CatHouse to boast Ivy League flair
The opening of CatHouse, set for Dec. 29, marks a full-circle return to the Luxor for two of the Las Vegas entertainment scene’s more gifted and yet-unrealized talents, Doug Leferovich and Seth Yudof. For the past three years or so, the University of Pennsylvania grads have been putting their Ivy League educations to work by producing and performing in a variety of oddball variety shows in Vegas and Atlantic City.
A couple of years ago, they brought a late-night production titled “Exotique” to RA at the Luxor. Of course, that space has been gutted and renovated by Pure Management Group and today is home to the uber-hep LAX. “Exotique” was presented as “Eurotainment,” or a carnival of transvestites, comic-magicians, impressionists, nearly nekkid body painters and a dwarf dressed as a bellhop. Perhaps you had to be there, but Leferovich and Yudof at the very least showed some innovation in a largely derivative town (last year they proposed another quirky comedy-magic show, “Shtick” to the Rio for an afternoon slot but were turned back).
Leferovich and Yudof been charged with setting the scene at CatHouse, which borrows its theme and décor from 19th-century European bordellos and promises “interactive theatrics” in the form of dancing models clad in lingerie that customers are allowed to purchase. Kerry Simon has relocated from the Hard Rock Hotel to provide the requisite star-chef presence. This could well be the break Leferovich and Yudof, two sharp, imaginative and hard-working guys who should have a bright future at the illuminated pyramid.
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On Monday afternoon I got this crazy call on my ubiquitous BlackBerry from a person complaining that I didn’t play enough Cannonball Adderley on my radio show on KUNV 91.5-FM. I stammered, then explained the show I host, “Our Metropolis,” is an interview program. No music. Then the person laughed and identified himself as Dave Berns. Hah! Good one. He was bored, I guess, but I will take this opportunity to say that listeners to KNPR 88.9-FM (where Berns hosts “State Of Nevada”) and classical station KCNV 89.7-FM will have the rare chance to dine at Wynn Las Vegas restaurants at a reduced rate. Listeners making new, renewing or making additional pledges through Dec. will be entered in a drawing for $500 gift certificates from Wynn restaurants, including Michelin Star winners Wing Lei and Daniel Boulud Brasserie. Bartolatta Ristorante di Mare, Corsa Cucina, Country Club – A New American Steakhouse, Okada, SW Steakhouse and Tableau are also on the list. Go to www.nevadapublicradio.org for more details, or just call Dave Berns directly and have him give you the rundown.
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Red Rock Resort stalwarts Zowie Bowie are performing on the Strip on New Year’s Eve, at the Monte Carlo Brew Pub. They will continue to perform their regular dates at Rocks Lounge.
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Those Brits have a way with words. Commentary from the Kevin Garside of the London Daily Telegraph, following Saturday’s Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton bout: “Hatton won the fight until the first bell went. At least Mayweather’s brilliance brought silence with it. As the air seeped from the bombastic bubble, the crowd’s enthusiasm for bear-baiting their hosts lost its attraction. There was painful point of discovery. There is no Father Christmas after all.” And I thought it was just a title fight …
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The only Vegas nightclub to make Forbes Traveler’s list of the 10 hottest clubs in the country was Tao at the Venetian. It’s an impressive designation in a wildly competitive field.
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Vegas moments: On the way to see “Blue Man Group” at the Venetian on Saturday night, a dozen or so construction workers, partially bathed in the light from Wynn Las Vegas across Sands Avenue, carefully smoothing out the cement on the north end of the soon-to-open Palazzo. And in the theater, three ticket-holders asking the usher, “Is this the Phantom show?” They actually made it all the way inside the Blue Man Group theater, past a bunch of signs and a gift shop, not noticing tickets that said “Phantom – Las Vegas Spectacular” and were nearly seated for the BMG show. In a huff, they were led to the appropriate theater across the casino.
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PL8 in my head: VENOM97 on a silver Honda Accord.
Fabulous Las Vegas appears at this Web site. John Katsilometes, who also hosts Our Metropolis, a weekly issues and affairs show, each Tuesday at 6 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM, can be reached at 990-7720, 812-9812 or at [email protected].