VEGAS UNFILTERED

JOHN CAPARULO BRINGS BLUE-COLLAR COMEDY TO VEGAS

The founders of Blue Collar Comedy Tour might want to take a look over their shoulders. Hot on the heels of the legendary troupe is loveable John Caparulo. With his trademark baseball cap, schlubby t-shirt, and boyish good looks, the “Under-dressed Everyman” has been conquering every media outlet from animated series to satellite radio, sitcoms and podcasts to Netflix specials. Now the no-collar funny guy is having a blast with his ongoing residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Currently enjoying a second year at the Strip’s popular hotel-casino, Caparulo has been entertaining Sin City audiences for a very long time. His frequent appearances at South Point Casino were a favorite with locals and visitors for many years. It was only a matter of time before he secured a permanent gig at the heart of the Strip.

The humble Ohio native previously resided in Los Angeles while touring the nation (and the world). As you might imagine, he mines those experiences for comedy gold. Omaha’s freezing climate, the rah-rah patriotism of Texans and the aggravation of airline security measures all wind up in his crosshairs.

John with wife Jamie Marie (left) and Madden Jae….

In recent years, the one-time slacker has gone from “couch potato” to “husband and father”. Never imagining himself in a role of responsibility, John’s awkward transition to maturity and subsequent move to Las Vegas provide some of his funniest material to date.

“Watch out for strange men lurking behind trees….”

Even an outdoor game of hide-and-seek with daughter Madden Jae gets a cringe-inducing reenactment. Hiding behind a tree in a park filled with children, Caparulo quips “Oh, this doesn’t look good”.

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John Caparulo – MAD CAP COMEDY performs nightly at 9:30 pm (dark Tuesdays). It is recommended for mature audiences. Complimentary meet-and-greets take place after every show.

Photos: Sam Novak, John Caparulo

Look! Up In the Air! It’s Davide Zongoli aka ‘AcroDave’!

Sin City’s high-flying aerialist won’t be satisfied until you know his name…

“People think they know who I am…they don’t. ‘AcroDave’ is a character. ‘The Outlaw’ is a character. My name is Davide Zongoli.” So begins my conversation with Sin City’s newest aerialist/acrobat. And it’s one discussion that I won’t soon forget.

Davide may or may not be the “The Abdominal Outlaw”, the flamboyant flying cowboy who sails over the audience in a state of near-total nudity at Venetian’s Atomic Saloon Show. If that statement confuses you, click here to bring yourself up to speed.

As we settled in for drinks at a coffee shop on the city’s west side, I couldn’t help noticing the stares when Davide (pronounced DAH-vee-dah) unzipped his jacket and released his tight, beefy frame from captivity. A barely-there tank top did nothing to hide the Italian hunk’s extraordinary physique.

But even when fully clad, Mr. Zongoli strikes an imposing figure. With his thick flowing hair, carefully-manicured scruff and chiseled cheekbones, he’d turn heads in any environment…even in Las Vegas, where pretty people are “a dime a dozen”.

So what makes Davide Zongoli worthy of a profile article and heaps of praise from his 329,000 followers? Well, that’s an answer many years in the making, built on a foundation of adversity and determination. And everyone loves a success story achieved through hard work.

Prior to being cast in the ATOMIC SALOON SHOW, the acrobat has been caught performing his jaw-dropping acrobatics in circuses across Europe, as master of the aerial pole, and was a 2018 finalist on Spain’s Got Talent. And as if that wasn’t impressive enough, The Abdominal Outlaw is also a swimwear and underwear model with more than 300,000 Instagram followers. If you follow him, you’ll understand how he got his moniker. – Jena Pugh, BestOfVegas.com

Long before Zongoli was the impressive specimen I saw before me on this sunny afternoon, he was a six-year-old boy suffering from scoliosis. As part of his treatment regime, doctors advised him to swim regularly. Taking an active part in his conditioning and therapy was something Davide became fully immersed in, so much so that he became a competitive swimmer until he was sixteen. This established a lifetime of discipline which segued into professional success in the world of dance.

After signing up for ballet, modern and contemporary classes at the urging of his friend, instructor Antonella Mita, the 17-year-old proved to be a natural. Within a year he had a contract to perform in Ivano Festival della Valle d’Itria and appeared in the televised musical “A Voice In The Sun” with popular Italian singer/actor Al Bano. In 2010 he was asked to participate in Leona Lewis‘s first international tour.

Despite demonstrating remarkable talent and aptitude, Davide faced resistance from nearly every direction. School instructors, peers, and even his family made it difficult for him to pursue what he loved (“Boys don’t dance!”). Bullied and pressured, he continued to learn the craft with the support of counterparts in the entertainment field. Zongoli’s parents had hoped for him to achieve a degree in law and initially resisted in supporting him, but eventually, they became strong allies too.

Perhaps it was the fact that dancing allowed him to appear on television with celebrities that won them over. Or touring the world in prestigious productions. Most likely it was the fact that their son was fully committed to being the best in his field. Whatever the reason, Zongoli was making his own rules and succeeding quite wonderfully at them. And he was thrilled that his parents were now attending his performances from Venice to Madrid.

As we were about to discuss his transition from dance to acrobatics, Davide’s phone rang. During the next few moments, I got to witness the qualities that made this performer worthy of being lured to Vegas from overseas. Sure, I’d already seen the stunning things he could do on stage and in the air…but what goes on behind the scenes is just as vital when you’ve reached this level.

It turns out that one of Zongoli’s fellow acrobats had been sidelined from an injury and would be out for a while. Davide was being summoned to the theater to cover that performer’s absence and to rework some transitions. “They want me to come in at three. I told them I’d be there at five. It will only take thirty minutes to fix this and it will be perfect”.

Witnessing his confidence, I fully believed that the evening’s show would be flawless. With all of his experience and previous gigs, situations like this one become routine. Still, I was shocked at his candor with the party on the other end of the line. “That was pretty gutsy” I gushed. Davide just laughed. But what some might view as arrogance is actually earned. “This is why they hire me. I’m good at what I do. I’m a professional and will take care of this. Nobody will realize that someone is missing”.

I asked Davide what the audition process was like for Atomic Saloon Show and once again he chuckled. “I don’t audition for parts. People can see what I do on the internet. It’s all there. If it’s something that I’m interested in, I send a video.”

For many Vegas performers, the genres of acrobatics, dance and competitive sports frequently intersect. This allows them to become more commercially attractive and useful in the field of entertainment. Davide found himself transitioning from traditional dancing into pole dancing, a talent that drew him national attention on Spain’s Got Talent. It’s also a skill that’s highly featured in Atomic Saloon Show.

Wowing the judges in Spain’s Got Talent 2018

As with swimming and dancing, Zongoli quickly took to pole dancing and once again rose to the top. From his bio:

In July 2011, Davide began practicing pole dance with Titty Tamantini (his coach) and within 3 months he had won the Italian National Championship, becoming the country’s first national male Italian pole dance champion. This enabled him to enter other high ranking prestigious competitions where he was a finalist: European Championships, International Pole Championships, World Pole Championships and World Pole Sport Championship.

He again won the Italian Pole Championship in 2012 and in 2013 and on September 29th he won the European Pole Sport Championship 2012 and the Silver Medalist at the 2013 World Pole Sports Championships.

At this point, our conversation bounced around from relationships (he’s single) to recreational activities (all I do is train, eat, work and sometimes go to Piranha), and of course, sexuality. Anyone who follows Zongoli’s Instagram page is aware that he’s a brazen, no-apologies member of the gay community. Then there’s OnlyFans, where he shows just about every asset. His stage character shares that bold sexuality, so I asked Davide if Spiegelworld had any concerns about his personal and social media activities.

“Not at all. They’re supportive of my ideas and they’re great to work with. They allowed me to be myself and even let me add in a kiss with _______ (I won’t spoil the surprise here). It was my idea to bring the nuns into my act, too. People love it and it works great.”

Considering the current, volatile state of live entertainment in Vegas, I wondered if Davide had fears about relocating here for a brand new show. “No. I already spent enough money to stay for a while. I have a car, furniture, an apartment. Five years is the plan. I can always get another job if I needed to, but I love my show and working for Spiegelworld.”

While Davide doesn’t necessarily have intentions of making Las Vegas a permanent home, he’s up for being flexible. “Where I came from, everything is within a few blocks. Your friends are all around you and everything you need is near. Here, you drive drive drive. Everyone knows each other but they’re over here, over there. But, you make plans and life changes them.” So…who knows?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5TKuqK5Tz0

Underwear: Modus Vivendi Photographer: Joan Crisol @joancrisolphoto

Planning and self-awareness are traits that have allowed Zongoli to curate a perfectly polished image known as “AcroDave”. That’s the name he goes by on Instagram. Much more than a public display of selfies, the account represents another facet of his business, one that generates brand association and of course, income.

Davide may not have gotten that law degree, but he would have certainly excelled at marketing. As he explained it, every product, location or photographer he collaborates with is expected to have a similar or greater level of public presence. Every choice is one that can offer growth and a heightened degree of exposure. He’s currently a brand ambassador for both JJ Malibu and Andrew Christian undergarments and is about to launch his own line of clothing.

“I’m not a model. I’m not that tall and not that young. But I know how to look good in pictures.” Every photoshoot takes several days of planning. It’s unusual for a fitness/physique model to have body hair, but Davide said that Atomic Saloon Show wants that look for his character. So when a session is coming up, he’ll trim his body hair a few days beforehand, allowing time for any skin irritation to subside. Then he meticulously grooms and shapes it.

Nothing is left to chance when it comes to a photo shoot. Photographers must enter an agreement to immediately download a copy of each raw photo taken before he’ll leave the studio or location. Then Davide will retouch the final shots after they’ve already been edited by the photographer. “Those photos will be around forever. This won’t be” he says, pointing to a blemish on his bicep. “We get pimples. We have scars that will fade. I want everything to be perfect.”

Perfection is what sets apart the best from the rest. And scars, both emotional and physical, will indeed fade with time. But for performers like Davide Zongoli, who respect their craft and the audience that pays to see them, the impact of their talents will remain long after the final curtain falls.

Photos provided by Davide Zongoli

‘WOW: The Las Vegas Spectacular’ Celebrates Two Years on the Strip

Rio’s water-based variety show sails on a sea of silly fun….

It’s a world of water. A world of whimsy. And most especially, a world of wonder at WOW: The Las Vegas Spectacular. The fantastical international variety production at Rio Hotel Casino is celebrating two successful years with new acts and plenty of excitement and laughter.

The premise of WOW is pretty simple…a shy, awkward fisherman casts his pole into mysterious waters and drifts off to sleep. His fishing line opens the doorway to an undersea kingdom of nymphs, mermaids, pirates, and long-lost souls. Freed from the depths, these spirits dance, sing, fly and celebrate with all forms of acrobatics and aerial magic. With their encouragement, the fisherman discovers his confidence and joins in on the fun.

If the concept of a water-based dream sounds a little like Le Reve, you’re right. But that’s where the similarities end. Unlike the Wynn production’s romantic-triangle storyline, WOW audiences are presented with a free-wheeling assortment of sequences, each built around water. From the romantic canals of Venice to the dangerous shores of the Carribean to the Grand Ballroom aboard Titanic, WOW takes you on an unforgettable adventure through the oceans of time.

Rio’s spacious circular showroom has been outfitted with a powerful sound system and visual effects that are simply stunning. Wide panoramic screens envelop the audience and heighten the central action in a way that’s almost three-dimensional. You’ll feel like you’re zipping across the surface and plunging below the waves.

An actual pool at the center means you might even experience a mild splash or two.

Along with physical feats and plenty of gut-busting comedy, WOW features several Broadway-worthy dance numbers. A musical salute to “Singing in the Rain” drenches the cast in a high-tech downpour where rainfall takes the shape of umbrellas, diamonds, and hearts. With gorgeous choreography and highly-talented performers, this sequence alone is worth the price of admission.

But there are plenty of other reasons to experience WOW. The fun-filled production is….

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WOW: The Las Vegas Spectacular performs Tuesday & Wednesday at 7PM, Thursday – Saturday at 7PM & 9PM, Sundays at 5PM & 7PM. Family-friendly, although no children under 4 will be admitted.

Photos: Sam Novak, WOW – The Las Vegas Spectacular

R.U.N For The Exit – Cirque du Soleil’s Latest is an EPIC DISASTER

Tone-deaf stunt show-cum-blockbuster confuses vulgarity and violence for action…

UPDATE 3/8/20 I just attended the final performance of R.U.N, which was abruptly shuttered. I got the impression that the majority of the audience was comprised of friends and family. The show began about 15 minutes late. There was a lengthy cast/crew onstage farewell and the performers were snapping photographs with each other as the curtain lowered for the final time.

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Despite my absolute dislike for this production, I purchased tickets for third row, center section, to cheer on the performers, who carried no blame for this costly disaster.

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UPDATE 1/7/20 VitalVegas.com has reported that ticket sales for R.U.N have been suspended beyond 4/30/20. It is not known at this time whether the show is being permanently closed or shut down for retooling. But it’s worth noting that all other Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas are currently offering tickets through the end of December 2020. This doesn’t bode well for R.U.N, but then again, the show must NOT go on in its current state of “fiasco”.

If we can applaud entertainment companies for expanding outside of their comfort zone, then we’re surely entitled to speak up when they cross the line. That’s what’s been happening since Cirque du Soleil premiered R.U.N: The First Live Action Thriller at Luxor a few weeks ago. The public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative.

The outcry towards R.U.N has gotten so strong that I was bashed on Twitter for penning an opinion-free article describing the structure and content of the show for a freelance gig:

Just how bad is it when readers DEMAND a negative review? Well…pretty darn bad indeed. R.U.N could have easily fallen into the category of “So awful that you have to see it”. Which is amusing when you consider that those very words described the previous occupant of Luxor’s theater – Criss Angel BeLIEve. That smelly heap of garbage somehow made it through ten long and miserable years (and several major overhauls) before Cirque could bleach away the stench and move forward with their next offering.

But this is what they came up with for their newest show? I couldn’t for the life of me recommend R.U.N to anyone in good conscience…not even an enemy. It’s an ugly, inconsistent, poorly-planned and sloppily-executed mess that lies there like a dead body in a ditch. That is, except when characters are shouting F-bombs, being wheeled through the audience strapped to a torture device, having a syringe of drugs pumped into their arm or suspended over the audience by a metal claw driven into the face.

Yes, those things really happen in a Cirque du Soleil show….and people get up and walk out during these revolting sequences night after night (or so I’ve been told). It certainly happened during a Saturday 7pm timeslot that I attended. It’s also worth noting that despite plenty of nationwide advertisements and billboards all over the city, the auditorium was shockingly empty…..perhaps 25 percent of the seats were taken, and that’s not counting the two upper sections that are blocked off and covered with canvas. Ouch.

So how could something so awful make it past a brainstorming session, let alone twice-a-night performances on the Vegas Strip? Your guess is as good as mine. But let’s be real here….Cirque‘s reputation as a top provider of entertainment isn’t what it used to be. Viva Elvis did so poorly for ARIA that they ripped out their gorgeous theater when replacement production ZARKANA tanked there, too.

There have been numerous other missteps in the past few years that have allowed Spiegelworld (Absinthe, Opium and Atomic Saloon Show) to take away and put a new shine on Cirque’s tarnished crown. And the failing attendance of Cirque’s six other resident productions has led to rumors of them pulling out of Vegas altogether in the next few years. That’s what happens when you glut the market on a worldwide scale. You’re forced to eat your own tail just to survive.

Does anyone remember IRIS, the $100 million Cirque du Soleil resident show in Hollywood that closed after only 16 months? How about Paramour, the New York-based musical which did so poorly that Broadway’s LYRIC Theater paid Cirque $23 million just to close up and leave? There were other high-profile flops like Zaia in Macau, Zed in Tokyo, Banana Schpeel (New York/Chicago) and the first attempt to launch BAZ in Las Vegas (yes, it was Cirque that brought BAZ to Mandalay Bay before pulling out mere weeks into the run).

For some reason, Cirque du Soleil has been obsessed with Hollywood as of late. They seem to think that people want to pay over $100 to see a movie salute…at a time when people are skipping the cinemas and doing Netflix-and-chill at home. Besides film-centric IRIS and Paramour, they collaborated with director James Cameron on Worlds Away, a fantasy film that barely made a blip at the 2012 box office. Then Cirque produced TORUK – The First Flight, a poorly-reviewed touring show (based on Cameron’s AVATAR) that one magazine called “A troubling, redface spectacle”.

R.U.N has guns, cars, drug dealers and LOTS of cardboard boxes…

Cirque even considered doing a Quentin Tarantino musical, but chose BAZ instead…because Tarantino films are so dark and violent! In an interview for Los Angeles Magazine in 2015, Cirque Theatrical‘s Scott Zeiger had this to say:

For the Record: Tarantino was going to be playing in Montreal. I went and loved it. I brought all of the top dogs from Cirque parent to see it. While all of them liked it, they were afraid for Cirque to get involved with this brand because the content of [Tarantino’s] films is pretty violent and deals with subject matter that might not be on the same wavelength with Cirque du Soleil’s more spiritual, love-oriented, happier themes.”

Yet here we are with a brand new $63 million production written by film director Robert Rodriguez, the man behind super-violent films like Planet Terror, Machete, Machete Kills and From Dusk Til Dawn. Somehow the company that once brought you glorious productions like Mystere and The Beatles LOVE thinks you want to spend an evening…and your hard-earned cash…watching the kind of show you’d slip into at Universal Studios for free to get out of the heat.

And as the photo below shows, people just didn’t care about the characters or what was going on all around them in the theater.

Some people would rather stare at their phones than watch R.U.N…

That in itself shows just how tone-deaf Cirque has become to our current culture. And R.U.N lacks any kind of wink-wink fun that audiences might expect from the show’s advertisements. People are depicted as being tortured, killed and burned alive. One character has his arms and legs pulled out of joint and broken (with the sound of bone cracks amplified by Luxor’s megawatt sound system).

Speaking of the sound system, this show is absolutely deafening. About five minutes in, my ears were literally hurting and my head began to throb. Fortunately, I’d read some online reviews warning about the extreme decibel level and brought along a pair of earplugs that stayed in place until the lights came up.

So can this show be saved? Yes, it can. When Le Reve premiered at WYNN back in 2006, it was received so poorly that performances were cut and the production received a major retooling. Now it’s considered one of the best shows on the Strip…because audience reaction was analyzed and changes were made. And that HAS to happen with R.U.N, too.

You’d have more fun playing a video game in a dark, creepy alley….

I predict a full closure for this show and a massive gutting. Costumes and sequences will be tossed out and the torture depictions have to go. Right now. There is no charismatic leading man to cheer for, no emotional investment in the fates of the characters, and even the plot (“retrieve a necklace to win” belongs in a video game, not a stage) will need to be refashioned into something people care about. A kidnapped child, perhaps? A damsel in distress? Anything but a pendant holding some secret data.

The opening sequence, which is an actual film, goes on for far too long. From the get-go, people will be wondering “Did I just pay $300 to take my date to a movie?”. When flesh-and-blood characters actually appear, their performances and stunts will have you shrugging. Gang fights are so choreographed and punches so fake that you’ll think you’ve wandered into a high school production of “West Side Story”, despite silvery mylar costumes and moon boots that belong in a 90’s boyband video.

Imagine if this show was built around an actual, heroic movie star! How cool would it be to watch the likes of Van Damme, Stallone, Chris Pratt or Dwayne Johnson doing their best stunt work before your eyes? Even a live-action version of a familiar movie would be a cool idea…perhaps Rodriguez’s own SIN CITY, a hit film based on the works of Frank Miller. Now THAT is something I might recommend, not this violent, rambling and ugly excuse for a show.

And yes, there were children in attendance despite a disclaimer stating that the material is intended for mature audiences 13 and up. I questioned a box office attendant as to whether they enforce this policy and she told me that they do not…it is a recommendation, not a restriction.

R.U.N is not a show for kids. Or teens. Or adults…or anyone, for that matter. Run as far away from R.U.N as you can…and don’t look back. Sorry, Cirque, but you’ve lost it…and heads are certainly going to roll.

Normally I’d put ticketing information and showtimes here, but that’s not going to happen this time. See anything else (except for Mariah Carey or Criss Angel) but skip this bomb.

Photos: Sam Novak

Food and Fun Come Together at ‘sixth + mill’

Venetian’s latest culinary offering brings the flavor of southern Italy to St. Mark’s Square…

If you’ve ever visited the city of Venice, you no doubt have fond memories of indulging in the wonderful tastes of the local cuisine, most likely from a scenic outdoor patio. The dining opportunities of that amazing destination are one of a kind…yet Vegas visitors can relive the experience once again…or for the very first time…at sixth + mill ristorante, pizzeria and bar at Venetian.

You may recall my previous write-up of Venetian/Palazzo‘s Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano, a glorious Sin City extension of L.A.’s famed Factory Kitchen. Situated along Restaurant Row, this eatery is the brainchild of restaurateur Matteo Ferdinandi and his longtime friend Chef Angelo Auriana. Now these gentlemen have brought another Los Angeles destination to Vegas, this time at Venetian’s St. Mark’s Square.

sixth + mill takes its name from the original location in California. The restaurant is a celebration of southern Italian culture as seen through the region’s food. Here guests can enjoy “outdoor patio dining” while taking in Venetian’s signature street performer shows. This is their operating philosophy and conveys why dining there is such a pleasant way to enjoy a meal:

Experience a casual-refined atmosphere that recreates the feel of a classic ristorante – pizzeria and the platform to educate and share the culture and the lifestyle of Southern Italy and its people’s dedication to food and wine.

In Southern Italy, the rich volcanic soil has always been the fueling force of the agriculture that from thousands of years has produced unique ingredients that are intrinsically part of the much sought-after Mediterranean Diet.

Chef Angelo’s commitment is on keeping these old traditions alive today. The cuisine of sixth+mill focuses on traditional recipes that capture the uniqueness and versatility of the regional southern Italian food and include appetizers, fritters, homemade pasta, meat & poultry, seafood, and desserts, keeping an eye on traditions and looking at today’s necessity of lightness, healthiness, and simplicity.

With a description like that, it’s clear that Chef Angelo and Matteo take great pride in sharing their heritage with guests. And fortunately for Vegas foodies, we now have two restaurants by these gentlemen to choose from.

My first visit to sixth + mill was a veritable bounty of flavor, color, and presentation. Interestingly, my companion and I gravitated towards plant-based dishes that were perfect for a satisfying lunch without a heavy feeling afterward. We began with some dishes from the list of “Fritters”.

First up was u’vroccolo, a plate of cauliflower florets accompanied by parmigiana dipping sauce ($11). It was followed by brussels sprouts toasted, a hearty mound of the divisive little cabbages prepared with a slightly smokey flavor and topped with almonds, paprika and lemon ($12).

Our final fritter was arancinotto, a generous portion of the traditional Sicilian recipe made with rice, beef, pork, tomato and mozzarella ($12 for 3 pieces). Mouthwatering with every bite, this delight was my favorite part of the meal.

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We then moved to a selection from “Small Plates” with melanzana, a warm shareable made with eggplant, parmigiana, scamorza and tomato ($15). Other small plates on the list include minestra soup with quinoa, vegetables, ricotta and chili oil ($15), crostone, an inviting mushroom toast with herbs, reggiano and provolone ($13) and rapini, a leafy green vegetable cooked with chili oil and oregano and served with ricotta and bread crumbs ($9).

While these delicious vegetarian dishes were incredibly satisfying, there was plenty left to explore on the extensive sixth + mill menu. Our next selection from “Meat & Poultry” was brasato (braised beef with carrots, red onions and gaeta olives – $38). It was so moist, delicious and tender that I was able to separate it with a spoon.

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There’s also polpette beef and pork meatballs, chicken parm, pollo romano, and siciliana prime beef steak to go along with seafood selections like acqua pazza (sea bass), pepper-couli salmone and spicy mussels mitili.

While enjoying the brasato, our table was visited by Matteo Ferdinandi himself. Jovial and clearly excited about his new restaurant, he wanted to be sure that we were enjoying our meal. Yet…he couldn’t resist chiding us in a joking fashion about not trying any of his endless combinations of pizzas.

The menu features hand-crafted Neapolitan style pizzas, traditional wheat pastas, and tomatoes chosen with purpose. They use three varieties of tomatoes for their pizza sauce; one for sweetness, one for tanginess, and one for consistency.

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There are six varieties of red pizzas and four white pizzas to choose from. You can customize your selection with ten specialty toppings like n’duja (spicy pork salume), stracciatella (water buffalo milk cheese) and speck (smoke-cured prosciutto). All pizzas are baked in one of two special pizza ovens created to achieve the best airy and chewy crust. The ovens were flown into Las Vegas from Italy especially for sixth + mill.

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Pasta is a big deal at any Italian restaurant, but sixth + mill goes the extra mile. Every ravioli, cavatelli, linguine, and fusilli is made fresh in-house and topped with sauces like meat-tomato ragu, chicken sugo and lemon cream with mint oil. There are whole wheat varieties and gnocchi (potato dumplings), too.

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Make sure to complete your meal with one of several delicious desserts. And check out their outstanding beveage menu of cocktails, wines, champagne, beers, and teas.

So the next time you’re craving authentic Italian food with a view of Venice, head over to sixth + mill at Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your culinary urges while indulging in a mini-vacation at the same time.

sixth + mill is open daily from 11 am to 11 pm. Phone: 702.414.1227 for reservations and information…

Photos: Sam Novak, sixth + mill

NEED FOR SPEED: HANS KLOK IS ‘THE WORLD’S FASTEST MAGICIAN’ IN NEW SHOW

When it comes to magic acts, the set-up is usually 90 percent of the illusion. Describe the trick, set up the props, lay on a little distraction and then…”ta-da!”. Not so with Hans Klok: The World’s Fastest Magician. Now performing six nights a week (with matinees on select dates), the latest production at Excalibur is a breakneck theatrical experience that will leave you slack-jawed and gasping in wonder.

Longtime Vegas visitors may remember Klok’s large-scale 2007 production “The Beauty of Magic” at Planet Hollywood. Accompanied by glamorous Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson, Klok turned Vegas magic shows inside out by combining vintage theatrical flamboyance with a hip, cutting-edge performance style (think Siegfried and Roy meet Criss Angel). The show drew attention from A-list celebrities like Sylvester Stallone and Amy Winehouse, along with former America’s Got Talent judge (and Anderson’s Baywatch co-star) David Hasselhoff.

In the ensuing twelve years, the Holland native has cemented his status as the “Dutch David Copperfield”. He’s toured throughout Europe, received numerous awards, appeared on countless television programs and was inducted into the “Inner Circle” of the British Golden Circle Magic Organization. In addition, Klok set a world illusion speed record in 2012 which he subsequently topped the following year. Now he’s returned to Vegas with a new collection of spectacular mind-benders.

To describe any of Klok’s many sequences would spoil the fun. But “fun” is indeed the operative word here. The production is mostly light-hearted, family-friendly and filled with music and memorable costumes. A sexy cast of male and female dancers….

Click HERE to continue reading….

Hans Klok: The World’s Fastest Magician performs Saturday through Thursday (dark Fridays) at Excalibur’s Thunderland Showroom. Check schedule for exact times and matinees on select dates…

Photos: Hans Klok, BestOfVegas.com

Everything You Need to Know About ‘R.U.N by Cirque du Soleil’

Breaking down the high-octane elements of Cirque’s new spectacle…

Strap yourself in tight and prepare for the ride of your life at R.U.N, the latest offering from Cirque du Soleil. R.U.N is a high-octane thriller that’s part action movie, part stunt show and totally unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

Billed as “The First Live Action Thriller”, Luxor’s new production blurs the line between performance art and cinema in mind-bending fashion. Written by cutting-edge film director Robert Rodriguez (“Sin City”, “Predators”, “Alita: Battle Angel”), R.U.N envelops you in a hyper-stylized vision of Las Vegas filled with gritty thugs, warring gangs, warehouse battles, and a hero on a quest to save the city.

So how does a movie come alive? With the ultimate in technology and theatrical tricks, of course. Cirque du Soleil has always been at the forefront of entertainment innovation. Their employment of electronics, projection, and practical effects has been heavily integrated into productions ranging from The Beatles LOVE to Kà. R.U.N represents the next step in Cirque’s evolution, and the results are stunningly effective.

Imagine a chase across the Mojave desert recreated right before your eyes. Drivers engage in hand-to-hand combat while their cars spin, soar and race to avoid a speeding freight train. Motorcycles burst from the screen and soar up the aisles.

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R.U.N performs Wednesday through Sunday at 7 pm and 9:30 pm. It is recommended for mature audiences 13 and up.

HUMAN NATURE’S LATEST SHOW FEATURES ‘MOTOWN AND MORE’

Relive the best songs of all time at “Human Nature Sings Motown and More”, Venetian‘s new show from chart-topping Australia’s Human Nature. Packed with amazing harmonies, precision choreography, live musicians and a stunning setlist, the group’s latest Vegas show will have you humming all night and dancing in the aisles.

“Motown and More” is a nonstop cavalcade of hits, presented in a smooth sexy style that only Human Nature can deliver. After a joyous romp through the decades in the show “JUKEBOX”, the latest production revisits the Motown setlist that harkens back to their Vegas premiere. Debuting ten years ago at Imperial Palace with “Smokey Robinson presents HUMAN NATURE: The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound”, the boys are excited to once again celebrate the songs that made them Sin City stars.

Motown is marking its 60th anniversary this year, so the latest refresh of Human Nature’s setlist was a brilliant decision. Currently celebrating three decades together, the group was presented with the Medal of the Order of Australia in May. Earlier this year they hit the 2,000 performance mark of their Vegas residency and this month the quartet will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in Sydney. The Venetian has also extended their residency through 2022. So 2019 has indeed been packed with landmark achievements.

Many Stateside fans are unaware that members Phil Burton, Toby Allen and brothers Mike and Andrew Tierney originally rose to fame in their homeland as a 90’s boyband. Yes, Motown singers that were the down-under equivalent to N’Sync and Backstreet Boys. But even before that, Human Nature formed as a school-age doo-wop group. And it’s that kind of feel-good music that they’re circling back to once more.

And why shouldn’t they? After all, Human Nature boasts a stellar endorsement from mentor (and Motown legend) Smokey Robinson. And no matter what musical genre fills up your favorite playlist, chances are that you know the lyrics to “Stop! In The Name of Love”, “My Girl” and “I’ll Be There”. Those classics and many more from the “Motown sound” have made an indelible impression on our culture. And they continue to raise our spirits and lift us to our feet.

Along with the Motown songbook, guests can expect excursions into other periods with hits from the likes of…

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Human Nature Show Schedule: Tuesday – Saturday at 7:00pm. Click here to purchase discount tickets through BestOfVegas.com.

TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AT TITANIC: THE ARTIFACT EXHIBIT

Las Vegas is a city built on escapism and frivolity, yet there are abundant opportunities to experience the wonders of reality and history. Numerous museums and exhibitions allow you to enlighten your mind and enrich your soul, from the Atomic Testing Museum to Real Bodies at Bally’s. The biggest and most impressive of these is Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor.

Located on the atrium level of Luxor’s enormous pyramid, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is a massive exhibit befitting the White Star Liner’s “Ship of Dreams”. Much more than a stuffy museum, the 25,000 square foot attraction is an emotional journey back in time to experience what a trans-Atlantic passage on the ill-fated liner would have been like.

Titanic’s walk-through exhibit is a fully-realized sensory experience. Sound and lighting effects, throbbing vibrations, icy temperatures, and chilling breezes enhance recreations of the Promenade Deck and engine room.

There are replicas of the Grand Staircase, corridors and cabins belonging to First and Third class sections. The staterooms are meticulously displayed using authentic furniture commissioned for the Exhibition by original manufacturers.

Sections of the Exhibition are dedicated to fascinating details of the Titanic’s construction, launch, and operations. But it’s the personal stories of the victims and survivors that tell the true tale of the ocean liner and its sinking. Hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreckage at the bottom of the ocean are on display. They offer an insight into the lives that were lost on that fateful evening.

Postcards, shaving implements, luggage, clothing, playing cards, money….all of these everyday items from a century ago remind us that each person on board was an actual soul. You’ll learn with reverence about immigrants hoping to start a new life in the United States. You’ll witness the opulent lifestyle of the rich and wealthy, who were just as vulnerable to the chilling waters. And you’ll be inspired by the workers who bravely assisted women and children to the lifeboats, sacrificing themselves in the ultimate act of heroism.

All of the artifacts on display, including numerous pieces from the ship itself, have been carefully restored and preserved by RMS Titanic, Inc. This organization was formed to serve as the official steward of the wreckage site and its contents. Using the latest scientific advances, experts have cataloged each recovered item and treated it to protect from further degradation. Artifacts will sometimes be retired from the display and others brought in to replace them.

The most amazing part of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is undoubtedly “The Big Piece”, an enormous section of the starboard hull. Suspended mid-air in a climate-controlled environment, this massive relic took several years and countless hours of effort to bring to the surface. An amazing testimonial to the wonders of science and archaeology, “The Big Piece” can only be seen in Las Vegas.

Optional audio narration devices enable you to hear in-depth details of the various rooms and objects throughout the Exhibition. Descriptions are often provided in…

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Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit is open daily from 9:30 am to 9 pm.

Photos: Sam Novak, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Travelzoo, Patch.com, Best of Orlando

LEARN TO SOAR INDOORS AT VEGAS INDOOR SKYDIVING

High-flying attraction generates a supercharged thrill…

With all of the technology at our disposal, virtual reality has become an everyday norm. If you can dream it, you can (almost) live it. But long before we were able to strap on electronic gloves and headsets, there was Vegas Indoor Skydiving. And it’s so much more than a simulation.

Nestled in an easy-to-find location between the Strip’s famous Peppermill Restaurant and Las Vegas Convention Center, Vegas Indoor Skydiving has been a must-do destination to thrill seekers for 37 years. The only attraction of its kind in Las Vegas, V.I.S. allows you to defy gravity and experience the sensation of a free-fall without the need for a parachute, tandem partner or airplane.

Previous flyers return again and again while great online testimonials lure newbies from around the world. General Manager Dave McMahan is excited that his facility and expertly-trained staff are able to provide guests with such a “uniquely Vegas” adventure.

We are proud to be operating the nation’s first indoor skydiving facility, which opened in 1982. Customer service is our #1 focus after safety and it’s always great to hear when we hit the mark.

Safety is indeed the top consideration here. Keep in mind that this is a sport, not a ride or simulator. Candidates must be in good health and meet specified weight/height guidelines (based on aerodynamics) in order to fly. You must also be free from influence of drugs/alcohol and with no history of neck/back/shoulder injuries. Just like in traditional skydiving, guests must sign a waiver before proceeding to the instruction phase.

Prior to suiting up, you’ll watch a short video that teaches you various body positions and movements that will be used throughout. Since the turbine generates an air stream (up to 120 mph) at very high decibels, earplugs are required…and that necessitates communicating with your instructor via hand signals. You’ll need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of every protocol before donning your goggles, specially-designed flight suit and helmet and heading into the vertical wind tunnel.

McMahan knows that participating in sports of this nature are a great way to bond with friends and family. And learning something new together makes it even more special.

Vegas Indoor Skydiving is one of the most unique attractions in Las Vegas. It’s for people of all ages to enjoy. The possibilities are endless in the wind tunnel, but the coolest trick is teaching other people how to fly.

General Manager Dave McMahan (right) at V.I.S. annual charity Tunnel Jam

Like any physical activity, there is a period of awkwardness when you begin. The “Learn To Fly” session helps you to adapt to the intense winds while you earn your wings, so to speak. The “Fly for 5” package is designed for advanced types and return visitors, giving you extra time to test out more daring maneuvers. Family packages (up to 5) and group parties (up to 20 participants) can be arranged for any special occasion.

No matter what session you choose, your instructor will always be at your side. He or she will assist you in maintaining balance and soaring up and down. They’ll also demonstrate how to perform amazing spins and flips. You can even lock hands with the instructor and your companions to take flight

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The facility itself is a veritable museum. Click HERE to continue via BestOfVegas.com…

Vegas Indoor Skydiving opens daily at 9:30 am. Closing times and holiday hours vary. Sessions take place every 30 minutes. Ample free parking is provided.

Photos: Sam Novak, Vegas Indoor Skydiving