John Katsilometes

Story Archive

L.V. all-star show, parking for T-Mobile opening; clock ticking on NHL announcement: Tuesday, April 5, 2016; The opening of T-Mobile Arena is going to be one of those singularly “Viva Las Vegas” moments, and we can never have too many of those in this city. Hopefully, someone in the lineup will ...
Upon further review: MGM Resorts’ Plan B was right with T-Mobile Arena, Monte Carlo Theater: Monday, April 4, 2016; In resort development, as in life, it is important to listen and … what else? Think it through. The position of T-Mobile Arena, the development of The Park and the construction of the theater at Monte Carlo remind of ...
Gov. Sandoval on the Park: ‘In Las Vegas, anything is possible’: Monday, April 4, 2016; Gov. Brian Sandoval was sporting the same classic haircut but a new frame Monday at MGM Resorts' new attraction The Park. ...
Chris Stapleton wins six, Jason Aldean snares top prize at ACM Awards: Sunday, April 3, 2016; The night started with a star-studded tribute to new country-music trailblazer Chris Stapleton and ended with Jason Aldean winning the evening’s biggest award. Aldean sauntered off with his first Entertainer of the Year award and ...
Upgrading Plaza hotel plans to make waves in downtown pool scene: Sunday, April 3, 2016; At the Plaza, movement is afoot, and that foot is wearing a flip-flop. The hotel is finishing plans to renovate its “rooftop pool experience,” or as we call it, “the pool on the roof,” in time for summer. The Plaza Pool is due for is due for significant upgrades over the next several weeks. Specifically …
North end of Strip is fired up with Party for a Cause and Lambert’s show: Saturday, April 2, 2016; It is the corner that needs to turn the corner: Sahara Avenue and the Strip. On the southwest parcel is the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. On the southeast, as you view the aerial mental map, is SLS Las Vegas. As recently as …
ACM Awards returns to Las Vegas seeking Strip takeover: Friday, April 1, 2016; When the Academy of Country Music Awards uprooted from its Las Vegas home for its 50th anniversary show at AT&T Stadium, members of the ACM Board of Directors asked a pertinent question. “How do we go from Dallas, where we had ...
Festival Grounds has a cause: It needs more parties: Friday, April 1, 2016; Chris Baldizan, MGM Resorts’ senior vice president of entertainment, is eager to put on the party at that approximately 50-acre space known as Las Vegas Festival Grounds. That happens today through Sunday with the Academy of Country Music Party for a Cause …
Human Nature expands its sound in ‘Jukebox’ at The Venetian: Friday, April 1, 2016; The Australian supergroup covers everything from Golden Oldies to contemporary hits.
New acts in store for ‘Absinthe’; ‘Never Sleep Alone’ shacks up in N.Y.: Thursday, March 31, 2016; Elsewhere in the tented fiefdom operated by Spiegelworld founder Ross Mollison, discussion of a touring version of “Absinthe” has tempered a bit since the show ended its run through Australia in 2015. ...
Explaining the lure of 5-year-old ‘Absinthe’ at Caesars Palace: Wednesday, March 30, 2016; Absinthe charges along, rife with changes since it opened in April 2011.
Wayne Newton to get ‘Up Close and Personal’ in Windows Showroom residency: Wednesday, March 30, 2016; To break “the fourth wall” of live performance, Wayne Newton first needed to find four walls. Mr. Las Vegas has found them at the second-floor Windows Showroom at Bally’s. In his first Las Vegas interview about ...
Criss Angel sets ‘Mindfreak Live!’ cast, casts net for Sept. 12 charity show: Wednesday, March 30, 2016; The magic in Criss Angel’s new show on the Strip is to arrive from two performers: Angel himself and Chloe Crawford. This is the overarching message from the casting of Angel’s “Mindfreak Live!” at Luxor ...
T-Mobile execs trumpet neutrality; Oscar Goodman rings in bellman saga: Tuesday, March 29, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Sands Showroom, a focus of intrigue for the last many months as shows have departed, been announced and — as is the case today — been relaunched. Human Nature’s ...
Hair-raising 94th for Marty Allen and 1,000 of his friends: Monday, March 28, 2016; There is no older entertainer filling ballrooms than the man born Morten David Alpern on March 23, 1922, in Pittsburgh. Marty Allen celebrated his 94th birthday in grand fashion Saturday at ...
Monday By the Numbers: $0 from tip-less rapper and 9-er from L.V. Phil: Monday, March 28, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers touches on myriad topics, including Mike Tyson action and the twin towers of “Property Brothers.” ...
Star manager Larry Rudolph’s proposal turns picturesque: Monday, March 28, 2016; Say this for entertainment manager Larry Rudolph: He knows how to frame a moment. Rudolph is the longtime business manager of Britney Spears and also has managed Steven Tyler since 2014 along with ...
T-Mobile Arena makes a Titanic first impression: Sunday, March 27, 2016; As the final few seats are installed in advance of the April 6 opening (a night of music by the Killers and Wayne Newton), John Katsilometes looks at a few other highlights from the newest addition to the Strip ...
Penn Jillette juggles dieting in new book; leaner Jeff Beacher plays hide-and-seek: Saturday, March 26, 2016; In a highly coincidental development, or rather a coincidental reduction, Penn Jillette and Jeff Beacher have shed a combined 330 pounds dating to 2014. ...
Shangela steps to the front as ‘53X’ takes shape: Friday, March 25, 2016; Shangela takes a seat at a table near the performance stage of “53X,” and it is apparent instantly that this person is a singular embodiment of the show: She … is … hosting. ...
Cameo’s Larry Blackmon explains red codpiece; ‘Alice’ blows up at Brooklyn Bowl: Friday, March 25, 2016; “Alice: A Steampunk Rock Concert” played its most recent date Wednesday night at Brooklyn Bowl. The latest change in the production is in the form of the backing band. ...
Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande set for April 7 at T-Mobile: Thursday, March 24, 2016; Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande are building the bridge between The Killers and Guns N’ Roses. Those two hot-selling artists and popular live draws are performing April 7 at T-Mobile Arena, according ...
‘Santana IV’ lineup is forever groovy in House of Blues reunion: Wednesday, March 23, 2016; The original members of Santana are architects of so many rock ’n’ roll traditions: Lengthy guitar jams. Thunderous percussive stops and starts. Calls from the stage for LSD intake. ...
Chloe Crawford to co-star in Criss Angel’s ‘Mindfreak Live!’ at Luxor: Tuesday, March 22, 2016; Criss Angel has made official what has been apparent since last fall: He plans to make Chloe Crawford a star in his magic universe. Crawford is to be a co-star in ...
Lorena Peril’s next port is a return to ‘Fantasy’: Monday, March 21, 2016; Having toured Europe and set up shop in Puerto Vallarta over the past three years, Lorena Peril is returning to Las Vegas for what she says is …
Billy Idol turns Punk Elvis in debut at House of Blues: Monday, March 21, 2016; Billy Idol playing Las Vegas was destiny. Take it from the man himself, as he stated lyrically many years ago: “When you hear the music, you make a dip into someone else’s pocket, then make a slip. Steal a car and go to Las Vegas, ... ”
Monday By the Numbers: An ode to a comic for the ages: Monday, March 21, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers is dedicated to one of our favorite comedy legends. First, a quick story about this man, one I have told before: About a decade ago, I was working out on a StairMaster at Las Vegas Athletic Club ...
Never underestimate the value of a free Las Vegas attraction: Sunday, March 20, 2016; Bellagio’s fountain’s, Mirage’s volcano and even the new Bliss Dance sculpture at T-Mobile Arena: They all cost nothing for a visitor to see and photograph, but they are more than worth the expense of …
For Cirque, all-star spectacular is ‘One’ for the books at Smith Center: Saturday, March 19, 2016; Often the most apt assessment of an experience is what you said just as it finished. Such as, “That kicked ass.” Those are three words to mark the fourth “One Night For One Drop” on Friday night at the Smith Center …
Jerry Lewis’ nutty 90th: Jokes, revelry and two cakes: Saturday, March 19, 2016; Throughout the day Wednesday, Jerry Lewis was wondering if anything was being planned for his 90th birthday. He was asking his family such cryptic questions as, “Are we doing anything tonight?” Of course. Lewis was given a surprise wingding at ...
It’s turning 10, and ‘Beatles LOVE’ is still fab: Friday, March 18, 2016; The show's recent makeover puts more emphasis on The Beatles ... and that's a very good thing.
Tropicana acts quickly on cutting loose Jan Rouven: Thursday, March 17, 2016; This might be the fastest vanishing act in the history of Strip entertainment. Having been arrested by the FBI on child pornography charges, illusionist Jan Rouven has been ...
Party purveyor: Pitbull returns to the Axis to unleash more ‘Time of Our Lives’: Wednesday, March 16, 2016; Musically, Pitbull rolls out an impressive collection of club hits that leave you thinking, “I didn’t know that was a Pitbull song.”
Kid Cudi and Pitbull pack ’em in; ‘One Night’ means one community; Billy Idol wants into new Rat Pack: Wednesday, March 16, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is in recovery mode, having wound around the scene at Pitbull’s show Saturday night at Axis at Planet Hollywood and Kid Cudi at the Foundry in SLS Las Vegas on Sunday. ...
Jerry Lewis at 90: ‘It’s a monster number’: Tuesday, March 15, 2016; The gentleman at the right is seated just off the aisle at the Jennifer Lopez show “All I Have” at Axis at Planet Hollywood. Delivering him to this spot in this 4,000-seat venue has been ...
Monday By the Numbers: Pitbull’s pricey drink, Kid Cudi’s couch, Jerry Lewis aims for 100: Monday, March 14, 2016; Playing this week at Monday By the Numbers Lounge (or the MBTN, as we call it), the folks at St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Pitbull, Kid Cudi, Jerry Lewis, Omnia and the sports book at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Let’s ...
Parking 101: An insider’s advice on how to navigate Las Vegas garages: Sunday, March 13, 2016; John Katsilometes attends a lot of events around Las Vegas, so he’s become a bit of an expert on getting in and out of parking garages efficiently. He shares some of his secrets ...
‘Spoofical’ cleans up the ‘Poop’; ‘Showstoppers’ seeks singer: Thursday, March 10, 2016; Las Vegas producer David Saxe has pulled the reins on his “Spoofical the Musical” production, which has been pushed back by several weeks from its originally announced Feb. 8 opening ...
Billy Idol brings an unbridled energy to his House of Blues residency: Wednesday, March 9, 2016; "We’re celebrating what we’ve done, in a way, and that’s why we’re playing this Vegas revue."
Sir George Martin’s love for The Beatles never flagged: Wednesday, March 9, 2016; The opening might of “The Beatles Love” in June 2006 was so spirited that I walked fast on my way out of the theater so I could spin around and see the expressions on the faces of that first audience. ...
Dunn’s not done as ‘Together in Vegas’ adds July dates at the Colosseum: Monday, March 7, 2016; Ronnie’s ready to rock. A corner of the triangle of country superstars Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn is prepped for a return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Ronnie Dunn is ...
Monday By the Numbers: USA Sevens, Cameo, more Chazz Palminteri: Monday, March 7, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers returns with a flourish, focusing on charity and rugby and some funk. ...
Criss Angel sends a buzz through St. Baldrick’s with $100K donation: Monday, March 7, 2016; Sometimes the biggest gestures start in a small way. A little boy. A modest goal. A short conversation. And soon … boom. We saw this unfold over the weekend, or over two weekends, with Elann Saula and his family’s fundraising effort ...
Elvis exhibits in need of a makeover: Sunday, March 6, 2016; If the King is going to remain relevant for future generations, the people who want to preserve his legacy need to figure out more engaging ways to present his story ...
Original Santana lineup to jam once more at House of Blues: Friday, March 4, 2016; The legendary band that Carlos Santana reassembled in the studio is reuniting onstage, too. The original Santana band featuring Gregg Rollie on keyboards, Neal Schon on guitar, Michael Carabello on percussion and ...
A Vegas Tale: Chazz Palminteri to talk it up at Italian American Club: Thursday, March 3, 2016; Chazz Palminteri tells a story about vodka, but, as so many of his stories, it is really about people. ...
Billy Joel set to play T-Mobile Arena on April 30: Thursday, March 3, 2016; Here’s a fun fact about Billy Joel: Steve Wynn once asked him about performing a residency at Encore Theater and even booked Joel to play a New Year’s Eve show in 2013. Joel declined ...
Mike Tyson squares off with himself in ‘Undisputed Truth’: Thursday, March 3, 2016; The former heavyweight champion's autobiographical monologue returns to the MGM Grand and runs through June 26.
A $4.5 million violin is placed in the hands of Las Vegas ace at L.V. Phil show: Wednesday, March 2, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is New York-New York, where on Saturday the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is hosting its annual head-shaving fundraiser ...
With move to Wynn Las Vegas, Mark Shunock really is running the show: Wednesday, March 2, 2016; He’s no longer Lonny, but he’s still running the club — this time for real. Mark Shunock is taking over entertainment operations at Intrigue at Wynn Las Vegas. Hotel officials announced ...