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The Halloween double-header began with a trove of Vegas Vickies. It ended erstwhile Brian Newman started and closed his amusement aboriginal Monday greeting astatine NoMad Library.
Vegas Vickie was inspiration for a Halloween costume contention astatine Circa. It is not capable that edifice co-owner Derek Stevens has salvaged and restored the neon statue of the cowgirl from its days successful beforehand of Glitter Gulch. Sunday, the neon cowgirl was the taxable of the archetypal “Neon Idol” competition. Mistianna Lund, a Vegas local, topped a tract of 30 costumed Vegas Vickies. One was dressed arsenic a showgirl, different a man successful an oversized (and sightly disquieting) papier-mache head.
Lund won the $10,000 archetypal prize and admirably turned that cheque implicit to her caller charity, Answers4Cancer. The enactment furnishes finances for those seeking holistic options to combat cancer.
“This contention was a surreal acquisition that I’ll ne'er forget,” Lund said successful a statement. “It’s an grant and I’m truthful blessed and grateful. This was a originative and amusive mode to rise wealth for Answers4Cancer, and this cheque from Circa volition assistance america successful our ngo to assistance arsenic galore crab patients successful Clark County arsenic we can. It’s an grant to beryllium named your 2021 Vegas Vickie!”
Judging this corporate was not easy, we accidental from the experience. It was fast, frenetic, but fun. Yours genuinely joined Dayna Roselli and Sean McAllister of Vegas Revealed; YESCO’s Wes Van Dyke, whose institution enacted the neon sign’s restoration; Scott Roeben of Vital Vegas; and “Horny” Mike Henry of “Counting Cars” connected History connected that judges’ panel. Circa manager of concierge operations Mike Printy, dressed successful a Vegas Vic outfit, was emcee.
Stevens took connected a firefighter costume, honoring archetypal responders. His wife, Nicole, wore a dalmatian outfit. Stevens called retired to the mates 1000 (at least) partiers successful beforehand of the 1st Street Stage, “Halloween has go a happening that downtown owns! This is the top spot to observe Halloween, anyplace successful the country!”
The Vegas Vickies would concur. Lund spent much 115 hours connected the costume, gluing 3,000 jewels onto her Vegas Vickie outfit. We tin anticipation Cher volition beryllium likewise inspired to deterioration a Vegas Vickie costume if and erstwhile she returns to Dolby Live. Break it retired aft “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves.”
‘Look astatine each these books’
Speaking of Dolby Live and the Park MGM amusement district, Lady Gaga finished her latest “Jazz + Piano” series, and Brian Newman closed retired his “After Dark” amusement astatine NoMad Library connected Halloween. We knew LG was going precocious erstwhile Newman, who is her bandleader, scrambled into his scheduled 11:30 p.m. amusement astir 12:40 a.m.
That was the start, ladies and germs. We were fortunate to bushed sunrise connected All Saints Day. Luckily, we made our 5 a.m. tee clip astatine Las Vegas Country Club (that’s a Rat Pack-era joke, folks).
The spot was SRO erstwhile again, arsenic immoderate successful attendance had hoped LG would crook up. Not this night, and not immoderate nighttime for Newman’s tally astatine NoMad. But Newman’s bent is lasting connected its ain aft its latest tally drew beyond-capacity crowds.
As is customary successful “After Dark,” the big of the enactment welcomed an assortment of impermanent stars. He brought up Tim Stewart’s father, state creator Lonnie Stewart, for “Faded Love,” the Willie Nelson-Ray Price swing-fiddle tune that was performed without the fiddle Sunday. Up until this past weekend, the Stewarts had ne'er performed onstage together.
Vegas bass large Steve Flora, who has known Newman since their days successful Cincinnati, hopped up to articulation the conga line.
We besides heard from“American Idol” alum Mikalah Gordon, who came with her original, “Honey,” and shimmied with an assemblage member’s commemorative Gaga C-note boa; the statuesque burlesque performer Mr. Gorgeous (long communicative short, I caught 1 of his leggings helium threw to the crowd); a shirtless groove sesh from members of “Magic Mike Live”; and a two-number burst of “Built For Comfort” and “Girl Crush” from Skye Dee Miles to adjacent it.
If anyone was groggy earlier Miles took the stage, they were sufficiently riled up aft she destroyed the place. Standing-O, again, for the pistillate who calls herself Black Sunshine.
Newman worked back-to-back shows implicit 8 hours, counting rehearsals for some performances. This is known arsenic “respectable” among Vegas musicians. Newman overcame a crackling mic, his archetypal specified occupation successful 22 shows since returning to the Library connected Oct. 14. It each careened to a halt astir 3:45 a.m., different rowdy nighttime connected the Strip.
“For a blue-collar feline from Cleveland who lives successful Brooklyn, this is truthful incredible. I americium truthful grateful,” the set person said.
It’s the worldly folks constitute about. We’ll spot Newman backmost successful the Library, dates to beryllium determined, soon enough. We conscionable request to pencil him in, and instrumentality a siesta successful the afternoon.
Those Vegas cats
“Jazz + Piano” is particularly breathtaking for locals acquainted with the Vegas amusement scene. Gaga’s orchestra was erstwhile much peppered with section musicians, immoderate of the champion successful the biz. Those who performed with LG successful the astir caller Dolby Live tally were Curt Miller (lead trombone), Adam Schroeder (baritone sax), Neil Maxa (trombone), Danny Falcone (lead trumpet), Jason Levi (trumpet), Rob Mader (sax), Eric Tewalt (tenor sax), Tommy Porrello (trumpet), Rick Keller (sax), Nathan Tanouye (trombone), Sal Lozano (lead alto sax), Sonny Hernandez (bass trombone) and Gil Kaupp (trumpet). Eddie Rich (baritone sax) subbed for Schroeder successful Sunday’s finale.
Many of these players are afloat fledged members of Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns (or are swings successful that lineup), inactive enforcing “The Healing” astatine the Copa Room astatine Bootlegger Bistro astatine 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Lon Bronson All-Star set is besides represented. Many musicians, too, person studied oregon taught successful the internationally renowned UNLV jazz studies program. Newman knows wherever to find the cats.
Walk, don’t run
On the topic, kinda, of UNLV’s College of Fine Arts, the 4th Annual UNLV Art Walk is acceptable for 5-9 p.m. Friday connected the assemblage campus. The lawsuit commemorates the 40th day of “The Flashlight” creation installation, acceptable for 7 p.m. Friday successful the plaza betwixt Ham Hall and Judy Bayley Theatre. Created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen, the portion was installed successful 1981, lasting 38 feet and made of 24 black-steel fins painted with polyurethane enamel. The schoolhouse says the operation was commissioned to “amplify the vision” of the Performing Arts Center.
Elsewhere, the locomotion winds done Barrick Museum, the school’s creation galleries, PAC analyzable and on the world mall. Dozens of performances of dance, unrecorded euphony and related experiences are scheduled. There is simply a brew plot (but don’t get plowed) connected Pida Plaza, and the UNLV jazz set volition beryllium playing successful that spot. Many nutrient vendors.
You’ll astir apt spot idiosyncratic you know, including UNLV College of Fine Arts Dean Nancy Uscher, the bosom and psyche of the university’s arts endeavors.
What Works successful Vegas
Lionel Richie’s residency astatine Encore Theater astatine Wynn Las Vegas. Richie’s bid is extended by 12 dates moving from Jan. 26-April 9, each performances astatine 8 p.m. Tickets are connected merchantability 10 a.m. Friday astatine ticketmaster.com.
Stefani cheque in
Gwen Stefani has presented a donation of $185,000 to Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. Since opening astatine Zappos Theater successful June 2018, Stefani has donated $1 of each summons sold to her “Just a Girl” amusement to the cause. Tickets are inactive connected merchantability for her residency, which closes Saturday night.
We loved her opening “Hollaback Girl” segment, a tribute to Vegas showgirl productions that incorporated tubas, oversized bananas, a drum corps and fantastic feathered costumes. Stefani got it, the full run, connected the Strip.
Cool Hang Alert
The refurbished Remix Lounge astatine The Strat has Dr. Rock from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and High Octane from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday. A bully telephone if you are successful the neighborhood, nary screen and a motion to the spot for keeping unrecorded euphony alive.
John Katsilometes’ file runs regular successful the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast tin beryllium recovered astatine reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him astatine jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats connected Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 connected Instagram.
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