Red Carpet Report: Steve Wynn’s crystal lagoons; award for Jim Murren
We’re learning more about the waterpark Steve Wynn is bringing here as he turns his 38-acre golf course at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore into a Caribbean-like bay with sand and clear blue water for swimming, sunning, waterskiing, paddle boarding and paragliding.
“This is the most fun project I’ve had in my 45 years,” says Steve. Here are YouTube videos of Crystal Lagoons in The Bahamas. Crystal Lagoons has some 300 lagoons built or in development in more than 50 countries, 15 of which are in the U.S.
The largest lagoon is a 90-acre site under construction in Dubai. Steve plans a 1,000-room hotel tower, super-suite accommodations, nightclub and entertainment complex as part of his 38-acre development with nightly fireworks. It’s the company’s largest lake facility in America.
Crystal Lagoons says that it will use 30 times less water than Steve’s golf course. He promises that the buildings will have the same color schemes of dark ginger brown as Wynn and Encore. It will stretch along a 1-mile perimeter promenade and feature an island in the lagoon’s center.
Steve believes that by bringing the shores of Hawaii, The Caribbean and Mexico here, he’ll reinvent our city again and attract tourists who vacation in seaside destinations. If construction is on schedule, it will be open for business by the end of 2020 or early 2021.
‘POWER OF LOVE’ COUNTDOWN
The 21st Annual “Power of Love Gala” that benefits our Keep Memory Alive funding arm of The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is set to honor billionaire businessman Ronald O. Perelman, tennis champion Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf and Siegfried Fischbacher of Siegfried & Roy on April 27 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Siegfried will be presented with the first Caregiver Award. Gala performers include Gwen Stefani and Jon Bon Jovi, and Jamie Lynn Sigler and Cutter Dykstra, Steve Schirripa, Steve Aoki, Irving Azoff, Steve Wynn, Steven Lagos and KMA founders Camille and Larry Ruvo are set for the red carpet.
Chef Wolfgang Puck, who is receiving a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame the previous day, is flying in with Chef Michael Mina to craft the one-of-a- kind dinner for the expected 1,800 guests.
SUNDAY NIGHT FUN
I have a perfect solution for late-night Sunday fun. Miami native Genise Ruidiaz, who began her career here with “The Beatles Love” by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage, went on to dance with such Las Vegas stars as Jennifer Lopez, Wayne Brady and Nicki Minaj.
Genise returned to Las Vegas as an original cast member of “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” at Encore Theater at Wynn. When he closed the show in December, she decided to create her own show, and now she’s launched “Reverie” at Indigo Lounge at Bally’s on Sunday nights.
She has skilled dancers with beautiful bodies for dance moves to jazz, rock, blues, pop and R&B, plus sensational sounds of vocalist Maren Wade, who recently starred in “50 Shades! The Parody” upstairs at Windows Showroom. Maren and the dance troupe work the room hopping on tables and bar tops in their choreographed routines.
CULINARY EXCLUSIVE
Brothers David Morton and Michael Morton have named Patrick Munster the executive chef of their much-anticipated new restaurant, MB Steak. His experience includes 10 years with SW Steakhouse at Wynn, where he was chef de cuisine.
Patrick is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Michael and David say that he is a fantastic addition to their team. MB Steak opens in mid-May at The Hard Rock Hotel.
WOODROW WILSON AWARD
MGM Resorts International chieftain Jim Murren is to receive The Woodrow Wilson Award for public service and corporate citizenship in a ceremony next month in Washington, D.C. Sheldon and Miriam Adelson of The Venetian and The Palazzo received the award in 2008. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is part of The Smithsonian.
YOUR MENTOR IS …
Country singer and former Caesars Palace headliner Shania Twain has been tapped as a key adviser on NBC’s “The Voice.” Shania will mentor the finalists on the April 24 show, and I’m guessing that since she didn’t debut her new single at the 2017 Academy of Country Music Awards here at T-Mobile Arena, she could do so on the popular singing competition.
NEVADA’S MISS AMERICA PAGEANT
The state pageant to determine which crowned queen goes to September’s Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City has been set for June 16 at Tropicana Theater. 2016 Miss Nevada Bailey Gumm will relinquish her crown to her successor.
DUELING PIANOS & TWINS
The only all-female and identical-twin dueling pianos show in the world has set up shop with Kimberley and Tamara Pinegar at Piano Bar at Harrah’s. Along with Big Elvis and The Saxman Duo, guests now have 12 hours of free daily entertainment. Harrah’s headliners The Righteous Brothers, Ralphie May and Tenors of Rock stopped by on opening day.