Ghostbar gets new life at The Palms
TKats! Bureau at this writing is Lucky Penny at the Palms, where the jackhammers and power tools are running full tilt in the hotel’s $485 million renovations.
Nearby, a wall is up, Pink Floyd-style. It’s like a giant maze in here, and I cannot find my way around a hotel I’ve visited regularly since it opened in November 2001. I’m so confused I just asked if my buddy J.O.D. has started his shift at N9NE Steakhouse yet.
An inside reference, but if you get it, pretty funny.
The latest news out of the Palms is Clique Hospitality projects Apex Social Club and Camden Cocktail Lounge will open in May. Apex takes over the old Ghostbar space on the 55th floor. Camden Cocktail Lounge will be where the open bar Social was located.
The new lounge should remind of Clique at The Cosmopolitan, with that company’s founder Andy Masi heading up the effort along with partners and Vegas nightlife vets Ryan Labbe and Jason “Jroc” Craig. At the top of all this activity is Palms General Manager Jon Gray, who said in a statement, “As we redevelop Palms from top to bottom, including our most iconic space, it only makes sense to partner with nightlife leaders Clique Hospitality to help bring this vision to life.”
Stones rolling
“Exhibitionism,” the Rolling Stones’ extensive memorabilia display at The Palazzo, was set to close Jan. 31 but has been extended through Feb. 25. It’s worth a visit. Even non-fans will find fascinating the Stones’ trek through time.
Sadly, hopes that the band would visit the Strip to promote “Exhibitionism” have not been realized. There are no plans for Mick and the guys to check out such great installations as the recreations of the band’s flats from London in 1962. “Lived in” doesn’t begin to cover it.
Daltrey to The Joint
On the topic of the British Invasion on the Strip ….
Roger Daltrey’s run at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, set for March 7 and 10, reminds that there are still no shows booked in Las Vegas for the band he fronts — The Who.
Daltrey and fellow Who founder Pete Townshend have been reviewing options for return dates at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace this year. Nothing has been agreed upon in the complex circuitry of the musicians’ scheduling commitments. It seems unlikely, with no dates on the schedule, that The Who will perform on the Strip this year.
Daltrey’s performances are promoted by AEG Presents, which also brought The Who to the Colosseum. The Who have inspired fellow rock legends to seriously consider these extended engagements in Strip theaters. It’s no accident that Aerosmith, for example, was lured to The Park Theater after The Who headlined at the Colosseum.
Bono rocks it!
We speak, of course, of Dennis Bono, who has extended his contract to host his weekly talk show from South Point Showroom through this year. “The Dennis Bono Show” is taped at 2 p.m. Thursdays, no cover (and the room is always filled with Bono’s value-conscious fans).
Bono’s traditionally formatted chat show, which has featured such entertainment luminaries as Tony Orlando, Steve Lawrence and Crystal Gayle along with just about every headliner on the Strip, premiered in 2000 under a six-week deal at Sunset Station. The show moved to Sam’s Town in 2005, then to South Point five years later.
Bono’s show reaches 191 cites on the CRN Cable Television. The audio feed is presented on Channel 951 on Cox Cable at 6 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. The radio version airs no 104.7 KJUL-FM at 7 p.m. Sundays. Bono has fashioned a smooth relationship with South Point owner Michael Gaughan and hotel Entertainment Director Michael Libonati, saying he’d agree to a handshake deal with these boys if need be.
Who Was Where
New York Rangers teammates Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash, Jimmy Vesey and Brady Skjei on Sunday night at XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas. Reportedly they were joined by a collection of men in suits, identified as team execs, and Grey Goose with Red Bull and Coors Light, evidently the beverages of choice for a team that just lost 2-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-mobile Arena.
The place was packed and Marshmello manned the decks, overseeing every shift change …
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him atjkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Monday:
1. Judge in Las Vegas dismisses case against Cliven Bundy, 2 sons
A federal judge dismissed felony conspiracy and weapons charges Monday against Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy, two of his sons and an independent militia member.
2. Man apparently commits suicide at Las Vegas airport garage
Las Vegas police are investigating an apparent suicide at Mccarran International Airport.
3. Mandalay Bay staff interacted with Las Vegas shooter more than 10 times in days before Oct. 1
Mandalay Bay hotel staff had more than 10 interactions with Stephen Paddock in the days leading up to his Oct. 1 massacre of 58 people on the Strip, including two on the day of the shooting, MGM Resorts International said Friday.
4. Official says Vegas Strong Fund won’t be cutting any more checks
A Vegas Strong Fund official said Monday that no more checks would be issued to victims of the Oct. 1 shooting, but half of all money raised by the charity would be donated to a separate nonprofit, the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund.
5. Mandalay Bay elevators once again stopping at 32nd floor
Elevators at Mandalay Bay are again stopping at the 32nd floor after a pause at the end of last year. As of 9 p.m. Monday:
1. ‘Pawn Stars’ hits No. 500
“Pawn Stars,” which debuted in June 2009, marks its 500th show this month.
2. Lucky Dragon closes gaming and restaurants until further notice
A statement from officials Thursday said, “Effective immediately Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino is beginning the process of repositioning and, in doing so, will have a reduction in staff while it temporarily closes all gaming and restaurant operations.”
3. Las Vegas shooting survivor learning to walk again
Katrina Hannah was at the Route 91 festival for a friend’s bachelorette party.