Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Weekend Rewind: ‘Opium,’ Matt Goss, Eddie Griffin and more

Opium

Erik Kabik

Scottie remains a vital part of “Opium.”

I wrapped an incredibly busy show-going week (seven different shows in five nights on and off the Strip, thank you very much) by checking in on "Opium," Spiegelworld’s ever-changing, space-themed comedy variety show at the Cosmopolitan. While the latest version included many favorite acts from the first viewing — the girl in the bubble, the Chihuahua-balancing astronaut, the spaceship’s cruise director “Leslie,” the hula-hooping “Scottie” and a super-sassy sword swallower — it moves much faster now and is thick with action, having sliced off several sections of the storyline. There were a few new acts, too, including a sexy circus-style whip routine with a serious surprise. My guess is “Opium” could be a perpetually unfinished piece, constantly tweaking its colorful crew to promote return visits. It remains riotous and very different from any other show on the Strip.

NBA Summer League wraps up today at the Thomas & Mack Center and while dozens of hoops stars visited Las Vegas to support their current teams and future teammates, there remains no bigger NBA celeb than LeBron James, who made one of his first public appearances since signing with the L.A. Lakers on Sunday when his new team topped the Detroit Pistons’ summer squad.

Click to enlarge photo

Matt Goss attends the 22nd annual Keep Memory Alive 'Power of Love Gala' benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 28, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Mirage’s resident crooner Matt Goss unleashed his catchy new single “Red Flares” over the weekend. Recorded at the Studio at the Palms and available on iTunes, Amazon Music and Spotify, the pop track sounds like the next evolution for Goss, the former lead singer of U.K. group Bros whose debut solo album stayed on the English charts for 84 weeks. Expect more new music from Goss this summer in addition to his stylish shows at 1 Oak Nightclub at the Mirage, where he has six more nights this month.

Spotted at El Dorado Cantina, one of our favorite late-night (and anytime) haunts on Saturday night: New SLS comedy resident Eddie Griffin celebrating his 50th birthday with his family, his Comedy Get Down tour mate George Lopez and Michael Jackson tribute artist Jalles Franca. You can catch Griffin at the Sayers Club Mondays through Wednesdays, Lopez at the Mirage at the end of August and Franca at the Stratosphere’s "MJ Live" show.

After a successful nine-show run at Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace in December and January, former "Late Show" music master Paul Shaffer will make his return to the always swanky lounge with his Shaf-Shifters band September 6-8, October 11-13 and November 29-December 1. Tickets are on sale now at any Caesars Entertainment box office or 866-320-9763.

If you were wondering what’s next at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, the MGM Resorts-owned plot at the Strip and Sahara where Rock in Rio was held in 2015, there are two answers. First, the annual iHeartRadio Music Festival will host its daytime stage show there on September 22 (while the rest of iHeart is inside T-Mobile Arena). Then, the very first Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience takes over, also during the day, on October 13, featuring a “Grand Tasting” sampling experience, chefs and restaurateurs, seminars and demonstrations and more. The food fest is presented by MGM and USA Today.

Finally, some great news if you live in or around Summerlin, like I do: The fabulous Bromberg brothers are set to open Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya at the Red Rock Resort later this year. Bruce and Eric Bromberg made their Vegas debut with Blue Ribbon Sushi at the Cosmopolitan, which has since been transformed into the stellar Blue Ribbon Brasserie, and they also run two local Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken joints as well as the kitchen at Brooklyn Bowl. The new Red Rock spot is another major culinary score for Summerlin and Station Casinos.