Vegas Happenings 05-18-09

By Judy Thorburn
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Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - Las Vegas Round The Clock
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic - Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - The Flick Chicks
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Tea Professionals Gather in Las Vegas for Annual World Tea Expo

Tea professionals from around the world gathered in Las Vegas from May 2 – 4 for The World Tea Expo at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.  The 3 day event attracted more than 5,000 attendees and representatives in the tea industry who came to preview hundreds of new tea and related products, the latest industry innovations on display and for the chance to sit in on 50 cutting-edge educational sessions. The expo also provided those in the tea business with a one-stop opportunity to help drive their business, fuel industry growth and encourage further exploration of the art and science of tea.

I am not what you would call a connoisseur of teas, but I know what I like, and one thing is a good cup of tea.  Let me just say that with all the different varieties of teas from all over the world available to sample, my tastebuds were on cloud nine, as I sipped on an assortment of hot teas and ice teas ranging from traditional green and black to fruity to exotic blends from around the world, which are not only tasty and aromatic but also healthy and filled with antioxidants.

One of the highlights of the 3 day expo was the second annual World Tea Championships, North America’s only independently and professionally judged tea competition that drew nearly 300 entries by 40 different companies who work hard at formulating the finest teas.

David De Candia, senior manager of tea for Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf was a member of the panel that conducted blind analysis of all entries. He said the teas he tasted “reflected quality, creativity, expertise and a devotion to tea’s holiness.”

“The World Tea Championship is the place for the best teas in the industry to compete for the championship prize,” said Keith Hutjens, director of tea procurement for Tazo Tea Company.

Big winners in the WTC included Rishi Tea, Qtrade Teas & Herbs, PeLi Teas, Ito En and Shangri LaTea Company. For a full list of winners visit http://www.worldteaexpo.com.

Some of the Award Winners

Tradeshow Week Magazine recognized the World Tea Expo® twice with a Fastest 50® award, honoring it as one of the most successful events in North America.

The next World Tea Expo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, June 11-13, 2010.

For more detailed coverage of this year’s World Tea Expo read Jacqueline Monahan’s 5/11/09 edition of her column About The Town.


Smokey Robinson Announces New Headline Act at the Imperial Palace

During a press conference on Wednesday morning at the Imperial Palace Motown legend Smokey Robinson was on hand to announce and introduce the new headlining act, Australia’s most popular vocal group, Human Nature who have signed a one year contract to perform in the newly remodeled showroom beginning May 23, 2009. The show is entitled, “Smokey Robinson Presents Australia’s Human Nature – The Ultimate Celebration of Motown,” and features the distinctive, vocal harmonies of members Toby Allen, Phil Burton, Andrew Tierney and Michael Tierney as they perform Motown’s greatest hits backed by a talented live band.

Photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Human Nature has opened for superstars Celine Dion and Michael Jackson and is known for their outstanding concert and stage performances.

“I was so impressed with the group when I saw them perform that I knew they would be a huge success,” said Robinson.

Photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Formed as a doo wop band in 1989 in Sydney, and signed to Sony Music in 1994, since 1996 Human Nature has had 17 top 40 hits, five Top 10 hits and their albums have all gone multi platinum in Australia.  Human Nature will release their debut American CD later this year.

Photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Show times for “Smokey Robinson Presents Australia’s Human Nature - The Ultimate Celebration of Motown” at the Imperial Showroom will be 8 p.m., six nights a week (dark Fridays). Tickets are $49.95 and $59.95 for VIP (costs do not include tax and fees).


Siegfried & Roy Celebrate Tiger Cubs' First Birthday

On Tuesday May 12, Magicians of the Century Siegfried & Roy presented special gifts and treats to their tiger cubs in celebration of their first birthday.  Sisters Star, Celestial, Chakra and Cosmo, along with brother Svengali, commemorated the event by unwrapping gifts in Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage.

Following the event, the legendary duo signed their re-issued book 'Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Begins at Home' and other merchandise for hundreds of fans.


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

Nevada Ballet Theatre has announced its upcoming Spring Concerts featuring over 800 students from the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre and its Education and Outreach Division, Future Dance. “A Night on Broadway” will be presented on Wednesday, May 20 at 5:30 pm at the Las Vegas Academy’s Performing Arts Center, 315 S. 7th Street. Tickets are free for friends and family. Nevada Ballet Theatre’s affiliated Academy will present its annual Spring Concert on Saturday, May 30 at 7pm and Sunday, May 31 at 1pm & 5 pm at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. They can be purchased on-site or by calling the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office at (702) 895-ARTS (2787).

Three-time GRAMMY Award and five-time Latin GRAMMY Award-winning Mexican singer and songwriter Joan Sebastian will perform a Memorial Day Weekend concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday, May 24.  The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $213, $197.25, $134.25, $92.25, $71.25 and $60.75, not including applicable service charges.

Suzanne Somers, famed actress, entertainer, best selling author, entrepreneur and anti-aging advocate will give a lecture titled “ Breakthrough….Live To 100 With Great Health And Great Sex”  at the Las Vegas Hilton Memorial Day Weekend (May 23 and 24).  Somers, author of 18 books, will be lecturing in the legendary Hilton Theater on health, hormones, sexuality and wellness as a follow-up to her New York Times Bestseller, “Breakthrough, Eight Steps to Wellness.”  A sought-after speaker, Somers provides vital information on bio-identical hormone replacement and anti-aging medicine. Tickets for Suzanne Somers and her lecture are priced at   $29.95and $39.95 (not including tax and fees) Lectures will start at 4 p.m. each day.

After a successful run at the Las Vegas Hilton, Menopause The Musical will begin performances Tuesday, May 26 inside the Atrium Showroom at Luxor.  Show times are  seven-days-a-week Wednesday-Monday at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesdays at 8 p.m.  During Carrot Top’s monthly dark period, performances will be nightly at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, May 30 at 6 p.m. country stars including Jimmy Wayne, Jessica Andrews and Julia Burton will take the stage at The Club inside the Cannery Casino & Hotel as part of The Third Annual KWNR Country Summer Bash by KWNR 95.5 FM.  The event will also feature a lineup of unique exhibitor booths and great food. Tickets for the KWNR Country Summer Bash are $25 including taxes and fees.

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society will present “Gershwin & Berlin on Broadway,” a concert celebrating the music of George Gershwin and Irving Berlin at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30, and 3:00 p.m., Sunday , May 31, at the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre located on the College of Southern Nevada (Cheyenne campus).  Tickets at $12 for adults and $9 for seniors, students, military, and disabled may be reserved or purchased at the CSN Box Office by calling 651-LIVE  (5483).

Throughout the month of May, all three locations of the Roni Josef International Salon & Spa in Southern Nevada are accepting donations and school supplies on behalf of The Public Education Foundation to benefit the Teacher EXCHANGE and Clark County READS. On Sunday, May 31, the three salons will host a “Cut-A-Thon” where the entire staff will donate their fees to The Public Education Foundation.

Collection bins can be found at each Roni Josef International Salon & Spa location for anyone to donate school supplies or new or gently used books.  For all monetary donations, Roni Josef International Salon & Spa will place a “Bucks for Books” card with the name of the person donating on the walls of each salon’s lobby so guests can see the support the community is providing to the cause.  The salons are situated throughout the valley in the following locations:Henderson - 10050 S. Eastern Avenue, Suite 120 on the corner of Eastern Avenue and St. Rose Parkway; Northwest - 7131 W. Craig Road, Suite 107 inside the Craig Marketplace ; Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel & Casino 2000 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

On Sunday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the three locations will host a “Cut-A-Thon” to celebrate the month long fundraiser and to generate additional funds.  A special $40 menu will be created for the day for clients with 100% of the proceeds from the special menu donated to The Public Education Foundation. 

The free poolside summer jazz series begins on June 5 at Sandbar, the outdoor poolside venue at Red Rock Resort. Patrons are invited to enjoy jazz music by the pool every Friday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The shows are 21 years and older and have no cover. The line up for June is as follows: June 5 – Vince Priester Sax Experience;    June 12 – Winy; June 19 – Robezz and the Jazz Train;  June 26 – Knights of Monte Carlo.

Richard Lewis and Susie Essman, who star on the Emmy nominated series “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, will bring their 75 minute set of sarcastic and fast paced stand up comedy act to the Venetian showroom for a 3 night only limited engagement, June 4- 6 at 9 pm. Tickets are priced from $35.75 to $75.75 inclusive of tax and handling fees. A limited number of VIP Packages, which include front-row seats and the opportunity to meet Lewis and Essman after the show, will be available for $125.75 per person plus tax and handling fees.

Chuck Negron, founding member of Three Dog Night, and Bobby Kimball, former lead-singer of Toto, will perform at the Club inside the Cannery Casino & Hotel on Saturday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m. 
Tickets start at $14.95 plus tax and fees.

Multiple Grammy-nominated singer, aka music’s “King of Romance,” Engelbert Humperdinck will perform June 11, 12, 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. each evening at The Orleans Showroom. Tickets are priced from $54.95, plus tax.

Alternative rock band  LIVE, will perform at The Pools at The Palazzo on Thursday, June 11 with chart topping hits such as "Lightning Crashes," "I Alone," "The Dolphin's Cry,” "Heaven,” and much more.  Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. General admission ticket prices are $45 and VIP tickets, including one complimentary drink, access to the VIP lounge, concert viewing area and after-party, are $85 inclusive of tax and service fees.   Doors open at 6 p.m. and ticket holders must be 21 or older.

Beginning June 22, as part of the show’s plan to feature rotating headliners,  blonde bombshell Holly Madison steps into the role of “Bo Peep,” currently played by actress Kelly Monaco in PEEPSHOW,  Las Vegas’ newest hit production and only striptease spectacular at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Holly Madison
Photo credit: Josh Ryan

Celebrity sightings:

Tuesday night, (5/12)

Rapper Too Short and his girlfriend partied at Moon Nightclub inside Palms Casino Resort.


Wednesday night (5/13)…

Top Chef top judge Tom Colicchio was spotted dining at Dos Caminos Mexican Kitchen and Lounge inside The Palazzo.  Comedian Eddie Griffin was also seen in the lounge.

Professional poker players Phillip Ivey and Daniel Negreanu were spotted at Playboy Club.

Thursday (5/14) George Clooney and director Jason Reitman were seen mingling and shaking hands with fans at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.  The two were on property where they held a private ‘wrap’ party for their new movie “Up InThe Air.”


Friday, May 15…

At N9NE Steakhouse, former Coach of UNLV college basketball Jerry Tarkanian aka "Tark the Shark" was joined by five guests including Mike Vespi and Bob Koellner.

Checking out DJ AM at Rain Nightclub Friday night included LMFAO, an electro-hop group from Hollywood that consists of DJ/rappers Redfoo and Sky Blu, as well as Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade. The group arrived with ten guests including members from the cast of MTV's Real World 'Cabo.'

At a separate table Wade and Union arrived around midnight.


Saturday, May 16…

Multiple Emmy award-winning producer, director, and choreographer Kenny Ortega, and MTV Music Video Award-winning choreographer Travis Payne were at Men of “X” performance at Hooters Casino Hotel.

Retired NHL star Adam Oates dined at Nove Italiano inside the Palms Casino Resort on Saturday night. He was joined by a small group and sat at a table with a great view overlooking the Strip.

MLB free agent Barry Bonds was spotted with a large group of friends partying at a VIP table inside Playboy Club.

Director Todd Phillips and cast from the movie ‘The Hangover’ – Heather Graham, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and Bradley Cooper – were spotted having lunch at Spago.

Those who came out to see veteran funny man Shecky Greene's show at the Suncoast Showroom included the following: Marty Allen, Lorraine Hunt and her husband,  Dennis Bono,  David Brenner,  Penn Gilette, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, and  Rich Little.

I will be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las Vegas.