John Katsilometes

Story Archive

Wynn a cheerleader for new Strip projects
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014
Anything would be better than the empty lot across the street from his properties, he said.
Golden Nugget sparks some Friday night lights; Harrah’s to remain Mac King’s magic castle
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014
Golden Nugget also is adding to its schedule in the Grand, its renovated ballroom that fills out to a pretty healthy concert venue. Ending this year and entering 2015, the hotel has ...
A rocker from ‘Pin Up’s’ Lisa Marie; Martin Kaye a doctor on the keys; Jillette’s O.V. event worth a Reed
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014
The party at Opportunity Village honoring Penn and Emily Jillette was spiced by some gritty rock from Lon Bronson, his band — and Jillette. ...
Murray Sawchuck’s new focus: Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014
In the end, Murray Sawchuck had to be more than a poser. Not that it wasn’t a great deal of fun following Sawchuck canvas the valley mugging for photos in front of hotel-casino marquees with such self-written captions as, ...
Duck! The Robertsons are heading for the Rio in ‘Dynasty’ musical
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014
The most famous bearded entertainers to hit the national scene since ZZ Top released “Eliminator” are beating a path to VegasVille. The gentlemen from the A&E reality-TV series “Duck Dynasty” are reportedly backing a musical based on ...
Talk has become the talk of Las Vegas; Penny Pibbets and Gaz focusing on solo scenes
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014
Fashioned after the TED Talks series of brief monologues, “ENTSpeaks” is part stage presentation, part party at Inspire. In each instance, it’s a groovy way to learn more about those among us who are ubiquitous, yet ...
Uber’s first rider in Las Vegas sings its praises
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014
We get the scoop on which of Las Vegas' favorite native sons has embraced the ride-sharing app right away, which Las Vegas shows are making appearances in Massachusetts, and what's wrong with that new Ickey Woods commercial ...
KISS gives away the house; Steve Wynn recalls the days of going full throttle
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014
During a rare quiet moment in the KISS opening-night performance Wednesday night at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel, the band broke between “Detroit Rock City” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. ...
‘Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers,’ a show full of encores, is moving into Encore
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014
Steve Wynn is standing and performs something akin to a jig, kicking his heels and pointing his elbows out to his sides. He sings along, in low and laughing voice. He happily beams like a kid on a farm, gazing off ...
You might not know who Jimmy McIntosh is ... but Ronnie Wood does
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014
Jimmy McIntosh once tracked down Mick Jagger, asking for something unexpected, and is collaborating with another Rolling Stone on his new CD. ...
Backstage pass? Paul Stanley needs no such pass
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014
Then, as if drawing attention to a work of art, Franky Perez motioned to his face with his hand. “And Paul Stanley says, ‘This … is my pass.’ And walks in." ...
Once again, talk of racing on the Strip is revving up
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014
In 1998, Bernie Ecclestone was one vote shy of bringing open-wheel racing to the Strip. Word is, he’s trying again, but can his idea gain any traction this time?
Criss Angel hits 6th anniversary at Luxor, expands empire with ‘The Supernaturalists’
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014
Criss Angel navigates his career in the same way he rides the Skeleton or Insanity or any of the custom motorcycles lining the entrance of his show at Luxor. He’s full-throttle, focused on the road ...
‘The Dennis Bono Show’ airs it out; Sawchuck goes on his Murray way
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014
Popular among locals since it debuted 15 years ago at Sunset Station, “The Dennis Bono Show” has been buoyed by a new syndication deal Bono signed with the CRN Network. He now reaches 30 additional radio stations ...
Star DJ R3hab gives Life at SLS something to dance about
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014
SLS Las Vegas is placing a lot of hope and emphasis on R3hab’s appearance this weekend, kicking off three nights of electronic dance music with Borgore on Saturday night and Richie Hawtin on Sunday. R3hab has ...
Choudhry and Baldizan: A couple of Las Vegas insiders who have taken it outside
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014
Rehan Choudhry and Chris Baldizan are two kings of the asphalt jungle in VegasVille, Choudhry as founder of the Life Is Beautiful festival and Baldizan as a high-level entertainment exec with MGM Resorts. ...
Rock in Rio founder Roberto Medina says of Las Vegas: ‘This is the place’
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014
Rock in Rio USA is an extended engagement on the Strip, and this is no understated operation. Six stages will be in play during the festival, with the main acts on the Main Stage and Sunset Stage. ...
Michael Jeffries, Pia Zadora’s husband, files suit against Metro over standoff, termination
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014
Michael Jeffries, the husband of Pia Zadora and a former member of the Las Vegas Metro Police force, has filed suit against Metro for allegedly violating his civil rights by firing him over a standoff at the couple’s home ...
Love is here, there and everywhere at Cirque/L.V. Phil performance
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014
The Las Vegas Philharmonic, teaming with artists from the Cirque show “The Beatles Love” at the Mirage, all happily converged on LIB’s main stage. Never had these artistic institutions collaborated in such a way. The idea bloomed ...
Downtown Project breathes life into run-down Oasis
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014
John Katsilometes gets the scoop on downtown’s recent hotel opening.
Rehan Choudhry says of Life Is Beautiful: ‘We’re already talking to headliners about 2015’
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014
On Day 2 of Year 2 of Life Is Beautiful, the festival he founded, Rehan Choudhry meets with a group of downtown Las Vegas officials near the Fremont Street entrance in the shadow of the recently opened downtown grocery store the Market. The group holding an impromptu confab includes LIB partner Tony Hsieh devouring a burrito as he confers with Choudhry ...
Pussy Riot, Oscar Goodman and ‘picnic at the disco’ fire up first night of Life Is Beautiful
Friday, Oct. 24, 2014
A general rule to follow around LIB is to understand that this is a loosely framed, freewheeling life experience. It is asphalt Woodstock, and you should just go with it. That goes for whatever snag ...
The Amazing Johnathan stuns ‘ENTSpeaks’ audience: ‘I have a year to live’
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014
The Amazing Johnathan is the last in line on this night after a series of five speakers at Inspire Theater on Fremont East in downtown Las Vegas. Before him, we have been regaled in ...
Rock strikes 12 at Fremont Street with a dozen tribute bands lined up for NYE
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014
Freddie Mercury would have loved Fremont Street on New Year’s Eve. ...
‘Henri’ plays a powerful melody at the Smith Center
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014
Henri plays the piano, but he is not really a pianist. He used to be. But today he runs his hands across a dining table at an assisted-living facility. ...
Justin Timberlake’s ‘20/20 Experience’ winds back to MGM Grand for New Year’s Day
Monday, Oct. 20, 2014
Justin Timberlake’s shows will be directed and recorded by Jonathan Demme, who won an Oscar for “The Silence of the Lambs” and also directed “Philadelphia” and “Rachel’s Getting Married.” ...
‘ENTSpeaks’ promises to be more than just a lot of talk; Travis Cloer is lit up over Rise Lantern Festival
Monday, Oct. 20, 2014
Andy Walmsley’s “ENTSpeaks” speaker series is set for 10 p.m. Tuesday at Inspire Theater at Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. In a rarity on that corner, a red-carpet walk is set for 8:30 p.m., and ...
New development’s rise from dust of Clarion’s impending implosion could come at right time
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014
The recently shuttered resort is scheduled for implosion in January, and its new owner is planning to open a mixed-use development in its space, making for an exciting time in that corridor.
Jeff Leibow delivers another dash of hope with NF all-star show at Venetian
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
“The NF Hope Concert” has been around long enough that it has developed a genuine tradition. ...
Lorenzo Doumani takes over Clarion: ‘We’re blowing it up,’ creating something ‘very cool’
Monday, Oct. 13, 2014
Lorenzo Doumani is looking to make the ratty Clarion the happiest place on earth, or at least on Convention Center Drive. Eager for the neighborhood to develop around him ...
Music festival generating excitement on north Strip
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014
The north side of the Strip stands to gain from Rock in Rio, which is expected to draw 300,000 fans across the street from SLS Las Vegas. ...
Frank Marino, Alex Schechter moving forward ‘regardless of idiots’; ‘Vegas Nocturne’ (kind of) plays N.Y.
Friday, Oct. 10, 2014
Frank Marino and Alex Schechter have watched the week’s crisscrossing rulings on same-sex marriage with acute interest. ...
Oscar Goodman remembers his ‘Mount Rushmore moment’; The Pointer Sisters pop up at Rose. Rabbit. Lie.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014
Oscar Goodman resumes his speaker series Thursday night at Oscar’s Steakhouse at the Plaza with a lotta mob talk. ...
Big cats scrambling back to the Strip with Dirk Arthur’s ‘Wild Illusions’ at the Riv
Monday, Oct. 6, 2014
“Dirk Arthur’s Wild Illusions” opens Dec. 1 and is tentatively scheduled to perform nightly at 7, dark Fridays. Over time, he’ll likely add matinee shows to the schedule on Saturdays and Sundays. ...
Time-share mogul on lawsuit: ‘I don’t like being accused of stiffing anybody. It’s not true’
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014
David Siegel responds to allegations that he failed to pay a real estate agent for work done on his purchase of the LVH.
Live from ‘iHat’ music festival: The Wayner joins real-deal Neal McCoy at MGM Village
Friday, Oct. 3, 2014
Yessir, last month MGM Grand and MGM Resorts Village hosted the iHeart Radio Music Festival. This is the iHat Radio Music Festival. ...
Andy Walmsley hopes ‘ENTSpeaks’ will be the talk of the town
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014
Those who live and work in the Las Vegas entertainment industry have fascinating, and in many cases untold, stories. But don’t take my word for it. ...
What’s ‘Shakin’? Eric Jordan Young’s fiery show at Sin City Theater
Monday, Sept. 29, 2014
Where driven and talented Eric Jordan Young resides today is the home where all artistic streets meet. ...
Iron Mike’s latest adventure is ... a cartoon
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014
Mike Tyson, as he talks, is forever animate, still moving like a champion boxer. His hands fly fast, and he bobs his head as if ...
As mass gatherings go, Las Vegas is the place to be
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014
The theme this weekend is crowds, mass gatherings as they are now known, and how to lure and entertain such. I am reminded of this as waves of people ...
Rock in Rio, the ‘City of Rock,’ lures Taylor Swift, Metallica, No Doubt, Linkin Park to L.V.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2014
If the Rock in Rio festival staging is anything like what we saw in Manhattan today, this should be a remarkably impressive event. Efficient, too. The Rock in Rio team built a fully functional, LED screen-backed stage with a booming sound system ...
Mike Tyson makes a scene — as a Good Samaritan in L.V. and animated TV star in L.A.
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014
On Sept. 16 in Las Vegas, Mike Tyson came to the assistance of a motorcyclist who was injured on I-15 after being cut off by a taxicab. And, no, this was no cartoon. ...
In one magic stroke, Trop lures ‘Rock Vault’ and Jan Rouven
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014
In a sweep affecting three hotel-casinos — so far — “Raiding the Rock Vault” is vacating the theater at Westgate Las Vegas and moving to Tropicana Theater. ...
‘Georgia on My Mind’ deserves a full house, but will it get one?
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014
The sound of singers is fueled by the band behind, and the artists turn to one another as if carrying on an animated conversation rather than singing a song in the Ray Charles tribute show “Georgia on My Mind” at ...
Fire it up — Usher and Motley Crue sure did — on Night 1 of iHeartRadio Music Festival
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014
The first night of the iHeartRadio Music Festival has closed, and the evening ended with an impromptu dance-off at the back of the arena floor just off the MGM Grand Garden ...
Jaymes Vaughan takes a turn for the dramatic; Lacey Schwimmer reunites with ‘DWTS’
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014
What is especially groovy about Jaymes Vaughan at the moment is he is to be featured on the CBS soap “The Young and the Restless” on Sept. 30. ...
Pia bemoans ‘Louboutin separation anxiety’; Newton to cap 150th anniversary all-star show
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014
In the days since Pia Zadora was injured in a golf cart accident, the entertainer has regained her sense of humor, if not her actual footing. She is to undergo surgery to repair her ankle on Tuesday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. It ...
MGM Resorts Village is the playground for iHeartRadio Music Festival
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014
The stage at the Village for the iHeartRadio Music Festival might be bigger than the event requires, but so what? ...
Michael Monge, Steve Wynn’s handpicked crooner, extended through ’15 at Encore
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014
In February, Michael Monge was singing at Bice Italian restaurant and lounge in Boca Raton, Fla. Steve Wynn happened to be in the audience that night and noted the vocal and even physical similarities between Monge and Wynn’s old friend ...
Keith Evans, the city’s lion king, still working to keep his habitat alive
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014
It was in July 1999 when I met Keith Evans and a few of the big cats he had just led into the then-new MGM Grand Lion Habitat. The attraction was about a week old then, a $9 million operation just off the casino floor. ...