Las Vegas—The Most Exciting City to
Visit The Blonde’s Favorite Las Vegas
Shows
by Robin Roth, “The Blonde” from “The Blonde
and The Maven” Contributing Writer
I
hope you enjoyed last week’s report on the current
shows in this fab city. Here are the rest of the
best!
David Copperfield Now You See Him, Now You
Don’t David Copperfield is hailed by audiences and
critics alike as the greatest magician in the world.
Copperfield has elevated the ancient art of magic to new
heights and redefined it along the way. He has magically
vanished the Statue of Liberty, walked through the Great
Wall of China, flown through the air, made people
disappear, and even escaped the institution of marriage!
Now that's magic! First, I have to say, “What a
hunk!” I wouldn't mind bringing him home to meet mother!
I wonder how Claudia Schiffer's mom took their break-up.
I would be devastated! But hey, that's just me. So,
David, the hot, astonishing, mind-boggling, did I say
adorable yet, GENIUS of magic appears on and off at the
MGM Hotel. Call ahead to find out the dates before you
go. Here Copperfield reinvents his art form and proves
why he remains the undisputed King of Conjurers (my ex
was pretty good at this, too)! Some of the
illusions you will see him perform include walking
through a solid steel wall, flirting with danger (danger
is my middle name) as he channels his energy through a
deadly Black African Scorpion in a sleight-of-hand
demonstration, levitation, card tricks, and the
unbelievable encore where 13 members of the audience
(picked at random by a big bouncing ball) vanish from
the stage and reappear in the back of the theater. He is
nothing less than spellbinding (and the magic is, too)!
You will be enveloped in a world of illusion, all
performed with his romantic, fun, and charming style. No
one will dispute that Copperfield has revolutionized
magic. He's taken it to heights of artistry and
imagination undreamed of by wizards and audiences of the
past, combining spellbinding illusions with
extraordinary theater. In addition to performing,
Copperfield has a passion for preserving the art of
magic for future generations. Of all his
accomplishments, David insists that his greatest work to
date is “Project Magic,” a rehabilitative program to
strengthen dexterity and motor skills in disabled
patients using slight-of-hand magic as a method of
therapy. What a guy! If he is in town when you are,
DON'T MISS HIM. This opportunity could
disappear…
KÀ Different from Anything You’ve Ever
Seen Cirque du Soleil's newest stage show KÀ, created
by the genius of Robert LaPage, is truly a masterpiece
of art and theater. KÀ is presented at the MGM Hotel,
Friday through Tuesday evenings with two shows each
night (90 minutes long). KÀ is the most unprecedented,
unpredictable, unusual, unique, original and strange
production that I have EVER seen! KÀ cannot be compared
to any other show or even be described adequately in
words…but I will attempt it! If nothing else, KÀ is
ranked as one of the most expensive shows in Vegas. This
$30 million show is set on its $135 million theater
(which holds 1,951 seats) set on a stage built to
resemble 'Zion', the underground city in the hit movie
The Matrix (very cool-looking). Each seat has its own
sound system built into it! It is the only production
show (to date) in Vegas that actually tells a story. KÀ
applies the visual vocabulary of cinema to a dazzling
live event that is more about storytelling! It is a
story told through movement rather than words. It's the
epic saga of separated twins who embark on a perilous
journey to fulfill their destinies while following a
path of discovery filled with danger. The story is
inspired by the ancient Egyptian concept of the “ka,” an
invisible duplicate of the body that accompanies every
human being through life and into the next (now that is
very reassuring)! KÀ takes the viewer through the
magnificent journeys of the Imperial Twins (a boy and a
girl) who find themselves surviving horrible creatures,
ADORABLE creatures, flying warriors, overcoming evil
opponents, surviving ocean storms, mountains, forests
and finally reunite. You will not believe
your eyes watching the breathtaking special effects and
the dramatic staging changes. It actually feels as if
you are in the middle of a movie. You will witness and
enjoy brilliantly talented heart-stopping acrobatics,
trapeze artists, graceful martial arts, pyrotechnics,
puppets, two performers duel and performing stunts with
the “Wheel of Death,” all the while telling the story of
the twins separated by war. If you fancy the unusual,
than run to see this SPECTACULAR production of
KÀ!
Blue Man Group They May be Blue,
but They’re Very Happy The BEST show in Vegas to
experience a FUN and SILLY time, hands down, would be
Blue Man Group at the Luxor Hotel (1,219-seat
state-of-the-art theater, two shows nightly). This
90-minute, wild and crazy, colorful show features three
animated bald and blue characters who take the audience
into a tour of the senses, theater, percussion drums,
music, art, science and into the world of the very
bizarre! They don't speak, sing, or dance, but they DO
challenge the audience to accept that art isn't always
as you think it should be. They DO however, eat
Twinkies, a lot of Captain Crunch cereal, marshmallows,
perform different forms of drum sounds, throw a ton of
paper around, play with pipes and paint, lots of paint,
and stare. They will even go into the crowd and pick an
audience member and put a camera that focuses deep into
their throat. Strange sounding, YOU BET, and the
audience LOVES IT and roars with laughter as they call
out to the Blue Men to cheer them on! No doubt this will
remind you of your silly and wild college days! There is
a lot of audience participation, from sing-a-longs down
to decorating yourself with paper before the show
starts. A WARNING: DON'T BE LATE, for if you are, the
show comes to a screeching halt and they play a very
embarrassing, “YOU'RE LATE” song as the Blue Men flash
spot lights on you… This show is silly, ridiculous, and
tons of good, clean fun. If you're a kid or even a kid
at heart, then you will most definitely love Blue Man
Group! Wait until the very end to meet and greet with
these strange, weird Blue Guys. For tickets, go online
to www.blueman.com or www.luxor.com. Rita
Rudner The Wholesome, but Hysterically Funny,
Comic Talk about CLEAN AND REFRESHING! If you are
sick of all the comics who use vulgar language, than you
will LOVE Rita Rudner. Her comedy is smart, intelligent,
true and, above all, REALLY FUNNY. She has stood the
test of time and with good reason. She appears at the
New York, New York Hotel Monday through Saturday. This
lovely and funny lady is an accomplished actress,
best-selling author, host of her own television talk
show and an award-winning comedienne. Rita has a sweet/
innocent-ish style, quick wit and classic comedic
timing. During her act, she talks about men and women,
how totally different we are and our relationships
together. Furthermore, ladies, she speaks about jewelry,
shopping, shoes, decorative pillows and other female
topics that even the men get a kick out of. Go, go, and
go again and laugh with Rita! For tickets, visit
www.nynyhotelcasino.com. After the show, go
ride on the totally fun Manhattan Express ride…if you
dare! Take it from the mini-BLONDE (Chloe Presti):
“Awwww, this ride is amazing! Trust me and wait to get
the first car for more fun. The view at the top is
amazing at night! I won't tell you what happens next,
but… what goes up must come down!” FAST!
David Brenner For the “Real”
Kind of Funny David WAS, IS and always WILL BE David.
You can count on him to consistently be
FUNNY! David Brenner is appearing at the Las Vegas
Hilton Hotel and Casino (dark on Thursdays) doing his
hour-and-twenty-minute show. David (the kid from South
Philly) is best known for his 160 appearances on “The
Tonight Show” starring Johnny Carson. He started out his
career when funny HAD to be funny, with NO excuses! This
veteran has had four hit HBO specials as well as five
top-selling comedy books. Famous for his unique
observational style, David’s show takes the current
daily events and headlines, puts it together with a
touch of political humor and performs what he fondly
calls, “News of the Weird!” He is exceptionally
funny, clever, and I would even say brilliant. For
a great evening, go see THE Brenner. He is top-notch and
a cut above the rest. Mac King And his
Bag of Tricks For good, clean comedy and a magical
experience, go see The “Magic of King” at Harrah's Hotel
(Tuesday through Saturday, two afternoon shows daily).
This is a terrific show for both children and adults.
Mac King is goofy, funny, corny, sweet, loveable,
MAGICAL and the best deal in Vegas. What's great is his
shows are during the day and provide a great way to
spend time with your children and leave the adult fun
for the evening. Well, show-goers, that's
my report until next time. I cannot express how much fun
this city has become. The entertainment is mind boggling
and more than superior. You can have a ball and never
even gamble! Go, and have the time of your lives! Okay,
gamble if you must… PHOTO
IDS 1. Rita Rudner 2. David
Copperfield 3. Mac signs autographs for his
adorable fans, Chloe and Nicole 4. KÀ Photos
by Tomas Muscionico Costumes by Marie-Chantale
Vaillancourt Cirque du Soleil Inc. 5. Blue
Man Group Photo by Ken Howard ©BMP 6. David
Brenner
Part Two of the Blonde’s
Favorite Picks for the Crème-de-la-Crème, the Best
Restaurants in Las Vegas by Robin Roth, “The Blonde” from
“The Blonde and The Maven” Contributing
Writer
Prime And, Boy, is it Ever! Located at
Bellagio Hotel; (702) 693-7223 I MUST be perfectly
honest and state that, in my opinion, Prime is hands
down one of the absolute finest all-around restaurants
in Las Vegas! To begin with, the décor is beautiful,
elegant, classy, WARM, RICH (grayish blue curtains and
cozy chocolate brown suede chairs) and inviting in EVERY
possible way. Each table is adorned with roses and
beautiful plates. Let's put it this way, “They will have
you at HELLO!” The view of the famous, BREATHTAKING,
dancing fountains and the Eiffel Tower (across the
street) feels as though you are a character in a romance
novel. Your waiter (and in my case it was the charming
and handsome Tommy) will wait on you hand and foot, yet
knowing when to stay away. Oh, I suppose
you want to know how the food is? When you enter Prime,
you have entered into the world of food excellence and
paradise, from the tastes you will experience to its
presentation. Prime brings new meaning to the world
GOURMET! Let's give due credit to the creator Chef
Jean-George Vongerichten and Executive Chef Jonathan
Snyder. Let's begin… For a taste of
passion from the seas, you simply MUST order the Chilled
Shellfish Platter (huge crab legs, Maine lobster,
shrimp, etc.). Not only is it extraordinarily delicious,
but when it was presented before me, all I could think
was, “Hello Gorgeous!” Try and mix the two sauces
together…OH YUM! After the hot towel and lemon (to clean
your hands) are removed, go onto the crisp and cold
Caesar Salad…spectacular. For the next course, you
simply HAVE TO TRY the Figs and Mozzarella. The two
flavors together are a delight to the taste buds (trust
me, even if you don’t like either). For dinner I
recommend EVERYTHING ON THE MENU! However, go ahead and
order the delicate, perfectly cooked and beautifully
presented Dover Sole. It is the best I have ever tasted,
anywhere in the world. The Rack of Lamb is delectable
and tender as well as ALL of the other meat dishes
(Filet Mignon, etc.). Furthermore, have the Asparagus,
Roasted Wild Mushrooms and Truffle Mashed Potatoes. For
dessert and THE taste of HAPPINESS, order the WARM
CHOCOLATE VALRHONA CAKE, served with homemade ice cream!
This dessert is worth 10 miles on the treadmill.
I LOVE this restaurant with a PASSION and
so will you. You will think about it long after you are
gone! DON'T MISS THIS PERFECT DINING EXPERIENCE and tell
the (gorgeous) manager George Martin hello from the
Blonde!
Bertolini’s Located at the
Caesar’s Palace Shops; (702) 735-2908 If you want to
feel as though you are in the heart of Roma, Italy,
dining in front of the famous fountain with a most
relaxing atmosphere, then Bertolini's is for you. This
is one of my favorite dining spots in Vegas. I never
miss coming here. The prices are fair, I adore the
European setting, the food is outstanding and the
service is wonderful. You can't ask for more than that,
can you? I recommend Bertolini's either
for lunch or dinner. For lunch, I would suggest the
awesome Italian Chopped Salad with chicken (so
wonderful), the Caprese Salad (mozzarella with tomatoes,
as good as Italy), or any of the Brick Oven Fired
Pizzas. They are all 10s. Now, for dinner, let us begin
with Calamari Fritti, their lovely Caesar with fresh
shaved Parmesan cheese, or the Minestrone Soup. For your
entrée, if you are an Osso Bucco lover like I am (and it
is hard to find it prepared authentically), then HURRY
and order it, as it was out of this world…oh, I can
still taste and smell it! Equally fantastic is the
Cappelli al Pomodoro with Chicken… oh, I wish I had it
in front of me now! The Cioppino, Tagliolini al
Frutti di Mare and Lasagna are also Bertolini classic
dishes. The people at the next table were eating the
Roasted Chicken Cannelloni and the Romano Chicken like
their LIFE DEPENDED ON IT! You too, will find yourself
looking around and thinking, “I'll have what she's
having!” As for dessert, my my my my! For
adults and children alike, get the adorable and
delicious spaghetti and meatballs ice cream delight (see
photo). As for me (the chocolate maniac), it was all
about the Spectacular Chocolate Torta!
Bertolini's is an A+ casual and relaxing
restaurant with outrageous service, ambiance and food at
fair prices. You will thank me when you come home. Say
hi to the wonderful managers, Sam and Nick, for the
Blonde!
Top of the World Literally, in
Every Sense of the Word Located at the Stratosphere
Hotel; (702) 264-1593 To be honest, I wasn't sure
what to expect from this restaurant, and that is why I
was unbelievably BLOWN AWAY! Top of the World has,
without a doubt, THE BEST and most spectacular panoramic
view of Las Vegas. Dining here not only assures
you an unforgettable dining experience, but is also
the best way to see the entire city. Your table will
rotate around, taking about an hour and a half to make
the full circle. Inaddition, I think that Top of the
World quite possibly is the most ROMANTIC restaurant. To
back up my statement, it is said to be one of the top 10
places on the planet to propose marriage and takes place
approximately 10 times a week. I was told the proposals
usually happen by the waiter placing the ring in a
scrumptious dessert. (Some woman!…Isn't a diamond ring
enough, I would be happy with the chocolate cake alone)!
Top of the World is also open for brunch. For dinner
however, I suggest that you make your reservations about
half an hour before dark, enabling you to enjoy the
daytime views of the spectacular mountain ranges and the
city. Somewhere between the appetizer and the main
course, Las Vegas, famous for its twinkling city lights
and shinning stars, comes to life. It is quite a
beautiful and dazzling vision to behold.
For your first course, I suggest the
Shrimp Scampi over Cous Cous, Chilled Prawns, or the
Escargot baked in Mushroom Caps…Talk about instant
gratification! All three are mouth-watering. I also give
a big BRAVO for the Caesar Salad and the Lobster Bisque
Soup with Cognac. As far as the main course goes, I have
NEVER (EVER) tasted Chateaubriand for two, anywhere,
anytime, or anyplace in the universe prepared more
perfectly. The other main course that is an absolute
MUST is the Chilean Sea Bass encrusted with Porcini
Mushrooms and dust pan-seared. This was one of my
totally favorite dishes in all of Vegas. It is
brilliant. I also suggest the Colorado Rack of Lamb and
the Muscovy duck. To accompany these entrées, the
steamed Asparagus and Potato Au Gratin would be lovely.
FINALLY, at last…voila, the dessert. But
of course what else… The signature Chocolate
Stratosphere. Also, enjoy the Flourless Chocolate
Cake (TO DIE FOR) and for you non-chocolate people (who
are you?) you'll love the Berry Delight or the Tiramisu.
Everything is marvelous at Top of the
World, from the view to the food to the service (plan
some good quality time in the gym the next day however)!
A+ all the way around. Go to the Top of the World
restaurant and revitalize your relationship with romance
and passion and outstanding food. Tell Bill, the
manager, that the Blonde sent you.
Postrio Located at the Grand
Canal Shoppes at the Venetian; (702) 796-1110 Postrio
is another absolute favorite of mine. It combines
Wolfgang Puck's critically acclaimed San Francisco
restaurant with the romantic ambiance of Venice, Italy.
(P.S. Take a ride on the gondola before or after dinner.
It is very romantic and as close to Venice as you can
get in the States). You can dine on the festive patio
for a more casual, less expensive meal and watch the
gondolas pass, or a more formal, elegant, intimate
setting in the dining room. Postrio
features a diverse, elegant and stellar menu of
contemporary American cuisine with impeccable and
friendly service. I suggest you have lunch in the café.
Enjoy the house-made sausages, a Tomato Salad Caprese
and perhaps the Three-Cheese Ravioli. You might also be
in the mood for the Seafood Linguini, Fettuccini,
Lobster club sandwich or the Rotisserie Free Range
Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes. …SO GOOD!
Now, dinner is another story…To start, for
the most delicious Smoked Salmon (smoked on premises)
anywhere, served with pancakes and topped with caviar,
this is where you'll find it. The Chilled Shellfish
Platter with a trio of sauces (flown in fresh daily) is
equally incredible. If you love Merlot wine, try a glass
of the Two Tone Farms…If you love Lasagna (especially if
you're Italian…YO!) you will… 'FA-GEDDA-BOUT-IT,’ love
this dish. If you love Roasted Vermont Farm Quail, it is
a Postrio signature dish as is the Salmon En
Papillote…MMMM GOOD. For the very hungry eaters, you
will delight in the Grilled Cote De Boeuf. You
CANNOT LEAVE without having a piece of their Peanut
Butter Ice Box Cake for dessert! This will
no doubt be a restaurant you will long to return to; I
know I surely do, AND WILL. Look for the waiter Aaron
and the very handsome manager Oded Talmor and say a
Venetian hello from The Blonde, and bring me home a
piece of cake!
Spago The Best is Still the
Best Located at Caesar’s Forum Shops; (702)
369-6300 Another very popular spot in Vegas is
Wolfgang Puck's Spago. (Wolfgang is known to his friends
as a charming, generous man and a world famous chef).
Famous for its perfect location for people watching,
Spago is also synonymous with fine food and its dazzling
celebrity clientele. You can (again) either dine on
the patio café, where you can enjoy a more casual
setting (and a lot easier location to gawk at the stars
and wanna-be stars), or in the dining area inside.
On
the patio menu, you can choose from a variety of
signature pizzas, homemade pastas fresh salad (Chinese
Chicken salad), sandwiches, chicken quesadilla, crisp
calamari and 'DE-LISH' meatloaf (Almost as good as
mine). For a more formal and fancy style dinner, you
will feel more comfortable in the dining room. To start,
I suggest the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, which I believe to
be the very FINEST in the city! Not to mention the Fresh
Oysters on a Half Shell and Smoked Salmon with Caviar.
For the main course, if you Love Grilled Calf's Liver
with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Pancetta and Glazed
Onions, then SPAGO is your restaurant! For you fish
lovers, I suggest the Simply Grilled Atlantic Salmon
(what flavor) or the Steamed Alaskan Halibut “Hong Kong
Style” (melts in your mouth)! For the pork lovers,
Wolfgang's Favorite Pork Wienerschnitzel with warm
Potato Salad is your answer and a classic dish. We're
talkin’ homemade here, folks! That's hard to get even at
home these days! For your sweet tooth, you should
complete this divine food fest with the Chocolate
Melting Cake with Expresso Ice Cream or the Vanilla Bean
Crème Brulée with seasonal Berries. Spago
hasn't been the home of the stars without good reasons!
GOTTA GO TO THE GYM NOW!
My Final Favorite
Restaurant… The Rainbow Bar and Grill Located
across from the Hard Rock Hotel; (702) 898-3525 Jerry
Greenberg's (President of Atlantic Records) original and
legendary Sunset Blvd. rock and roll club (opened 33
years ago), the world-famous Rainbow Bar and Grill has
come to Las Vegas. COOL, DUDE! Open 24
hours a day, (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner) it is
edgy, and rock and rollish, which is one of the reasons
that this is where the famous and infamous ROCKERS hang
out! You never know who will show up here on any
given night. It is a cool, low-key hang out. The Rainbow
is 'ultra,' casual so you can always come as you are AND
FEEL COMFORTABLE! I also want to convey that the prices
are AMAZING and more than fair. A bit of information:,
VH-I did its countdown live from here! Even the “Average
Joe” television show had its cast party at the Rainbow.
Famous for its HUGE portions, you should
definitely come with the munchies! Here are the
“must-get” foods because they are the best anywhere,
including Vegas! The incredible Chicken Parmigiana (huge
with tons of cheese), old-fashioned Chicken Soup (like
mama tried to make), to die for Meatballs (don't get me
started), cheesy Pizza, Nachos with Chicken and the
Calamari Fritti with tomato sauce. If you
are cool, hip, know good food and are VERY hungry, then
ROCK ON to the Rainbow Bar and Grill. Buy a T-shirt on
the way out and say hi to Jonathan Loeb, the manager,
for the Blonde! That's it for me, food and
great restaurant lovers. You will find me working out
24/7 until my next food report! Take it from the Blonde:
eat, drink, and eat some more! PHOTO
IDS 1. Chilled Shellfish Platter at Prime
restaurant 2. View from Prime’s
window 3. Famous spaghetti and meatballs
ice cream dessert at
Bertolini’s 4. Bertolini’s Roman
fountain 5. Delectable desserts at Top of
the World 6. View at Top of the
World 7. Desserts at
Postrio 8. Spago’s extraordinary salmon
9. Gondola ride at the Venetian
Hotel Photos by Robin Roth
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