By Judy Thorburn This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - Las Vegas Round The Clock
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - The Flick Chicks
Director of Communications - Nevada Film Alliance
http://www.theflickchicks.com
Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Unveils Dazzling Winter Display
Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens unveiled a winter wonderland filled with glistening snowflakes, a family of arctic animals and festive ornaments, now through January 3, 2016.
Upon entering the East Garden visitors will be in “awe” of the 14-foot-tall snow tunnel framed with bright red Poinsettias and white Silver Tip Fir trees, backlit silhouettes and delicate snowflakes that will encourage guests to get lost in the holiday season.
Photo courtesy of the Bellegio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Photo courtesy of the Bellegio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Photo courtesy of the Bellegio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Photo courtesy of the Bellegio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Located prominently in the center bed, the display’s focal point is a 42-foot White Fir holiday tree, adorned with 7,000 twinkling white lights and 2,500 colorful ornaments. Standing guard at each corner of the garden are four animated toy soldiers robotically moving in unison. New to the Conservatory, but a staple of the season, four 10-foot stockings stuffed with wrapped trinkets hang from the ceiling, while a 12-foot Jack-in-the–box, surrounded by gifts and golden ribbon, sways back and forth.
The North Garden features an arctic-like setting with a mother polar bear made of 12,000 white carnations and a pair of twin cubs that play among the icebergs. Joining the polar bears is an inquisitive family of penguins poking out of their igloos. A live camera mounted to a mechanical toy train travels through the bed capturing special moments shared between family and friends, which are displayed on a nearby monitor. Suspended high above the Conservatory and surrounded by intricate snowflakes, an illuminated moon keeps watch over the polar bears and penguins day in and day out.
In the South Bed, visitors will find two 12-foot snow globes, each showcasing a classic winter scene. In one globe, two ice skaters glide across a frozen pond with only the light of a lamppost and in the other, carolers rejoice and sing around a gleaming holiday tree. To complete the classic holiday theme, a gently rocking wooden horse rests at the center of the garden among two snow flocked trees and Poinsettias.
Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is FREE to the public and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Maverick Helicopters Unveils New $5 Million Las Vegas Terminal
Maverick Helicopters, an award-winning division of Maverick Aviation Group, unveiled its new $5 million Las Vegas terminal with a grand opening celebration on Thursday, November 19. The state-of-the-art facility will officially open its doors to the public on Monday, November 30.
Throughout the evening, guests were treated to flights over the Las Vegas Strip, photo opportunities in front of the company’s Airbus EC130 ECO-Star helicopters, tours of Maverick Airlines’ fixed-winged aircraft, hors d’oeuvres and desserts from Cut and Taste and specialty cocktails handcrafted by Belvedere Vodka. Notable guests included Las Vegas Strip headliner Carrot Top, Master Photographer Peter Lik and representatives from the offices of Governor Brian Sandoval, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Senator Dean Heller, Senator Harry Reid, Congressman Cresent Hardy, Congressman Joe Heck, Congresswoman Dina Titus and the Clark County Government Center.
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
“We broke ground on this project approximately one year ago, and this opening represents a big milestone for Maverick Helicopters,” said John Buch, President of Maverick Aviation Group. “This year has been one of our best yet – from opening our fifth location in Maui to now unveiling one of the most elaborate helicopter terminals in the world, we couldn’t be more thankful to everyone who has helped us get to where we are today.”
Steve Sisolak, the Clark County Commission Chairman; Michael Goldsmith, the Vice President of International Marketing at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Todd Powers, the Western Regional Sales Manager at Airbus Helicopters; and Russ Spray, the President and Chief Executive Officer at SAFRAN Turbomeca USA also spoke on behalf of their associations and congratulated Maverick Helicopters on opening its new Las Vegas terminal. As Sisolak addressed the crowd on all Maverick Helicopters does for the community, he presented the company’s owners, Greg and Brenda Rochna, with a proclamation from Clark County that declared Thursday, November 19, 2015 as “Maverick Helicopters Day.”
Greg Rochna, Brenda Rochna and Steve Sisolak with the Maverick Helicopters Day proclamation
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
Matt Goss and Robin Leach
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
Brenda Rochna, Greg Rochna and Carrot Top
Photo credit: Maverick Helicopters
Peter Lik, Brenda Rochna and Greg Rochna
Photo credit - Cashman Photo
Before the evening wrapped up, guests were treated to an over-the-top helicopter arrival and performance by Las Vegas Strip headliner Matt Goss. who performed a 30-minute set filled with classic hits.
Additional recent and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:
On November 19th, the NATIONAL ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM's longtime ally, NATIONAL SECURTY TECHNOLOGIES, presented the museum with a $25,000 donation. This donation is specifically meant to help further the museum's master plan in an effort to update existing exhibits.
This week, more than 30 employees from BANK OF AMERICA visited OLIVE CREST to wrap toys for kids in-need ahead of the holidays. Therecipient children, totaling more than 50, are among the 3,500 abusedand neglected children that Olive Crest serves in Southern Nevada each year. Toys wrapped at the gathering will be hand-delivered by members of the community on December 12.
Photo courtesy of Bank of America
Photo courtesy of Bank of America
The event was the latest in what has been an exciting December for Olive Crest and Bank of America. Earlier this month, Olive Crest received Bank of America's signature Neighborhood Builders Award, including $200,000 in flexible funding and leadership training.
SANDS® CARES, the global corporate citizenship program from Las Vegas Sands® recently donated $32,000 to Kershaw's Challenge, the charitable foundation of All-Star pitcher CLAYTON KERSHAW. Kershaw's Challenge encourages people to make an impact in the lives of at-risk children and communities in need. For the second year in a row, The Venetian and The Palazzo accepted the pitcher's "Challenge" and pledged $100 per Kershaw strikeout during the 2015 baseball season. Kershaw's 320 strikeouts (301 in the regular season and 19 in the postseason) garnered $32,000 for the foundation.
Sands Cares Presents Check to Clayton Kershaw
Photo courtesy of Sands Cares
Clayton Kershaw Presents Signed Jersey to Lagasse's Stadium
Photo courtesy of Sands Cares
Clayton Kershaw Participates in a game at The Miracle League of Las Vegas
Photo courtesy of Sands Cares
Clayton Kershaw Cheers on a player at The Miracle League of Las Vegas
Photo courtesy of Sands Cares
Clayton Kershaw Interviewed by Matt Perrault at The Palazzo Broadcast Studio
Photo courtesy of Sands Cares
"Our partnership between Kershaw's Challenge and The Palazzo started a few years ago. They came alongside of us with the thought of striking out to serve just like we did, so they started donating per strikeout," said Clayton Kershaw. "It's been an amazing partnership and now they're one of our sponsors in our ping pong event we do in LA every year. Really at the end of the day, we're just all trying to help some kids out. It's a really cool partnership."
As part of the partnership, Clayton Kershaw attended a game at The Miracle League of Las Vegas, an organization that offers individuals with cognitive and/or physical challenges the opportunity to play baseball. Kershaw pitched for both of the teams that were in attendance.
"We went over to the Miracle League field, and we got to watch a game. I got to pitch to these kids," Kershaw said. "All of the kids had disabilities so this field was made just for them to play baseball. It was really cool for me to see these kids get the chance to play baseball which otherwise they couldn't if they didn't have this field."
After an unprecedented 10-year run, Luxor Hotel and Casino has announced a five-year contract renewal with world-renowned comedian Scott "CARROT TOP" Thompson, who will continue his hit Las Vegas show through 2020. Carrot Top performs six nights a week inside the Atrium Showroom.
With a masterful mix of rock, blues, rap, hip hop and top 40, HAL SAVAR, nicknamed the "Human Jukebox," brings his interactive, live acoustic music to CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar in Downtown Summerlin Every Wednesday starting December 9 through January 27 from 6-9 p.m., guests can create the show they want by picking songs from a 300+ list song menu including 10 different genres of music.
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE'S annual presentation of one of Las Vegas' favorite and most treasured holiday traditions, THE NUTCRACKER, will kick off on Saturday, December 12. The larger-than-life set pieces, including the one-of-a-kind and original 40 foot dollhouse has been being resurrected inside Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. The eight-show run features a full orchestra performed by Members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Tickets start at $29 plus fees and can be ordered by calling The Smith Center Box Office.
Henderson officially welcomes the holiday season with its annual Christmas celebration, WINTERFEST, on Saturday, December 12 from noon-8 p.m. at Henderson Events Plaza, 200 Water St. Admission is FREE.The event features a variety of festivities for the entire family. Such attractions include Santa Claus, Henderson Christmas tree lighting with Mayor Hafen, strolling carolers, pony rides, holiday crafts and train rides.
This year, popular characters from classic Christmas stories and films come to life for this year’s evening light parade. The procession, which includes more than 70 entries, illuminates the Water Street District at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 12. Water Street and portions of Van Wagenen will be closed to accommodate the parade.
On Saturday, December 12, Neiman Marcus Las Vegas (located at Fashion Show )presents SUGAR & SPICE & EVERYTHING NICE, an edible holiday display custom created by two popular and well-known Las Vegas chefs, Robert Teddy, owner of M. Antoinette Cakes and pastry instructor at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts; and Travis Martinez, a renowned pastry chef at Caesars Palace They are both current competitors on Food Network’s Cake Wars: Christmas and will team up to create this entirely edible holiday scene.
The display features two figures measuring more than four feet tall - Jack and Jewel Frost - fashioned from more than 300 pounds of chocolate, 275 pounds of sugar, 50 pounds of cake, plus icing and sugar glass. Each figure is adorned with sugar cookie jewelry, including a specially designed tiara for Jewel Frost.
Guests are invited to view the display, (available 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) meet the chefs (from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.) and participate in a raffle for prizes donated by Neiman Marcus, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, and Chef Robert Teddy. Three Square Food Bank will accept non-perishable food donations during the event with proceeds from the raffle benefiting the organization.
ANDREW DICE CLAY, "The Undisputed Heavy Weight King of Comedy", takes the stage at the Laugh Factory Showroom at the All New Tropicana Hotel Las Vegas December 11, 12 & 13, January 1, 2, & 4 and January 21, 22, 23 at a special 10 pm Showtime. Tickets are on sale now.
Andrew Dice Clay
Photo courtesy of the Tropicana
The innovative and internationally renowned photography company LUMAS will open a new flagship store/gallery in the heart of Vegas, at the world renowned Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian & The Palazzo, on December 17th. Just in time for the holidays – LUMAS’s newest gallery is located across from the main bridge leading to St. Mark’s Square, the main section of the Grand Canal Shoppes. It will be open daily from 10am-11pm; until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING; CARPENTER'S CHRISTMAS,” a tribute to 1970s musicians The Carpenters, will bring the group’s renowned holiday classics to the Suncoast Showroom Dec. 19-20.The tribute features singer-actress Michelle Berting Brett accompanied by a live, seven-piece Nashville band directed by Harry Sharpe.Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available starting from $30.28 plus taxes and fees and can be purchased at any Boyd Gaming box office.
RONNIE SPECTOR, the legendary former lead singer of the all-girl R&B group the Ronettes, will bring her Christmas-themed show to The Orleans Showroom Dec. 19-20.Showtime is 8 p.m. each night. Tickets are available starting from $29.95, plus taxes and fees and can be purchased at any Boyd Gaming Box Office
“THE 64th ANNUAL MISS UNIVERSE® PAGEANT” will air the the three-hour annual event live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, December 20, 7:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on FOX.
The biggest selling solo artist in American history, GARTH BROOKS will return to Las Vegas for exclusive performances at the new Las Vegas Arena scheduled to open April 2016. Brooks will create a live music experience unique to Las Vegas when he performs multiple shows for his fans, Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. both nights, Saturday, July 2 at 7 p.m., Sunday, July 3 at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and Monday, July 4 at 5 p.m. Tickets will cost $85 which is all inclusive of taxes and fees.
Celebrity sightings:
Saturday night, December 5...
Actress and comedian Melissa McCarthy was spotted at Searsucker restaurant inside Caesars Palace. The comedy queen arrived early in the evening for a pre-show dinner with famed fashion designer Brian Atwood before heading over to see Absinthe.
