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Lucky Dragon to Lower Restaurant Prices and Make Changes After Poor Opening Year

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Lucky Dragon, which became the first ground-up development to open in Las Vegas in six years in December 2016, is in the process of making some modifications to its offerings after a poor opening year, and pretty much no one in Las Vegas knowing where it was.

“In the hospitality industry, you have to be able to adapt and change quickly,” VP of Operations Blaire Dela Cruz explained to Casino City. “The plan you have on paper is most likely going to change once your guests start coming through the door, and we’re making those necessary changes.”

In order to accommodate the abundance of high-end players it claims that it has attracted, Lucky Dragon plans to add more VIP space. In addition to The Emerald Room on the main casino floor and the VIP Gaming Area on the second floor, its signature restaurant, Pearl Ocean, will move to the first floor and offer more space for VIPs. The second floor is more accessible for VIPs because it’s on the same level as the parking garage. The staff is bilingual, and there’s a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. There are also private butlers and a dedicated food and drink service to the area.

“The VIP program has been a huge success,” Dela Cruz said. “We pride ourselves on providing a seamless experience. They park their car, walk a few steps into the casino and start playing. We give them the complete service that they desire and deserve.”

While the food had great reviews, one of the complaints was that it was too expensive. In October, a new menu with competitive prices will be rolled out at Phoenix, a fine-dining venue that specializes in pork, deer tendon, abalone and other rare delicacies, and offers intimacy with 60 seats and a private balcony. Meanwhile, Pearl Ocean is rolling out new prices and will be making its own in-house dim sum.

“We are able to decrease prices to match the market while keeping the same quality and first-class service,” Dela Cruz added.

 

With a total footprint of less than three acres (by comparison, the Bellagio fountains alone take up eight acres), the resort’s other amenities are just like the casino floor – small in stature, but stylish. Just off the main lobby is an indoor/outdoor high-end tea garden and lounge with custom-built Gongfu tables and tasty tea-infused cocktails. There is a full-service 4,500 square-foot spa with, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicines and total relaxation techniques on the menu, and the pool cabanas are the complete opposite of what the Las Vegas scene has become known for, with loud music, DJs and dancing.

“That’s what I love most about working here,” said Dela Cruz, whose past experience includes a stint with Las Vegas Sands Corporation at The Venetian Macao. “There is a certain elegance to everything we do here. It’s not your typical Las Vegas resort, but it has all of the amenities and offerings and service you would expect. We think we’ve made the necessary changes to make it a complete experience for our guests, and we’re excited about what’s to come during Year 2.”

Planet Hollywood to Open Café Hollywood

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Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will debut a new restaurant concept called Café Hollywood. The redesigned space, in the former Planet Dailies location, will open as the hotel marks its 10-year anniversary this fall

Created by the same team that created Planet Dailies, the 5,500-square-foot restaurant will offer a multimedia celebration of iconic Planet Hollywood moments.

Open 24 hours, the Café Hollywood wine bar and lounge will offer over 40 different wine varietals. Café Hollywood also features a private dining room featuring bi-fold doors for complete privacy and the ability to accommodate up to 65 people.

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, which is located on the Las Vegas Strip, offering 2,500 guest rooms and suites, shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife.

Hakkasan Lost Whopping $46 Million in 2016, Deal with SBE May Be Killed?

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A source within Hakkasan met with me this past weekend outside their offices, and revealed a claim that they have stopped the merger process with SBE after what the source claimed was a “serious financial issue.”

I want to stress this is so far a rumor, but with a copy of the financial statements given to me, they seem to be an interesting rumor. Especially since SBE/Hakkasan promised the merger would be done by the start of the summer, and months later it’s still not even close to completing.

However, I must make clear (partially for legal reasons) that these are rumors and even the most difficult mergers sometime happen after long delays. Hakkasan doesn’t at this point have much of a choice, except to sell to SBE… and SBE really wants Hakkasan to be a jewel in their crown.

An SBE spokesperson issued the following statement, regarding the merger, this month: “SBE remains in negotiations to complete a financial transaction in which SBE’s and Hakkasan’s formidable hospitality assets are combined into one company. We are looking forward to completing the transaction to accelerate our already robust expansion.”

Also, their purchase of Morgan’s hotel group for $82 million took two years.

 

Kenny Chye Wants to Bring Vegan Sushi to Strip

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Plant-based fine-dining restaurant Okra will become the first of its kind on the famed strip.

Vegan Restaurateur Kenny Chye announced plans this week to open the first vegan fine-dining restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip.

Chye is known in Las Vegas for his vegetarian and vegan ventures, including Chinatown mainstay Veggie House. Last year, Chye opened Las Vegas’ first vegan drive-thru, VegeWay (billed as the vegan version of In-N-Out Burger) and expanded the fast food concept to a second location earlier this year.

Here’s the problem though: Chye currently doensn’t have a location, nor investors interested in opening a Vegan sushi place on the strip. While he has a name, “Okra” for the name of the restaurant, it’s currently just an interesting pipe dream.

Businessman Killed Partners over Business Grievances in Las Vegas and LA

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A former business owner suspected of orchestrating three cold case murders is believed to have fled to Montenegro.

Sixty-four-year-old Richard Wall is suspected of ordering the killings David “DJ” Vargas in 2008, Jeffrey Tidus in 2009 and Juan Mendez in 2011. All three murders were motivated by professional and legal grievances. Wall did not commit the murders himself, but hired hitmen to carry them out, deputies said.

“He’s not charged at this point, but he’s our murder suspect in this case,” LASD Lt. Victor Lewandowski told CBS2 Monday.

Wall owned Welded Fixtures until August, when he sold it. He also sold his home last month for about $1 million. Wall is likely living in Montenegro, a country that has no extradition treaty with the United States, deputies said.

The killings are believed to be professionally motivated.

Vargas was gunned down in his Las Vegas apartment on May 20, 2008. Vargas was attempting to open an escort limousine service and owed Vargas $100,000, LASD said.

Tidus, a 53-year-old civil litigation attorney specializing in business law, was shot in the head outside his home in Rolling Hills Estates on Dec. 7, 2009. Detectives say Tidus represented a client who successfully sued Wall for $11 million.

Mendez was a one-time Welded Fixtures employee who was shot and killed in his apartment on Feb. 26, 2011. Prior to his killing, Mendez had also successfully sued Wall.

“Well, nothing prevents us from going there (to Montenegro), and that remains to be seen, whether or not that would happen” Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski says witnesses and physical evidence led investigators to Wall, but added that the case against him is still being put together. Wall has not been officially charged. It wasn’t until detectives tried to question him in June when they learned he had left the country.

The suspected hitmen who carried out the murders are also still at large. In May, a composite sketch of a black man in his 30s was released by detectives in the Tidus murder.

Chow Closing Doors in Downtown Las Vegas

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Yet another restaurant in Downtown Las Vegas is closing its doors. Despite having decent reviews, Natalie Young’s downtown chicken joint, CHOW will no longer be open to the public. Not to be confused with Mr. Chow, the over-priced chinese take out in Caeasrs, this is part of a long line of restaurants that opened in the last few years in DTLV, and then closed within 24-36 months after huge failures to drive traffic to their kitchens.

The owner, Natalie Young says that she’s not made a dime in the restaurant since opening two years ago, but that their catering business seems to be doing ok – and that will remain open.

Her other venture EAT seems to be doing better, but the rumors are that like most restaurants downtown, there are days without any visitors – no matter how great the reviews.

Despite this chicken joint shutting down, there is good news for Flock & Fowl, opening their second location.

Joe Arpaio Forced to Hide to Receive Award for Courage in Las Vegas

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Joe Arpaio, the former controversial sheriff known as the “toughest sheriff in America,” is in Las Vegas this weekend to accept an award – but he’s been forced to hide just after arriving in Las Vegas.

Targeted because of his view on immigrants, protestors threatened to shut down the event he was attending. Arpaio is supposed to receive the Courage Under Fire Award at a dinner at the Tropicana Saturday night.

However, Chuck Muth, the man holding the event, says that LVMPD told him that they did not want the event on the strip, because of the possibility of violence, and that he was moving the awards ceremony with Arpaio to a secret location.

In a blog post over the weekend, Muth wrote that he’s committed to finding a way, “even if it means renting some tents and holding a BBQ in my own backyard!”

On Monday he said he has a new site, but has no plans to reveal the location.

“We’re not telling anyone where that is,” Muth said.

Meet LVMPD’s Chief Dummy at Mob Museum

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The Mob Museum invites the public to learn the gripping and groundbreaking story of how Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) used innovative policing and high-tech surveillance to catch a murder suspect in Downtown Las Vegas. On Tuesday, September 19, at 7 p.m., the Museum will host a panel discussion, moderated by the Museum’s Senior Director of Content Geoff Schumacher, about the decoy sting. For this event only, the actual CPR dummy used to capture the alleged perpetrator will be on display.

Panelists will include LVMPD police captain Andrew Walsh, supervisor of the Downtown Area Command; Marc DiGiacomo, chief district attorney, Clark County; and Homicide Detective Ryan Jaeger.

“We enjoy an ongoing, collaborative relationship with our largest local law enforcement agency and this successful sting represents an interesting example of their recent crime-stopping initiatives,” says Schumacher. “The Museum looks forward to providing a forum where the public can hear directly from those involved about this unique case.”

About the Incident
After two homeless men were murdered in Downtown Las Vegas earlier this year, the LVMPD had no leads or suspects. Motivated to solve the case, Walsh and his squad dressed up a CPR dummy, wrapped it in blankets and placed it in a sleeping position in the same area where the murders occurred. They watched the dummy for three weeks and nothing happened.

Eventually, however, surveillance cameras captured a man approaching the dummy and attacking it with a hammer. Shane Schindler, 30, later pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 8 to 20 years in prison.

The event will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Photo Op with a Cop, 4 – 6 p.m.
Preceding the panel discussion, the Museum will host a new event, “Photo Op with a Cop,” to promote stronger bonds, develop deeper relationships and build trust between the LVMPD officers and the neighborhoods they serve and protect. Held behind the Museum and presented in partnership with LVMPD’s Downtown Area Council, the event will allow families the chance to take photographs with patrol vehicles and officers. In addition, Pinups for Patriots will also be on hand for photos with a vintage police car. The first 10 people who attend Photo Op with a Cop on September 19 will receive free admission; all guests after the first 10 will receive $5 off admission.

EDC Announces Major Date Change to Las Vegas Festival

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Today, Insomniac announced that Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas, North America’s largest dance music festival, will move from Father’s Day weekend in June to May in 2018 and introduce an array of new experiential elements. Returning to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for its 22nd edition, the three-day dusk till dawn gathering will now take place on Friday, May 18 through Sunday, May 20. Tickets for the globally renowned festival will go on sale Thursday, Sept. 28 at 12 p.m. PT, offering fans the option to camp for the first time, enjoy extended festival hours with early-entry opening ceremonies, access multiple ticketing tiers and affordable layaway plans, and discover brand new experiences that will make their EDC Las Vegas journey the most memorable yet.

“EDC Las Vegas is more than just a festival—it’s a community without boundaries, a celebration of life, art and dance music culture” said Pasquale Rotella, Founder and CEO of Insomniac. “We strive to make every year better than the last, and after a lot of brainstorming and feedback from our community, we have decided to move next year’s festival to May 18, 19 and 20. This way we can enjoy cooler weather, the gates can open earlier, and we can hold a very special opening ceremony each day at cosmicMEADOW. I’m also excited to announce that for the first time ever at EDC we’ll be building an immersive camping experience right next to the Speedway, which will eliminate traffic all together for campers. Shuttle operations will be handed over to an independent company that specializes in the largest music and sporting events in the country. This is what they do and they do it better than anyone else, year over year. I’m looking forward to revealing what this exciting next chapter of EDC Las Vegas will look like in the months to come.”

For the first time in history, the 2018 installment of the festival will offer a fully immersive camping program conveniently situated right next to the Speedway where the following options and amenities are available:

Rent an air-conditioned GA tent decked out with dust-control canvas walls, comfortable artificial grass, and electrical outlets for up to six attendees, max.
Rent an air-conditioned Premier tent complete with dust-control canvas walls, comfortable artificial grass, twin or queen-sized beds, linens, pillows, towels, tables, chairs, and lights for up to two or four attendees, max.
Bring your own RV and hook it up to the pre-arranged power on-site.
Rent an RV fully set up and ready for arrival, complete with linens and pillows provided by Insomniac.

The new camping areas will eliminate vehicle traffic for campers, offering an easy commute and convenient ins and outs of the festival each day. At the center of the campgrounds, fans can enjoy plenty of shade, seating, water, food and beverage vendors, a general store, activities and more. A neighboring area will allow for the creation of Sound Camps where Headliners can build out their own themed environments.

EDC Las Vegas 2018 will return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway with unparalleled access to the festival grounds for attendees who arrive at the venue early. The iconic cosmicMEADOW lawn will host opening ceremonies before the gates officially open each day; giving fans a chance to catch extended sets and cool down before the festivities begin. For the first time, Insomniac will also be turning over their EDC Las Vegas shuttle program to an independent team that operates the nation’s largest music and sporting events. With nearby construction on the I-15 Freeway set to be completed before the festival kicks off, the creation of three-lanes and a pull-off area will result in massive improvements for smoother traffic flow to and from the Speedway.

Early Owl three-day general admission passes start at $325 while VIP three-day passes start at $699, both before taxes and fees. Fans who miss out on Early Owl pricing will have the opportunity to purchase the newly added Wise Owl tier, priced at $340 plus taxes and fees for three-day general admission passes. For those that wait to purchase their EDC Las Vegas 2018 tickets, a Later Owl tier will be available for $355 plus taxes and fees. Headliners will have affordable layaway options for all ticket types, with additional details coming soon.

In June 2017, more than 400,000 Headliners came together over three days to explore the breathtaking spectacle of EDC Las Vegas amidst a community of accepting, music-loving individuals celebrating peace, positivity, and creativity. Photos from EDC Las Vegas 2017 can be downloaded here. Photo credit can be found in the file name of each image.

Stay tuned for more exciting EDC Las Vegas 2018 details and announcements at ElectricDaisyCarnival.com. Follow EDC Las Vegas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Will Chef Arnold Corpuz Get Beat in His Own Turf? Anthony Sasso says YES

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his Saturday, Sept. 9, the award-winning Carnevino Italian Steakhouse will host a dinner battle between two storied Mediterranean cuisines: Spanish and Italian. Representing Spain, Anthony Sasso from New York City’s Michelin-starred Casa Mono and La Sirena Ristorante will battle Carnevino’s very own Arnold Corpuz, representing Italy, for a seven-course menu and wine pairing.

This dinner represents the newest installment of the guest chef dinner series at Carnevino Italian Steakhouse at The Palazzo. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Sasso and Corpuz created a menu highlighting classic dishes from each country, pitting them together in a single course for guests to enjoy. The menu includes twists on traditional Spanish and Italian dishes such as crudo, escabeche and canellones. The dessert course will be prepared by Pastry Chef Ashley Pietrafeso.

Sasso’s inspiration comes from his deeply rooted Spanish heritage that shaped his upbringing and career. After returning from multiple trips to his family’s small village in Catalunya, Spain, Sasso became an ambassador of classic Spanish cuisine and local Catalan specialties, incorporating them into his work as executive chef at two Michelin-starred New York City restaurants. In 2008, Sasso became one of the youngest chefs to be recognized by the Michelin Guide, obtaining his first of eight consecutive Michelin stars for Casa Mono.

The multi-course menu for this special evening will feature:

First course:
Camarón Crudo – Raw gamba, heirlooms, olive oil spuma, and rice chicharrón
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Ricciola Crudo – Preserved kumquat, peppers and squid ink

Second course:
Razor Clams “Casa Mono-style” – Garlic, parsley, lemon and Casa Pareja
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Razor Clams “Carnevino-style” – ‘Nduja, corn, herbs and citrus

Third course:
Escabeche – Spanish mackerel, boquerones, eggplant and pepinos
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Pesce Scapece – Squash, grilled eggplant, basil and orange

Fourth course:
Albondigas – Pork meatballs, squid ink tomato sauce and clams
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Polpette – Veal meatballs, fresh herbs and pomodoro

Fifth course:
Canelones Rellenos – Morcillo, sweet corn béchamel and blood sausage Bolognese
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Manicotti – Mixed mushrooms, chicken liver and black truffles

Sixth course:
Pequeña Costilla ­- Olive oil-poached pork belly, jamón jus, and bravas hash
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Costolette – Red wine-braised short ribs, gnocchi and fontina fonduta

Seventh course:
Flan – Tonka bean, macerated strawberries, Sherry caramel and Marcona brittle
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Bonet – Glazed figs and pomegranate

The price is $185 per person and includes wine pairings and gratuity. Click here to purchase tickets. Limited seating is available.

Upcoming guest chefs will include Nancy Silverton and Shirley Chung. Silverton serves, along with Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich, as co-owner of Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, California and Singapore; Mozza2Go and Chi Spacca in Los Angeles; and founder of the La Brea Bakery and Campanile Restaurant. Chung is a former “Top Chef” contestant.