Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

How to celebrate love in Las Vegas

Valentine's Day chocolate

Korean BBQ, Beefeater martinis and the sexier side of Cirque. The Sunday asked 13 local celebrities about their best Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas. See if you agree with their visions of romance — or gather a few ideas for your own Valentine’s Day celebrations.

James Davis

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James Davis

Performs in "Chippendales" at the Rio

One of the best-kept secrets for a romantic dinner is the Steak House at Circus Circus. It’s quiet, intimate and surprisingly affordable. It serves the best filet mignon I’ve ever had, plus a tasty pinot noir. After our dinner, we saw “Zumanity,” which is definitely the sexier side of Cirque. The contortion act gives you ideas for new positions of your own; it definitely puts you in the mood for a tumble between the sheets. Then we went on to the Bellagio to watch the fountains with a glass of Champagne before retiring for the evening. It was an incredible night that has yet to be topped.”

Andrew Tierney

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Andrew Tierney

Singer with Human Nature, which headlines at the Venetian

For the past six years, I’ve juggled Valentine’s around our show, but I always plan something romantic for my wife. I buy four or five cards, then decide which one to give her the night before. Last year, we had a couple’s massage at Canyon Ranch SpaClub in the Venetian, then cocktails at the Paris restaurant bar. We were overlooking the Bellagio fountains; it’s a beautiful spot. But the best thing about Valentine’s Day is that I spend it with the love of my life, Heather. I’m a lucky man.”

Taylor Hicks

‘American Idol’ winner and former resident performer in Napoleon’s Dueling Piano Lounge at Paris Las Vegas

“There’s something special about Nobu at Caesars Palace; it serves the greatest sushi on the planet. We went there for sushi and sake, because sake is always fun on Valentine’s Day! Then we walked the Strip. That’s a Valentine’s must — it’s people-watching at its finest. And flowers are cliche in my book, but chocolate makes the world go ’round.”

Carrot Top

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Comedian who has headlined at the Luxor for more than a decade

“Last Valentine’s, we went for lunch, followed by massages with manicures and pedicures. In the evening, we had steaks and wine at Botero at the Encore, which sadly no longer is there. After dinner, we went to see Elton John at the Colosseum, and when we got home, there were rose petals all over the house, leading to a gift. The best thing about it? It’s over until the next one!”

Sara Chafak

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Sara Chafak

Poker player, television show host and former Miss Finland

“We drove from L.A. to Vegas for Valentine’s Day and booked into the Venetian. We had a Champagne breakfast in bed, watched a movie, then headed to the Strip for coffee. That night, we went on the High Roller. We could see all the lights of the city. It was like being in a movie. We had an amazing dinner at Canaletto, an Italian restaurant at the Venetian, and of course, it ended with a gondola ride and the gondolier serenading us.”

Teller

Magician, comedian, writer, director and half of the comedy magic duo Penn & Teller, who perform at the Rio

My birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so I’m a Valentine’s baby. It’s like being a Christmas baby, in that you get only one set of presents, but when someone really cares about you and makes a lot of effort, the event itself is a huge present. My friends love me in an over-the-top way that makes me tear up a little bit. They always do a bang-up job for my birthday. I’m never told what it’s going to be; it’s always a surprise.

“I’ve had some extraordinary experiences. My favorite was a birthday spent on a romantic adventure. I was given a CD containing erotic photographs of models, telling me where to go, like a treasure hunt. I went all over Las Vegas, with stops including my doctor’s surgery center and a funeral parlor. At each stop, there was a new CD waiting for me, with naked people telling me where to go next.

“I ended up in the middle of the desert, at what looked like a deserted homeless encampment. There were abandoned vehicles with bullet holes in them, half-corroded trailers and a full-size naked person. As I got closer, I realized it was a photographic cut-out, then six guys suddenly jumped out at me from cars. They were wearing black jumpsuits and black leather masks. They handcuffed and blindfolded me, then threw me into a long, horizontal box, lined with pink satin. I realized I was in a casket.

“I was hoisted into a vehicle and felt the ground change from the rugged desert to smoother roads. I had my cellphone with me, so I called my parents and said, ‘Guess where I am for my birthday? I’m in a casket, being transported some place.’ They said, ‘That sounds like fun!’ I called my agent, who was equally congratulatory.

“Eventually, the vehicle stopped, and I felt myself being lifted and carried, then put down with a bump. The coffin locks were released, and I tentatively lifted up the lid to find I was in the glamorous lobby of the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio.

“I emerged to find all of my friends there waiting for me, with a Chinese banquet catered by KJ Dim Sum & Seafood. It’s an extraordinary Chinese restaurant; friends who’ve been to China say it’s the equal of anything they’ve eaten there.

“That’s the most memorable birthday-Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. My present was the giant cherry coffin. I’ve always wanted one, because I have skeletons around my house. I keep a skeleton in there I borrowed from Penn. When I take people on a tour of my house, I tell them this story and open the coffin to show them the skeleton, wearing sunglasses and a crown.

“Another Valentine’s Day, I was taken into the middle of the desert to play paintball. I was covered with dust and paint, when suddenly I was invited into a tent, and inside, Mozart was playing. There were gold chairs and waiting staff in tuxedos and frilly aprons, serving afternoon tea catered by the Four Seasons. It was delightful.

“Then another year, my friends booked a limousine to take us on a treasure hunt that ended at a haunted house called Hell Town. It was a converted tractor trailer — the kind where ghouls jump out and pretend to eat babies. They’d laid out a feast and screened a video they’d made as a lovely retrospective of my life.

“I think that’s what makes a good Valentine’s treat — surprise and contrast.”

Maren Wade

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Maren Wade

Plays Anastasia Steele in ‘50 Shades! the Parody’ at Bally’s

“My best Valentine’s in Vegas will be this year. I’m performing in ‘50 Shades! The Parody,’ so I expect to be tied up by Christian Grey, both figuratively and literally.”

Dayna Roselli

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Dayna Roselli

Morning and mid-day news anchor at KTNV-TV Channel 13 Action News

“One Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend at the time took me for Korean BBQ at Honey Pig on Spring Mountain Road near Chinatown. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was really fun. You pick your own meats, sauce and veggies, then grill them yourself. He ordered and cooked for me, while I sat back with a Korean beer. I go to so many work events, and he was in a show on the Strip, so it was nice to break away and relax without having to dress up or mingle.”

Carolyn and Oscar Goodman

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Mayor Carolyn Goodman shares a celebration kiss with husband Oscar on election night as she is officially reelected during a party at her campaign headquarters on Tuesday, April, 7, 2015.

Las Vegas mayor and former Las Vegas mayor who have been married for more than 50 years

Carolyn: “The old Candlelight Room at the Flamingo was my favorite spot for Valentine’s Day. I always ordered steak Diane, and Oscar always got a steak too. More importantly, he’d get a Beefeater martini with a Brussels sprout in it.”

Oscar: “The bartender was Jimmy Blake; he was the greatest. I always get Carolyn flowers, usually red roses, and we go out for a nice dinner. But every day is Valentine’s Day to me.”

Daniel Negreanu

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Daniel Negreanu

Professional poker player with Team PokerStars and winner of six WSOP bracelets

"The last Valentine’s Day I celebrated, we went for dinner at Lakeside at Wynn. That’s where I take people when they come to town and want to go out. They have a good vegan menu, and you can sit outside. It has a really nice view of the water show. After dinner, we went to see Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Zumanity’ at New York-New York.”

Penny Wiggins

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Penny Wiggins

Performer in Criss Angel’s touring show, “The Supernaturalists”

"My relationships are short and sweet, so I’m rarely in one on Valentine’s Day. The one time I had a Valentine in Vegas, my date got us Chinese takeout — then told me what my half would cost, plus tax! My dream Valentine would send me red roses, then pick me up smelling delicious. We’d go to Hugo’s Cellar at the Four Queens. It’s one of my favorite old-Vegas style restaurants. They give every lady a rose. We’d have an amazing salad made for us at our table, and we’d finish with sorbet. Then we’d go to the Eiffel Tower at the Paris hotel. They make the best chocolate soufflé I’ve ever had. After cappuccinos, we’d go home and watch a chick flick.”

Olivia Newton-John

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Flamingo headliner singer Olivia Newton-John, with husband John Easterling, is honored as Nevada Ballet Theatre Woman of the Year at the Black & White Ball on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Wynn Las Vegas.

Resident at the Flamingo who performs songs from ‘Grease’ in her show ‘Summer Nights’

My husband, John (Easterling), proposed to me over dinner on Valentine’s Day. He did it with charades, so he always says I proposed to him. There are so many wonderful restaurants and things to do on the Strip, but the most romantic thing for me is going for a hike in Red Rock Canyon with John and our dog, Raven. I love being out in nature. It’s peaceful and I get to enjoy the beauty that lies outside the city, with the man I love.”

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