EmailFor the first time in history, 50 off-road race vehicles will parade down world famous Las Vegas Blvd, for the inaugural 4 Wheel Parts Mint 400 Off-Road Vehicle Parade, at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.
The procession will celebrate the 2013 General Tire Mint 400 presented by Polaris, and the massive group of off-road racecars will be led by Mint 400 founders Mel Larson, Norm Johnson and the 2013 Mint 400 Grand Marshall, KJ Howe.
Over ten million dollars’ worth of custom fabricated off-road race cars will be on display, and thunder down the Strip, in tribute to the famed Mint 400 vehicle processions that took place on Fremont Street decades ago. The 50 vehicles are part of a massive field of over 250 plus entries that will compete Saturday, March 23, just outside of Las Vegas at The Great American
Off-Road Race
“Off-road racing is the most dynamic motorsport on the planet. We are thrilled to be raising the profile of our sport, and to be making history by showcasing these amazing vehicles on the Strip for the people of Las Vegas,” said Josh Martelli, COO and co-owner of The Mint 400. “We can’t thank the great folks at 4 Wheel Parts, and the City of Las Vegas enough for their support.”
The 4 Wheel Parts Mint 400 Off-Road Vehicle Parade will begin at Circus Circus Hotel & Casino, and make its way three miles south to Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. Following the procession, Hussong’s Cantina will host the official Mint 400 Kick-Off Party beginning at 6 p.m.
4 Wheel Parts is the nation’s largest distributor of off-road parts and accessories. They have a nationwide chain of 56 retail stores, and service centers in 17 states, including Las Vegas, that offer personalized advice and service. Their on-hand inventory consists of roughly $50 million of off-road parts from more than 250 manufacturers.
Mint 400 taking over Vegas
The 2013 General Tire Mint 400, presented by Polaris RZR, will take over Las Vegas Nevada, from Wednesday, March 20th through Sunday, March 24th! Festivities this year will include nightly parties, the annual Pit Crew Challenge, the Miss Mint Competition and Crowning, and the contingency vehicle parade down historic Fremont Street … all culminating in the most brutal and challenging off-road race in America!
All of The Mint 400 festivities are free and open to the public, including dedicated high-speed spectator areas at the race itself. This year, Best in the Desert race director Casey Folks, and Mint 400 owners, The Martelli Brothers, have increased the prize purses for the race, expanded live tracking and video coverage on Race-Dezert.com, doubled the television coverage with broadcast partner SPEED TV, and partnered with an expanded list of event sponsors — making The Mint 400 the premiere American off-road event of the year!
“The Mint 400 has become the most talked about off-road race in America — and we owe a great deal of thanks to our race teams, our partnership with Casey Folks of Best In The Desert, and our fans for helping us propel off-road racing into a national spotlight at this event,” said Matt Martelli. “Between our competitors, spectators, live coverage on RDC, our social media package, and our national television coverage on SPEED — we reach millions of off-road enthusiasts, and this year we’re going even bigger!”
General Tire has returned as the title sponsor of The Mint 400 in 2013, marking the fifth year that they have supported the race. “Since 1967, The Mint 400 has been regarded as one of the roughest, most spectacular off-road races in North America. We’re proud to help build on that tradition, and thrilled to be returning as the title sponsor,” said Travis Roffler, Director of Marketing for General Tire.
“To put an event of this caliber together takes a lot of support from sponsors,” said Joshua Martelli. “We’re excited to announce that Polaris Industries has joined our program as the presenting sponsor of The Mint 400. Our Pro UTV class has grown tremendously this year, and with the help of Polaris we’ve been able to increase our media coverage, and provide a very cost-effective entry point into off-road racing at The Mint. We also have support from Oakley, Impact, Azunia Tequila, and our host hotel The Golden Nugget.”
The Mint 400 race will take place Saturday March 23rd in Jean, Nevada – just outside the City of Las Vegas. To see a complete schedule of events visit www.themint400.com or visit Facebook.com/themint400
ITALIAN AMERICAN CLUB REOPENS
The place that Frank and Dean, Earnest Borgnine, Cary Grant, Jerry Lewis, Rocky Marciano and so many others called home is reopening “Rat Pack style.”
Las Vegas’ Italian American Club, the oldest Italian restaurant in Nevada, is inviting old friends and new to sample their new look, their new atmosphere and their new cuisine as their guest this weekend to a complimentary buffet. Italian American Club’s new chef, who brings in an impressive resume that includes the Ritz Carlton in Paris, has designed a menu that in the traditional fine dining experience. He has promised a new “tapas style” menu. The complimentary Italian cuisine buffet will be offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
The redesigned bar area has added a mirrored backdrop, deep wood tones and rich back granite counters. A stage and high tech sound system have been added to the bar area to feature the best local vocalists and musicians.
Joe Spraker, a 9-year veteran of Las Vegas stages kicks things off Friday and Saturday 7:30-11:30 p.m. Spraker, who currently is musical director for Sheena Easton, brings a credential-rich resume with solo acts at Caesars Palace and House of Blues as well as on stage with top headliners including Doc Severinsen.
Sunday night, jazz pianist and vocalist Ghalib Ghallab commands the stage 7:00-11:00 p.m. with son Jihad on drums. Ghallab, a Las Vegas performer since 1989 and author of 8 albums, at one time held down simultaneous gigs at several local casinos and The Range Steakhouse.
Italian American Club is located at 2333 E. Sahara Av., Las Vegas, just east of Eastern. The complimentary buffet will be served Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Watch for the official Grand Opening shortly of the full service restaurant.
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FANTASY CAMP PRESENTS DEF LEPPARD FANTASY CAMP
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp announced today that the next installment of its highly successful music-magic experience is scheduled for April 4 -7 in Las Vegas. Headlining the camp are arena rock legends Def Leppard (Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick “Sav” Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums).
The rock camp provides music fans the opportunity to jam nightly with legendary rock stars, write and record original songs, participate in master classes and perform live on stage in front of family and friends. In just a few days, fans will learn how to play all of their Def Leppard favorites, such as “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Rock Of Ages,” and “Too Late For Love.”
Registration is open now, offering campers the option of purchasing a four day Headliner package or Recording Star package. Both packages include lunch daily, scheduled classes and daily jam sessions, an opening night cocktail reception and a DVD of the final concert performance. To celebrate the camp’s culmination Sun., April 7, campers and counselors will host a live concert. For registration and additional camp information, call 1-888-762-2263 or visit www.rockcamp.com.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be producing the Def Leppard Fantasy Camp. I know this is going to be an amazing experience for any Def Leppard fan regardless of musical experience,” said David Fish of, Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp founder, veteran music producer and author of Rock Your Business: What You and Your Company Can Learn from the Business of Rock And Roll.
HEART TO PERFORM AT GREEN VALLEY RANCH RESORT
Multi-platinum rockers and upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Heart are returning to Las Vegas with a performance at the Grand Events Center inside Green Valley Ranch resort on Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $39, $59, $69 and $79 plus tax and applicable fees and go on sale Friday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and guests under 21 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at any Station Casinos Reward Center and The Fiestas, by logging onto www.sclv.com/concertsor through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. For complete tour details, visit www.heart-music.com.
Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson first showed the world that women can rock when their band, Heart, stormed the charts in the 1970s with hits like “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda” and “Straight On,” among others. Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs and played the instruments too, making them the first women in rock to do so. Heart continued topping the charts through the 1980s and 1990s, with huge hits including “These Dreams,” “Alone,” “What About Love,” “If Looks Could Kill” and “Never,” showcasing the sisters’ enormous talents as musicians and singers.
Heart has sold more than 30 million albums, sold out arenas worldwide and found its way into the soundtrack of American life through radio, motion pictures and television. In 2013, the band will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
MATCHBOX TWENTY AT THE PEARL MARCH 29
Chart topping rock band Matchbox Twenty will perform at the Pearl Concert Theater inside Palms Casino Resort on March 29, 2013 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $79, plus additional service fees.
North is a direction. It’s a place. It’s a marker of progress — and an intended destination. North is also the title of Matchbox Twenty’s fourth album, the quartet’s first release in five years, and their first album to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. It is also the band’s first set of all-new material in a decade. And like other connotations of the word, the 12-song set represents a determined journey, a carefully considered path that combines earnest melodicism with sly and even snarky fun as well as a new internal world order that has made Matchbox Twenty a tighter and even more collaborative band than ever before in its 17-year career.
The Pearl Box Office is open daily from noon until 7 p.m. with extended hours on select event days. The Pearl is now on Twitter. Follow @PearlatPalms for concert announcements and event information.
The world-famous Improv at Harrah’s Las Vegas is the longest-running comedy club on the Las Vegas Strip. The Improv’s ability to showcase young comedians, as well as bring in big names, has attributed to its longevity and success.
Each week, The Improv showcases three of the funniest and freshest faces in comedy, creating a show that is always unique and definitely funny. The comedians who will perform March 12 – March 17 are:
James Stephens III: James Stephens III is considered to be a versatile and talented entertainer and has achieved wide national and international acclaim as a comedian, impressionist, actor and musician. Stephens has graced the stage with legendary greats such as Aretha Franklin and James Brown; shared the big screen with Jennifer Aniston and Dana Carvey; and has been paired with comic icons Will Ferrell, Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno. For years Stephens has provided unparalleled performances to meet the goals of major corporations such as McDonald’s, Cisco and American Airlines.
Frazer Smith: Frazer Smith is one of the best known stand-up comics in all of California and is considered one of the best one-liners in the country today. “The Green Room” is his hot show on All Comedy Radio, which is aired in over 160 markets nationwide. Smith has been a radio favorite in Los Angeles for the past 20 years and has interviewed everyone from comics and athletes to big celebrities. Smith is no stranger to live comedy and his interviewing style is synonymous with the likes of Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Brandon Hahn: Brandon “Gooch” Hahn is a stand-up comedian from Las Vegas. When Hahn isn’t hosting his own radio show on KOMP 92.3 or hosting his own Internet TV show on vegasvideonetwork.com, he’s preforming all over the country. He’s opened for comedians such as Ralph Harris, Paulie Shore, Jim Bruer and Larry The Cable Guy.
Shows are at 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $29.05 or $44.95 (plus applicable taxes and fees) for VIP tickets that include special seating, an Improv t-shirt and post-show meet-and-greet with the comics. Special two-for-one tickets are also available for locals for the 10 p.m. show. Tickets are available at Harrah’s Box Office (702-369-5223) and online at www.harrahslasvegas.com.
