LAS VEGAS CONNECTION BY BART TORRES

The Las Vegas Connection Launches Weekly Show!
Exciting news! Beginning this Sunday, January 29, at 7 p.m., I will be launching The Las Vegas Connection, a weekly 30 minute radio show on Highway Vibe. I’ll be bringing listeners an A-list program with “all things Vegas.” This first of a kind radio show that has never existed before, but now it’s at the reach of your finger tips as you tune in. This promises to be a new way to get your Vegas information, inside tips, and the latest news from resorts in a fun and easy way. This week I kick off the show with interviews from National Treasurer Bill Cosby and the sexy singing duo Zowie Bowie. This is the new bench mark of keeping you informed on “all things Vegas.” Become an insider every Sunday night at 7 p.m. on Highway Vibe. You may also keep up with the news on Twitter by logging on to @Bart_Torres.

Chinese New Year  
Today marks the first day of the 15-day festival celebrating the Chinese New Year, Year of the Dragon. Along with many resorts in town having elaborate decorations, fire-eating dragons and the traditional lion dances, one of the biggest displays can be found on January at the Chinatown Plaza, just a short distance from the Strip. The day-long festival will feature entertainment, a variety of cultural food, Chinese folk dancing, retail vendors, tiger drums and lion and dragon dances. If you have never been to the cities Chinatown, you will find it is one of the best nationwide.  
 
Vegas Gearing up for the Big Game
If you were a couch potato for the nail-biting NFL playoffs yesterday then you already know that the teams facing each other in the Super Bowl will be the New England Patriots and the New York Giants on Sunday, February 5. Football fans will be converging upon Vegas like its New Years Eve for the Big Game and the options where to watch all the action are endless. Here is a sampling of where to go to cheer on your favorite team. Gilley’s Saloon, located in Treasure Island will be throwing their Big Game Party on February 5. It’s only $99 for the all you can eat buffet and drinks while watching the live action of the game. The sexy ladies from Bud Light, Jagermeister, Jim Beam and the Gilley Girls will be distributing prizes and giveaways throughout the afternoon. The doors open at noon and the party gets underway at 2 p.m. This is a first come, first serve event giving guests the opportunity to choose their own seats. For tickets, call (702) 894-7371. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will be offering two parties; both get underway at 1 p.m. Blitzed Sports Bar & Lounge offers $5 dogs, & brats, $5 nacho bar, $5 sliders, $5 hero sandwiches, and munchies such as popcorn and chips for $2. A $10 Bloody Mary Bar will also be available. The game will be shown on 23 flat-screen televisions. The other football bash takes over the Joint with a $49 package which includes seating, access to buffet stations and a six-bottle bucket of beer. The live televised action will be projected on a screen atop the concert stage. Over at the Society Café at Wynn’s Encore $95 gets you an all-you-can-eat “Big Game Menu while viewing the games on seven plasma screens. Catch the play-by-play action at Planet Hollywood’s Cabo Wabo Cantina in the Miracle Mile Shops. Priced at a reasonable $55, patrons will enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet. Up the ante to $155 and you will get all-you-can-drink wells and drafts. Buckets of Coors Light are on sale for $20. Giveaways will be awarded each quarter. Cabo Wabo will also be offering a VIP game show, in which all previous Monday Night Football contest winners have a chance to pick the winning team, halftime score and final score and take home an unbelievable $1,000,000! If just the team and halftime bet are correct, $10,000 will be the cash prize. For reservations, call (702) 385-2226. We will include additional Big Game parties in next week’s column.     

Planet Hollywood Adds New Meet & Greet Upgrades to Madison’s Peepshow Production
Holly Madison’s striptease extravaganza PEEPSHOW playing at Planet Hollywood is now offering a new, improved meet & greet upgrade. For an additional $100 per person to the regular ticket price guests will join Holly following her performance for a champagne toast, an autographed photo and a professionally shot picture with the star in a 6x8 souvenir frame. Patrons will also have access to their photos online at no extra charge. PEEPSHOW plays Sunday, Monday and Friday at 9 p.m. and Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The meet & greet upgrade is available after Sunday, Monday and Friday performances and the 10:30 show on Thursday and Saturday. The show is dark Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tickets range from $66 to $101 plus tax. A VIP package goes for $126 plus tax, which includes plush and exclusive front row and center of the stage seating with private bar service and program.     

Venetian Offering Big Game Ticket Offer for Blue Man Group
Good value can be found at The Venetian beginning January 30 through February 6 (dark Sunday, February 5) in honor the 46th anniversary of Super Bowl Sunday. The resort has lowered the price of select seating for tickets to see The Blue Man Group to $46 for the 10 p.m. show. To take advantage of the discounted price, football enthusiasts must wear logoed merchandise for one of the two teams playing and mention code “Game 46” at any box office location inside The Venetian or Palazzo. Taxes and service charges are extra. The Blue Man moves on to the Monte Carlo in the fall of 2012.  

Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Opens at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The need for speed has been answered with the opening of NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett’s Racing Adventure at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Racing packages are priced from $195 giving racers the option of riding shotgun for four laps or getting behind the wheel for 6, 10, 20, 40 or 60 laps around the speedway in a new NASCAR-style race car.  A special 20-lap ride with Jarrett himself is available on select dates. All packages include driver and safety orientation, the use of a fire-retardant racing suit, a full-faced Bell helmet and HANS safety device. While no prior racing experience is necessary, all drivers must be at least 18 years of age. For additional information and to reserve your thrill of a lifetime experience, call (888) GO-RACE-1 or log on to www.racingadventure.com

Fiesta Rancho’s SoBe Ice Arena Offering Free Skating Lessons
In honor of this month’s National Skating Month, on Monday, January 30, from 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., SoBe Ice Arena at Fiesta Rancho is offering a couple of free hours on the ice for all level of skaters wanting to improve their skills. Participants from three years and up are encouraged to take to the ice and possibly win prizes. Free group lessons will be held during the regularly scheduled public skate sessions and no reservations are necessary. Free skates are also included. Public skate is normally $6.50 and skate rental is $3.

Louie Anderson Inviting Military to Free Show During February
Beginning February I and continuing throughout the month is an offer too good to refuse. All active members of the nation’s armed services and up to three friends are invited to see two-time Emmy award stand-up comedian Louie Anderson, headliner at Palace Station and a voucher for the “Beach Party” appetizer platter at the resort’s Cabo Mexican Restaurant for free! Just show your valid military ID and valid state ID at the properties Reward Center on the same night that you wish to see the show. Louie plays at 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays.

The Orleans Welcome Comedian Dana Carvey
Impressionist, actor and comedian Dana Carvey will be at The Orleans Showroom for a two-night engagement, February 3-4 at 8 p.m. The Saturday Night Live favorite who racked up six Emmy Award nominations, and won in 1993 for “Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program” also has a slew of other television and movie credits to his name. Tickets are available beginning at $54.95. For reservations, call (702) 365-7075 or log on to www.orleanscasino.com.

Check with resorts for all current offers published. Hotels have all rights and may cancel or modify at anytime. On your drive up to Vegas tune your radio to The Highway FM 98 & 99 for my up-to-date Las Vegas reports. GOOD LUCK!