Casino entertainment
Next week's entertainment at Southern California casinos is jam-packed with big names in rock 'n' roll. Casino patrons can expect a '70s band known for blending power ballads, guitar solos and synthesizers, two '80s bands sharing a stage, one of Latin America's most prolific and a few pop acts, too. Be sure to check the official websites for the latest event information.
Juanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez, known professionally as
Juanes, began his career in Medellín, Colombia, as a member of the heavy metal band Ekhymosis. Vásquez would later form his Grammy Award-winning solo project, Juanes, known for hits such as “A Dios le Pido,” “La Camisa Negra” and “Besos En Guerra.” Though the Colombian musician cites rock and metal acts like Metallica as his influences, he's also spoken about his love of other genres. Last year, Juanes played guitar melodies as he performed “Baby Hello” with Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Rauw Alejandro at the Latin Grammys.
8p.m. Wednesday, Yaamava' Resort & Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd., Highland. $75-$265, 21or older. 909864-5050, yaamava.com. Pablo Alborán
The Spanish singer and songwriter is known for melding Latin pop and flamenco-style acoustic guitars. His style can best be summarized with songs such as “Saturno,” “Solamente Tú” and “Quién.” Alborán's “La Cuarta Hoja” was nominated for best Latin pop album at this year's Grammy Awards, and for album of the year and best pop vocal album at the Latin Grammys. The album included Argentine singer María Becerra, Mexican singer Carin León and other guests.
8 p.m. Feb. 23, Spotlight 29 Casino, 46-200Harrison Place, Coachella. $35-$90. 760-775-5566, spotlight29.com. Styx
The Chicago-based rock band just wrapped up a residency at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and is making its way to Southern California's casinos. The band's most recent albums, “Crash of the Crown” and “The Mission,” were produced by Will Evankovich, the group's newest guitar and mandolin player. This tour will include songs from the new albums along with classics like “Boats on the River,” “Mr. Roboto” and “Come Sail Away.”
8p.m. Feb. 24, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, 32250Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. $75-$200, 800514-3849. aguacalientecasinos.com. Also 7:30p.m. Feb. 25, Pechanga Resort Casino, 45000Pechanga Parkway, Temecula. Tickets start at $81. 877-711-2946, pechanga.com. Extreme, Living Colour
Extreme was one of the most successful metal/hard rock bands to come out of the '90s, and its music has been featured in “Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure” and more recently in the opening of the fourth season of “Stranger Things.” The band is on tour supporting its latest studio album, “Six,” which was released in June. Also on the bill is Grammy-winning group Living Colour. The rock band's single “Cult of Personality” and its heavily played video led to mainstream success in the late '80s.
8p.m. Feb. 24, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. $49-$99. 800-827-2946, fantasyspringsresort.com. The Wynners
The pop group consisting of Alan Tam, Kenny Bee, Bennett Pang, Danny Yip and Anthony Chan is on its farewell tour. The Hong Kong-based group formed in the '70s and was the first act to perform at the Hong Kong Coliseum. In their early days, The Wynners mainly performed songs in English and covered hits from The Beatles. They later released their own Cantonese music and laid the groundwork for Cantopop.
8p.m. Feb. 24, Pechanga Resort Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula. $98-$338. 877711-2946, pechanga.com.
— Charlie Vargas
CicLAvia is once again closing streets to cars and opening them to cyclists and pedestrians as it launches its season starting Feb. 25.
And after strolling or biking on carless roads, participants can throw back a cold one, too, because CicLAvia has teamed with a local brewery to create its own beer for the season.
“There's nothing better than a beer after a bike ride,” said Andrew Fowler, an avid cyclist and cofounder of Los Angeles Ale Works, which has brewed a beer named “seek-la-VEE-ah”
It's named that for educational purposes.
“The beer's name is the phonetic spelling of our organization. Since it is a made-up word, often people don't know how to pronounce it. So we're hoping getting this beer out in the world will give people more of an idea on how to pronounce the name CicLAvia,” said Rachel Burke, chief program officer for CicLAvia.
Since 2010, the citywide event has closed stretches of streets to traffic and given them over to nonmotorized transportation including bicycles, skateboards, skates and just plain walking. Along the routes, people can expect things like scavenger hunts, street games and cultural hubs.
The season launches with a route on Melrose Avenue between Fairfax and Vermont avenues from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 25. The eight-event season continues through Dec. 8 with Sunday events in areas like Venice, Wilmington, Hollywood, Lincoln
LOS ANGELES ALE WORKS LAUNCH PARTY When:
Where:
Tickets:
CICLAVIA SEASON
Melrose Avenue between Fairfax and Vermont avenues
Along Venice Boulevard through Palms, Mar Vista and Venice
Wilmington, route to be determined South L.A.
along Western Avenue
Meet the Hollywoods: connecting West Hollywood, Hollywood and East Hollywood
Heights, route TBD
Heart of L.A.: through Boyle Heights, Chinatown, downtown and Echo Park
The Valley: Ventura Boulevard through NoHo, Studio City and Sherman Oaks
Heights and the San Fernando Valley.
“We see this as an opportunity to introduce people to new neighborhoods and to introduce neighbors to each other,” Burke said. “We hope people will feel the joy of the city of