Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Knights hit the Palms for one final toast
MARK HOPPUS of Blink-182 spoke for the collective on Friday night. The bassist and singer for the renowned punk band announced the Vegas Golden Knights were in the house at Pearl Concert Theater.
In true punk fashion, Hoppus shouted, “First (expletive) year! In the Stanley Cup Final! Congratulations! They are my team now! And no one can say I’m a bandwagoner because it’s the first year!”
A roar went up. So much for flying under the radar.
The 2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights convened for possibly the last time this season at the Palms on Friday night. The team celebrated the “three stars” of the resort: Dinner at the new Scotch 80 Prime, the Blink-182 show at Pearl and a late-night hang at the 55thfloor Apex Social Club.
The guys hung with Palms General Manager Jon Gray,
one of the team’s avid, high-profile fans, who toasted the squad in the Scotch 80 private dining room.
The team dined on dishes served by well-known Las Vegas Chef Barry Dakake. They toasted from a 15-liter bottle of Moet & Chandon, its label a customized Golden Knights logo. The VGK stalwarts who kicked it up: Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Marchessault, Deryk Engelland, Jon Merrill, Shea Theodore, Ryan Reaves, James Neal, Malcolm Subban, Alex Tuch, David Perron, Reilly Smith, Cody Eakin, Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, Tomas Nosek, Brayden McNabb, Will Carrier, Nate Schmidt and Erik Haula.
The team threw back shots of Fire Water cinnamon schnapps and enjoyed a variety of cocktails. Station Casinos co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta swung by to congratulate the players. After the soldout concert, the crew headed upstairs and closed the night at Apex Social Club, the lofty nightspot that recently opened as a replacement for Ghostbar.
The Golden Knights were happy to chat with well-wishers and pose for photos throughout the night.
Having traveled to see the team play five playoff road games, Gray had befriended a few of the Golden Knights during their groundbreaking season, which ended Thursday with a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
Engelland, who had dined at Scotch 80 Prime with his wife, Melissa, texted Gray on Friday morning and said, “The boys want to come in for dinner. Can you have us?”
That’s all the
Palms’ brass needed to hear.
The party ensued from there. Gray is in his second tour at the Palms, and was a key adviser to original owner George Maloof in the hotel’s mid-2000s heyday. He returned in March 2017 as the general manager under the Station Casinos hierarchy.
Over the years, the stylish and savvy Gray and his team have orchestrated many celeb parties and events. But Friday was really something special.
“I’ve seen a lot at this hotel,” Gray said. “But this might be my favorite night ever at the Palms.”
The one not there …
Oddly, VGK fan fave William Karlsson was not at the team toast at Palms. He was celebrating a friend’s birthday at XS Nightclub, taking in a performance by resident DJ Alesso. Earlier, Karlsson’s party was at Afrojack’s DJ set at Encore Beach Club.
Also in the mix at XS were singer-songwriters Austin Mahone and Pia Mia.
‘Hamilton’ muffled
Saturday’s matinee performance of “Hamilton” at The Smith Center stalled for about 15 minutes because of sound issues. The problem surfaced during Act 2, with the venue’s sound system cutting out. The King George character, portrayed by Jon Patrick Walker, made the announcement that the show would resume.
Junefest blown out
The outdoor rock festival Junefest scheduled for Saturday night at Sunset Station Amphitheater was wiped out because of high winds. Ticket holders can obtain refunds at the point of purchase. Sponsored by KKLZ 96.3 FM, the event’s co-headliners were to be Rick Springfield, Starship with Mickey Thomas, and Terri Nunn and Berlin.
Dwellers in the Cellar
Comedy Cellar at Rio is becoming a drop-in haven. Jeff Ross and Dave Attell ducked in for a 35-minute set Friday night. The two were co-headlining in Aces of Comedy at The Mirage this weekend.
NHL and ‘Absinthe’
Former NHL star Colby Armstrong and his wife, Mel Armstrong, hosted three of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team tragedy survivors at the 10 p.m. Friday performance of “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace. Nick Shumlanski, Brayden Camrud and Tyler Smith were the guests.
In a nine-year career, Armstrong played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Thrashers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. These days he’s an analyst for Penguins broadcasts.