Brett Eldredge at Park Theater; Wynonna at Tropicana; Vegas Uncork’d pops
Vegas Uncork’d continues to dominate the Las Vegas scene this weekend with tonight’s Grand Tasting at Garden of the Gods at Caesars Palace, Saturday’s first Picnic in The Park outside T-Mobile Arena and Sunday’s farewell brunch celebrating Rao’s 10th anniversary also at Caesars.
The festivities began Thursday with The Too Hot Tamales Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill at Mandalay Bay and Caesars becoming the first female chefs to saber off Perrier Jouet magnums to officially launch the 11th annual food festival. Our thanks to videographer Richard Corey for his YouTube coverage of the “slightly dangerous” sabering!
More than 100 chefs and vintners are here for the annual celebration sponsored by Bon Appetit. Today’s highlights include a “Culinary Adventure Around the World” with Caesars President Gary Selesner and yours truly presenting taste treats from our travels in Japan, other parts of Asia, France, Italy and Mexico before winding up here in America’s food capital Las Vegas.
Saturday’s highlights include the dueling brunches between friends Giada de Laurentiis and Bobby Flay at their respective restaurants Giada at The Cromwell and Mesa Grill at Caesars and “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro’s “Sweet Escape” parties at The Palazzo pool and The Venetian’s Dorsey.
This is the official opening weekend of the mother of all dayclub parties at Rehab at The Hard Rock Hotel with Flo Rida there Saturday and Kevin Hart on Sunday. Things will be quieter at Palms Pool & Dayclub on Sunday when the first sunrise Silent Savasana is held with Dray Gardner and DJ Presto One. DJ Chris Garcia kicks it up to full blast after the yogis are done.
The 2nd Annual Heart of Education Awards honors 20 outstanding Las Vegas teachers from more than 900 finalists at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday. Each of the 20 will receive a $5,000 gift.
Erich Bergen MCs the event, which includes new Golden Nugget headliner Clint Holmes. Erich performs Sunday at nearby Myron’s Cabaret Jazz, and two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera makes her Smith Center debut Sunday.
Perhaps the most unusual event will be Courtney Stodden’s official divorce party at Crazy Horse III Gentlemen’s Club. She was 16 when she married actor Doug Hutcheson here in 2011. He was 51, and their marriage was the subject of the reality-TV series “Couples Therapy.” I’ll keep my eyes away from the club’s topless entertainers long enough to talk divorce with Courtney.
The Tropicana is ramping up its entertainment offerings with news of a new illusionist’s residency there next week and tonight’s concert with Wynonna & The Big Noise and Saturday’s John Michael Montgomery show. Country also gets a showcase with Brett Eldredge at Park Theater.
We also have an announcement of a new, limited engagement with a global act at The Venetian next week. Bring your bags and A game for the three-day American Cornhole League Tournament at The Linq Hotel. And Intrigue at Wynn Las Vegas first-anniversary celebrations continue through the weekend, so let’s dance up a storm with our newest edition of The Royal Robin Rundown:
FRIDAY, APRIL 28
MUSIC
Brett Eldredge is at Park Theater.
Wynonna & The Big Noise is at Tropicana Theater.
Peabo Bryson is at The Orleans Showroom for two nights.
Boyz II Men is at The Mirage all weekend.
Hedwig & The Angry Inch is at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for two nights.
Steely Dan is at The Venetian for two final nights.
The Backstreet Boys are at Axis at Planet Hollywood.
David Nail is at Boulder Station.
Jay and The Americans is at Golden Nugget.
David Perrico is at Cabaret Jazz.
Boom Box “Unity” Showcase is at HOB.
COMEDY
George Lopez is at The Mirage for two nights.
Norm MacDonald is at South Point all weekend.
“Battle of the Broadway Comedians” is at Troesh Studio Theater at The Smith Center all weekend.
OF SPECIAL NOTE
Tickets are on sale for Echo & The Bunnymen at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas at The Linq Promenade on July 28 and R. Kelly at The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel on Oct. 5.
Vegas Uncork’d is at Caesars, The Cromwell, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, MGM Resorts properties, The Park, The Palazzo and The Venetian all weekend.
Rock Into Spring Music Festival is at The M Resort all weekend.
Nevada Conservatory Theater’s “Peter Pan” is at UNLV all weekend.
The American Cornhole League Tournament is at The Linq Hotel all weekend.
PARTY PATROL
The Official Backstreet Boys After Party is at Chateau at Paris Las Vegas.
RL Grime is at Intrigue.
Courtney Stodden’s divorce party is at Crazy Horse III.
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
MUSIC
John Michael Montgomery is at Tropicana Theater.
Disco Explosion is at Cannery.
Gerardo Ortiz is at Primm Valley Resort.
City of Lights Jazz Festival is at Clark County Amphitheater for two days.
Spawnbreezie is at BBLV.
Lizz Wright is at Cabaret Jazz.
Severina Kojic is at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan.
OF SPECIAL NOTE
Touch a Truck is at Orleans Arena.
Heart of Education Awards is at The Smith Center.
PARTY PATROL
Flo Rida is at Rehab.
Diplo is at Intrigue.
DJ Poun is at Chateau.
SUNDAY, APRIL 30
MUSIC
Chita Rivera and Seth Rudetsky are at The Smith Center.
Erich Bergen is at Cabaret Jazz.
PARTY PATROL
Kevin Hart is at Rehab.
We’ll be back Sunday here and in Sunday ENT in The RJ with our interview with Miss Nevada Bailey Gumm, 21, as her yearlong reign ends and a story of a new surprise TV attraction headed here that we’ll post at 5:10 p.m. today. On Monday, a wrap of Keep Memory Live’s “Power of Love Gala” and Vegas Uncork’d.