Pink!
MGM Grand Garden Arena tonight!
Whoo-hoo!
Guess where I’ll be tonight in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas: Tropicana Resort to host LGBTQ Saturday pool party – XPOSED!
The Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas has announced a new weekly event – Xposed! – which will be the only Saturday pool party on the Strip catering specifically to the LGBTQ community. Via press release:
“We are a strong advocate for the LGBTQ community,” said Fred Harmon, chief marketing officer for The New Tropicana Las Vegas. “Xposed! is the next phase in our property’s LGBTQ initiatives and we look forward to providing the ultimate Las Vegas day club for LGBTQ travelers.”
Xposed! will be hosted at the all-new Tropicana Beach Club, where guests will enjoy a breathtaking pool area complete with waterfalls, palm trees and luxury daybeds and cabanas.
This tropical oasis will welcome sun-kissed go-go dancers, celebrity guest performers and DJs spinning all the latest hits.
Other highlights include two Olympic-sized sand volleyball courts, two heated pools, a high-rise stage for live entertainment and an exclusive menu featuring handcrafted cocktails and light bites, making it the ideal location for an afternoon of fun in the sun.
Also coming to the Tropicana in 2014 is a resident company of the hit musical MAMMA MIA this spring.
For more info about Xposed! at The New Tropicana Resort, head over to XposedLV.com.
Review: Britney Spears opens in Las Vegas
I had the chance to see the highly anticipated opening of Britney Spears’ “Piece Of Me” at Planet Hollywood here in Las Vegas. A few thoughts based on my thirty years in entertainment:
• Her dancers are very good.
• When a review begins with praise for the dancers, not the star – well, you do the math…
• How is her singing? She sounds JUST like the records. And you know what I mean when I say that.
• The choreography is good, but the choreographers clearly watched rehearsals from the center of the audience only. Warning – if you plan on seeing the show, make sure your seats are dead center. If you’re on the sides of the audience, you get left out. Britney rarely addresses house left or right.
• To be perfectly frank, Britney is an attractive girl. But considering how much dancing she’s been given to do alongside her dancers, she pales in comparison. She doesn’t hold her own. The choreographers didn’t do her any favors by putting her in that position. She moves well; but having her attempt to keep up with A-list dancers doesn’t work. Or put another way – she needs to work harder to keep up. And right now, she’s not doing that.
• The costumes are interesting but seem like re-hashed or discarded Madonna tour ideas. It’s not clear why or what the reasoning is behind what the dancers are wearing other than “it looks cool.”
• The lighting and video screens are utilized well. Some creative things are done incorporating the lights, scenic and techno elements. It’s not necessarily a coherent thread from beginning to end, but there are some visually interesting things going on.
I’d give credit to the creative team but a full list of those names aren’t readily available to folks like me. No programs were handed out, and nothing on a website that I’ve seen. A search of the internet reveals that Antony Ginandjar is one of the co-choreographers. There may be another choreographer, but I got tired of googling the internet. Note to producers – you’re paying what you surely feel is a credible creative team for what should be a world-class production. Show some pride in hiring those folks and list there names somewhere.
In the end, if you are a big Britney fan – you’ll enjoy.
If you are looking for the intersection of creativity, talent and star power, I suggest a cocktail before you enter the theater at Planet Hollywood.
UPDATE: More detailed than my thoughts above, it seems the New York Times and I agree on just about everything. Check out the review there.
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| Via Twitter |
Las Vegas: “The event that shall remain nameless”
I took my brother, Gary (who’s visiting for the holidays) to “an event that has to remain nameless until it opens officially tonight” at Planet Hollywood last night.
Was fun to be at “the event” with my brother, Michael and friends. Kind of chaotic, but you expect that during the holidays in Vegas.
Check back later for my thoughts on “the event that shall remain nameless” later tonight, once the embargo is lifted.
Las Vegas: Free holiday concert today at The LGBT Center
The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus presents a repeat performance of their 2013 Holiday Concert Baby, It’s Cold Outside this Sunday for free at The Center.
Sunday, December 15 • 6-8PM
401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas NV 89101
Donations are accepted.
Las Vegas: INSTAGLAM fund raising event for The Center tonight!
Get out tonight for InstaGLAM – A night of holiday shopping, cocktails, food and fun, benefitting The Center.
This fabulous fashion-forward event will take place at The Market LV, located in Tivoli Village (above Brio Tuscan Grille.)
Your ticket includes two cocktail tickets, samples from The Crepe, hors d’oeuvres, sweet treats from CupKates by Kate and plenty of entertainment!
Tickets are $35 (+ processing fee) in advance or $40 at the door (cash only.)
Each guest also receives a raffle ticket, with great prizes including gifts from The Market LV retailers, Zappos gift cards, show tickets and more! Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase and all raffle money goes directly to The Center.
The Market LV retailers will also be donating a portion of their sales for that evening to The Center.
Click here for to buy tickets to attend this cool holiday event that will benefit The Gay and Lesbian Center of
Grammy Award winner Jon Secada may be heading to a residency at The Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas
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| Grammy Award winner Jon Secada with Michael Caprio at Chippendales in Las Vegas |
My husband Michael featured on the homepage of the Las Vegas Sun today with his (shirtless) client, Grammy Award-winner Jon Secada.
Rumors are flying that Secada will be taking up a long term residency at The Wynn Resort in the very near future. Yay!
The pic above was taken not too long ago when Jon visited the Chippendales at the Rio Hotel and Casino and came out on stage in the signature “cuffs & collar” as a surprise for his wife who was in the audience.
Jon looks preeeeeetty amazing, no?
Attending the world premiere of “Homefront” at Planet Hollywood
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| Marquee for world premiere of “Homefront” at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas |
Last night I tagged along with Michael as he escorted Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis (of Chippendales and the Amazing Race) to the world premiere of the new film “Homefront” starring Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder and Kate Bosworth, written by Sylvester Stallone.
I’ve attended only a couple of premieres before, and this was a TERRIFIC first class event. All four of the movies’ stars attended the premiere, and the crowd was electric seeing their favorites. Planet Hollywood knows how to handle a premiere!
There was a VIP cocktail event (food, wine, what’s not to like?) which served as a “holding area” for the celebs attending before they headed down an escalator to walk through a sea of fans to the red carpet.
As we entered the theater, we grabbed some wine and popcorn made available to the guests and settled in for the adventure. The audience had a great time taking the ride of “Homefront” and so did I. A premiere audience is always so good. They WANT to have a good time. And we did!
You can check out the trailer at the end of this post.
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| Yep – you have to have tickets to a premiere |
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| Jason Statham at the VIP cocktail event before the Red Carpet for the premiere |
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| The film’s stars Jason Statham, Kate Bosworth, James Franco and Winona Ryder play some blackjack at VIP cocktail event before the red carpet begins (photo: Eric Charbonneau) |
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| Las Vegas headliners Jaymes Vaughan, Holly Madison, Veronic and James Davis at the VIP cocktail event before the red carpet. (photo: Denise Truscello) |
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| Holly Madison heads down to the Red Carpet |
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| “Homefront” stars James Franco and Jason Statham (photo via Robin Leach) |
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| Jason Statham on the red carpet for “Homefront” |
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| James Franco on the red carpet |
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| Jaymes and James of Chippendales on the red carpet for “Homefront” (photo by Scott Harrison) |
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| Jaymes and James of Chippendales with iconic showgirls from Jubilee (photo by Scott Harrison) |
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| The media interviews on the red carpet (photo: Michael Caprio) |
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| Why yes, that IS wine and popcorn for the film. How civilized! |
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| The crowd settles in for the premiere |
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| The cast and creatives are introduced before the film begins (photo via Homefront Facebook page) |
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| Michael and I as the lights go down |
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| I enjoyed the film. Quite the adventure. I recommend it. |
Las Vegas: First ever Trans Pride Week begins November 20th
This week, Las Vegas will play host to the inaugural Trans Pride Week – five days of events and activities designed to bring awareness and pride to the local transgender community between Nov. 20 – 24.
Spearheaded by The Center, Gender Justice Nevada, Mary Magdalene Friends UCC, Northwest Community Church and Get EQUAL Nevada, anyone within the LGBTQ and allied communities are encouraged to take part in this historic occasion.
Marginalized, victimized and dehumanized, transgender individuals all over the world, including right here in Las Vegas, face unspeakable degradation on a daily basis. Unfortunately, localized data for our transgender community does not exist. However, according to the most recent National Transgender Discrimination Survey compiled by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, transgender individuals are steeped in a number of atrocities:
- Compared to the general population, transgender individuals are four times more likely to have a household income of less than $10,000 per year
- A staggering 41% of the transgender population report attempting suicide
- Due to anti-trans bias, 55% of transgender individuals have lost a job
- 64% of the transgender population has experienced sexual assault
- Transgender youth in grades K-12 report alarming rates of harassment (78%), physical assault (35%) and sexual violence (12%)
- Trans people of color are confronted with a devastating combination of anti-transgender bias and persistent, structural racism
For a list of events – beginning Wednesday, November 20th – head over to The Center’s official website.
(via press release)
Today in Las Vegas – The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus in concert
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| Click the graphic to enlarge |
Join the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus for a terrific afternoon of music – standards and Broadway Showtunes with special guest Joan Soebel of “Phantom, the Las Vegas Spectacular.”
Sunday, November 17, 2013 – 2:00 p.m.
(doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Starbright Theater – (Summerlin)
2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89134
$10 Sun City Residents
$12 Non-Residents (general public)
Tickets available at all Sun City Summerlin locations
or call (702) 255-0695
(Nevada Arts Council)