Vegas Happenings | Chef Mario Batali at The Venetian | Mystic Falls Park Holiday Winter Wonderland

Chef Mario Batali Hosts Outdoor Cooking Demo at The Venetian

As part of the Winter in Venice celebrations at The Venetian and The Palazzo, the resorts welcomed world-renowned chef Mario Batali for a live cooking demonstration Friday afternoon, November 25 at the exterior of The Venetian by the outdoor gondolas. Joking that his signature orange Crocs can’t ever come off, Batali stepped on to the ice skating rink and posed for photos with the holiday characters and guests before heading over to the wood burning oven situated on the sidewalk. A large crowd was in attendance enjoying slices of his signature pizza while he gave his cooking tips, including dough should be slowly stretched instead of tossed. Executive chef Zach Allen from Batali’s restaurants inside The Venetian and The Palazzo (Otto Enoteca Pizzeria, B&B Ristorante, and Carnevino Italian Steakhouse) was also on hand to help Batali prepare the pizza and interact with the crowd. Batali also signed copies of his cookbook, “Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours,” for lucky meet and greet winners.

Batali told the audience, “The quality of your meal is decided when you leave the store and pack your groceries in the back of the car. Fundamentally what distinguishes really great Italian food from mediocre food is the quality of the ingredients. Find stores that will let you taste the salt, the oil and the tomatoes so you can find the food that best suits your particular palate.”

Mario Batali at the pizza oven
Photo credit: Michael Hewitt / ImagesOfVegas.com


Zach Allen and Mario Batali
Photo credit: Michael Hewitt / ImagesOfVegas.com


Mario Batali with WIV characters
Photo credit: Michael Hewitt / ImagesOfVegas.com

Mystic Falls Park at Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall is transformed into a Holiday Winter Wonderland

The recently renovated, pioneer-themed Mystic Falls Park Light and Water Show at Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hal has once again transformed into a popular winter wonderland for the holidays complete with weekly visits by Cowboy Santa.

Boyd Gaming Executive Chairman Bill Boyd, Sam’s Town Vice President and General Manager John Sou, LVCVA Host Committee Chairman Oscar B. Goodman and Cowboy Santa were on hand for the tree-lighting celebration on November 23 and flipped the switch on the first run of the holiday show.

The Sam’s Town winter wonderland experience begins in the valet porte-cochere, with festive lighting and decorative snowflakes leading to Mystic Falls Park. Garland streams, wreath adorned lampposts and white light and snow-covered trees fill the atrium, while Santa’s workshop takes residence at the gazebo.

Poinsettias, red garland, ice crystals add to the themed visuals, while the main fountain will host an ice sculpture. Lighted sculpture polar bears, along with indoor snow, create a whimsical magical winter wonderland experience in the heart of the Boulder Strip.

The free 15-minute winter laser light spectacular will take place at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. nightly through January 1.

Sam’s Town hosts Santa Claus this holiday season, decked out in venue-appropriate cowboy gear, from November 25 through December 23. Santa will appear on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Photos will be available from $11-17.

At the lighting event, Sam’s Town also announced the results of its “Cell Phones for Soldiers” campaign. From November 1 through 23, Sam’s Town collected more than 1,400 cell phones and chargers. Each phone donated to the program provides an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.

Additional recent and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:

THE PALAZZO celebrated Thanksgiving with a unique, festive and sold out Thanksgiving Holiday Feast at the waterfall atrium during Winter in Venice.  Over 75 guests sat side by side at two 30-foot picnic-style benches surrounded by magnificent décor featuring autumn leaves, bales of hay, cornucopia and traditional crops of American landscape.

30' Table set


The Palazzo’s Executive Chef Olivier Dubreuil


Guests enjoying the feast.

The Palazzo’s Executive Chef Olivier Dubreuil prepared an exquisite feast of Thanksgiving spread served family-style. Appetizing menu highlights included fresh tomato and corn soup with garlic and basil croutons, Roquefort apple with ginger salad, whole roasted Vermont turkey with sausage sage dressing and caramel pumpkin pie. Guests also enjoyed sipping wines throughout the feast which included I’M, Chardonnay by Isabel Mondavi, Sonoma County 2010, Siduri, Pinot Noir and Santa Lucia Highlands “SLH” California 2010.  

Terry Fator: Ventriloquism in Concert presents “A VERY TERRY CHRISTMAS” featuring holiday-themed performances by TERRY FATOR, Tuesday through Saturday Nov. 29 through Dec. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for A Very Terry Christmas are priced at $59.99, $79.99, $99.99 and $129.99, plus applicable fees.

“SANTALAND DIARIES” by writer David Sedaris. debuts at Onyx Theater (953 East Sahara) for eight exclusive performances this December. A portion of the proceeds from opening weekend, Thursday, Dec. 1 – Sunday, Dec. 4, benefit GOLDEN RAINBOW. "SantaLand Diaries” is a true and humorous account of Sedaris' stint working as a Christmas elf in "SantaLand" at Macy's department store. Directed by Las Vegas CityLife’s Christopher Kenney, the holiday favorite stars local performer Jamie Morris. Tickets are $20 and available at the Onyx Theater box office. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Between Monday, November 28th and Wednesday, December 28th, KOKO FIT CLUB will be collecting new and gently used clothing and toys at both of their Henderson locations to benefit SAFE NEST, a local charity promoting the eradication of domestic violence.Your tax deductible donation will greatly help many women and children in need this year, and you will be provided with a tax receipt upon donation. Look for the giant, wrapped gift boxes at Koko FitClub, 55 S. Valle Verde Dr. #220 and Koko FitClub Horizon Ridge, 55 E. Horizon Ridge Pkwy #130 in Henderson.

Country music’s newest star, 18 year old MADISON CAIN will light up the stage in the Hilton Theater for 2 free shows Sunday, December 4 at 9 p.m. and Monday, December 5 at 10 p.m. Seating is first come first served for these ticket-free shows. Opening for Madison Cain is Steven Clawson, finalist in “CMT’s Next Superstar”.

Discovery Channel fan favorite JESSE JAMES returns to battle Paul Teutul, Senior and Paul Teutul, Junior in the Ultimate Bike Competition on AMERICAN CHOPPER LIVE. The special two night event will air live from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas December 5 & 6.

The legendary nightclub STUDIO 54 at MGM will transform into “Saloon 54” December 1-10 in celebration of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.  Rodeo fanatics looking for after-hours fun are invited to belly up to the bar for beer specials or challenge fellow partiers to a shootout in pool, air hockey, foosball or beer pong. Country favorite DJ Du (Duhamel Cassell) will begin the party nightly, keeping the crowd pumped for DJ Silver who will continue rocking the turntables. The grand finale for the 10-day celebration, Saturday, Dec. 10, will feature a special performance by Eli Young Band.

PUSCIFER, the eclectic music-meets-comedy troupe helmed by Maynard James Keenan, (Tool, A Perfect Circle), returns to the Pearl at the Palms Resort Casino with the Conditions of My Parole tour on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $35& $45, plus any additional service fees.

The MARY MARY show planned for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011 at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort has been canceled. Guests can return to the original point of purchase to obtain a refund.

FIRST Food & Bar will host the following special events as part of the Venetian and Palazzo's Winter In Venice Celebration.

Saturday, December 3 and December 17...

A Children’s Holiday Treat Production Class for kids of all ages will be held from 10 a.m. – Noon Children can come to FIRST’s Private Dining Room during these ours and create a holiday treat for free. Gingerbread Man and chocolate covered pretzel rod decorating with toppings including, sprinkles, marshmallows and candy pieces. Hot chocolate with candy canes and marshmallows will also be served.

Then from  1 p.m. – 5 p.m.  Chef Sam “Sammy D” DeMarco and the FIRST chefs will be roasting chestnuts on-site and serving Hot Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate and Chocolate Cookie Dough Truffles. Event will take place at the exterior of The Venetian by the outdoor gondolas. Event will take place at the exterior of The Venetian by the outdoor gondolas and is free and open to the public.

Boyd Gaming will be bringing the biggest names in rodeo and entertainment to its Las Vegas Valley properties during the 2011 The WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO (WNFR), including the return of NATIONAL FINALS TONIGHT ®, and World Champion Bull Rider Gary Leffew’s Legendary Buck’n Ball at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino.

For the fifth year, the award-winning National Finals Tonight® program, featuring a post-show wrap-up of each day's rodeo events, rodeo highlights and interviews with some of the most recognizable names in the world of professional rodeo, will be presented in the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino’s showroom. The program will run nightly beginning at 10:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. on December 4) during WNFR. Admission is free and open to the public.

National Finals Tonight® is a  Eight-time World Champion and Hall of Fame Cowboy Don Gay, along with World Champion Tie-Down Roper and All-Around Cowboy Joe Beaver and TV personality Dan Miller, will host the program.

Scheduled special appearances include legendary rodeo announcers Bob Tallman and Boyd Polhamus. The world’s top cowboys and cowgirls will also stop by for interviews and audience Q & A sessions.

Attendees will also be eligible for nightly free drawings, including autographed Fender guitars from various country artists, including country music legend George Strait. One guitar will be given away during each of the 10 nights of the show.

World Champion Bull Rider Gary Leffew’s Legendary Buck’n Ball, a free nightly rodeo after party will be held in the Arizona Ballroom at the Gold Coast, featuring live music by Members of George Strait’s Ace in the Hole Band, as well as local favorite Scotty Alexander; dancing; a mechanical bull; and drink specials for attendees. Doors open nightly immediately following the NFR performance.

For further information about all Boyd Gaming WNFR events, visit www.boydgaming.com/nfr

According to an ad in the Los Angeles Times, The LAS VEGAS HILTON will be renamed LVH-Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on Jan. 3.

Celebrity sightings:

Wednesday night, November 23, Hip hop artist Coolio hosted a pre-Thanksgiving day Old School Wednesday at LAVO.

Coolio performing
Photo credit: Brenton Ho/Powers Imagery


Coolio performing with custom microphone
Photo credit: Brenton Ho/Powers Imagery

Thanksgiving evening, Thursday November 24...

Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars was spotted at TAO with his brother and several guy friends.

Pauly Shore hosted the night, even dressing up as a turkey for the celebration.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and friends
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery


Pauly Shore
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery

Friday night, November 25...

Kendall Schmidt of Big Time Rush celebrated his 21st birthday along with fellow members of the Nickelodeon boy band at TAO.  The group dined at the Asian bistro before heading up to the club where they were joined by 30 friends.  DJ Crooked played the band’s song Elevate as Schmidt was surprised with a record player shaped cake.

Former Pussycatt Doll Kimberly Wyatt also was seen at TAO Nightclub.

Pauly Shore dined at LAVO with friends. After dinner he made his way to a VIP table at Marquee to take in the sounds of DJ Chuckie.

Also spotted at Marquee was Brandon Marshall of the Miami Dolphins, who checked out the club with his wife.

Kendall Schmidt celebrates his birthday
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery


Kendall Schmidt celebrates his birthday with friends
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery


Kimberly Wyatt with friend
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery

Sunday night, November 27, singer/songwriter Trey Songz celebrated his 27th birthday at LAVO’s Vice Sunday.  A dapper looking Songz was surrounded by friends including hometown boy Ne-Yo, comedians Kevin Hart and Eddie Griffin and music executive Kevin Liles as he enjoyed a birthday dinner at the Italian eatery.

Trey Songz
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery


Ne Yo, Trey Songz and Kevin Hart
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery


Trey Songz with cake
Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery