by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

As the transformation of the former 7,000-seat Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts with unobstructed views that opened July 1976 nears completion at Planet Hollywood, the resort's parent company, Caesars Growth Partners, a joint venture between Caesars Entertainment and Caesars Acquisition Company, has revealed plans to propel the historic venue to the forefront of the Las Vegas entertainment market. Caesars officials have announced their strategic partnership with the world's leading promoter of live entertainment, Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV), for the newly-renovated theater, which will feature innovative amenities and the new name - The AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

The theater redesign will feature an innovative dance floor and VIP table seating concept with nightlife-oriented service provided by Drai's Management Group, which will serve as the venue's exclusive beverage service provider. Upon arrival, the new elliptical lobby will immerse guests into an elaborate spatial sequence with ambient lighting.

Inside the theater will be one of the largest video and projection installations in the world with projections coming from 60 ultra high-definition projectors that cover more than 200 degrees of the audience chamber. The walls of the audience chamber will be wrapped in custom fabric designed to optimize the impact of the video content, which will carry over into the stage area with 2,200 square feet of Panasonic high-definition 10 millimeter LED walls that can be reconfigured to meet the needs of various productions. In addition to an immersive visual experience, a groundbreaking D&B sound system with more than 100,000 Watts of power will provide the crispest highs, life-like vocals and earth-shaking bass performances.

MILEY CYRUS WILL HOST PREMIERE OF BEACHER'S MADHOUSE

Global superstar Miley Cyrus will unveil the Las Vegas return of Beacher's Madhouse on Friday, Dec. 27 at MGM Grand. Legendary showman Jeff Beacher is best known for his ability to push the boundaries of entertainment and fantasy. Cyrus has taken the world by storm with her newest album “Bangerz.”

Guests will be taken on a sensory journey into the unconventional world of Beacher's Madhouse from the moment they first enter the 8,500-square-foot performance theatre. To join the madness, experience seekers enter the theatre through an inconspicuous speakeasy-like passageway hidden behind a library bookcase, and travel through a tunnel leading them from their ordinary existence into a fantasy-filled realm filled with world-renowned spectacles and all-new dramatic performances.

The rat-pack-like ambiance of the theatre will include 15 stages throughout the venue in addition to the one main stage. Shows will be held five nights a week - Wednesday through Sunday with an early show at 8 p.m. and late night shows Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.

O'SHEAS WILL RETURN AND PURPLE ZEBRA WILL DEBUT

The atmosphere and spirit of O'Sheas will return to the Strip in a new space with a nod to the former casino. The brand new Purple Zebra, a whimsical candy and slush bar, will also open across the way at Flamingo. Both of these spaces will open Dec. 27.

Located in The Quad (formerly Imperial Palace) and adjacent to The LINQ, O'Sheas will continue with daily entertainment, affordable table games, beer pong and value-priced drinks 24/7. The 5,000-square-foot venue will house 11 table games, 15 video poker spaces, and six beer pong tables. Three bars - Lucky Bar, Dublin Up Bar and the outdoor Blarney Bar -will serve $3 draft beers and daily drink and shot specials. The entertainment will feature live bands, DJs and an interactive juke box. Paying tribute to the original O'Sheas, the legendary Mayor of O'Sheas will make a comeback, as will some of the building's history. The original O'Sheas marquee has been refurbished and is adorning the LINQ side entrance, a hand-painted mural of the original O'Sheas will adorn the Lucky Bar and iconic hammered-tin ceiling tiles will be repurposed to serve as decorative finishes on the acoustic panels throughout the space.

Adjoining the Flamingo, and also adjacent to The LINQ, is Purple Zebra, an innovative 4,400-square-foot self-service candy and slush bar. A floor-to-ceiling display will feature a selection of 38 different novelty vessels, ranging in size from 16 to 100 ounces. Guests will have the option to select their vessel, filling it with a personalized combination of more than 30 slush flavors - 10 of which are zero-proof - or a selection of candies. Confections will range from larger-than-life gummy snakes to retro favorites.

NEW RETAIL OPENING AT NEW YORK-NEW YORK

New York-New York is upping its New York-ness in the months to come. Its famed Brooklyn Bridge and entryway on Las Vegas Blvd. will deliver an engaging, social environment with a dynamic patio culture, an enhanced Nine Fine Irishmen experience and the introduction of Hershey's Chocolate World, opening spring 2014. New retail partners opening Dec. 28 include Swatch, Stupididiotic, I Love NYNY and Starbucks.

JAYDE FUZION WITH CONTEMPORARY ASIAN CUISINE OPENS AT M RESORT

Jayde Fuzion, a contemporary Asian restaurant is now open at the four-star awarded M Resort for dinner. At this new dining experience, Executive Chef Seonkyoung (Sun-Key-Young) Longest, the winner of Food Network's “Restaurant Express,” is presenting her concept of freshly prepared Japanese, Chinese and Korean small plates made with her signature Mississippi flair.

A self-taught home cook, Longest is passionate about cooking, which helped her adjust to life in the United States. Born and raised in South Korea, she moved to Mississippi in 2009 with her husband. She began watching Food Network, where she learned to cook new recipes, with her own twist.

Located in the space formerly occupied by Marinelli's Italian Restaurant, the 150-seat restaurant offers an intimate dining experience complete with an 11-seat sushi bar and 20-seat private dining room, which is available for special events and overlooks the resort's pool piazza. Booths and tables offer views of the resort's outdoor pool piazza and al fresco dining is available on the terrace.

The restaurant's design blends traditional Asian details with modern touches incorporating hues of greens, pinks and reds. The 22-foot-wide marble stairway is flanked by pink and rose colored flowers opening into a sophisticated bar and lounge. The open and intimate dining room showcases large-scale murals of Koi fish and exquisitely beautiful Cherry Blossoms, common details throughout the restaurant and revered symbols in Asian cultures.

‘ROCK OF AGES’ AT VENETIAN CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

“Rock of Ages” at The Venetian celebrated its one-year anniversary on Dec. 18 and held an after-party downtown at Insert Coins. The popular musical, which started in Los Angeles and still runs on Broadway, was made into a motion picture with Tom Cruise. The lighthearted spoof is an incredibly “rock solid” fun uplifting show at The Venetian with irresistible music. Congratulations!

JON SECADA PERFORMS ELABORATE SHOWCASE AT WYNN-ENCORE

Cuban-born American singer-songwriter Jon Secada performed a really slick showcase last week at Steve Wynn's Encore Theater and filmed it. It's open knowledge that he'd like to get a resident headlining gig in Las Vegas and he proved his viability to a full-house audience. Secada has a worthy background with two Grammy Awards and more than 20 million albums sold since his English-language debut album in 1992. Secada performed with an orchestra and dynamo female dancers. It will be interesting to see if he lands at a hotel on the Strip. Meanwhile, everyone in the audience witness a strong 50-minute preview. Go Jon!

JALISCO CANTINA OPENS SECOND LOCATION ON EAST SUNSET ROAD

After operating a Sunset Road location of Super Mex for 12 years, the owners have embraced a new brand Jalisco Cantina and opened a second valley location. The 24-hour restaurant and adjoining cantina offer a diverse menu with more than 90 items and more than 100 different tequila varieties. The newest Jalisco Cantina is located at 3460 E. Sunset Rd. (at Pecos) and the other at 6450 S. Durango Rd. (at Sunset). For information, visit www.jaliscocantina.com.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Caesars Palace has the all-new Caesars Chalet holiday ice rink and lodge experience running now through Jan. 20, 2014. Caesars Chalet evokes an outdoor lodge experience complete with falling snow and warm decadent beverages.

The 2,100-square-foot LED-lit rink holds up to 50 skaters and overlooks the Strip. Designed by professional ice skaters, Caesars Chalet offers a traditional skating experience with an infusion of interactive services and special activities. A team of specialized skaters are on deck to offer hands-on assistance, skill demonstrations and facilitate ice rink activities. Daily skating sessions are available for guests ages four and older from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Rentals are available for $5 per session; each 30-minute session costs $10 per person for Total Rewards members and $11 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased on-site or at any Caesars Entertainment resort box office.

PartyPetition is a new app on Apple's App Store for securing guaranteed Las Vegas nightclub reservations. The innovative app and website were developed by Petitioners, Inc., a group of Silicon Valley-based technology experts and Las Vegas-based hospitality and nightlife veterans.

PartyPetition's technology is appealing to both consumers and the venue partners with an approachable solution to browsing and booking nightlife reservations. PartyPetition allows users to leverage their nightlife budget across multiple venues. With its scrolling library of nightclub venues and events, PartyPetition not only provides an all-encompassing forum for booking nightclub reservations, it also offers easy-to-view listings complete with venue descriptions and photos.

The actual sale takes place after the user selects a specific venue bid to purchase, during which all fees are processed and a reservation confirmation is sent. The user also has the option to split the bill in advance with other members of “the petition.” At the venue, the user presents the confirmation to the VIP venue entrance, without having to pay for any additional charges upon arrival.

Following its launch in Las Vegas, PartyPetition will offer users club experiences in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago.

Comedians Drew Hastings and Mike Saccone will headline Santa Fe Station's Chrome Showroom on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. Cover charge is $15 at the door.

Hastings began performing on stage at age 31. In early 1990s, he moved to Los Angeles and went on to sit in as a guest on “The Bob & Tom Show.” In 2006, he starred in “The Friends of Bob & Tom” Comedy Central special alongside other comedians. On April 26, 2008, Comedy Central aired “Drew Hastings: Irked and Miffed,” Hastings premier one-hour special.

Saccone began playing Las Vegas just after he was crowned “Star Search Comedy Champion of 1989” by Ed McMahon. He also co-starred on several network shows including “Cybill,” “The John Larroquette Show” and “Empty Nest.” He's been featured on many TV comedy shows.

Singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, whose smash hit “Blurred Lines” spent a phenomenal 16 weeks atop the Billboard Charts at No. 1 over the summer, will perform at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on Sunday, Dec. 29. Tickets start at $80.

Former Vegas headliner Holly Madison best known for her role on E!'s reality TV series “Holly's World” and “The Girl's Next Door” will celebrate her birthday at Moon Nightclub at the Palms on Saturday, Dec. 28.

The cast and crew of CBS' “Criminal Minds” recently held the celebration of their 200th episode in the Havana Room at The New Tropicana. More than 400 attendees partied the night away, including stars Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Thomas Gibson, A.J. Cook, and Jeanne Tripplehorn.

Chef Gordon Ramsay celebrated the first anniversary of his newest Las Vegas restaurants - Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace and Gordon Ramsay BurGR at Planet Hollywood. Ramsay joined his staff, enjoyed his personalized birthday ice sculpture, and had a toast of his favorite beer, Innis & Gunn.

In its annual year-end review highlights, TripAdvisor® named Aria in Las Vegas the most reviewed hotel in the United States, with thousands submitted in 2013 by its community of travelers across the nation.

Strip-side PBR Rock Bar & Grill inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will offer conventioneers during the Consumer Electronics Show Jan. 7 - 10 and the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo convention from Jan. 15 - 18 a 10 percent dining discount with a valid convention badge.

TREVI inside The Forum Shops at Caesars will offer Consumer Electronics Show (CES) attendees showing their convention badge the Techitini cocktail for $10 and a 10 percent food discount from Jan. 7 - 10.

From Dec. 26 through Jan. 9, 103 Hot Pilates & Yoga just south of Summerlin will offer affordable New Year's specials for those resolved to get fit in 2014. Classes are offered daily from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Priced at $199, guests can purchase three months of unlimited classes, a $399 value.

In 2005, the ARTV Awards, premiered at the MGM Grand and was broadcast on NBC Bravo. Now ARTV creator and founder Audrey Roberts is getting ready to present the Third Annual ARTV Awards show from Las Vegas in October 2014 and is turning to the Kickstarter crowd-funding program for help in supporting what artists desire the most…the sculpted MUSE Award, which is given in 10 Fine Arts categories.

The ARTV Awards mission is to inspire creativity and to provide funds for cultural education. The 2014 ARTV Awards will boast three days of festivities, including art exhibitions and auctions. Roberts is asking ARTV supporters to make a pledge, which can be as little as $10, in return for which they will receive unique gifts that cannot be purchased at any store. Roberts is once again securing the event by offering up $500k in art inventory and merchandise for liquidation to fund the ARTV Awards and to provide monies for art education. The Kickstarter goal has to be met by Jan. 8, 2014; visit: www.kickstarter.com/projects/artv/the-muse-rising.

The New Year's Eve celebration known as America's Party: Las Vegas New Year 2014 will include a spectacular fireworks show fired from seven rooftop locations along the Strip. The firing locations include MGM Grand, ARIA, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island (TI), The Venetian and the Stratosphere.

The Fremont Street Experience's Downtown Countdown New Year's Eve 2014 celebration will be filled with nonstop entertainment. Admission is $40 for a wristband. On Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. the ultimate street party will feature co-headliners Blues Traveler, Loverboy and Vince Neil. The party will last all night with performances from five additional favorite Las Vegas bands. Downtown Countdown will also include a 2013 year-in-review retrospective on the Viva Vision screen, a midnight countdown led by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman, and an epic Fireworks by Grucci produced show synchronized with virtual fireworks on Viva Vision as part of the citywide celebration, "America's Party: Las Vegas New Year's 2014." Fremont Street Experience is adults only.

Revelers can have an early New Year's Eve celebration at Rí Rá Las Vegas by toasting the arrival of the Irish New Year at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 with a pub-wide toast. Festivities will kick off at 3:30 p.m. with live Irish music from The Paul Cray Experience. They will play music until 5:30 p.m. and again from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

CollectiveZOO (CZ) will host a black tie soirée at The Mob Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 31 beginning at 8 p.m. The chic celebration will include a top shelf open bar from 8 to 11 p.m. and offer three floors of sound with live bands and DJs plus a televised view of the famed Las Vegas Strip countdown. Ticket prices start at $99, visit http://collectivezoo.ticketleap.com/nye2014/.

The New Year's celebration at “Pia's Place” inside Piero's will feature Pia Zadora performing with music director Vincent Falcone and her band from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cost is a two-drink minimum.

The Minus5 Ice Bars at Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay will celebrate the arrival of 2014 around the world by offering complimentary champagne toasts to guests enjoying the ice bar on the hour every hour starting at 11 a.m. in Las Vegas until midnight.