Don't know how many of you were in town this past weekend for the Super Bowl, but if you were, whether you realized it or not, you were part of more than 250,000 fans who descended on our city to watch the Big Game. I'm told from the books in town that business was brisk and they figured betting for the game at our sports books would top $100 million. Add to that the millions spent on entertainment, food, dining and rooms and it was a pretty lucrative weekend for our hotel/casinos. The first half had me worried a bit as I bet the Colts and they needed to win by more than seven points. Thankfully, that happened and unlike most of my gambling ventures lately, I went home a winner.
Okay, now that I've bored you with that bit of trivia, let's see what's happening around town. I'm happy to hear that one of my favorite shows is back at the Gold Coast through April 1. I'm talking about "Forever Plaid," a show that played to a full house for years at the Flamingo Las Vegas before leaving for a few years and returning to the Gold Coast about two years ago. Unfortunately, it will be leaving again following their April 1 performance unless they can find a gig at another hotel.
If you've not seen it, the show is a story about an endearing harmony group whose dreams of musical glory ended suddenly one fateful night en route to their professional debut in 1964. The group was slammed broadside by a school bus of Catholic teens on their way to see the Beatles make their television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. These nerdy crooners with angelic voices have been dead for more that 40 years when they miraculously return to Earth on the Las Vegas stage to perform the show they never got to do in life.
The music is great and will bring back lot of memories and their spoof of the Ed Sullivan show will have you rolling in the aisles. Put this on your must-see list. Tickets are only $39.95, and for $44.95 you get dinner thrown in. A great deal.
PLAY A HAND
For you poker players, the Silverton, just a few miles south of the Strip on I-15 is offering several poker room promotions, including a chance to compete in a World Poker Tour event, a new mix game and bonus payouts. Players may qualify for the World Poker Tour Poker Classic in Los Angeles now through Feb. 18. Complete details are available at the poker room.
For mix game players, every Wednesday at 7 p.m., dealers will be spreading a 3-6 limit mix game consisting of Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Crazy Pineapple. The H.O.P. game will include a $100 cash drawing and a $10 comp added to the pot hourly. Complete H.O.P. rules and promotion eligibility can be found by contacting a poker room representative.
Every Monday, the poker room features bonus payouts for all high-hand progressive jackpots. Four of a kind and straight flush payouts will get an additional $100, and $500 will be added to any royal flush. These bonus payouts are in addition to daily double jackpots. When a progressive high-hand jackpot is won between 2 and 4 a.m., 6 and 8 a.m. or noon and 2 p.m., the posted amount will double and then a bonus will be added. Not too shabby.
BIG BARRY
The Las Vegas Hilton is now home to the largest hand-painted mural in Las Vegas, with the 128' X 56'10" image of Hilton headliner Barry Manilow on display on the property's main tower. The mural was installed over a five-day period using a grid system to prepare the image and three painters using brushes and rollers to complete the finished mural last weekend.
Sky Tag, the company responsible for the mural, specializes in spectacular images in metropolitan areas. This is the biggest superstar mural the company has painted in Las Vegas. Manilow opened "Music and Passion" at the Las Vegas Hilton on Feb. 23, 2005, and in March 2006, the resort extended his exclusive long-term engagement through 2008. Great show if you like Manilow. Speaking of the Hilton, funnyman and all-around nice guy Joe Piscopo will be appearing in the resort's Shimmer Theatre, beginning Feb. 18 for an indefinite run. I'll have more on this on the R-J's eNeon newsletter once he opens. If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for the newsletter. Just go to www.reviewjournal.com//eNewsletters/eNeon/ and register. It's free, so all it takes is a few seconds of your time.
RITUAL RELAXATION
Okay, don't say I never told you something that can put a bit of sizzle in your love life. The other day I got the following info from the MGM Grand and it's well worth passing on, particularly as we are now in "love" month. According to Buddhist teachings, the meaning of a red Lotus is love and compassion. This month, couples will be invited to re-ignite, rejuvenate and replenish their passions through MGM Grand Spa's exclusive Red Lotus Love Ritual.
Here's what they tell me. The newest in a line of signature treatments, this intoxicating service will feature native ingredients of Tibet, long-revered for their abilities to invigorate the heart and soul. During this exotic 100-minute journey, couples will enjoy pure relaxation, side by side, in a private spa suite. Designed to bring out a renewed youth, the Red Lotus Love Ritual will begin with a private steam session, fragranced with Tibetan Cedar Oil.
Next, guests will receive a gentle skin exfoliation with Himalayan Pink Sea Salt before they are enveloped in moisturizing body wraps. Female patrons will enjoy a luxurious wrap enriched with the healing properties of lotus flowers and Goji berries (no, I don't know what Goji berries are and I'm afraid if I took part in this, I'd end up eating them), valued for their abilities to improve immune functions, circulation and promote relaxation, while male guests will enjoy a masculine wrap featuring the benefits of Himalayan Cedar, known for its anti-inflammatory qualities (now this I could use for my arthritic shoulder).
A chocolate and Goji berry hand and foot mask will follow before an indulgent foot massage for her and an intoxicating scalp massage for him. Finally, a firm massage featuring lotus oil infused with the berries of Seabuckthorn plants, a Himalayan shrub prized for its antioxidant qualities, will melt away the last remaining remnants of stress. A delicious snack of chocolate-covered Goji berries will complete this decadent experience. Guests also will receive special take-home gifts of Tibetan Cedar soap for him and Red Lotus soap for her.
Sounds great and I'm sure is, but it don't come cheap. The Red Lotus Love Ritual is $590 for couples, or you can go it alone for $290. It may seem a bit pricey, but you're in love, aren't you, plus a happy partner is a giving partner. Need I say more? The spa is open to hotel guests seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Non-guests are invited to use the spa Monday through Thursday. For more information or to book a treatment, call (702) 891-3077 or visit www.mgmgrand.com.
Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip. And don't forget to check out www.valleyblogs.com.
If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@cox.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.
