Things Tags: aaron goodwin, clubbing, ghost adventures, hard rock casino, Las Vegas, travel channel, vanity nightclub
Staring Down the Ghost of Clubbing Past w/ Aaron Goodwin of Ghost Adventure
One of my many favorite things about Vegas is that you never know who will turn up at a nightclub. Last night I hit up Vanity at the Hard Rock with the girls of the LV Weekly Team Hangover crew. And who did I run into but the cast of the Travel Channel’s show “Ghost Adventure.” Aaron told me that he indeed believes in ghosts. I do not, but I didn’t hassle him about it because I imagine he has a vested interest in that belief. And while I don’t believe in ghosts, I do believe in ghost HUNTERS. All in all, a fun time at the hippest, hoppest, coolest new club in town. (Just don’t tell the other new clubs I said so.)
It’s Lovely at the Top
12 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in Food & Drink, Las Vegas Tags: Las Vegas, bar exam, bar, stratosphere, level 107, romance lounge, top of the world
Viewing Deck of the Stratosphere (NOT Level 107 Bar)
READ MY BAR COLUMN HERE!!!!!!!!
It took two tries to find the perfect Stratosphere bar. Most people wouldn’t give the Stratosphere that many chances. But that is why most people aren’t bar columnists.
Models Cavort at Level 107 Lounge atop the Stratosphere
As you can see in the above photo, the Level 107 bar was more than worth the exploration.
Check it out. And read my stuff. And remember, if you’re drinking, you won’t have to pay to get to the top. How’s that for a deal?
