Las Vegas Weekly

December 16, 2009 · 3:11 PM

Strip Scribbles: NYE fireworks on the Strip and music on Fremont Street

By Robin Leach

Fourth of July fireworks viewed from The Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Officials from Las Vegas Events and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority joined city leaders and Fireworks by Grucci at Fashion Show mall yesterday to announce the details for America’s Party: A Vegas Celebration, the citywide New Year’s Eve Party on -- when else? -- Dec. 31. America’s Party is the official moniker coined by the LVCVA and Las Vegas Events to signify the annual citywide celebration.

This year’s festivities include the themed fireworks extravaganza on the Strip and the concerts and fireworks under the canopy at the Fremont Street Experience. Themed as the second annual TributePalooza, the world’s best tribute bands will be performing from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. on the First and Third Street stages. TributePalooza features eight top tribute bands performing favorites from Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns ’N’ Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2 and Van Halen. The Strip firing locations are at MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian and Stratosphere.

“There is no better place in the world to spend New Year’s than Las Vegas,” Mayor Oscar Goodman said. “We have the best hotels, entertainment, gaming, restaurants and shopping, and on New Year’s Eve, we are going to have the best and biggest party. Whether you are watching the amazing fireworks on the Strip or having a blast under the Fremont Street Experience canopy, Las Vegas is the world’s New Year’s destination.”

“America’s Party will return to the rooftops for a spectacular display,” Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson said. “This will be the 10th year that we have coordinated a New Year’s Eve fireworks display. This celebration would not have been possible without the tremendous cooperation between the LVCVA, Las Vegas Events, Fireworks by Grucci, the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services and the individual resort properties.”

Here’s the soundtrack and countdown into “Auld Lang Syne” with the Salsoul Orchestra: “You’ll Be Mine (Party Time),” Gloria Estefan; “Lovely Las Vegas,” Matt Goss; “Rendez-Vous,” Jean Michael Jarre; “Star Wars: Duel of Fate,” John Williams; “Let’s Get Loud,” Jennifer Lopez; “God Bless America,” Irish Tenors; and “Get Ready for This,” 2 Unlimited.

*It was a short two-line bulletin: Anthony Cools’ Freaks will no longer perform at O’Sheas effective immediately. Any existing reservations for the show will be refunded in full. Persons seeking refunds should contact the O’Sheas box office. The Strip show had said the briefest and most sudden of farewells!

Tonight’s tips

Fireworks will explode over CityCenter at 11 p.m. as the crowned jewel Aria is opened to the public at 11:30 p.m. … Acrobatic dance-magician Seth Grabel returns to Krave to open for The Amazing Johnathan through Dec. 19, but continues with his regular late-night Sunday service industry Sindaze shows. … Comped cocktails will be served all across the Hard Rock Hotel as the casino’s gift to its customers for the holidays, and at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space, he’ll hand out $1,000 to the winners of the girls-only kissing contest. … Our friends at Platinum modeling agency hold their Third Annual Toy Drive and holiday party at Lavo in the Palazzo.

Tomorrow’s teases

We’ll have full photo reports covering all the opening day events at Aria and photo galleries of the new restaurants and chefs there. Plus, a look at Lady Gaga’s amazing fashion show that she’ll dazzle with during her two nights of shows at the Palms.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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