Red Carpet Report: Barrett-Jackson, Fright Dome, Blue Man Group, Kix Brooks, Yardbird
One of America’s ultimate collections of rare and iconic automobiles – at least 80 of them – will go on the auction block in Las Vegas when Barrett-Jackson holds its eighth-annual auction at Mandalay Bay on Oct. 13.
Barrett-Jackson is expected to bring in millions of dollars. The collection, which has become a major tourist attraction and been featured on television, was collated by Tammy Allen at her Allen Unique Autos car museum in Grand Junction, Colo.
It includes a 1913 Ford Model T, Hurst-edition Viper Convertible, Wasabi Mercury, Messerschmitt, 54 Kaiser-Darrin supercharged convertible and 1969 Chevy Camaro.
Tammy also owns Sonny & Cher’s 1966 Mustang convertible, 2007 Rolls-Royce owned by Nicolas Cage and Evel Knievel’s vehicle when he wasn’t riding motorcycles. Her collection started when she turned 16 and received a 1976 Mustang as her first car, which will be sold.
BODY BATTLE
On the Las Vegas Strip, there’s at least four illusionists competing with magic shows; two ventriloquists battling each another; and Cirque du Soleil shows fighting for box office dollars not only with each other, but also against hotel mogul Steve Wynn’s LE REVE – THE DREAM.
Now comes a clash with two human body exhibitions. Bodies? Yes! Just as “Bodies: The Exhibition” from Premiere Exhibitions celebrates its eighth anniversary at The Luxor this month comes “Real Bodies” by Imagine Exhibitions at Bally’s. Execs admit the two shows will compete, but the one at Bally’s reports a different setup, cultures and sensory elements for an immersive experience.
Bally’s says it has more than double the number of bodies than the rival show. The exhibit displays more than 20 human bodies and more than 200 anatomical specimens to connect audiences to what it means to be alive. It explores the human body through physiology, emotion and culture. Las Vegas artists also have been recruited to present the human body’s systems in an art gallery.
My pal Imagine President Tom Zaller, who has presented Strip exhibitions for 16 years including the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit at The Venetian, says: “It’s a journey that allows visitors to explore who they are, where they come from and what they choose to do with the life and body they have been given. We’ve brought to life something that is powerful and provocative. Whether or not a visitor is spiritual, they will wind up with a sense of greater connection.”
And, yes, the human bodies are real and well preserved in both exhibits. To celebrate its eighth anniversary at The Luxor, “Bodies” has priced its tickets at $18.88 through Aug. 15.
400 HORROR HUMANS WANTED
Fright Dome, set to take over Circus Circus’ Adventuredome again in October for its annual Halloween horrors show, will grow even larger this year. Owner Jason Egan is already promising four all-new scare zones and six new haunted houses.
Recognized by USA Today and The Travel Channel as one of the Top 10 U.S. Halloween attractions, Fright Dome will need more than 400 entertainers and actors to work as guides and performers for the 14th anniversary year.
Jason is hiring and will screen the first applicants on the weekends of Aug. 19 and 20 and 26 and 27 and wrap the process Sept. 10 all at Skyrise tower in Circus Circus.
ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY
It’s an amazing milestone: the 10,000th performance of Blue Man Group is Aug. 19 marking more than 16 years of shows on the Strip. The performance will benefit Homeless Youth Center.
The Luxor and Blue Man Group will turn over proceeds of the $10 specially priced tickets to purchase musical instruments for HELP’s homeless youth center to help inspire potential Blue Men.
COOKING WITH KIX
I never knew that Caesars Palace headliner Kix Brooks was as comfortable in the kitchen as he is partnered with Ronnie Dunn and Reba McEntire in their Colosseum residency. On Sunday, he’ll appear on QVC’s IN THE KITCHEN to demonstrate recipes from his “Cookin’ It With Kix” outdoor cookbook to be published Aug. 30.
The cookbook has more than 100 family recipes, many with the flair of his Louisiana heritage of hot sauces and outdoor meals, plus his favorites of duck gumbo and beignets. Kix also is the co-owner of Nashville’s award-winning winery Arrington Vineyards.
SOUTHERN FOOD TO SINGAPORE
Executives at Sheldon Adelson’s The Venetian and perhaps the tycoon himself must have fallen in love with the James Beard Foundation Award-nominated Yardbird Southern Table & Bar that prides itself on its fried chicken, shrimp and grits and buttermilk biscuits. The Venetian location was 50 Eggs Inc.’s second in 2015 after the flagship opened in Miami Beach in 2012.
Now they are giving it the first international venue at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore next year. Guests in Singapore will get their first taste next week when Yardbird previews its offerings at the Asian hotel’s Epicurean Market.
TONIGHT IN L.V.
“Forever Young” rocker Rod Stewart returns to the Colosseum to resume his Caesars residency. In addition to him singing “Maggie May” and “Hot Legs,” you’ll see him kicking soccer balls from the stage up into the balconies. Now in his 70s, Rod is still the guy with all the luck!
Former NHL players Murray Craven and Rob Esche lead the Storm Youth Hockey team onto the freshly installed ice at T-Mobile Arena. The home of the newest NHL team lets the youth group lace up their slates and take to the ice, all proof that our expansion team will have a perfect facility next fall.
TOMORROW IN L.V.
Our Chef’s Week salute continues with two more guest columnists, and we turn a spotlight on a group of Anthem Village residents who have pooled their savings to invest in a new business to help young musicians find stardom with the help of Hollywood producers. Tune Go was the dream project of the late Michael Jackson’s adviser, Jack Wishna, who also died, but his neighbors have kept his dream alive.
