Some masks mandatory as Westgate reopens
VOWING to be at once the safest and brightest resort in the city, Westgate Las Vegas will reopen at noon June 18.
The iconic property, which opened as the International in July 1969, is offering designed “mask-required” tables over half of its casino floor. The hotel is also offering mask-required elevators.
Resort owner David Siegel, COO Mark Waltrip and General Manager Cami Christensen are accepting a possible financial shortfall by setting up several mask-mandatory tables. In the early stage of COVID-19 reopenings, casino customers have not shown a widespread appreciation for face covers and might bolt from the casino to play elsewhere.
But Siegel made it clear he wants guests to feel confident in returning to the property. Asked in a text Thursday afternoon how he felt about welcoming guests back, he said, “We will be the safest resort in Vegas!” The extensive Westgate Cares safety protocols are on the hotel’s official website.
Christensen, who has been with the property since 2001, said in a statement, “We are so excited to welcome back our team members and guests, and provide them with a safe environment.”
Westgate employees are required to wear masks, too. But because guests can’t tell what these people look like, exactly, all the staffers are wearing portraits of themselves smiling — beginning with the GM, who wears a Las Vegas Raiders mask.
The most detectable upgrades across Westgate as the hotel reopens are at its famous Superbook. The entire 240-by-20 foot, 4,488-square foot HD video layout is being swapped out. The screens are said to be 25-percent brighter.
Evidently, it’s possible to make those screens even brighter. But such a move is seen as optic overkill. The ticker at the bottom of those screens is bigger, too.
Westgate is also revamping the former Sid’s Cafe space, which is boarded up and is to be a new restaurant concept. The wedding chapel, most retail shops, pool, food court, Fortuna coffee annex, Superbook bar, and ibar at the hotel’s main entrance are among the amenities reopening. Valet service will not yet resume.
The Westgate Cabaret lineup of comic George Wallace, Jennifer Romas’ “Sexxy” adult revue, and magician Jen Kramer are on hold pending the state’s Phase Three directives for ticketed entertainment. The ibar stage will present live performers on weekend nights, and also on the night of the reopening.
On that day, guests can sign a temporary wall in the lobby to mark the hotel’s reopening. That’s next to the big heart Christensen had placed at the entrance, where she and a few staffers wrote the names of all 2,200 employees sidelined by the COVID-19 shutdown.
And, the topper: The hotel’s canine mascot, Sir Winston of Westgate, is set to arrive in one of the hotel’s limos. Sir Winston’s marketing blitz is said to be one of the hotel’s … pet projects.
Return of the good man
Oscar’s Steakhouse will reopen at the Plaza on June 18, but Oscar Goodman is waiting until his 81st birthday (which is July 26) to return to his namesake restaurant.
“It’s going to be big, and it’s going to be crowded,” Goodman said in a phone chat Thursday afternoon. “I’ve been getting calls from everyone — old Raiders, old mobsters — and it’s going to be a party.” We count on a healthy return.
He is Lucky
O’sheas, Irish-themed tavern, gambling pit and beer-pong center, will reopen Friday. This means the happy return of Brian Thomas as Lucky the Leprechaun. Thomas took that role in 2005, at the since-shuttered O’sheas next to where the tavern sits today. That place closed in 2013, returning to its current location, and the green-jacketed Lucky lives on.
A favorite Vegas memory: I once led a video project centered on a day with Thomas at the original O’sheas. The clip ended with him walking down the casino’s service alley and kicking up his heels. That alley was later renovated as Linq Promenade, where Thomas works today.
Cool Hang Alert
This is a Cool Hang, for real. Trapeze Las Vegas is putting on a circus-styled show from 7-8 p.m. Friday at its Trapeze Las Vegas Circus Lot at 121. E. Sunset Road. Find all the apparatus south of the former Las Vegas All-america Sports Park building and east of Las Vegas Golf Center.
When the COVID-19 shutdown was ordered, the school was forced to move its training space outside to allow for safe distancing.
A total of 20 performers, ages 9 and up, from the Trapeze Las Vegas gymnastic school are taking part. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Acts include flying trapeze, juggling, hand balancing, partner acrobatics, aerial performances and the Wheel of Death.
This event is BYOB (Bring Your Own Buick). Spectators are asked to bring their own chairs and sit in marked circles so families can hang at a six-foot distance.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His Podkats! podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/ podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram.
As of 9 p.m. Thursday:
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A man robbed the main cage at New York-new York on Thursday morning before being apprehended less than two hours later.
2. State official: No
‘second wave’ yet in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations
Despite increases in hospitalizations and cases in Nevada this week, public health officials are not yet seeing evidence of a “second wave” of the coronavirus in the state, a state official said Thursday. 3.Numberofnew COVID-19 cases surges in Nevada, Clark County
The numbers of new COVID-19 cases in Clark County and the state spiked Tuesday to their highest levels in 2½ weeks.
4. Raiders give Las Vegas fans up-close chance to watch informal practice
Quarterback Derek
Carr and about two dozen of his Las Vegas Raiders teammates ran through plays Wednesday at a Southern Highlands park, with a small group of Silver and Black fans taking in the action.
5. Fiore stands by comments, but apologizes to anyone who was offended
Facing a growing backlash over “racially charged” comments she made during a Republican convention,
Las Vegas Councilwoman Michele Fiore on Thursday apologized to anyone she offended but said her remarks were being portrayed inaccurately and out of context.
As of 9 p.m. Thursday:
1. Raiders get into action at local park
Team members of the Las Vegas Raiders gathered to practice and run a few plays at a local park.
2. Las Vegas Raiders install the first seats at Allegiant Stadium
The first six seats were put into place last week at Allegiant Stadium in a surprise unveiling for the Diaz family, who hold season tickets.
3. Restaurants add COVID-19 surcharge
Some Strip restaurants are adding a COVID-19 surcharge to their bills.