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Drai’s and Chris Brown Bring More Violence to Strip and Cromwell

The Cromwell casino and Drai’s Nightclub were evacuated after a large fight occurred at the casino when thugs invaded it after the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight.

Police flooded the Casino looking for the perps and blocked the entire section of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road with dozens of police cars and officers.

 

The fight occurred during during the Chris Brown “Fight Weekend” weekend. Police later confirmed that no shots were fired, but  after fight broke out  statues were pushed over causing people to report gun fire.

Drai’s nightclub has been heavily criticized for attracting a criminal element by inviting some of the most notorious “ganster rappers” to both attend and put on parties at the club. More recently, his choice to bring Chris Brown, who is most known for his beating of women, was questioned by many.

This has turned the Cromwell from a “boutique” hotel into one of the more dangerous strip casinos in Las Vegas.

Carson Kitchen Teaming up with Andre’s Bistro for Once in a Lifetime Meal

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As part of the celebrated ‘Family Meal’ dinner series, Culinary Director John Courtney of Carson Kitchen will team up with Managing Partner Mark Purdy of Andre’s Bistro & Bar for a special pop-up dinner on Tuesday, September 19. For $40 per person, guests will be treated to a traditional Low Country Boil served family style, complete with one complimentary cocktail. An event sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, $4 every ticket sold will benefit Monday’s Dark.

The following menu items will be served:

Low Country Boil Menu
Shrimp, Crab, Little Neck Clams, Cape Cod Mussels,
Dungeness Crab, Carson Kitchen Andouille,
Garlic, Pearl Onions, Sweet Yellow Corn

Sides
Confit Potatoes, Cornbread, Spiced Kale, Biscuits

Dessert
Bananas Foster Parfait

WHEN:
Tuesday, September 19,
7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (702) 798-7151 or visiting opentable.com.

COST:
$40.00 per person(includes one complimentary Tito’s cocktail)

WHERE:
Andre’s Bistro & Bar
6115 S. Fort Apache Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89148

High Roller to be Lit Up Celebrating Mayweather’s Win over McGregor

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After what some people are calling the “biggest sporting event of the year,” the highly anticipated bought between Floyd Mayweather of the United States and Conor McGregor of Ireland.. The fight is schedule to begin around 9:00 pm. Following the big fight, the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel, will be lit in honor of Mayweather winning the bout.

Just incase there is an accident, and Mayweather can not fight, the High Roller has also a backup plan to show Orange, Green and White for Conor McGregor winning by default.

Floyd Mayweather: red, white and blue for the American flag
Conor McGregor: orange, green and white for the Irish flag
The fight is scheduled to begin at 8:55 p.m. PDT/EDT.

Marty Lopez and Staff Out at Andre’s, Chef Purdy Takes Toque

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One of the restaurants slowly making ranking up in my list of favorite off-strip locales has made some major changes in the kitchen since my last visit. While my first impressions of Andre’s wasn’t perfect, over the last few months I have been lucky enough to have had some excellent meals there and slowly was considering it a regular hangout, especially at their excellently stocked bar and with their really cute and talkative hostess.

However, on arriving this time for lunch, I was surprised that most of the kitchen staff, with Chef Marty Lopez (formerly of 35 Steaks + Martinis) leading them, was no longer there. It was a huge surprise indeed, since my conversations with Chef Marty made it clear that he was not only enjoying working at Andre’s but was looking forward to helping them grow and expand. What could have made him leave so suddenly, I wondered.

According to their corporate offices, this was not at all planned, and is part of a series of unfortunate events after they closed their location in the Monte Carlo. Chef Marty Lopez indeed had left Stacked Hospitality and Andre’s, only because a second Andre’s location fell through and they were left with a talented Chef that Andre’s sincerely wanted to be in the kitchen.

Chef Marty had trained under Purdue years ago, and I guess Andre felt his name-sake restaurant would be better served with the teacher  and partner helming it for now. Stacked made it clear they would welcome him back in the future if they can.

NB: After speaking with Chef Lopez, and Stacked, they wanted to make it clear the split was amicable and that this was a decision the Chef made himself in July to move to other projects.

Good news is that the menu is “expanding.” Not so much expanding, as coming together with there no longer being separate and distinct lunch and dinner menus. This is something I personally had wanted to see, as I felt the dinner selection was more bistro and the lunch selections were a little too sandwich oriented, and missing some of their signature dishes I knew and loved. I wanted to have them all day!

“We are not really in business to say no, so when guests would come in for lunch and request a Foie Gras or a Dover Sole we always accommodated the request,” Joe Marsco of Stacked Hospitality told me. “At the same time if someone came in for dinner and requested a Lobster Roll, we were always happy to accommodate.    After all it is about the guest experience and if we are able to offer something more unique, more efficiently, with one menu throughout the day it is best way to go.”

And the food was excellent, as always — but with an expanded menu, I was able to have some dishes like a Garlic-Buttered-Parsley (ala Escargot Butter) Pork Chop that melted in my mouth and almost made me want to chew on the bone to get the last bits of buttered white meat.


One of the things they are doing that really excites me is their family meal series, where they bring the local community of Chefs together. “Chef Andre hosted the Jean Louis Palladin Dinner to benefit the James Beard Foundation for 15 years with the last event honoring Andre’s 35th Anniversary at Andre’s Monte Carlo,” Marsco told us. “amily meal is a more casual approach on a similar idea.  Its intention was to mesh together customers with a gathering of industry professionals for an evening of food and beverage.”

The next family meal is on September 19th, at 7:30 featuring Chef John Courtney, one of my favorite Chefs in Vegas.

Another American Cuisine Restaurant to Open in Tivoli

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The last five restaurants that tried to promote themselves as “american Cuisine” in Tivoli bombed famously (along with half dozen others)–including the two concept restaurants of Alex Stratta shuttering in two years. One would assume that perhaps the locals of Las Vegas, or at least the restaurant investors have learned that Tivoli isn’t really the place for these type of restaurants, and that the only thing that really can make it there is chains and bars.

However, number six is on it’s way: Hamptons, a new idea to open this September, claims they will provide “new American cuisine.” They are taking over the space where Tapas by Alex Stratta, Angelo Sosa’s Poppy Den and Petra Greek Tavern all failed monumentally in the last half-decade.

How will the succeed? Well, first of all, they are doing “new” American cuisine which means absolutely nothing whatsoever anymore, and they want to make it clear they will have “high quality dishes” with a “creative bar program.” If you don’t have the proper bullshit terms, how else can you open a restaurant, right?

Well, with dishes that are advertised to come straight out of cocaine induced White Party in Long Island, guests are expected to dine on everything from Chili Pork Stew to Short Rib Sandwiches. Mac and Cheese, Chicken and Biscuits round out the lunch menu. For dinner you have steak,  Short Ribs and Prime Ribs and probably, most likely, baby back ribs at some point.

Here’s the problem: Most of these dishes in one way or another, you can get in already established restaurants in the area. Echo and Rig already has, hands down the best steak and meat selection. Just a few blocks away is Cheesecake factory, albeit a chain, that has all these “American” dishes that seem to satisfy the palettes of the locals more than enough, as it’s always packed. Why would another “American Cuisine” concept fare any better?

“The Last Ship” Co-Star Emerson Brooks Dines at Andiamo Las Vegas

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Andiamo Italian Steakhouse had another famous face dine with them over the weekend (no surprise)! Actor Emerson Brooks, who is currently starring in the hit series “The Last Ship” which premiered in its 4th season on TNT, dined at Andiamo this past Sunday night (Photo credit: the D Casino Hotel).

Emerson had a busy night on TV trying to help save the ship as Captain Joseph Meylan. He might also look familiar from other countless TV series, including, “NCIS”, “24”, “Lost” and “All My Children”.

Brooks couldn’t think of a better way to spend his downtime than ordering a meal at a top-rated Vegas hot spot. His smile lit up the restaurant, and his hearty steak lit up his taste buds. Emerson was joined by a few friends visiting Vegas for the weekend.

Customers at Andiamo, along with the weekend party goers in the casino, recognized Emerson immediately. He was glad to stop for pictures and autographs as he made his way through the D Casino Hotel! Two of the D’s pretty cocktail waitresses seem to be fans as well and posed for a photo with the actor.

It seems like more and more people are catching on to the fact that a trip downtown is almost a guaranteed celebrity sighting! We wonder which famous face is next to visit the D Casino Hotel or Andiamo Italian Steakhouse?

NB: THIS HAS BEEN A PAID POST

Sam Nazarian Still Wants to Buy Hakkasan Despite Huge Delay and Accounting Issues

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Sam Nazarian still wants to buy the beleaguered nightlife company that has faced scandals over their ownership and investments the last year. In a presser from SBE Entertainment, the management company of the Strip’s SLS Las Vegas, the company insists it’s still planning to merge with Hakkasan, despite the alliance taking much longer than expected.

“SBE remains in negotiations to complete a financial transaction in which [its own] and Hakkasan’s formidable hospitality assets are combined into one company. We are looking forward to completing the transaction,” a press release stated.

Nazarian owns about 64 percent of the company he founded, with private equity investors controlling the remaining stake. Hakkasan Group is owned by Alliance International Investment, a Dubai-based investment firm that is rumored to have ties according to investigations to money laundering.  Additionally, Hakkasan hasn’t filed the legally required accounting in the UK.

The merged company would have a valuation of $1 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. Nazarian said in March that the formation will create “the most dynamic hospitality, residential, restaurant and entertainment company in the industry.”

Las Vegas is the mecca of the sexy party scene, and Hakkasan dominates that space. In addition to its MGM flagship nightclub (and others), the company operates lounges and pools at the Mirage, Bellagio, Aria, and Caesars Palace.

Hakkasan additionally opened Level Up last year at the MGM Grand, a gaming and entertainment lounge geared towards millennials. With skill-based gaming machines and interactive sports gambling competitions like virtual golf, MGM is hoping the digital playground created by Hakkasan strikes the perfect balance between arcade gaming and traditional gambling.

Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show Advisory Board Chairman Thom Greco told the Review-Journal recently that SBE Entertainment will benefit from Hakkasan’s “swagger” and expertise in creating spaces that allow boutique hotels to stand out in a crowded industry.
Reason for Holdup

One potential reason for the continued merger delay might be the pending sale of SLS Las Vegas, SBE’s first foray into gambling that ended up costing Nazarian tens of millions of dollars.

After undergoing a $415 million renovation to transform the Sahara into SLS Las Vegas in 2014, and controversy surrounding the gaming license issuance due to Nazarian’s past felony convictions, the businessman began selling down his stake in the property as the new concept failed to entice locals and visitors to the Strip’s northern end.

Stockbridge Capital, which endured the financial nightmare with Nazarian, now controls majority ownership of the resort. SLS continues managing its operations. In May, Stockbridge agreed to sell the troubled resort for an undisclosed price to Reno’s Grand Sierra Casino owners, the Meruelo Group.

That impending sale could have impacted finalizing the negotiations in what SBE hopes will be a better investment for the company.

First Look at Spago in Bellagio

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Want to know what exactly the new Spago in Bellagio will be like? The new restaurant will offer an elevated experience, featuring an open-air patio with prime views of the iconic Fountains of Bellagio.

“Just as Spago is credited with beginning the Las Vegas culinary revolution, Bellagio transformed the casino-resort industry when it opened with the first collection of world-famous chefs and restaurants,” said Wolfgang Puck. “My partners and I are thrilled to join the Bellagio family and introduce our new Spago to the thousands of international guests the resort welcomes daily. We reimagined Spago in Beverly Hills more than 20 years ago and look forward to doing the same in Las Vegas.”

Bellagio President and COO Randy Morton said, “Wolfgang Puck is known worldwide for delivering exceptional restaurant hospitality. From cuisine to service and, of course, style, he is intricately involved in all aspects of the business, providing first-class culinary experiences for his guests. Puck’s high standards are the same as those to which we hold our resort culinary program, making this an ideal partnership to continue elevating our dining scene.”

Globally influenced seasonal fare and signature Wolfgang Puck touches, such as gourmet pizzas topped with salmon and caviar, will be the focus of Spago’s market-driven menus, which will be presented with the outstanding level of service for which the restaurant is known. For lunch and dinner, guests will have the option to choose from an à la carte menu or explore the best of the West with Puck’s multi-course California Tasting Menu. A special bar menu of Wolfgang Puck favorites also will be available, along with an artisanal cocktail program and extensive international wine list to accompany the chef’s culinary masterpieces.

Designed by architects Massimiliano Locatelli and Annamaria Scevola of CLS Architetti, and inspired by Spago’s original flagship location in Beverly Hills, the new venue will have a sleek look and feel. Guests will enter the venue from Via Bellagio on the resort’s north side, arriving into Spago’s chic lounge and bar. Adorned with brass fixtures, rich smoked-oak wood floors, leather chairs and couches, the focal point will be a spectacular bar and wine room lit by a stunning neon light fixture commissioned for the space.

In the main dining room, beautiful floor-to-ceiling floating glass windows will surround the space, imparting picturesque views of Bellagio‘s famed lake.

Two exquisite chandeliers will highlight the room’s modern art pieces, while bold accents featuring rich hues of black iron, velvet walnut and polished grey will express a contemporary aesthetic.

The restaurants most coveted seats will undoubtedly be on the patio, where guests will enjoy a front row view of the magnificent Bellagio Fountains as they dine al fresco.

Wolfgang Puck to Open Spago at Bellagio, Todd English Olives Out

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Perhaps one of the most famous restaurants in Las Vegas is moving from Caesars to the Bellagio. According to reports, Spago is taking over the currently very old and failing Olives by Todd English.

“The reason why we want to open Spago at the Bellagio is really because the Bellagio has our customer,’ said Puck. “25 years ago when we opened in the forum, that was the place to be. A lot has changed since then.”

“The synergy of having the right customer in the right place is better at Bellagio,” said Puck. “We might keep the [Caesar’s] Spago until the new one opens, or turn it into a smaller, less expensive version.”

Olives, once the center of the Todd English empire, has been considered old and on its way out for several years.

Al Mancini of the LVRJ Notes that the exact dates of Olives being removed isn’t known but will be probably this winter.

“Puck is credited with helping establish Las Vegas as a serious dining destination with Spago, which opened at the Forum Shops in 1992. Over a quarter century, as celebrated chefs from around the world began setting up shop on the Strip, it remained a favorite of both tourists and locals. While nothing is official, word is that Puck may retain the original space to develop as a new concept,” wrote Mancini.

MGM CEO Speaks Out Against “Alt-Right” Nazis

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MGM International CEO Jim Murren, in a letter to employees Friday, denounced “hate mongers and white supremacists” pledging to match workers’ donations to civil rights groups including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“You have my commitment that we will vigorously and zealously continue to reject hate speech and hate-based actions in any form,” he wrote, expressing to employees he felt duty-bound to act after the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the terrorist attack in Barcelona this week.

MGM Resorts has roughly 77,000 employees worldwide and is the largest casino operator on the Las Vegas Strip.

According to Bloomberg, “Murren, a lifelong Republican, broke with his party last year and endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. In the letter to employees, he listed seven groups worthy of employee contributions, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Anti-Defamation League.”