Courtesy Fifteen Minutes
Barry Manilow performs at Paris Las Vegas.
Published Friday, March 27, 2015 | 6:15 p.m.
Updated Saturday, March 28, 2015 | 9:08 a.m.
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Ciao Ciao Café at the Forum Shops, where the gelato is being scooped to great response, and thundering dance music is pouring from … somewhere nearby.
Oh, H&M. It’s a veritable disco-rama at the Swedish retail-clothing outlet. I don't know if there is a “Dance Fever” revival or Solid Gold Dancers reunion or what going on in there, but I understand that David Guetta is this weekend’s headliner at the place.
Omnia, watch out. There is serious comp at H&M.
Onward:
• The lengthy and unseemly litigation between the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and Spiegelworld over the closing of “Vegas Nocturne” seems to be resolved. Tucked in the hotel’s latest Securities and Exchange Commission report is verification that the two sides have, at least tentatively, agreed to settle the matter out of court. This action was agreed upon March 18.
Spiegelworld had originally filed a lawsuit against the Cosmopolitan last August alleging a series of actions that constituted breach of contract. “Vegas Nocturne” was staged at Rose. Rabbit. Lie. from January through its closing last July. The hotel swiftly filed a countersuit against Spiegelworld also claiming breach of contract and fraud in a tersely worded complaint. The settlement is not quite final or formal, as it is subject to final documentation and approval by the hotel, Spiegelworld and the courts. Neither Cosmopolitan reps nor Spiegelworld founder Ross Mollison has any comment regarding terms of the settlement.
In an interview for this week's “Kats With the Dish” radio show on KUNV 91.5-FM, Mollison said he still wants to return “Vegas Nocturne” to the stage in some sort of reduced format. It is highly unlikely the show will return to Las Vegas, as Mollison has staged one showcase of acts from the show in New York and continues to seek a venue across the country and even internationally for the show.
• Barry Manilow is calling his current tour “One Last Time,” with a stop at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 10, but he’ll be back to Las Vegas another time.
“This is the last big tour I’m doing, but I’m not retiring,” Manilow said during an interview Monday morning on Dayna Roselli and Carlos Diaz’s “Carlos & Dayna” show on KXNT 100.5-FM. “I’m going to be doing one-nighters, and we’ll be back in Vegas whenever we can. I really love it there.”
Manilow played the Las Vegas Hilton and, later, Paris Las Vegas from 2004-2011. “I had the greatest time. When they offered us the Hilton, I thought we’d stay for a year,” Manilow said. “But we stayed seven years, and I loved every minute of it.” Manilow also recalled his first appearance ever in Las Vegas, 30 years ago as the opening act for Helen Reddy. His debut also was at MGM Grand, but the old one, what we now now as Bally’s.
• Twitter and Vine creepers, be aware of a puppet with an Elvis flair filing reports from the streets of Las Vegas. He’s Vegas Louie, the creation of Emmy-winning set designer and Las Vegas “ENTSpeaks” producer and Andy Walmsley. The furry little figure has surfaced on six-second Vine clips along Fremont Street and other Las Vegas settings. The series began March 16.
Vegas Louie is presented as a throwback Strip entertainer, hence the nuanced resemblance to Elvis and his appearance with members of “The Rat Pack Is Back.” Not sure exactly what the point or end game is for Vegas Louie, but he’s comparatively groovy and can be found @VegasLouie on Twitter, #VegasLouie on Vine.
• For years, Frank Marino of “Divas Las Vegas” has wanted to be depicted as a wax figure at Madame Tussauds at the Venetian. He has not made much headway, but get this. Marino, whose unbroken 30-year run as a headliner at the show at the Linq Hotel (and before that as the star of “Evening at La Cage” at the Riv) is unmatched by Strip performers, is now on the list of figures under consideration by the attraction’s executives in London. The earliest this could happen is 2016, and I hope it does. It would be one of the all-time great photo ops, and Marino does deserve to be featured in the attraction. Other famous figures with strong Las Vegas connections include former Mayor Oscar Goodman, Siegfried & Roy, Wayne Newton and Criss Angel.
• Excerpt from a conversation with Frankie Moreno, as I suggested that he might need to use sheet music — or charts, as the kids with the instruments call them — to offset the pressure of learning 20 new songs every week for his “Under the Influence” shows at Cabaret Jazz. Said Moreno: “Charts are for rehearsals.”
Set for tribute treatment in Moreno's show Tuesday night is … ah, can’t say.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas dares to be different. From the hotel’s red reservations desks to fine art found throughout the resort, The Cosmopolitan’s signature style is helping to pave its own path on the Las Vegas Strip.
Upon entering the resort, you’re greeted by pillars of video boards playing video art by Digital Kitchen and David Rockwell Studio exclusively produced for The Cosmopolitan. Just beyond that, you’ll find all your favorite casino games on the resort’s 100,000-square-foot casino floor.
The Cosmopolitan’s rooms standout as the resort’s most unique feature. About 2,220 of The Cosmopolitan’s 2,995 rooms have 6-foot deep terraces that span the length of the room, a first at a modern Strip hotel. Other in-room amenities include soaking tubs, kitchenettes and quirky accessories like artsy coffee table books.
The dining experience at The Cosmopolitan isn’t something you’ll find at other Strip resorts, either. All of The Cosmopolitan’s 13 restaurateurs are new to the Las Vegas market. You’ll find American steakhouse fare in a modern setting at STK, top-notch sushi at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill and the freshest fish flown in from the Mediterranean daily at Estiatorio Milos.
Whether the sun is up or down, Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub is the place to find the party at The Cosmopolitan. The venue is a dayclub/nightclub, complete with a pool and cabanas outside and three different rooms with three different vibes inside.
If nightclubs aren’t your thing, you can grab a drink at one of The Cosmopolitan’s five other bars, like The Chandelier, which is encased in 2 million dripping crystals.
MGM Grand, a AAA Four Diamond resort, offers 5,044 rooms and suites.
MGM Grand features KÀ by Cirque du Soleil; Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club; and world-class entertainment at the Grand Garden Arena and Hollywood Theatre.
The resort offers signature restaurants by celebrity chefs including Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans Fish House, Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill and Michelin three star and Forbes Five Star restaurant, Joël Robuchon.
As part of its ongoing “Grand Renovation,” MGM Grand has remodeled all rooms and suites in its main tower and is adding several new experiences to its lineup including Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub, a new upscale dining/nightlife concept (coming in April 2013).
MGM Grand also features a state-of-the-art, non-smoking conference center, the Grand Spa, Cristophe Salon, "CSI: The Experience" and an inviting pool complex featuring the tantalizing daylife of Wet Republic.
Upscale accommodations include The Mansion, an exclusive hotel within the hotel; the luxurious two-story SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand; and The Signature at MGM Grand, a luxury all-suite, non-gaming hotel located adjacent to the main resort.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy