A look at the first day of construction of the 30,000-square-foot exhibit space and convention center Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 | 5:45 p.m.
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Center Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel. This is my first sit-down visit to the recently renovated meeting place. They did a nice job with the octagonal marble tables on the bar’s perimeter and the leather chairs at the video poker machines.
The LED effect hanging overhead is interesting; I’m trying to watch the Rangers-Blue Jays game through a few of these illuminated strips. But, overall, it was a needed overhaul.
The new news is actually outside, at the Paradise Road surface lot across from Club Paradise (which I understand is still an active business). Beginning today is construction of a 30,000-square-foot exhibit space and convention center that will wipe out that lot and, ideally, increase conference business for the hotel.
The plan is for the new hall to be open by November 2016. Given that Center Bar opened two days before the Labor Day planned relaunch, that is a sensible goal.
Speaking of such, let’s make completion of this column by the end of the ballgame a priority:
• Fans of Ruby Lewis of “For the Record: Baz” are in for something special as she joins Human Nature for their annual run of holiday-season performances titled, “Christmas, Motown & More.” This is the lead-up to what is expected to be a revised “jukebox”-fashioned show, which will be in a venue, in January.
The show runs from Nov. 21 through Dec. 22. The customized setlist features such holiday classics as “Please Come Home for Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night” and “Winter Wonderland.”
Melody, Emma and Jeff Leibow arrive at “The NF Hope Concert” on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, at the Venetian.
Emma Leibow, the 5-year-old daughter of Jeff and Melody Leibow, was diagnosed with NF at 9 months old. She is an advanced artist who drew this depiction of Mona Lisa with colored pencils.
The band has recorded a holiday CD, “The Christmas Album,” and a five-minute, stop-action video that reminds of the great Rankin/Bass holiday specials of yesteryear. The guys are shown in animated form, broken down in the desert as snow begins to fall. They sing “White Christmas,” and the video is quite groovy. Hopefully it’s in the show again this year.
Otherwise, the presents (I mean, presence) of a “Baz” cast member in Sands Showroom only leads to further speculation that “Baz” is indeed heading for the Venetian — and possibly that very room. But that’s a holiday show of a different color.
• Jeff Leibow is delivering his fifth “NF Hope Concert” on Sunday, set for 1 p.m. at — once more — Sands Showroom. This year’s lineup is requisitely loaded, with Clint Holmes, Frankie Moreno, Bob Anderson, Pia Zadora, Earl Turner, Jeff Timmons, Kristen Hertzenberg, Human Nature, Nicole Kaplan, Daniel Emmet and performance-art troupe Molodi scheduled to appear.
As always, the show is a benefit for the NF Hope Network to provide care and support for those suffering from neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes tumors to grow throughout the body without warning and for which there is no cure or treatment.
Leibow’s daughter Emma, now age 5, was diagnosed with NF at 9 months old. As he said during a recent episode of “Kats With the Dish,” Emma has kept a sunny disposition throughout her life while coping with dozens of tumors at a time. She’s a great dancer and advanced artist, too, and has been drawing with colored pencils (the photo embedded in this column is her depiction of the Mona Lisa).
Tickets are $45 and $65; click here for information. For some auction-bidding action, go to the NF Hope website.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
Arguably one the coolest joints in town, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino houses some of Vegas' best entertainment, restaurants and nightlife.
At Hard Rock, it's all about the music. From the light fixtures made out of drum cymbals and guitar shaped door handles to stage costumes and tools of the trade of legendary musicians displayed on the walls, the hotel screams rock and roll. The Hard Rock's Joint has hosted some the biggest names in music — from The Who to Bob Dylan to hometown heroes, The Killers.Aside from the music venues, the pool at the Hard Rock is one of its biggest attractions. Spread out over 4.7 acres, the pool area features swim-up blackjack, a bar and grill, private cabanas, a bevy of secluded nooks, a waterfall and an extensive live music venue with a dance floor. During the summer, the pool transforms into the Rehab club on Sunday afternoons.
The resident nightclub Body English fuses European elegance with a rock star bachelor pad and it often a hot spot for visiting celebs and popular DJs. Vintage rock memorabilia lines the walls at Wasted Space, Hard Rock's anti-club.
Restaurants at Hard Rock are just as hip as the rest of the casino. Pink Taco serves up Mexican dishes, as well as a Central American and Caribbean menu. Nobu, one of five worldwide Japanese-specialty restaurants from famed Nobu Matsuhisa, satisfies a different taste. For round-the-clock cuisine, Mr. Lucky's 24/7, is sure to ease your appetite even after a Vegas-all-nighter.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
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